Don't Drink the Water

It's been a week now and it's hard to believe it's all over! 

For anyone who did not know, I and my fellow English teacher Natalie organized the play all in the first semester this year. The performance was December 7th and God certainly blessed every part of the process so that we were able to put on a really good performance! 

(Poster with students' signatures! Our friend David had his graphic design class create posters for the play. This was the one that was chosen for printing and the others were all used as playbills.)

(The pictures in this post are a combination of mine from practices, students', and a very generous parent/photographer.)

We were in the same building as last year (the palace of culture very close to the school) only on the 2nd floor. It was a long rectangular room usually used for dance classes, but it gave us a lot more space than last year's stage. This did mean that the concerns this year were logistics: the school has a stage in pieces that we had to bring over, we had set pieces but had to set them up in a way that wouldn't take over the stage, and we had steps on and off the sides of the stage. 

During the last period of school, myself, Matthew, many helpful parents, and some of our older students drug all of the stage pieces, set pieces, props, costumes, etc on to a truck and over to the dom culture. Then we had to get it all onto our floor and set up. We had ordered chairs and rather comically someone had set them up in one long line running the entire length of the room! The stage is incredibly heavy so even getting it there, let alone putting it together, was a trial. But things went pretty successfully and we did have a stage. 

As you can see above, we decided to use the floors as stage spaces as well since the stage is small. So entrances and exits were done on the floor and different elements of some scenes were on the floor as well. 

The kids arrived at this point and we got them into costume and makeup for our dress rehearsal. Below is my lovely assistant director, Natalie! 

The rehearsal went well with some interesting problems like the stage shifting apart and one of the pieces cracking loudly every time someone stepped on it. We also could not figure out how to turn the lights on and off in the room. Fortunately, one of our parents was able to solve all three of those problems before the final performance. It meant that the student who did lights and sound was working with the lights for the first time ever but it went perfectly. 

The kids look on as they get directions before the dress rehearsal. 

My notes for the rehearsal. Obviously there was one large area of concern. :-) 

Me at the performance! The necklace was something I ordered hoping it would make it in time for the play. It's the world! 

I will now proceed to reconstruct the plot using pictures! 

The play opens with our narrator, Sister Garcia. She explains that this is the American embassy of an unnamed country in South America. She is a refugee here and introduces our main characters. 

The Ambassador Magee (far left) is the intimidating lady in charge of the Embassy. Her assistant, Miss Kilroy, is a perfectionist who is irritated by the the huge flaws of the other embassy assistant (below). 

Axel Magee is the Ambassdor's son and is a walking catastrophe. Every embassy he is in suffers some crisis and he has only been in this one for any length of time because of his mother. His mother leaves him in charge, against better judgement. Not long after, there are gunshots and a family of tourists, the Hollanders, run into the embassy in need of protection. 

(Everyone snaps to hands over hearts as Walter recites the Pledge of Allegiance to prove he is an American.)

Romero, the head of the secret police, enters and accusses the Hollanders of spying. When he and Axel are left alone Axel accidentally admits they are spies (even though they aren't). He then promises that the building will be surrounded and the Hollanders will not leave. 

Walter is justifiably outraged and his wife Marion tries to hold everything together. The two argue about how they are only in South America as a result of Marion's brother, who they have very different opinions about. Axel says they will just have to live in the embassy until things can be sorted out and Walter worries about his catering business suffering in his absence. Axel then meets their daughter, Susan, and is immediately taken with her, but sadly she is engaged. The Hollanders worry about how long they may be trapped here and Axel finally admits that Sister Garcia, the other refugee, has been here for six years!

Later that day, Axel reveals that Romero trying to arrest the Hollanders is a move in retaliation for America arresting one of the country's greatest spies, the Grey Fox. He and Kilroy argue over what to do about and important meeting later in the week with the Sultan of Bashir. 

Susan comes to talk to Axel and they hit it off. Susan reveals that she is not getting married as her parents think, because she finds her fiance to stable. She wants more adventure in life and explains all the eccentric jobs and pursuits she has had. Axel and her find common interest in modern art and just when things are getting romantic...

