Thoughts on God and Stuff
My experience with Russian and Crimean people has always been positive. This hospitality is deeply embedded in their culture and moral values. People Who Are Strangers There are categories of relationships that define how people treat you in Russia and Crimea. I have found these categories of people hold across all the areas of the former Soviet Union that I […]
Read more
I see many articles in the West saying how bad things are on the Crimean peninsula, under Russia’s control. Closed businesses, crumbling infrastructure, poor treatment of Tatars, and families unable to visit each other due to the Russia/Ukraine border. All I can say from first-hand experience is that it just is not so. Plight of the Tatars We see Western […]
Read more
One of the things I always recall from visits to Ukraine and Crimea are the bus rides. Usually they are small, 15-20 person vans, that range from full to over-packed. On this Crimean Bus Ride to Yalta, it was enjoyable and comfortable. Usually, it is not so relaxing. Bus Rides in Crimea Normally, this particular route has full bus loads, […]
Read more
I am lucky enough to enjoy a sunrise in Crimea again. It has been a full year since I last enjoyed the weather and beautiful nature here. After sharing food and wine with family and friends last night, and enjoying a good night’s sleep in the fresh sea air, I am refreshed after the long journey. But morning comes early. Sunrise […]
Read more
Here I am, 31 days after leaving for Russia, back in the States for the 4th day. I have many questions, because my use of Afrezza and Tresiba have gone up considerably. Reduced Tresiba in Russia My questions come partly from my earlier post, where I noted that I had reduced my basal insulin usage considerably upon arriving in Russia. When […]
Read more
The building and property in the leading photo was one I was looking at as an investment, in Crimea. Some things just do not work out. Does that make it a bad investment on the Crimean peninsula? Crimea Investment This building was originally started as a sanatorium (health clinic) for children. My first information told me that they ran out of money, and it […]
Read more
Yesterday, I posted a story of a boy in Russia. I talked about some of the things I saw as good in the Russian education system. A teacher in the US was quick to disagree with me. She told me I was wrong thinking memorization is as important as creativity in problem solving. My comment relates to this article, and I will give details […]
Read more
Is there really much of a difference between Russian education and American education? Let me tell you a story about a typical 9-year-old Russian boy. Here, we will call him Ivan (not his real name, to protect his identity). Russian Education of a Boy While I have been on the Crimean coast, I have spent time speaking with a 9-year-old boy. Ivan spends the […]
Read more
May 9 is Victory Day in the former Soviet states. It is the day that Hitler’s forces surrendered to the Soviet Union in 1945. The day is celebrated by Russia and the former Soviet states, since 1946. It is the greatest patriotic holiday in their culture, and WW2 veterans receive great honoron this day. As a side note, I also first met my Eastern […]
Read more
We have now gotten to where I can point at this article, where I said that Putin will not march into Ukraine, nor try to take over (more of) the country. Listen to the Western news, and you might disagree. Who would benefit from a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting war? Nobody. It would cause a major military […]
Read more