Thursday morning was the Youth Culture Day. My beautiful Siberians gave three wonderful interactive presentations to kids from all over the valley.
They spoke in Russian, played their instruments, and taught the kids a fun dance.
The fire alarm went off at the end of the first presentation and we all had to evacuate for a few minutes. The Siberians took the opportunity to sign some autographs.
The kid's favorite part seemed to be watching Khongr make the little wooden horse dance as he played.
Thursday afternoon...Well, that particular time period has become known as "the time we will never speak of again." The team got to tour the temple and they loved that, but everything else about that afternoon is in the process of being deeply repressed. We are going to replace those memories with this photo of my feet. See the polka dots? I wore my Crocs to the river and the sun manged to sneak through the holes to make funny little tan circles. Very funny, da?
Friday morning Marquetta went with the team on a tour of farming and irrigation sites organized and hosted by their new best friend, the honorable mayor of Rupert. A THREE HOUR FARM AND IRRIGATION SITE TOUR. AND THEY ENJOYED IT! Then we met up with the host families at the park and boat docks for a big picnic and water party.
Here are Elena and Erzhena on a boat with host mom Shawna and the driver guy.
Tatijna, Victoria, and Khongr took a ride in one of the very fast boats. Khongr was so happy with the ride that he even made a rare English comment..."High Speed!"
Professor Victor swam in the river, tried out the kid's slip'n slide, rode in a boat, and even talked our boat guy into letting him drive the boat. Here he is talking to Marquetta who is representin' team Siberia in her housing director shirt.
After the boating party we had a microphone check, went to rehearsal, and then got ready for the final gala performance. Here is team Siberia selling souvenirs in the lobby.
Me and Tuyana in the lobby during the show. She had performed the night before so she was happy and care-free. I was sweaty and tired and stressed out, so please direct most of your attention to her.
Here I am with Victoria in the hall way outside our dressing room after she finished her performance.
This morning we met up to pack up and say goodbye. The team presented me with several gifts and did a blessing ceremony. Here I am with Elena, Victor and Victoria.
This is Nadejda blessing me with her horse tail thingy. She promised many years of good health, a handsome and "best husband" and many daughters with "beautiful eyes" like mine. How sweet!
This is us in the dressing room before saying goodbye.
I bought some silly hats at the dollar store but was embarrassed to give them to the team after they gave me such nice gifts. Instead, I gave the bag to Elena and told her to give them to the team after they got on the bus. We had our farewell dance and song, said goodbye for the second time, then got ready to wave goodbye as the bus drove away. The bus didn't drive away, however, instead the team got back off the bus to have their picture taken with us again in the silly hats. They had me wear one of Lena's handmade horsetail hats. 
Back Row: Amy (festival co-chair) Janet (festival chairperson) Wendy (host mom), Erzhena, me, Victoria, Lena, Victor, Marquetta (housing director), Sanie (host mom), Shawna (host mom)
My Siberian Gifts: Two photo prints by Vladimir, Sounds of Siberia CD, Reindeer fur good luck thingy, Magic wishing rock from Siberian Lake, handmade nesting doll with eyes the team though resembled mine, carved key chain.
Saying goodbye to the team wasn't as hard as it could have been because I am planning on taking my folks to Rexburg to see them on Monday. All in all, being a team guide was a good experience. Both Marquetta and Wendy compared being a guide and a host to child birth...incredibly painful and inconvenient at the time, but then you forget and want to do it again. We'll see.
Here are Elena and Erzhena on a boat with host mom Shawna and the driver guy.
Tatijna, Victoria, and Khongr took a ride in one of the very fast boats. Khongr was so happy with the ride that he even made a rare English comment..."High Speed!"
Professor Victor swam in the river, tried out the kid's slip'n slide, rode in a boat, and even talked our boat guy into letting him drive the boat. Here he is talking to Marquetta who is representin' team Siberia in her housing director shirt.
After the boating party we had a microphone check, went to rehearsal, and then got ready for the final gala performance. Here is team Siberia selling souvenirs in the lobby.
Me and Tuyana in the lobby during the show. She had performed the night before so she was happy and care-free. I was sweaty and tired and stressed out, so please direct most of your attention to her.
Here I am with Victoria in the hall way outside our dressing room after she finished her performance.
This morning we met up to pack up and say goodbye. The team presented me with several gifts and did a blessing ceremony. Here I am with Elena, Victor and Victoria.
This is Nadejda blessing me with her horse tail thingy. She promised many years of good health, a handsome and "best husband" and many daughters with "beautiful eyes" like mine. How sweet!
This is us in the dressing room before saying goodbye.
I bought some silly hats at the dollar store but was embarrassed to give them to the team after they gave me such nice gifts. Instead, I gave the bag to Elena and told her to give them to the team after they got on the bus. We had our farewell dance and song, said goodbye for the second time, then got ready to wave goodbye as the bus drove away. The bus didn't drive away, however, instead the team got back off the bus to have their picture taken with us again in the silly hats. They had me wear one of Lena's handmade horsetail hats. 
Back Row: Amy (festival co-chair) Janet (festival chairperson) Wendy (host mom), Erzhena, me, Victoria, Lena, Victor, Marquetta (housing director), Sanie (host mom), Shawna (host mom)Front Row: Mellissa (gala director/choreographer), Kristine (team USA director), Tuyana, Tatijna, Nadejda.
My Siberian Gifts: Two photo prints by Vladimir, Sounds of Siberia CD, Reindeer fur good luck thingy, Magic wishing rock from Siberian Lake, handmade nesting doll with eyes the team though resembled mine, carved key chain.Saying goodbye to the team wasn't as hard as it could have been because I am planning on taking my folks to Rexburg to see them on Monday. All in all, being a team guide was a good experience. Both Marquetta and Wendy compared being a guide and a host to child birth...incredibly painful and inconvenient at the time, but then you forget and want to do it again. We'll see.
POST FESTIVAL ACCOUNTING:
Miles driven as team guide: 195
Blisters on right foot: 2
Blisters on left foot: 1
Foreign accents obtained: 1
Horse's tails obtained: 1
Times I participated in traditional Yakutian dances: 5
Siberian friends made: 10
Kisses from old Siberian men: 4
Kisses from young Siberian Khongr: 2
Times I misspelled "Siberia": many
1 comment:
what a great report. i'm glad you survived. the hats are cute. hope you get some rest this weekend. :)
Post a Comment