So it is my third day here and it was very busy. I got up early and took the metro to Китай Город which translates to "China City", a metro stop close to the Kremlin. I was expecting a Chinatown, but it was typical Russian. This is where the large Jewish synagogue is located and, since it was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, here I was. After getting oriented after exiting the Metro, I found the synagogue a few blocks away, located on a side street. Here is a photo I took on my way over.
Construction was started in the 1880's, but was stalled severel times due to anti-Jewish regulations. It actually had to be built outside, what was then, the city limits.
I arrived at the start of services and was surprised that there were so few people there, but, as the service progressed, the synagogue filled up. It started as a typical orthodox service, difficult to follow. Women watched from the balcony above. Then, just before the torah reading, something unexpected happened. About 10 men walked to the bimah (alter) and because singing beautiful choral music. I would have loved to have gotten photos and a recording. The prayer books were in Russian and Hebrew, with Russian transliteration of the Hebrew. When the time came for the Torah reading, several members got up from their seats and crowed around the bimah.
After morning services, which went well over 3 hours, I was a bad Jew and went back for afternoon Russian lessons. I had my first иниваидульный урок (private lesson) in the afternoon after a group lesson. For those who do not know, I have been taking Russian lessons in NZ for about 2 1/2 years which the greatest Russian teacher in the world, Tamara, who lives in Auckland and gives me lessons twice a week. She is a very,very talented teacher and a wonderful person. The teachers here are very impressed with the teaching I have received and placed me in an "advanced intermediate" group. So far, all the lessons have been great. The group lessons are all in small groups of around 4 people. They are not formal and are more like discussion groups (we discuss life, current events, etc) with the teacher there to lead the discussion, all the time teaching new words and correcting our grammar.
My conversational Russian is getting better each day. On the way home, Iwalked into a small vegetable market where I was waited on by the owner (I ordered nuts, grapes, oranges, and bananas) and I think I passed for a native (but probably not).
My life at my homestay has settled into a routine. Two boiled eggs for breakfast (now with a banana thrown in). Dinner is borscht every night (which, I have to admit is homemade and very good). Last night I also got a cucumber, a tomato, and three packaged cherry blini. No main dish. My hosts asked me if it would be alright if they went to their dacha this weekend and left me alone to cook for myself. I told them, they should feel free. I am going to cook myself a feast (or, more likely, go out to a good restaurant).
The US has made some great contributions to Russian culture and cuisine.
Going home on the Metro
Since it is technically tomorrow (my jet lagged self is up at 3:30 am writing this), today I plan to visit the Kremlin after my lessons and do some siteseeing. Then to the gym and maybe go see a good Russian movie. Some of the expats at the school have also talked about getting together in the evening.
Construction was started in the 1880's, but was stalled severel times due to anti-Jewish regulations. It actually had to be built outside, what was then, the city limits.
I arrived at the start of services and was surprised that there were so few people there, but, as the service progressed, the synagogue filled up. It started as a typical orthodox service, difficult to follow. Women watched from the balcony above. Then, just before the torah reading, something unexpected happened. About 10 men walked to the bimah (alter) and because singing beautiful choral music. I would have loved to have gotten photos and a recording. The prayer books were in Russian and Hebrew, with Russian transliteration of the Hebrew. When the time came for the Torah reading, several members got up from their seats and crowed around the bimah.
After morning services, which went well over 3 hours, I was a bad Jew and went back for afternoon Russian lessons. I had my first иниваидульный урок (private lesson) in the afternoon after a group lesson. For those who do not know, I have been taking Russian lessons in NZ for about 2 1/2 years which the greatest Russian teacher in the world, Tamara, who lives in Auckland and gives me lessons twice a week. She is a very,very talented teacher and a wonderful person. The teachers here are very impressed with the teaching I have received and placed me in an "advanced intermediate" group. So far, all the lessons have been great. The group lessons are all in small groups of around 4 people. They are not formal and are more like discussion groups (we discuss life, current events, etc) with the teacher there to lead the discussion, all the time teaching new words and correcting our grammar.
My conversational Russian is getting better each day. On the way home, Iwalked into a small vegetable market where I was waited on by the owner (I ordered nuts, grapes, oranges, and bananas) and I think I passed for a native (but probably not).
My life at my homestay has settled into a routine. Two boiled eggs for breakfast (now with a banana thrown in). Dinner is borscht every night (which, I have to admit is homemade and very good). Last night I also got a cucumber, a tomato, and three packaged cherry blini. No main dish. My hosts asked me if it would be alright if they went to their dacha this weekend and left me alone to cook for myself. I told them, they should feel free. I am going to cook myself a feast (or, more likely, go out to a good restaurant).
Since it is technically tomorrow (my jet lagged self is up at 3:30 am writing this), today I plan to visit the Kremlin after my lessons and do some siteseeing. Then to the gym and maybe go see a good Russian movie. Some of the expats at the school have also talked about getting together in the evening.
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