The chef and sous chef appear, breaking them up and complaining about Walter. Walter will not eat anything and insults the chef, resulting in a fight with the sous chef, who then comforts the temperamental chef (below).

(The sous chef was actually a part that we made up. The student who played the role is an excellent physical comedian and we wanted something that would use that well. It really added to the otherwise flat role of the chef and the two of them were definite favorites for the audience.)

Susan reappears with Sister Garcia, who explains her hobby over the past six years has been magic tricks! She convinces Walter to try a card trick that fails and he moans for the rest of the scene about how he will never see his son (who is at camp in the US) ever again. Kilroy reappears and explains that the chef has decided to make hare for dinner.

Sister Garcia tries to do a magic trick that involves switching a bird for a rabbit in a top hat but the rabbit is gone! The chef appears with the rabbit, asking how Walter would like it cooked. This results in chaos where Walter runs from the rabbit, Garcia tries to get the rabbit back, and the chef and sous chef throw the rabbit back and forth before Axel comes in and scolds everyone (below).

A week later, Axel argues with Romero on the phone while Marion irons in the living room. Axel tells her she needs to contain her stuff to one room and the stress of them all living in the same building is evident. Walter comes in and scowls at Marion resulting in her storming off with her things. 

(The ironing board was a favorite/hated prop. It added to the comedy but it was cumbersome and heavy!)

Walter reappears with Marion and he explains that his business partner, Sam Blackwell, has practically ruined his catering business by giving a party food poisoning. Sister Garcia needs help getting out of her straight jacket at about the same time Walter gets a long distance call from Blackwell. This results in one of the funniest scenes in the play where Walter shouts at Blackwell on the phone and Marion and Garcia roll around on the floor trying to get her free from the straight jacket. 

And who shows up but the Sultan of Bashir! Understandably, he and his wife are unimpressed and Marion tries to cover for the embarrassment. Walter however questions the Sultan over a protest he violently put down recently. The two men become increasingly angry until the Sultan calls him a pig and Axel arrives in time to keep them from fighting. 

Axel is unable to stop Walter from insulting the Sultan and the Sultan leaves, refusing to do business with Axel or his mother.

(The beard was another personal favorite. It was this terrible thing that looked like a Muppet and the mustache part would flutter every time the student said his lines. It always made me laugh until I cried because it was so absurd.)

Axel is removed from being in charge of the embassy and Kilroy is put in charge. Susan comes to comfort him and the two talk about his tendency to mess up everything. Susan hints that she likes him and Axel makes a move to kiss her that results in the two of them falling flat! She hurries away and Axel is dismayed that once again he has messed up. 

The next day the Hollanders are excited that they should be able to go home as a result of a spy trade arranged by Kilroy. Axel and Susan are sad they were not able to spend more time together and Susan admits she did want Axel to kiss her. Romero shows up and by a series of accidents he and Walter are left alone together. Walter becomes frustrated and uses the fact Romero cannot fight back to "admit" they are spies and taunt him. Moments later it is revealed the Grey Fox has died and the Hollanders are now in more trouble than ever. Everyone leaves and Walter returns just in time to break up a near kiss between Axel and Susan. 

Things escalate quickly. Walter is not excited about Susan and Axel but Marion argues Susan should be able to choose. Sounds of a riot grow outside and the Hollanders hide. Susan explains Kilroy has been hit in the head and a bomb is thrown into the room. Walter is stuck holding it and Axel tries to dismantle the bomb. For the first time in the play he is successful! 

(Since we used the front of the stage as a "window" we thought it would be fun to have actual protest signs in the audience as the characters talk about seeing signs and threats. We had several plants for the performance. :-) )

Kilroy wanders into the room convinced she is BOTH of the Wright Brothers and acts out a conversation playing both parts. 

(Another wonderful piece of acting! We only told this student to make it clear this was two people and she did it so perfectly!)

