Trip to Athens, Greece - Day 2

Our second day in Athens was a Sunday.  Normally we have been traveling or arriving at our destination on Sunday or in areas where there isn't a congregation of our church nearby.  In Athens, however, we were not traveling and there is an English-speaking branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, so we planned on attending.  We didn't pack regular church clothes, but figured that people wouldn't mind if we showed up - and we were right!

We took the subway (after purchasing a five-day pass for each of us) and were able to find the church building without too much problem.  There was a bit of an adventure because the walk from the metro station to the church building took us through a Roma encampment.  We walked through without causing any problems or having any sort of confrontations.  

The church building was recognizable and when we entered we were met by a couple of missionaries - they need to keep someone in the lobby because there have been some issues of theft because of the neighborhood.  We did introductions and then met the branch president.  He and his wife are from England and were on a mission in Greece.  The church service was nice - it was fast and testimony meeting - so there were a number of testimonies.  One was by a young woman who was traveling around Europe with a friend - so they were in the same visitation boat as us.  The best part of the meeting was a baby blessing for a family where the husband was African (I think from Ghana) and the wife was Greek.  The blessing was beautiful and sincere and the little girl was darling!

It was General Conference in Utah so everyone was buzzing about the announcement that church will change from 3 hours to 2 hours.  We were happy that the rest of the church would finally be doing what we've been doing here in Kazakhstan for the past 4.5 years!  We only needed to change the days when we have Sunday School.  After the meeting there was a little linger longer with the English branch and the Greek branch that also meets in the building.  We were given a few cookies and had a nice visit.  We met some people who knew some of our members here in Astana - they are both defense Attaches!  

Walking from our apartment to the metro station in Dafni. Beautiful citrus trees lined our quiet street.

Outside the church.

After church we got off at the Syntagma station and walked around the botanical gardens.  We loved the quiet walks.  Some places reminded us of the parks we visited in Barcelona.  It was a bit shabby - but just enough that it had a charm to it.  Our favorite part was seeing the large nests of parrots who were busy stealing nest materials from each other, the tortoise we found on the path, the pond full of turtles, and just the beautiful quiet, shady peaceful feeling.

Palm trees in the botanical gardens.

More beautiful trees in the garden.

In the park.

We always do a lot of walking on our vacations.

Parrot nests hanging from the trees.

Parrots everywhere!

This bowery was a nice touch!

A pond full of turtles!

Turtles just don't care how they get their sun!

Enjoying looking at the turtles.

Our wandering tortoise friend!  Our kids named him/her Bob.

After we had walked around the park, we came around the side of the parliament building just in time to see the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.  We have seen similar ceremonies in Moscow and Prague, but the one in Greece was very unique.  They wear distinct uniforms and the way that they march is really very interesting.  The ceremony was very nice and we were glad that we were there to witness it.

Tomb of the unknown soldier at the Parliament Building.

Changing of the Guard

More of the ceremony

Checking that everything was right after the guard was changed.

Lina watching the change.

After the ceremony we walked around downtown a bit.  The stores were mostly closed on Sunday (which was unusual in Europe, but nice in a lot of ways) so we got back on the metro and headed back to "home".  We stopped at another little restaurant that served Gyros and Pitas and had a nice lupper (lunch and supper).  Afterward we went to the pastry shop next door and the kids all had an ice cream - and Yulia did too. 

After that we went back to our apartment and spent the rest of the evening reading and just resting.  It was a very nice day.  We were very glad we had found the church and that we had a nice quiet Sunday.  We knew that we would be going hard the next day, so a quiet day was just what we needed.

Getting ready for more walking!

Rewarding ourselves after another long day!

So many yummy pastries!

To be continued...

Superhero for a Week!

During the fall semester I had a student approach me after class.  She asked if it would be okay if she took my picture so that she could paint me as Buzz LightYear for her art club project.  I didn't know anything about the art club, but she was a good student so I said sure.  I was not sure if the whole thing was a practical joke, or what, but I didn't think too much of it.  She brought her camera to office hours, took some pictures of me from various angles, and that was that. I also made her promise to show me when she was finished.

