Summary of the last days in Omsk

I have not been very eager to post anything new since I was busy during the last days in Omsk with organizing my trip back home as well as with the Russian exam at the language school and farewell partys. As I am writing, I am sitting at home in Austria already and look back to the last weeks as if it was the most interesting time in my life. It is the point of time in which I realize how far I really was away and how great the cultural differences actually are in comparison to Austria. It is also the point where I find myself in an extremly wealthy country where everything seems to work perfectly and where it is easy to live in. I have not seen my country like this before! But, how much energy and effort people need to keep things that perfect and stable? Could it be that many of us sacrifize to much of their life to make things that perfect and to earn more and more money? I don't think so, but I think that most people in the world try to improve their lifes, but it really matters in which country you try, it seems to me at least.  Maybe it is corruption that hinders the money flow to build up new infrastructure and to make thinks really better (of course we have corruption in Austria too, no doubt). So maybe it is something else that makes a difference? Certainly, a lot depends on equal distribution of wealth and certainly not every country is fair in this respect. But since I am not an expert, I stop my thoughts here and describe what I really have seen during the last days :) Pictures of course too!

After the last classes on Monday and Tuesday last week, we eventually had the Russian exam on Tuesday evening. The exam incluced a writing task, grammar test, listening comprehension as well as a speaking task. This exam was a little tricky, especially the grammar test, so I tried to be prepared accordingly and as it turns out, I received really good grades. But of course, in order to become fluent and close to perfect, there is a lot to do in the future (speaking about myself). It is just one step in a long process of becoming familiar with Russian language.
Just right after the exam our teachers were surprising us with self-made cakes and other Russian sweets. IOur teachers were awesome, but also eager to teach us. Anyway, that evening continued at the Karaoke bar in the city centre, where booze was served till also the shiest ones were singing. There were a lot of people: Austrian participants, Japanese ones, the Summer School organisation staff and others. It was a lot of fun and the only night we went out for quite long.
The next day, wednesday, we received the language certificate from the university and we went to the restaurant together with the teachers and the Summer School staff.
Thursday I was cooking for a friend (I really like cooking) and after my last Salsa dance lesson in Omsk, we were hanging out in a little theme park close to river Irtysh. We had a walk there and enjoyed the view as well as the sunset from above the ground (big wheel!).
Friday.... the last day of my trip. Still a great day! We (7 people) went to the traditional Russian Sauna. It was a seperate place where we as a group had our own Sauna, showers, relaxing room and also a small wooden pool (looks like a huge wine barrel). There we also could order tea, but what was more interesting was the Russian tradition in a Sauna. People beat each other using perch tree sticks with leaves on them! That was weird but also fun at the same time. It is said that it is good for the skin to use thes perch tree sticks. And if you are gentle you can even leave this place without a scratch. Great! (Little note for Finns who may read this blog: It is a mixed sauna, but everyone is covered)

And now some of the pictures:

After the exam with our three teachers

Karaoke bar "Abcento More"

Best singers in our group

Last salsa dance lesson (Thank you Masha and Olga)

Walking in the park

River Irtysh in the back

On the Big Wheel

Novosibirsk trip

On thursday evening I went by night train to Novosibirsk. Going via night train is an interesting experience indeed. Despite that it is not that easy to sleep (cars are open, no seperate train within the cars), it is comfy in a way I did not know before. For example you can get hot water in the train to have a cup of tea, you can enjoy reading books (like I did, a book with stories in Russian) or you just enjoy the view as long as it is not dark. The travel by train took about 7-8 hours and I arrived in the morning at Novosibirsk. There I went to the hotel, just opposite to the station, and left my luggage in the room. Luckily, the hotel is very close to the centre and there is even a metro station close by. The hotel itself was better than expected. Usually I would go in a hostel, but because of price differences it felt very cheap for me to stay in the hotel so I took the opportunity and benefitted from the better safety of my luggage.
Walking through the streets of Novosibirsk while observing the surroundings was an adventure for me as a European. The city centre is vivid and full of people, attractions and full of little modern monuments (such as a traffic light monument, an internet monument and so on). I suggest that after 2-3 days you have seen most of the sights in Novosibirsk (including churches). I myself went to the Lenin Monument, the Opera, traffic light monument to a gallery and two churches and went through the aisles to enjoy city life.