Susan and Axel argue about trying to help the Hollanders escape and she encourages him to take charge of the situation and work together with her. She pressures him into telling Walter the idea and they all try to talk him into escaping. He refuses until Marion points out that if they left Susan would meet other men. Axel tries to comfort him by saying he has full control over the situation before throwing the bomb out of the window and causing a huge explosion (above).

They come up with a plan for the Hollanders to dress up as guests at a party for the Sultan the next day. Walter is given a gun, against everyone's better judgement. Marion becomes worries and Walter comforts her, telling her he will take care of her as he always has (above). He plays with the gun once she leaves, resulting in him accidentally shooting Kilroy in the foot when she scares him.

The party is complete chaos and was easily the most difficult blocking and staging in the entire play. The above picture is here because it was the one big mistake in the actual performance though it was even funnier because of it. The chef and sous chef bring out a plate of food and whip the cloth off of it and bow extensively. In the performance the cloth was caught by the point on the flag and pulled out of the chef's hands! And it remained there for the rest of the scene. It was very funny and people even asked if this had been practiced. :-) 

Axel spends the party worrying because both Romero and the Sultan are there and he has to keep the Hollanders from running into either of them. Marion tells Walter that they stand out and that everyone can tell he is carrying a gun and he insists this is not true. He runs smack into two party goers and completely fumbles the conversation after rattling off every detail of his alibi. When trying to get away from them he drops his gun on the floor and tries to explain it away as a cigarette lighter. Finally free from the party goers, they then run into Romero who is led away by Garcia. They escape and just when Axel and Burns (an assistant in the embassy) think everything is alright, Garica runs through the room, followed by Romero in her straight jacket! Gunshots sound and the Hollanders rush back in. Walter has accidentally shot the Ambassador, who was returning from her trip, in the foot as well! 

A furious Ambassador scolds Axel harshly. Susan appologizes and Walter is more bold now that he has done something adventuresome. The Sultan and his wife are discovered sleeping in the embassy and this leads to a clever plan! Walter and Marion steal their robes and prepare to escape as the Sultan and his wife. 

But this leaves Susan as a loose end. Axel explains that he and Susan will marry and she will then have diplomatic immunity. 

Everyone is thrilled but Walter, though he eventually resigns himself to this. The Hollanders make it home safely and Axel and Susan are married by Sister Garcia. 

And that's it! :-D

Things went really well and many people had a lot of praise for how well the students did. I was very proud of them and they could not have done better! There was this great moment early on where it looked like there might be a hiccup and then they caught it, and from that point on I was able to just sit back and watch them go! Everything went smoothly and they were extremely funny!

Our four leads!

Most of our cast and crew! 

It's sad that it's all over now but I certainly could not have wished for it to have gone better. This is very definitely the perfect note to end my directing career at IA on. 

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope that all of you celebrating Thanksgiving this year had a wonderful time giving thanks with friends and family.  We had the chance to enjoy two Thanksgiving celebrations this year, in addition to other activities going on with school. The darkness outside is in full force and we finally have a bit of snow on the ground.  I would prefer a bit more snow, but I'll take what I can get at this point:-)

The end of the semester is fast approaching, and with it comes the usual flurry of activity.  Next weekend is the play!  It's hard to believe that it is already time for the performance.  Amanda has been having extra practices over the past two weeks, and the students have been doing an excellent job.  Things have gone well, and it looks like the school should be treated to a hilarious performance of Woody Allen's comedy Don't Drink the Water.  Amanda has some photos that she took at the most recent Saturday practice below that gives a taste of what the final production will be like.  Expect a big post with more plot details and photos from the performance and dress rehearsal some time next week.  It is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.  

Our semester ends in a little over two weeks on December 19th, which means we have the end of the quarter and final exams to think about as well.  In addition, a little over a week I finished filling out and submitting my applications for graduate school.  That was a major project in and of itself, and I am very thankful to have it completed.  Now its time for several months of waiting to see what doors God chooses to open or close.  Your continued prayers about this and about our future for next year are much appreciated!

