Saturday, August 23, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
History Lesson
Lindenau Werft was a shipyard founded in Memel (that's Klaipeda, to the Germans) in 1919. They fled Memel for Kiel in the mid-1940s, before the Soviet army arrived.
I guess they built ships and manhole covers?
Below, from Riga.
I can't find a website that explains what those words are in English.
This one celebrates Riga's 800th Anniversary (I think that's a little boat with a sail that says "Riga 800") in 2001.
Well, on that note, I guess we'll head back to the other blog--The New Miltons. See you there.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Vilnius
Which one
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
We're back
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Sun is Setting on SLI
But not before my class
could have some fun and games.
playing "Do you love your neighbor?" with Ellen's class on the last morning.
Then we all went off to the closing ceremony to say our various goodbyes.
We shook every person's hand and said goodbye.
Farewell from Klaipeda. I'll "see you" again when we return home to Tacoma.
Thanks for a wonderful 3 weeks.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Hospitality
Some of the summer teaching and residence life staff.
Sharon and Kel, the summer pastor at SLI.
Several more students (and a couple of their friends).
The academic vice president and Ellen.
Summer teaching staff, and the student life vice president (on the right).
All together, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Canada, New Zealand, and the US are represented here.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Russian-Lithuanian-English
The conversation I described in the market was interesting. The three older women were curious how it was that we are white and Peter is black. At first they were speaking in Lithuanian, and we were both a bit shell-shocked. Then I heard the word 'bianca' and wondered if that meant white and they were asking about this. Sandy finally said, "I don't understand," in Russian, and they switched. She figured out that, yes, they were asking about this, so we used one of our 7 Lithuanian words--evaikantas (e-vigh-kahn-tahs)...adopted.
So, with a little Russian and a lot of English, we get by just fine here.
The Market
...the ones she's packing into that bag. They're are a light creamy coconut paste covered in a delicate chocolate, all on top of a crunchy cookie--almost a cracker--with a lightly sweet chocolate flavor.There. There they are...on the scale. See them? We buy kilos of them.
The other interesting thing about the market is seeing the groups of older women who, all the sudden, realize Peter is there and all at once start chattering, 3 or 4 of them, non-stop, simultaneously, fast, and inquisitively. It's like some strange shock wave passes over and through me, and leaves me momentarily paralyzed. They speak with such urgency, and I have no idea what they're saying, but I get the feeling that I can't possibly go until I've answered the questions, solved their problems, or somehow made them understand me.
Then Sandy's Russian kicks in, and she solves it all, so we can move on.
Planting Seeds?
I did end up having a lengthy conversation with one student about whether we should/can allow each to have his own rules (basically). She even said to me, I need to think this all over, and then I can saywhat I think.
It seemed like a fruitful conversation...and we (Sandy and I both) will follow up.
And only 2 more of these Questions of Life groups--Tuesday and Thursday.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Wandering Around Riga
We went to an English language worship service in this church (though this picture is Saturday--just visiting). We met one Estonian family and a German young couple. So, I guess they come to this church, even though it's there second language...?
Riga
One of many examples of the architecture in Old Riga.
The Latvian Parliament building.
The War Museum.
One of the many churches in Old Riga.
A local woman at the bakery/sweets store across from our place.
Amelia contemplating the sugar cup at the Soviet restaurant.