Help me name our new goats....

Very large Soviet statue in a very small post-Soviet town....

Winter and New Year's Fun

I"Baba de Zapada". Its not a snow-man, it's an old snow-lady; a snow "baba".

For the New Year kids go door to door and sing New Years songs. They get a little money or candy from the neighbors they visit and sometimes they also collect the traditional Moldovan braided bread in the shape of a wreaths called "colach". These are some pictures of some of my students who came to my house. It was so fun to see them singing and playing instruments. My ninth grade students came in a big group playing the saxophone and batting on little drums. One of them danced around in the middle in a goat costume.

My host mom's students (which are also some of my students) preparing for the New Year's celebration.

Some delicious salads made by my host mom. Yes, that is pomegranate on the fruit salad, and yes it was delicious.

This is a video of some of the kids collecting the "colach" (bread wreaths).





This is video of the kids playing at my school. They smooth out paths to slide down in through the snow. Kids are fearless I tell ya'.

Vacanta: Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Romania for Christmas Vacay

Four members of the traveling crew I went to the Middle East with. We flew out of Romania so this is us enjoying our day there before the flight.

In front of The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania. The second biggest parliament building in the world.

We arrived the first day in Israel. We stayed in TelAviv one night.

TelAviv is a beautiful city. I loved this outdoor gym set right on the beach. Everyone was running or playing some sport outside. I think we need one of these in Grand Rapids.

Such model tourists we are.

Such a cool little bar we stopped in for a beer after a long day of sight seeing in Jerusalem. The decor was very eclectic, with everything from Christmas trees and menorahs, to beautiful tapestries and paintings like the one above me.

A plaza in Jerusalem.

Its said that this is the point where Jesus ascended into heaven. As you can see there has been a mosque built over this point.

Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives. Many Jews believe that those buried on the mount will be the first to rise to everlasting life at the end of days.

The top of a Russian Orthodox church.

This car was so cool. Its got a miniature ancient Jerusalem built on it, around it and in it.

Where Jesus wept over the rock preceding his crucifixion.

Now we're walking across the border to Jordan.

The city where we stayed in Jordan when we went to Petra.

We got to ride into the ancient city of Petra on horses.

The Treasury at the Ancient City of Petra.

This Bedouin man climbed up to the top of this ancient cathedral and proceeded to play his flute. He had to jump from pillar to pillar to get to the very top. I was scared just watching him.

We've made it to the last leg of our journey to relax in Dahab, Egypt.

This was the fun time I was having before my camel decided to bust free from the rope tied to my guide and make a b-line in the other direction. It ran for about 10 minutes in the opposite direction from my group until I yelled out as I passed a Bedouin camp and all the Bedouin men came running out to grab my camel. My poor guide buddy was chasing after me for about a quarter mile before he caught up to where the other guys grabbed my camel. He broke his sandal in the chase.