World Cuisine in Artyom

12.12.14
Kristen says...

Last Saturday I was honored to be invited once again to Lingva Plus in Artyom, this time for a Celebration of World Cooking/Farewell Kristen party. It was lots of fun!

The event started with a Russian tradition of hospitality by offering the guests bread and salt, which I have been told represent the hope of wealth and health for the guest.

Next the attendees (maybe 60 children from age 5-18 and a few adults) broke into four groups, each of which would make a traditional food from a different country.

The countries (as represented by their flag made of food) were:

China (and the Chinese chef who demonstrated)

Canada/Italy (Italian food as demonstrated by a Canadian-Italian chef)

Russia (the flag is made of traditional ingredients for filled blini (pancakes which are a lot like French crepes)

USA (why yes, that is peanut butter and jelly!)

Yes, I was asked to demonstrate/guide students in making some traditional US foods, and I chose peanut butter and jelly...! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

In reality, it made a lot of sense--there was no stove or microwave, so most baking/heated foods were out, and in the end, it worked out really well. Peanut butter is by no means popular here, so most of the students were able to try something new, and really, besides those with peanut allergies, who didn't grow up eating peanut butter?!

(and yes, if you are wondering, I did think for a bit before deciding to do this in case anyone had a peanut allergy--in the end, I realized I've yet to hear of a Russian with a peanut allergy, and I had my epi-pen there, just in case.)

I had 40+ minutes for my demonstration, so I also made a bunch of Christmas cookies and demonstrated how to make frosting, because decorating sugar cookies is a very "American" thing to do (especially at this time of the year) and most Russian students I know haven't done this.

Unfortunately, we ran out of frosting very quickly (I told the organizers I needed butter and powdered sugar, and they provided me with both...but just about 1/2 c. butter and MAYBE 1/4 powdered sugar. Maybe. Oops.) So, we made do by raiding the peanut butter table and used jam as frosting...

Eh, whatever :)

And then, just for fun, and because I'm a teacher, I showed a quick PowerPoint about the history of American food. Why not? :)

After the food was made, some of the students played Russian music on traditional instruments and the "food flags" were presented, and as well as a few very thoughtful presents for me:

Each group made me a t-shirt with symbols and other representative elements of the style of food they made. It was so sweet, and the shirts are really neat!

After that, there was nothing to do but eat the food and head home. It was a really, really fun day, and a very nice way to spend one of my last weekends in Russia!

If you want to see more pictures from the event you can visit the Consulate Facebook page!

KF

A Blink Trip to the States and Christmas arrives in Vladivostok

10.12.13
Kristen says...

So, a week ago right now I was really, really jet lagged.

Why, you ask?

Well, because we made a "blink trip" to the States (as in, so short that if you blinked, you might miss it)...and like many short trips home, this trip was not for happy reasons, because unfortunately my last remaining grandfather passed away two weeks ago Friday.

Two days later we were on a plane.

We arrived on a Monday, attended the visitation on Tuesday and had the funeral on Wednesday.

The silver lining (besides seeing all my siblings and cousins) was that we were home over Thanksgiving, and were able to have dinner with Chris' parents and grandmother on Thursday, and then with my family on Friday. We also were able to celebrate my nephew's 3rd birthday on Saturday before getting on a plane early Sunday morning...and, thanks to an overnight layover in Seoul and the time changes, we arrived back in Vlad mid-day Tuesday...thus my jetlag.

But all sadness aside, it was a great trip...mostly because of these adorable kids:

Our newest niece, Gemma!

She was just over two weeks old and sooo tiny and cute!

The 4-month chunk Bennett!

What a happy baby!

Sweet Norah!

She has the most expressive eyes!

The J-man, Jackson! He is always smiling and lots of fun!

The biggest boy, Ezra!

Actually, on Saturday we celebrated two birthdays:

Ezra turned 3

And Chris turned 30 (almost)

Chris had some old friends at his party

 We also celebrated Christmas with Chris' family, which was lots of fun!

 The Christmas theme has continued since we arrived back in Russia...this weekend I went and bought a Christmas tree (our first since 2009!) and some fun Russian decorations:

Yay Christmas tree!! (Ёлка in Russian)

Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz--Father Frost)

Снегурочка (Snegurochka--Snow Maiden) She is Ded Moroz's grandaughter

Matroyshka

Santa Claus!

 This will be our first Christmas away from Iowa, so Chris' grandmother got us an ornament to commemorate it!

Thanks Grandma Marge!