Pictures:

The train station in Novosibirsk looks like a palace

Lenin monument

Hotel building to the left just opposite to the station

Mc Donald's?

Metro

St. Alexander Nevsky church

Metro

Umbrella monument

Ilussion gallery

Metro (note the top symbols from soviet times) 

Nikolai chapel

My birthday and "talent" show

Yesterday (12.08) was my birthday, so we had a little party at the Ukrainian Restaurant "Shinok" in Omsk. I invited my new friends who I met here in Omsk from the university as well as students who participate in the same language program as I do and some people who I met during some of the excursions.
The atmosphere was great and I am really happy to say that I have made a good choice. The kitchen and the service were doing a great job so I really enjoyed my Ukrainian Borsh soup.
A little note: Consider typical stereotypes that many people created about Russia and you would think that vodka is present at any kind of party. In fact we only ordered wine and beer which fitted to the dishes we chose.

Really nice: Unexpectly I received several birthday presents: 2 books full of Russian stories (actually for children with big letters, so just right for me to practice reading as a beginner), a beer glass with a Russian idiom written on it, Kazakh chocolate and a book for praciting writing in Russian.

Find the pictures below and scroll down to read more about today (13.08)

My new friends and colleagues from the language program and other events

Tasting perfectly made Borsh soup with home mad bread and Smetana (Sour cream)

Today after classes we had a little "talent" show at the university were we had to briefly show some of our talents. Some read poems, one played the piano, some sang songs. Quite soon in the beginning of my trip in Russia, organisers of the summer school were asking us what are our hobbies so they found out that I play the drums. And of course they pushed me to show something, so I had no choice but to actively participate, but it was really good fun at the end :) Furthermore I was dancing Salsa, well, only after 2 lessons of practicing it was not looking that professional, but still a good experience. 

Russian birthday party and studying

The last days I became a little "lazy" with publishing posts, so I make a summary of sunday, monday and today. Furthermore, time is not on my side since I am studying Russian at home and need to do the homeworks.

Sunday:
That day a Russian friend had her birthday party at home. The party already started in early afternoon and went on till evening. First we had lunch and some relatives and friends were gathering at the table where the food was displayed in the middle. There were plenty of appetizers, meat dishes, ceasar sald (that one I prepared) and of course a birthday cake. Traditionally too much food is served for birthdays so it was impossible to eat everything (although I would have liked). Very different to Austrian birthday parties where that there many times when somebody held a short speech facing the birthday child where things like "I wish you all the best, good luck and a long life" and so on... After that we clinked glasses (no vodka, but wine unlike most foreigners think).
After all it was a great experience to "feel" the way birthday parties are held and furthermore I could use the opportunity to use my listening skills.

Monday:
On Monday we had Russian classes. I always find it exciting to have that course since the teachers often prepare some short games for the end of the lesson where we get in more in touch with Russian culture (such as songs and reactivity games)
In the afternoon we had a discussion with a teacher of the university about "Modern Russia". The aim was to raise questions about Russia's situation in economy, politics, but also society. Although it was quite interesting I expected a more objective, less supportive opinion from the teacher's side about the current situation in Ukraine.

Today (Tuesday)
After classes I was studying Russian and doing homework :) Not such an exciting day, but it is good to use time to improve skills in Russian language as the demand of the teachers is quite high.

Monestry Atschairski and hot thermal water

Yesterday in the morning we went to the monestry Atschairski which is located about 40 min outside of Omsk if you take a coach (bus for tourists). Taking the bus is a great experience by itself as buses in Omsk are usually from the last millenium (the design of the buses reminds me of the seventies, well, I was not born at this time so I feel like I am time travelling). Actually I wanted to sleep a little in the bus which is possible in Austria since gear shifting runs smoothly, the engine makes a subtil sound which is hard to recognize, there is smooth suspension and the seats are comfy.... all these options are not really available in Russian busses :D I guess that after a 3 hours ride, your back is more or less broken and your ears death (Yes, we Western Europeans are very very spoiled people). However, since the ride only took 40 min. I still kept my back and still I can hear properly ;)

