Friday was a holiday in Russia so I decided to go to a Ladies' Conference put on by the Russian church I go to sometimes. They told me there would be translation because there were ladies coming from England. It lasted Friday from 9:00 a.m. till 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 till about 7:30 p.m. and I stayed to help take down decorations. The theme was the 4 Seasons of a Woman's Life and the decorations were amazing. I'll have to show pictures because I can't adequately describe the thought that went into them.
This is Winter and all the snowflakes were cut out of paper, and pinned on individually including 1/2 of one side of the whole hall. The side walls were draped with organza and then the various decorations were pinned onto them.
Autumn-all the leaves were collected and pinned on, again the form at the front plus 1/2 side wall.
Summer and spring both had flowers but 2 different kinds. The form at the front had some kind of coarse green stuff pinned all over the skirt of it to look like grass.
Spring had butterflies mingled in its flowers. Remember these are pinned on all over ceiling to floor.
Here you can see some of the wall of leaves.
Spring in the background here. The guy on sound is the husband of our interpreter (seen in the shot with the Jamaicans. The only other white lady) The other one is our Pastor and his little girl, Nastya. Don't know who the older girl is but there were several family groups there.
This is the wall with the snowflakes.
These are the ladies from England. They all had some part in the program. All but one are actually originally from Jamaica. They were a lot of fun, and welcomed me into their midst. It was great because I couldn't really talk to or get to know any of the Russian ladies. There wasn't much time plus the translators were very busy.
A wonderful surprise I had was running into a couple of parents from the home-school I worked in in 2003. They were really surprised to see me also and the next day she brought me a bag of Xalva candies because she remembered they were my favourite. I was very touched.
Sunday Liz and I and 2 Russian teachers went to Pushkin Museum and learned some of his life and works. He was a great Russian poet (you can google him). He died after being fatally wounded in a duel over his wife's honour. Many of his works have been translated, if you're interested.
In the Lyceum Garden stands a famous seated Statue of Alexander Pushkin made by the design of sculptor Robert Bach in 1900. Pushkin is shown as a youth, wearing the uniform of the Lyceum student. The future poet daydreams sitting on an iron bench in a tranquil corner of the park.
A verse inscribed on the pedestal of the monument reads:
«Those springtime days in secret valleys,
Where swans call out and beauty dallies,
Near waters sparkling in the hill,
The Muse first came to make me thrill.»
(Pushkin "Eugene Onegin", Translated from the Russian by James E. Falen)
It must be quite a challenge to translate from Russian AND make it rhyme.
Today was back to classes. It has turned quite cold, just to remind us that winter is on the way. Until next time...stay cozy.
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