 I also decorated the rest of the house--I have over 10 nativities out, and this homage to Santa:

 Good times.

So that's where we're at.

In other news, Chris grew a beard in November for Movember

and won an award at work, which is nice

And Pip, as always, is very cute 

With freshly-fallen snow on the ground and the twinkle lights blinking merrily, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...in Russia. Can't wait. :)

My Side of the Story

15/6/12
Kristen says...

Well hello there! Did you miss me? My husband has been very prolific with his blog posts recently, whereas I...have been rather (unusually for me) silent. There are a few reasons for that...

1) I've been busy! Whether or not someone else is orchestrating it, moving from one country to another is NOT easy! There are lists to make, last-minute things to buy, oh, and the little matter of removing a cute 11.9 kg pooch named Pip from the country. I have now made two! trips to the airport this week alone for this very reason...it wouldn't have been so hard if, on Tuesday, the cargo office I'm coordinating with had actually given me a name and telephone number of the person I was talking to, instead of just picking up the phone for me, having me talk to a mysterious person at the other end, and then promising to send an e-mail that never came...at any rate, with the help of a VERY nice gentleman named Franklin I got it mostly figured out today, and still had time left over to get Pip checked out by the vet too...so theoretically Pip is set to head out with me...theoretically. Over the past two years I've learned not to count anything in Honduras as official until it is actually happening...and even then sometimes things change!

2) I'm still teaching! Ok, so technically this last week it was tutoring, and next week it's a 2-hr writing class, but still, it takes time out of my day. One of my bestest friends here taught our AP Environmental Science class, and few of her students managed not to pass her class (to be fair, I had a few that didn't pass my class either!), and so in order to be ready for their recoup test next week, one of her students asked me to tutor them for the exam...which is super-funny since my science skills are only slightly higher than my math skills...but, with a little effort on my part (and a little help from the study guide and textbook) I think I did a pretty good job...I guess we'll see if the student passes the exam next week!

3) I'm a little overwhelmed! Ok, maybe "a little" is a little of an understatement...imagine, Chris applied for the SD last August (like, the first week of school!) and we have been working, planning, hoping, and maybe even praying a little for news since then. Each e-mail and phone call (we got your application, we want you to interview, you passed your interview, your medical clearance is done, your security clearance is done, and then just over a week ago, welcome) was exciting, but we couldn't really say much about it, because at any time it could be the last thing we heard...(which was super-hard for me, let me tell you! The things I wanted to blog about! Chris was gone for an entire month in January due to the date of his interview and I barely blogged at all that month because I couldn't say anything about him being gone or the reason why. Later, we had inch-wide bruises on our arms during our medical clearance testing from our tuberculosis test (negative, btw). Fun anecdotes that aren't as funny when they're not fresh--although I do have a picture!)

  Anyway, after months of "sitting, waiting, wishing", everything is now moving really, REALLY quickly. We've only been "official" for a week+ but it seems like every morning Chris wakes me up (Oh, did I mention it's summer? ;) Tutoring doesn't start until after 10am for a reason!) two or three times with new information; packout scheduled, housing found, details that I have no say in planned...for a control freak like me (yes, I admit it, it's true) it's very hard to sit back and come to terms with the fact that I have nothing to do with any of this. Chris has to be the contact on it all!

I have to say, it is nice, in a way, but also kind of hard to swallow, especially since we've been pretty much on our own here in Honduras, making things happen in spite of everything for two years now. So this whole the-government's-in-control thing is weird! And unsettling! And kind of cool...and I'm just going to have to get used to it, and I will...but it's taking some time.

Plus we don't know where we'll be in 6+ months, which is also freaking me out! I mean, we knew we were coming to Honduras a full 7 months before we moved down here, and we're under that time frame for the next move now, and won't know for at least another 6-8 weeks...eek!

DEEP BREATH

Anyway, I've been dealing with all the change and information and lack of information in the most constructive ways I can think of: see #s 1 & 2 above, and follow this link to my brand new tatting blog!

You see, with Chris back in the blog-o-sphere it's not going to be a one-woman show any more here at TeguciWhat (or whatever we decide to change the name to) so I decided that it was time to create something that I could control and plan and implement wherever we are, and also give me a place to further explore my hobby and other stuff like that there (movie reference? I don't remember).

Anyway, for those of you who liked the tatting posts but wanted to skip the travel stuff, Tatting All Over the Place is for you...for those of you who groaned when it was tatting post and like the others, stick with TeguciWhat...and for those of you who like both, check both often or subscribe via e-mail to get posts both blogs sent directly to your e-mail inbox!

