Tag Archives: Soviet
jelly beans 2

Day 206: Language Difficulties on the Way to the Kazakh Embassy (How We Learn From Mistakes)

By on July 26, 2011 in Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

My language difficulties on the way to the Kazakh Embassy in Bishkek helped me learn. Mistakes make for the best way to remember something in the future.

July 26, 2011 · Read full story · Comments { 6 }
bishkek victory monument statue flags

Day 197: Bishkek’s Victory Monument

By on July 17, 2011 in Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

To me, the Victory Monument represented the feel of a former Soviet country. The area, besides being lightly decorated with colorful flags, was rather sparse, stark and concrete laden; it immediately made me think of my brief time in Kiev just before. I walked to the monument on an overcast, cold day in hopes of taking it all in.

July 17, 2011 · Read full story · Comments { 0 }
russian tea time chicago

Day 175: Russian Food, The Ultimate Tasting at Russian Tea Time in Chicago

By on July 6, 2011 in Food & Drink, Russia, Soviet Travel, USA

Before heading to Chicago, I caught wind of a restaurant that serves up Russian food — one that is also run by an Uzbek chef. Uhm… Central Asian influenced Russian food? Pat knew this was immediately going to be on our itinerary. And he was right.

July 6, 2011 · Read full story · Comments { 2 }
Day 48: Epic Train Journeys Rock So Let’s Build One Together

Day 48: Epic Train Journeys Rock So Let’s Build One Together

By on February 18, 2011 in Russia, Soviet Travel

We all know that the amazing Vodkatrain made me beyond excited… Read more, as read in my post, and it turns out it made a few of you excited as well. Go you! You obviously have awesome taste for adventure and travel, so I was thinking…
I was thinking that maybe we could all team up and put together a totally

February 18, 2011 · Read full story · Comments { 19 }

Day 46: Teaching English in Ukraine – How I Got My Teaching Gig in Kiev

By on February 15, 2011 in Soviet Travel, Ukraine

I get quite a few emails asking me about how I got my job teaching English in Ukraine, so now is as good a time as ever to divulge my lovely bits of insider information. If you happen to be one of those interested in an extended immersion into this former Soviet country, then listen up!
I never thought … Read more

February 15, 2011 · Read full story · Comments { 13 }
vodka pitcher

Day 45: Vodkatrain – A Passion for Vodka, Travel & the Former Soviet Union

By on February 14, 2011 in Russia, Soviet Travel

What is it about former Soviet countries that sucks me in? I haven’t quite figured it out, but something about these somewhat stark areas makes me want to get up, book a ticket and try to deal with all the red tape involved in actually getting there.
I rediscovered this unique passion just the other day.… Read more Pat and I made

February 14, 2011 · Read full story · Comments { 25 }
Baltic Graffiti – A Photo Essay

Baltic Graffiti – A Photo Essay

By on April 27, 2010 in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Soviet Travel

I spent around 6 weeks in the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia back in 2008. Basically, I was killing time while waiting for my teaching gig to start up in Ukraine, and I really couldn’t have picked a better place – to hang out, meet cool people, eat good food and enjoy a nice mix between Eastern and Western Europe – than in that part of the world.

April 27, 2010 · Read full story · Comments { 18 }
Chest X-Ray, Anyone?

Chest X-Ray, Anyone?

By on March 22, 2009 in Australia, Soviet Travel, Ukraine

If you’re new around here, don’t forget to subscribe to my feed in a reader, or subscribe via email. That way, you’ll be able to hang out with me all the time. *smiles*… Read more
When talking to my mom the other day on Skype, she asked me how my trip of a lifetime was going. The interesting part was

March 22, 2009 · Read full story · Comments { 7 }
Living in a Dreamworld

Living in a Dreamworld

By on November 3, 2008 in Soviet Travel, Ukraine

When I was at home in August, traveling and living in this part of the world felt normal and not out of the ordinary to me. I didn’t realize how strange it actually was until I was at the salon getting my hair cut and the lady acted in shock when I said I was hoping to get a job… Read more

November 3, 2008 · Read full story · Comments { 0 }

A trip not like I had planned.

By on October 14, 2008 in Soviet Travel, Ukraine

Ok, so in case you didn’t know, I am about to move to the Ukraine… for a year! If you asked me a year ago where I’d see myself in 2008, I don’t think I would have for a split second considered Kiev. But, a year later, a slowly dwindling bank account, and a better understanding of former Soviet culture… Read more

October 14, 2008 · Read full story · Comments { 3 }