For Thanksgiving this year we had a meal with the rest of our World Partners team, as well as another celebration with some of the new teachers who are not part of a larger organization.  Both of the gatherings were a lot of fun and involved much excellent food and good conversations.  We both feel so blessed for the many different people that have been such a wonderful community for us in St. Petersburg.  We have been especially blessed to have friends from a wide variety of ages and life experiences, and Thanksgiving was another reminder of this.

In this spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would list a (non-exhaustive) list of some of the things that we are thankful for as we look back over the previous year. In addition to many specific things (like a car for the summer and Amanda's successful experience directing a play for the first time), there are some big things that I would especially like to reflect on: 

1. God's continuing provision for us and our school.  This past year has had a lot of new challenges (and difficulties) for our school, but God has revealed His faithfulness time and again.  While we continue to desire your prayers for everything going on, we rejoice at all that has happened.

2. Our friends and family in Russia and the United States. We have been blessed with wonderful people in both of our worlds, and this year especially we have enjoyed getting to meet some of the new people at our school in addition to seeing old friends return after time away.

3. Our supporters.  Your prayers, encouragement, and financial giving are something for which we continue to give thanks to God.  When we first started raising support back in 2009 to come to Russia we knew that only God could provide given the poor economic outlook of the time.  Four years later, the economic picture has unfortunately not changed all that much, so we continue to recognize that God is at work to allow us to remain in Russia.  Your generosity makes our work possible.  Thank you!

4. Our time back in the U.S. this summer.  Looking back, we both recognize just how important this time was.  We didn't realize just how difficult it would be to go back to the U.S. after two years since our last visit.  We were both surprised at the extent of culture shock we experience going back to our own country, and it was an important realization that I believe will help us greatly when it is time to return.  We also greatly benefited from time with friends and families.  Reconnecting with so many important people in our lives gave us much-needed wisdom and encouragement. 

To accompany all of this, here are some pictures that Amanda took to document some of these recent goings-on.

We took in our first Cossacks game a couple of weeks ago.  Our team is looking pretty good this year.  Last year was a growing year, but the students from that team have built on the foundation of those experiences and have improved in many ways.  Additionally, we have some students back at our school after a year in the States who have also helped raise the level of the team.  We watched our varsity squad win a commanding victory over a Russian school that they frequently practice with.  It was a fun and friendly game, and it is always fun to cheer on our students!

The fans were all in a balcony area above the court.  This is the gym where the team practices (not the same gym that we rent for P.E.).  We used this same gym for basketball last year, but the school it is in had it completely remodeled so it looked totally different.

Thanksgiving with our WP team!

We all made drawings of things we are thankful for and taped them to a cabinet.  Mine is the top one on the left and Amanda's is the third one beneath mine.

Enjoying pie and a movie.

These are all photos from play practice.  I have deliberately tried to limit my knowledge of the plot so that I can get the full experience when the student's perform.  Therefore, I can't explain exactly what is going on in all of these pictures, although I do know the major details.  Here the students say the pledge of allegiance at the American embassy, where much of the play is set.

Check back next week for a report on the play and more details about the plot!

It is hard to imagine that our second to last semester at IA is coming to an end.  Continue to pray for us as we do our best to finish this year and our time in Russia by giving our best to our students and everyone else here.

-Matt

Novgorod Again!

We're reaching a point in the year that for us is always wrapped up in traditions as well as completely new experiences. 

As in the past two years we again did our Odyssey soap  sculptures. The two below were our best. The one on top is of Odysseus as an old man and was done with an amazing amount of skill (look at the hands and arms!). The one below was cleverly made in pieces that fitted together and is of Odysseus as a warrior. 

Time arrived for our every-other-year field trip to Novgorod. It was a two and half hour van ride but we finally arrived to cold rainy weather. The students were happily busy buying mittens and socks to combat the cold. Matthew had underdressed and looked about ready to freeze to death which was very sad. 

But at long last we started our tour which started at this square that had once been a market and where several different churches had been built by different merchants and traders. 