But enough of that...I realize after reading this post over that it sounds like I'm complaining, and maybe I am a little, but I have to tell you, there are some things I am REALLY excited about...so it's time to play a little good news/not so good news...


Good news: Chris and I get to meet our niece for the very first time in just under two weeks! And we get to catch up with our nephews, siblings, parents, and other family members! Yay!
Not so good news: We have to say good bye to friends, both here in Honduras and at Principal Financial Group, Chris' work home for over 7 years (in case you're keeping track, yes, that's more than the entire time we've been married and, thanks to the paid pre-senior year summer internship and afternoons of work throughout his last year of college, Chris got me a beautiful engagement ring. I don't take that lightly!) Principal has been an AWESOME company to be associated with, and I'll admit a source of stability for me the past two years...I took pride and hope that if, for whatever reason, everything collapsed in Honduras we always had Chris' job with Principal to go home to. It's a bittersweet parting, I assure you.

Good news: We get to go watch the US Olympic swimming trials in Omaha with almost my entire family while we're home! Go team!
Not so good news: Chris' class starts in DC in mid-July (ok that's actually good news, but read on, dear reader). The Olympics start in London in late-July. We cannot be in two places at the same time. Qué triste. Yes, it is true, we are forgoing our Olympic dreams for this, something that really, really, REALLY hurts...but as I keep rationalizing to myself, there will be another Olympics in 2 short years, maybe even in the country we move to... (hey, I'm a Cubs fan...eternal optimist here!)

Good news: Being in the States means I get to have all the tatting stuff I ordered today... :)
Not so good news: It was expensive! And we have to pack/ship it, perhaps to a storage facility for 5+ months...

Good news: We have an apartment in DC reserved for us, Pip can stay there with us, we will be able to catch up with many friends who live in the DC area, and Chris is excited about his new opportunity. Oh, and I get to spend 5+ months in WASHINGTON DC WITH NOTHING TO DO BESIDES VISIT MUSEUMS, WALK AROUND, AND BE IN WASHINGTON DC!!!!!!!!!
There's not really anything I can "not so good news" counter that with...6 months of museum hopping?! Seriously, be still my nerdy, history-loving heart! I already renewed my subscription to Smithsonian magazine in anticipation of July-November. Woot!!!

So, it's not all sunshine and daisies here...there are good things happening, but also things I'm sad about. I will miss Honduras, my AWESOME school, our beautiful apartment, and ESPECIALLY all the wonderful people we've met here, but I am really excited for our short trip home, an extended stay in DCland, and of course the "Great Unknown" as I call it...

I hope you'll stick around with us after our TeguciAdventure is over and our new adventure begins! There will be lots more to come, I'm sure! :)

KF

An exciting new adventure...

Chris says...

We're about to undertake an exciting new adventure! I recently accepted an Information Management Specialist (IMS) position with the United States Department of State.

How did this happen?

One short answer could be, "I applied". Another might be, "With patience".

A longer-ish answer is (take a deep breath): August 2011 I applied for the position after having a number of conversations with myself, Kristen, and many, many others. By January 2012, I had been asked to go to Washington D.C. for an interview. By May, I had passed all clearances (what a process). Finally, this past week I received and accepted an official offer to join the State Department.

Why did this happen?

"Because we're nuts!"

It is true, we're nuts - but that's not why we're doing this. The easy answer is: the same it was last time.

The longer answer for me is: we still have a desire to live abroad, and I've learned something about how I want to work.

The Principal Financial Group has been a wonderful place for us. I have had so many great opportunities and have had the privilege of working for and with some of the most talented, hardworking and humble people I have ever met. I cannot say enough about the company and the people - it truly is a great place to work. That being said, this Honduran experience brought about some questioning of the status quo (and that's putting it lightly). One of the things I started asking myself was about what I wanted out of my job/career. After having quite a long internal conversation and many, many discussions with Kristen and others - I figured out that right now, for me, I know that I can be successful working remotely...but working remotely is not something I want to continue to do for any length of time. I've learned that, for me - there is some intangible about being in an office setting that cannot be replicated, no matter how good your video conference or communication capabilities might be. I know now that how I want to work includes some interaction with my team beyond phone calls, emails or video conferences.

Many, many other reasons exist that answer the question, "Why we are doing this?", but the explanation above hopefully provides some insight into the personal reflection process that this initial experience has triggered. It's been a great learning/growing opportunity - and I can't wait to start the next phase!

