Yesterday Four For Hours, I’m a walking…

http://russia.places-in-the-world.com/485124-place-sysoi.html

I walked to the Medium Village. Called Sysoi!

I did this once last year…

First time…

I tried could not make it…

Then I got ready again…

Going to try to get out again…

Then last year, I made it…

We made it!

This year I am in much better shape and made it first trip…

* * * * *

As last year, I woke the village up and people came out by the dozens to take pictures of me. I am some what of a local celebrity and this time I had to answer questions…. Questions that made me run away…

A group of five Russian woman came and asked me questions, such as, 1. Am I married?, 2. Am I lonely in Kommuna? 3. Do I need help carrying my stuff? 4. Do I eat good?

I was polite and as Svetochka says, “That is an issue with you!” Politeness is misinterpreted…

Seriously, they were nice ladies and they took the news good (for they know that I am married, but…..) that I was married and very much in love with a perfect Sweet Pea of a Russian woman. They seem to have had some English lessons…

I then found out that a younger girl from America was living in the village. I gathered she was teaching English, but she refused to come out to see me. They tried to get her to come and talk to me (Translator of course said the horse!) According to the Russian ladies, she is scared of everything, everyone and is very shy! I did not care to meet her anyway. I do not take much sympathy for students who come to Russia unprepared. She is on some program with school or something, this is the normal reactions from many of our students that come to Russia. Simply scared, they come, do their job with as little mingling as possible and go home to America, with very little knowledge about Russia…. I would meet her, but my reputation as a tough & different type of a American, proceeds me and would most likely send her hiding again…

Svetochka, Boza and I are well known in the area. Due to the local Gazette posting an article about us…

The ladies helped me to the edge of the village and stood and waved goodbye. Yes, I ran! Running from women is this Big Bears first impulse and has saved me many times in my life! 😉

I told Svetochka about it all and she laughs, but realizes that there are many Russian women, who cannot find a man at all. In Russia there are many more women than men, especially in the tiny Villages…

One old man (old enough to make me feel young) in the store said to me, “You Kommuna” – “vy Kommuna?” I said, “Yes!” – “Da!” and he nodded in agreement, as he looked at my pile of goodies, I was buying…. From that, the word spread fast and again I was in the spot light. I agree with Svetochka, Just go to the Big Village. Life is easier there for me…. I blend in there…

It is fun to go, but am extremely hard trip. Through the woods, across a river and many many kilometers. But this year, I am in much better shape and did it fairly easy. But I will say that my feet hurt today and I slept good last night…

People in these villages are very nice and very helpful. That is what I see in Russia. People that care, smile and would give the shirt off their back if you needed it…

Love Russia…

WtR