New Look

I'd like to thank my sister in law Jessica for the updated blog look! 

Anyways,

Last Friday night we went into the downtown area to go to a bar to meet up with other people from UOP as well as people from the Lukoil Refinery. The taxi dropped us off, but we weren't too sure of where we were going. We walked around one side of the building, and didn't see any signs for the bar, Harat's. After two sketchy doors, and walking around the entire block in the cold, we finally found the bar.

Only a few people were fluent in English, but there was enough beers to go around that it didn't matter much. We even managed to make potential plans to go skiing this next weekend. 

I just learned to crochet before I left for Russia. I've been keeping busy making some scarves and even attempted a hat with the yarn I brought with me. There is a yarn store close to the hotel, and got some more yarn for super cheap. More scarves and hats coming! Although its warming up, its still cold enough to bundle up.

Our original apartment plans fell through, but we have another one picked out now. Not sure when we will be moving into that one. Hopefully soon though. 

Nizhny Novgorod

Well, we have been in Russia now for about a week. I guess I will start in the beginning when I crossed through immigration illegally.

Upon arrival to our hotel at three in the morning, they proceeded to scan our passports and departure cards. The lady at reception shows me that there is no stamp in my book and even asks me to look for it. It is not there. How could this be, what in the world can I do, how did this happen?!

Well, there is not much one can do at 3am, so we try to get some sleep in our tiny accommodations. After a few hours rest, William is contacting people at work that can help us figure this out. A car is then arranged for us to go back to the airport to get a stamp. We end up needing to go to a sketchy looking building next to the main airport entrance. On the 3rd floor, there is no signs, just 2 doors, a window and a buzzer. Ringing the buzzer got us a man opening the window, saying something in Russian, and closing the window. No idea what to do, so we decided to wait a minute to see if anything else happened. And we got a man a the door then, and he took my passport and papers as we tried to explain why we were there, and hopefully someone had already told him about our situation. He takes my stuff and goes back behind the door. He returns with a stamp on my passport, and all is well.

As for Russia in general, YES, it is cold.. Not as cold as it would be if we were further northeast in Siberia, but still cold. Lots of snow, and just as much ice. Be thankful for plowed and salted sidewalks and parking lots. Even our hotel parking lot is only partially plowed, the rest is an ice mess.

The food is good here. Familiar things are on the menus. Even at the grocery store, its easy to find things. Breakfast in particular has coco puffs, yogurt, potatoes, sliced meats and cheeses, and really good hot chocolate. There is a restaurant/ pool hall/ bowling alley in the basement of the hotel. The food is pretty good: Hamburgers, pasta, soup, pizza, coffee and beer.

We will be moving into an apartment in Kstovo, hopefully by February 1st. It will be nice to actually have living space, and a kitchen to cook some meals in. Also the commute to work for William will be a bit shorter. Only about 15 minutes away. The town is small, but easy to walk to restaurants and shops. Unlike the hotel which is on the outskirts of Niznhy, so we need to taxi to the main area, or walk an hour in the cold, no thanks.

Our Hotel

A park down the street from hotel

Zibo Photos

View From Hotel Window

 Sugar Covered Mini Apple Fruit

 Our Hotel

 One of many streets that had street vendors and small markets

Chi-beria

Let it be known, that I have the most amazing husband ever!
He upgraded me to business class on the flight home, and even declined his 1st class upgrade in order to sit next to me! It was such a relaxing flight, and I slept a lot. It was nice to be able to exit the plane at the same time, and not have him waiting for me. Everything went smoothly on the way out of the airport, and even managed to grab a Dodge Challenger as our rental car.

New Year's Eve at our house was a total success. We were able to see family and friends and enjoy our night. We also had tons of food, thanks to my mom and mother in law. Pizza, Italian beef, sausage and green peppers, appetizers... the works. Not as crazy as past years have been, but it was a perfect way to end 2014 and begin 2015.

We celebrated our Christmas' a bit late this year, but it was well worth the wait. Well, William couldn't wait and wanted to open our presents from his family right away, that NYE night. So we did, and we were also spoiled rotten with candy and lots of goodies in our stockings. I'm so thankful to have a great family that I married into.

But we didn't just have one Christmas to celebrate. We also celebrated with my mom and my siblings this past Saturday. Once again, so much food to go around, including some great Philippine dishes from my brother's girlfriend. And when it came to open gifts, the presents were never ending! I'm still putting away everything from both Christmas'. We also played games as a family, and that always brings out some laughs.

This week has been pretty relaxing. Lots of reading and keeping warm on the couch while Chi-beria Part 2 sets in outside. But I think the weather is just preparing us for our next assignment in Russia.
We are getting our Russian Visas this week, and plan on leaving for Russia around the 13th of January. Which is crazy to think it's just about a week away.