Whereas last time the guys were encouraged to run around the church three times in hopes of quickly finding a wife, this time the girls were encouraged to do so. More than usual participated, partially due to hopes of warming up. :-)

We then toured the museum and since Novgorod is credited as being the birth place of Russia it was interesting to see the early artifacts and how people would have lived and traded then. 

Of course we saw the monument, but we got a more in depth explanation of figures on it which I enjoyed. 

The top ring consists of important figures like Peter the Great facing in the direction they took the most interest in (in Peter's case, the West). Below them are other figures from their time. In the picture below you can see Pushkin (the fellow with the rockin' sideburns) and Gogol to the right of him. 

We also saw St Sophia Church which is the oldest stone church in Russia. Matthew had lost the cross he wears the week before and so he was able to buy a new one here.

Something new for all of us was walking along the walls of the fortress. Below we have most of our lovely group. 

The walls facing back toward the city 

At this point we finally had some nice warmer weather and the sun even came out for us. 

Our complete group!

As far as other school related events, the play is drawing steadily closer (3 weeks!) and both Natalie and I have been pleased with how well things are coming together. Today we had a rather amusing practice since three of our leads were sick but even then things went well which is very encouraging. 

Matthew is done in spirit with his applications for grad school. He has finished everything he has needed to do and is now just looking everything over before submitting them. This strikes me as being a bit like our coming to Russia four years ago in that I'm hardly able to believe that it is actually happening. 

I recently read a quote by C.S. Lewis that I felt really spoke to where I am in this entire process right now: "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." I don't doubt that this is what we should be doing but the pain of leaving our students and friends here and starting somewhere completely new all over again is often overwhelming. It is always something to be praying for as we move toward saying goodbye this year. 

But it is also important to be present now while we are here and we definitely thank God for the time we have been given here. Thanks for all of your prayers and support. 

Fall Break!

I am now writing this from the tail end of fall break. The weather has declined into mostly rainy since our last post of pretty fall colors, but break was good nonetheless. 

To catch everyone up on what has happened between now and then...

We've rented our space for the play. It's a lovely dance hall with a lot more space than last year though we will actually be in the exact same building as last year. The convenience is too good to pass up! Things are creeping closer but it looks like we should all be ready!

We recently had our first youth group as well and that was a lot of fun for Matt and me. Games included Human Sculptures with the categories being movies. (Above: High school musical; Below: Harry Potter!) We talked about fear and were able to have some really good discussions with our students. 

Matt's room has been collecting student artwork this year. He told his classes early in the year that he likes Angry Birds (which he does not play; he just likes looking at them) and so one particular student has been drawing a new Angry Bird for him every week. Other artwork presented refers to different comments he's made in class. :-)

International Day was quite the event this year! It all started off with a concert of songs from different countries and the band performing pieces from different movies. 

The costumes were also more elaborate this year and Matt and I always enjoy looking at the variety!

There were also themed rooms with different activities going on in them for different countries. 

The American room had square dancing (my favorite room).

And the Russian room had a game with wooden blocks and a stick you roll at them. 

There was also a photobooth upstairs.

(We're so cute!)

One of the best costumes we saw was the Royal Family (above)! There's Prince William, Kate, and baby George! 

We hadn't been to a hockey game in ages so we took the opportunity this break. We had amazing seats just two rows from the goal again.

In the picture below is one of my favorite parts of the games. If you look right above the camera there's a little girl who comes to every game and knows every single cheer. It's very cute to watch her doing the routines perfectly with the cheerleaders. 

Other fall break activities included a lot of baking (me), working on grad school apps and letters (Matt), and just being able to relax. 

Current prayer requests:

• Matt is finally getting to the point of sending in applications to different schools. There's about a dozen he's submitting applications to and we will not know anything until the spring. Pray that things come together and that it's clear what we should be doing next. 
• The play is a lot earlier this year and so there is the same amount that needs to be done but less time to do it in. Pray that everything comes together quickly and well!