In January, another student of mine from a different class that I taught in the fall asked me if she could come and take a few more pictures of me.  I asked her why.  She said that she had traded with the other student and was going to do the Buzz LightYear picture of me instead.  I agreed, she came and took my picture, and the transaction was completed.

On Tuesday I received an email from the ArtStudio club at the school to attend the unveiling of the portraits in the main atrium of the university.  I invited Yulia to come over on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. for the grand unveiling.

Unveiling ceremony

The secret revealed!

Standing with the opening ceremony crowd.

What a pleasant and awesome surprise.  The painting that was done is very good. I don't know if I look like Buzz LightYear, but that Buzz Lightyear that she did of me definitely looks like me.  In the painting I have the beard that I grew over the winter.  The depiction of me is very realistic and looks good.  She captured a certain twinkle in my eye that makes the face really look alive.  The only thing that I could (but won't) complain about is the fact that my eyes are blue in the picture.

Buzz LightYear!

A closer look.

Missing my beard!

An isolated view.

The close up!

There were about seven other paintings of various figures in the university: the president and vice president, the dean of the engineering school, a chemistry professor, etc.  We think mine is the best.  We were offered the opportunity to purchase the painting to help the art club fund itself for supplies next year.  We are going to buy the picture to hang and keep.

The most fun thing that has come from this experience has been the reactions from students. "Professor Willardson, have you seen the painting of you as Buzz LightYear?" "It looks just like you!"  I have had a few students email me pictures of the painting since it is on display all this week in the atrium.  I asked, Ainur, my student to pose with me next to the picture and to sign it since we are going to buy it.

Ainur, a very talented artist and an economics student! 

This will definitely be a memento to cherish our time here in Kazakhstan. 

School Days Part III (First Day of School)

Yulia got a call from the twins' teacher on Friday afternoon (August 30) that there would be a parents' meeting at the school at 7:00 p.m. that day.  We arranged with Jon that he would come with us so that he could get information for his son who is in the same class.  At the meeting we were told that the first graders would have their "line up" (Линейка) on Monday, September 1st at 9:00.  We needed to be there at 8:30.  After the line-up a few classes, not ours, would have a short lesson as a demonstration for the day's special guest: President Nazarbayev himself!

Monday was a holiday in Kazakhstan (Constitution day was celebrated) and so I didn't have work.  Yulia's mom had arrived the day before on the train from Krasnoyarsk, so we had an entire contingent of folks to go to the festivities.

Waiting at the bus stop on the first day of school - the twins in their uniforms!

The three amigos on their way to "the line-up"!

Riding the bus to school - It was nice and empty on the holiday.

Walking from the bus to school

There were a lot of people at the school.  There was a girl handing out balloons to all of the kids in attendance, especially the first graders in their uniforms.

The twins with their balloons. 

1V (1В) Class sign and the twins with their balloons.

It was quite chaotic getting everyone lined up with their classes and keeping the parents in the background.  That was coupled with the extra presidential security made for a bit of a crowded space in the school's courtyard.

One side of the courtyard, parents in the background behind the kids and next to the wall.

 The ceremony was quite simple and nice[1].  The older kids danced, there was a ribbon cutting by one of the younger kids to open the school, and a first bell of the year rung by a first grader being led around by an 11th grader (senior here).

First grade girl ringing the first bell (Первый Звонок) being led by a senior.

As part of the ceremony all of the children released their balloons.

Seniors doing a dance number.  The boys were not super enthused (are most boys ever super enthused about forced dance numbers?)

Getting ready to cut the ribbon to open School 75!

All in all it was a pretty good way to start the school year.  Our only complaint was that we didn't get to hear a speech by the President.  Apparently he came to the school and walked around during the short lessons after the ceremony.  

The twins and James with their teacher, K. Ulkhanovna.

The main thing was that the school was opened.  It was actually ready on the 1st of September and our kids were ready to get started.

Leaving the school after the ceremonies were over.  School 75 is open for business.

________

[1] They announced during the ceremony the following statistics: 

1. There were five new schools opening in Astana that day.

2. Of the nearly 1 million residents of the city, over 100,000 are school-age children

3. The school had been built for a capacity of 2,000 students and there were nearly 4,000 signed up already.