Bowling and Billiards

Today, Jim and I ventured out to the local bowling alley with most of the kids. It was a 30 minute walk in the snow. Once we arrived coats were checked and we started having fun. There were quite a few kids so I opted to "rent" two additional pool tables for an hour and a half while others bowled. The price was 100 rubles for 1 hour per table, or about $3 US. It was very similar to any American bowling alley you might see, however, it was smaller, there was a full bar upstairs, and a stage for live music. I imagine it is quite a hot spot for the locals in the evenings. I smell like an ashtray and can't wait to shower up and change clothes.

Daniel was never more than 3 or 4 feet from me, most of the time, and Lyena (sp?) was fiercely competiting against Jim in bowling. We played teams at the pool tables against some of the other kids and Misha, our interpreter. Like some of the other games we played, these kids seemed more interested in just getting their turn rather than actually playing by the rules. Their attention span is Chut! Chut! One other thing I noted was that their bowling shoes were absolutely pristine, whereas, in America they are generally trashed. I don't get that one....

We got back to the church just in time for lunch which was cabbage and potato soup, plain noodles with optional ketchup, and tea. They also had pickles which are neither dill, nor sweet so we call them "swill" pickles. All of the Amerikanskis put our noodles in our soup which is odd to those who notice. Following lunch we struck up a game of UNO with some of the kids while others practiced a Christmas Skit. They are fierce UNO players and Larry and I were beaten soundly over and over again. However, I now know the numbers up to 10 in russian as well as red, blue, yellow, and green.

The kids are watching some BBC video about "the birds and the bees". This is my chance for another hot shower. Oh yeah!

-Rader