But back to the monestry: it consists of 4 churches in different sizes and shapes and is located on an area of some acres. There is a spring of hot water (oh yesss !) and a little pond nearby where you can take a swim. The holy water from the spring is supposed to get you rid off all your sins... which is great, so I took a bath there. Oh and by the way, girls are supposed to cover their hair at the monestry (also when walking outside the church) so that they do not distract boys which is especially important during church service I suppose....
Unfortunatley it is not allowed to pictures from the interior of the churches, but during our visit the churches have been refurbished so it would not have made much sense to sneak in and take pictures. Currently, many Russian churches are rebuilt, refurbished and maintained in many parts of Russia. This is different to Austria in a way that only a handful churches, especially the ones which tourists visit, are kept tidy and refurbished. Sometimes I feel like that churches are the most well maintained buildings in Russia, but that is just my personal feeling.

After the church we went back to Omsk and in the evening I went out with a friend to the cinema to watch Mission Impossible Rogue Nation movie (In Russian: Миссия невыполнима: Племя изгоев). That was a really great choice since it is easier to understand this movie because of its rather monotonous plot. Just perfect for beginners in Russian language although I understand most of the story only by its context and pictures. Anyway, at a price of 160 Rubel (That is around 2,20  €) you can't go much wrong.

Find yesterday's impressions (Saturday 8th August) below:

Coach waiting for us in front of the university

Entrance to the monestry area

Little chapel (I think for baptism)

Spring of hot thermal water

Girls need to cover their hair

Again, the entrance, but from inside

Well refurbished and nicely built

First hot shower and art Museum Wrubel in Omsk

Yes, first time to have hot water here for the shower! And yes, it was amazing, I feel so refreshed, even reborn :) That is something I really missed here so I hope I have hot water for the next weeks.
I cannot wait going to the monestry tomorrow since it features hot (!) thermal springs!

Today we had class as usual of course, but also we went to the art museum "Wrubel" (Врубел). It was ok, not too many paintings though that grabbed my attention. Luckily, we have someone to translate in English. This is really necessary considering that we do not know many words in Russian to describe art. As usual you find today's pictures below. Enjoy!

Today's class in the morning, a little game in Russian language

Art museum

Katharina II painted by an Austrian

Art museum (I think Peter the Great)q

Art museum

By the way, this the dorm I live in ...

... and this is my room

Washing room in the dormitory (to all Austrians: don't complain about your living standards)

And by the way, to offer a more vivid picture of my travel I am currently using my phone to make videos of Omsk from time to time. These I will probably post only when I am back to Austria where I have unlimited data volume available for uploading. 

Intense Russian lessons! Picnic at the park and purchasing train tickets for going to Novosibirsk

Russian lessons are getting harder and harder I would say :) Since everything is explained in Russian language, it is not that easy to follow and to fully understand the teacher's explanation at first glance. That's why repitition in the evening is crucial to remember everything. I am really glad to have teachers who are really kean to be well prepared for the lessons and who are are consistently talking in Russian, very rarely switching to English. This is great, since it is the only way to learn a language as difficult as Russian. I am already thinking about to go to Russia again for my semester abroad which will be in summer semester 2016. This would be beneficial for my skills in Russian language.

After class I went back to the dorm to have a little rest since I could not sleep so well that night and at two o clock we headed off to have a picnic close to the river Irtysh. Unfortunatley, the place was not clean, so before we settled down we cleaned the place from the bottles, plastics and empty cigarette packs. Very sad that people leave such a place in such a condition... since there is a lot of potential to make the river side more attractive to eventually lure tourists.
At the picnic we had our stuff that we previously purchased at the store and set the "table" on the sandy soil. We put all the food in the middle to share with others and to make the atmosphere more
cheerful.

Another task for today: We bought train tickets for Novosibirsk for the upcoming week!

A new experience: Going with a so called Marshrytka (a van that is used for public transport and features many seats +  narrow + a bit smelly + loud + bumpy + full of people + fast driving - seatbelt = crazy experience!

One of two metro stations in Omsk (note that although the stations were built, there is no train going)

On the way to the river side

River Irtysh and sandy beach

"Table"