Zelenograd

Shopping at the meat market 1

janclaus feeding the hungry, healthcare in a third world country, shopping in a different country, Ukraine, Zelenograd , , , ,

Shopping over seas can be a great adventure or maybe not. In this blog and the next one I’m going to introduce you to a meat market in Zhytomer Ukraine. This was a huge place that was a full block square. It had a lot of open doors so you could go in from almost anywhere. I want to tell you that as far as I know I have never eaten any meat from this meat market. I say that because when you are invited somewhere else to eat you can’t be sure where they purchased their product.  I don’t know what this is but it was for sale at the meat market. Continue reading →

Is it a Garage? Or … ?

janclaus garage, Russia, Zelenograd ,

Here in the United States most of us have a car. In fact most families have two or three cars. We have different ways of protecting our cars. We have a drive way or a garage or a special parking place and we are thrilled to have our space.

While living in Zelenograd I noticed a very strange looking thing. They looked like metal boxes the shape of a car. I don’t know what it was called because it wasn’t a garage especially as we think of a garage. Zelenograd is by Moscow and in the winter it is cold and the snow covers the ground most of the winter. Continue reading →

Home Groups in Zelenograd

janclaus manners, Russia, Zelenograd , , ,

Hospitality means “Friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests.” I will admit I am not that kind of person. I’m the kind of person who will pour your first cup of coffee or tea and tell you where you can get your second cup if you want it.

When we went to live in Zelenograd, Russia it was to help people learn how to be small group leaders. We had a small apartment where our living room served as our bedroom and three times a week we had people over to show them how to invite people to their home and be hospitable to them. Needless to say, I felt out of my element. But I made coffee and tea and always had some sort of sweet. Continue reading →

Apparently Manners are not Universal

janclaus manners, Public transportation, Russia, Zelenograd , ,

I was born and raised in the Midwest. As I was growing up, I learned several sayings I was told were polite to say: “Please”, “Thank you”, “I’m sorry” and the one I want to talk about today “excuse me”.

I was taught to say excuse me if I walked in front of any one or wanted to get by someone or touched someone accidently. I was and still am a polite person, but there are countries where you cannot be polite.UA 62 Continue reading →