One closing note - thanks to all the family and friends that have been been supportive throughout this process. It's been a long time coming...hope you can all come see us wherever we start this next chapter!

A Weekend in the Southern Sun (Amapala Again)

27/3/12
Kristen says...

I love weekends this time of year...we're in the long stretch between the winter holiday and Semana Santa (not as long this year as it was last year, but still...), the weather is getting hot, esmoky and miserable, and the upcoming weekends are all that get you through some days.

Last weekend was a particularly nice one, because Chris and a couple friends and I went to Amapala for some R and R. And even though it's hot in the city, it was RIDICULOUSLY hot in Amapala! Our friends' car thermometer registered over 100° on Sunday! It was so hot that the stray dogs were hanging out in the water to cool off...
We had a nice time, as always, staying at the Casa de las Gargolas and eating lots of chicken tacos (me) and fried shrimp, fish, and lobster (everyone else). It wasn't a very productive weekend as far as Amapala trips go...we didn't take a tour or walk around or anything; we just went to the beach, swam in the pool, and of course ate A LOT! One of our favorite Amapala treats is this delicious pan blanco: it's sold in the early morning by a little old lady wandering around in the morning yelling (quite loudly at 5:30 or 6 AM) "¡Paaaaan Blanco!" or in the evening by a guy in a tuk tuk proclaiming to have "Pan blanco en 3-D!" Delicious!
The food was yummy as ever, but the beach was different this time, though...it was the first time I'd seen the water so high! Every trip we go to the same little restaurant/house by the beach, which is usually busy, and watch the sunset and the waves and take turns going to swim...

This time we were basically swimming whether we were out in the sun or sitting in the shade, because the waves were lapping at our feet when we were sitting at the tables! It was also REALLY busy. We'd kind of thought that it would be dead considering Semana Santa starts next weekend, but it was packed! As we went out on Sunday literally busloads of people were heading to the island.

Here's a picture of the high water and a boat that someone decided it was a good idea to dock right on the beach...
Amapala is still pretty un-touristy, but they're starting to do some different water-sport type things...for example, Chris went tubing!
We had a very nice time in Amapala, but it was a little sad, too, because it might be the last time we go down there (more on that later)...we took a picture commemorate the occasion:
After leaving Amapala we decided to make a few stops at places we hadn't been to on the way home. Our first stop was a funny little roadside zoo that is actually located behind a restaurant (how random, right? Go for the food, stay for the animals).
It was actually a fairly legit animal-rescue zoo with monkeys, birds, pig-type animals, and even...

Pumas!

Yes, it does warn you not to "moleste" the pumas...which are about 2 feet away from me, and only kept in their cage by a small padlock...eek! Luckily they didn't seem too anxious to get out.

Here are some of the other animals:




















Apparently raccoons are zoo animals in Honduras? (they are native to Honduras, I looked it up!)

After we went to the zoo we decided to drive into the town of Sabanagrande, a pretty little town I've never actually been to before, although I have driven past it multiple times. It was, as you might predict, a really pretty little town:




















They also seemed to have a nice public library (above), which surprised and impressed me. I love what it says above the door: "A town that reads is a town that thinks." Nice. Well said. :)

After we left Sabanagrande we stopped at a historical monument(!) commemorating the Battle of Trinidad (you know, the one that's on the back of the 5 Lempira bill...oh wait, you didn't know that? Well, it is! Read this blog post to find out more and see the back of the bill) and the nearby statue of national hero Francisco Morazan.


















Not only was it neat to see a Honduran battlefield/historical monument (after spending basically every summer of my youth traveling around the US doing the exact same thing), but we got to check off another of the "bill sites" too.

A couple months ago Chris suggested that we try to visit and get our picture taken with as many of the places on the back of Honduran bills as possible. So far we have Copán (1 Lempira bill), Amapala (above/2 Lempira bill) and now the 5 Lempira bill too! We're on our way! :)

The rest of the drive home was uneventful but pretty. We bought a hammock from this gentleman:
and crashed Honduran spring break in the river (It was so hot we were tempted to join them...kind of) :





















And then there was the fun billboards painted onto the rocks at the side of the road:
And all the beautiful views...what a gorgeous country!














It was a great weekend...and next weekend should be great too, for a different reason...it's the first week of Semana Santa and six days of relaxing, tatting, reading, and sleeping. Ahhh! :)

Happy Holy Week! :)
KF