Christmas in Krasnodar...or...just another Wednesday in Russia

so 25 december is no big deal in russia.  the orthodox russian church celebrates christmas on the 7th of january.  and really, their big holiday happens on new year's eve.  santa even flies by the crew of the international space station on new year's eve to wish them a happy new year before dropping presents down the chimney's of good little russian boys and girls, and everyone decorates a new year's tree.  this is all because of the communists...they banned religion.  so everyone rolled all their winter holidays into one: New Year's Eve.  next to victory day on 9 may, it's the biggest day of the year.

this year in russia, 25 december was just another wednesday.  but for us, inside the hotel, it was a day of celebration.  the hotel staff threw us a party.  we had a delicious buffet of traditional christmas foods from both america and britain.  we had mulled wine, tequila (from the mexican contingent in our group), and christmas crackers (the brits of course).  i missed my family and friends, but we managed to have a lovely day.  i got some good loot, too!  i got a set of silverware (VERY useful when living in a hotel room without a kitchen...), tea, and a cute eye mask for when i need to disappear from the world for a bit.  then i went for a beautiful dinner to celebrate a colleague's birthday, also on the 25th.

partway thru the day, my friend pam and i took a walk to see a christmas tree exhibit outside the main church in the center of town.  we were a bit hesitant to leave the hotel because as she put it "inside the hotel, it's christmas!  but outside, it's just wednesday!"  nonetheless, we ventured out into wednesday and saw some lovely christmas tree art.

picture of the day below...needless to say, i am looking forward to spending it next year with my family.  and god-willing, NOT single!  it's getting a little old...

flowers from mom and dad!  arrived christmas eve to the delight of the front desk staff.  they now think i am a total celebrity.

our "block out the crazy" masks from our lovely friend value.

my tree with all of my christmas loot!

some of the mexicans.

me and my krasnodar bestie, value.  she's greek and fantastic.  her husband is jealous that we are hanging out so much and he is alone in greece.  

christmas dinner!  turkey, mashed pot's, roasted turnips, cranberry sauce, carrots, brussel sprouts. YUM.

EATING.

the orthodox church in the center of town with a beautiful (and unique) christmas tree display in front.

literally "grandmother's christmas tree".  made out of balls of yarn!

for my dad.

for my mom.  practicing my good russian pose.

for drama lovers.

for carpenters.

and cossacks guarding over it all!

so overall, it was a good day.  but it will be much better when it is not just a wednesday.  :)

Thanksgiving in Moscow!

ok, so this is going back in time a month, but i do feel i need to add these photos as it was such a special thanksgiving here in moscow.  i hosted a very international thanksgiving and cooked a 7kg turkey!  we had to special order it, and it got delivered to the office!  hung out in the stairwell until i could shove it in my backpack and take it home.  here is the evidence...

this is my friend luba, who helped me order the turkey.  it is very heavy!

all dressed up! (you will notice there is still a bit of the neck...this is definitely the most "primal" turkey i have ever dealt with...it literally JUST came off the farm...)

jess and i after having given that bird a good rub down with olive oil, salt and pepper.

takes up most of the little russian fridge!

our international thanksgiving!!  in true spirit of the day.  americans, russians, australians, italians, and a lithuanian.  such a great evening.  everyone had to bring a dish, ideally that represented america.  our russian colleague, who's russian boyfriend studies in austin, brought burritos!  we also had several traditional russian dishes such as vinaigrette salad (beets, carrots, peas or other dressed in oil and vinegar), herring under a fur coat (herring buried under onions, beets, mayonnaise, carrots i think..all kinds of stuff...it's the russian equivalent of "7 layer dip"), and thai chicken, roasted pork, apple pie.  amazing.

it's just nice to know...

that things are going well in other places in the world.  utah's ban on gay marriage law got struck down yesterday.  apparently the US economy is doing really well.  my niece is going to celebrate her first birthday in a few days.  all of these things give me hope and make me happy.  which i need desperately, cuz it's just 24-7 work right now as we all prepare for the opening ceremony...oh, and not to mention the 3 other ceremonies that will happen after that!!  yes, i am working with some fantastic people, and yes i have been able to laugh.  but mostly, it's just been a butt-load of work and fighting against every road-block imaginable.  so it's nice to know that good things are still happening in the world, people are wedding who they love, holiday shopping is happening in full force, people are drinking star buck's "christmas blend" coffee in those cute red cups (that eventually end up in landfills, i know, i know...), and my niece is giggling her way into her first holiday season and her first birthday.  i am sad i am missing those moments, but i am happy they are happening at all.

i will be spending christmas with my colleagues (most of which are friends by now) in the hotel in Krasnodar.  they are making us a special christmas luncheon.  and one of our choreography teams is making a "name that tune" type of game for everyone to play.  and it will actually be a day off!!!  i will be surrounded by people who are dedicating their lives to this project, which has created a bond between us that will not be broken for years to come, i'm sure of it.  this one has been a beast, i am told by EVERYONE.  so we are here to continue to help each other as much as to make a beautiful show.  and the interesting thing is that life will be going on as normal outside the hotel walls...russians do not celebrate christmas on 25 December.  orthodox christianity dictates that christmas is the 7th of Jan, 12 days after ours.  so we will be eating and drinking and being merry, while everyone else around us has a regular old wednesday.  buying fish, filling the tank with gas, cutting hair, seeing the circus.  living life.  while we celebrate it.  kind of a nice thought.