Philharmonic Orchestra (Kreg)

Last night we went against our better judgement and attended the Orchestra at the Grand Philharmonic Hall in downtown Perm.  This was against our better judgement because it was so late for us and then we had to make our way home in the dark on public transportation and somehow get Lika to school this morning.  Let's just say that Lika is the only one that survived this morning because she was all keyed up about going to the forest to pick mushrooms with the school.  That's another story that is just now taking place. Russians love their mushrooms.

This event was called the "Spirit of Tango" and had very little to do with tango in my estimation, but then again I am slightly under educated in this field. It was a wonderful experience and cost all of $8 per ticket.

These are the traditional Russian instruments that were used in the orchestra

A standard balalaika - triangular shaped 3-stringed guitar

Special guest from St. Petersburg on the accordian

The hall was like going back in time.  Perfect severe Soviet architecture - complete with butt numbing seats in a bright hue I have only seen on tropical fishes

After the production we prepared to catch our tram home

Contemporary Art Museum in Perm? (by Kreg)

Yes.  There is an excellent Contemporary Art Museum in Perm.  Which, as it turns out, is not very common in Russia.  For a country this size I had read that Perm had the only one in the entire country.  I doubt that is true but a quick Google search only revealed four. (By contrast, we had more than 20 near our home in Albany, NY)

"After St. Petersburg and Moscow, Perm is Russia's leading city for opera, ballet and drama theater. Not only does the city have a wide range of stages and theaters, its educational bodies like the Russian Academy of Theater Art and Institute for Culture and Art as well as its many international relations in theater performances and education still give Perm the name of theater city." 

You see, Perm was a closed city until the 1980's, which meant the people of Perm had to have special permission to be here.  If you were born here, you would probably die here without ever having traveled anywhere else, even outside the city. (There are still 42 closed cities in Russia - two near Perm) Perm is rich in natural resources so naturally the steel industry and manufacturing occurred in Perm and most of the items that were manufactured here were for, to use a U.S. term, National Security.  Yes, tanks and guns and airplanes and anything to to with "national security" were constructed here out of sight from Cold War foes.  This really was ideal because of it's remoteness.  If anyone were to take Moscow from the West (like Napoleon kinda did) or Vladivostok form the East (near China and Japan), it would be very difficult to make it all the way to Perm.  It is geographically protected. For more than one reason we call Perm the Detroit of Russia.  Most Americans get the link.  Unlike Detroit although, 80% of the inhabitants still work in manufacturing.  There are over a million people in Perm and very, very few house wives, if you know what I mean.  Everyone works.

Likewise, Perm was a good place to keep all talented artists protected from the rest of the world.  I don't know if they used Perm's isolation to keep them from leaving, but that is quite possible.  That is why the arts were established here and now they continue to grow at PERMM.  I don't know if the extra "M" is for Museum or Modern???

Below displays our recent trip to PERMM, which is housed in an old railway station. The name of the special exhibit is "ICONS", which was quite fitting for our Sunday stroll.

Thought my mother would enjoy the loose sketches on the back wall.

"The Names of God" Our personal favorite, which displays words on a sheet of glass.  The words are "God, light, judge, peace (or world??? don't know which cause it's the same word???), leader, father...

Makes you want to touch it.

"The Last Supper" take on Leonardo da Vinci's portrait as seen from behind.  Quite a clever 3D view.

 Even Barack Obama made an appearance in the this piece titled "Yes We Can". This was not part of the Icons exhibit.

 Because of PermM there is also an Art's Initiative that has spread throughout the city.  Most of it is displayed on the sides of buildings in the form of legalized graffiti, similar to Cory Birkenbuel's vision in Dillon, MT.  These are a small sampling of others that are spread throughout the city.

Yes, that is a beetle crawling off a large ball constructed of tire treads. 

"Permian Gate" near the Train Station

Your guess is as good as mine?

This was the first place they housed the PERMM, I think.  Cost of admission? One can of spray paint.

Kama River Walk - Kreg

As Fall is approaching we are taking all opportunities to see the outside world.  Last weekend we had the opportunity to walk the Kama River which is the northern border of Perm.  The leaves are starting to turn, but it is a slow burn into Fall contrary to a Montana Fall that happens overnight.

Standing at an overlook of the river.  This is pretty much where the original city of Perm was first built. Across the river there are some smaller towns and suburbs, but it is mainly just forests beyond that.

There are only three bridges that span this giant river.  One of them is a dam about 5 miles up river.

Need to check on the fishing options here.

Beautiful graffiti, or public art, as signed by the artists???

One of the original Orthodox churches, which is now a museum.  This is built next to the overlook on the first picture.

"My parents are so embarrassing". Especially when Lika has to take the pictures

The main boulevard of downtown Perm.  This is looking down the one way  heading south. There is a wide park between this boulevard and the other other one way heading north.

Two very important people in the Perm Region

Walk to School - The Walking School Bus (Kreg)

I thought I'd record a typical morning/evening ride on the walking school bus.  As you may have read earlier, we walk Lika to school every morning and pick her up in the evening.  It is possible for us to use public transportation, but that would actually add time to the transit, so for now we just walk.  It is 1.1 miles as the crow flies to the school so I figure it is about 1.5 miles in our zig zag path. That makes 3 miles twice a day:)

The school is near the big park on the left center section of Perm. 

The line indicates our path from our apartment to the school.  The half way point is the Mall.

Leaving our apartment complex

Secondary road toward the mall

The mall

Just past the mall.  We cut through the parking lot. that leads to the Gagarin cultural center.

Mira Street or "World Street" on  a busy morning.

Last big intersection to cross

Another side street leading to our last turn

Cutting across a courtyard.  The school is where the red fence is.  It is literally on an alley.

Entering the school grounds.  You must get buzzed in by the guard.

Inside the school grounds.

Kids actually jump for joy to be in this school.  Here is proof!

K-8 School or at least our experience

One of the benefits of Fulbright program is that up to two children get paid tuition to a private school.  This is probably more important for children going into a country where they don't know the language.  In our case it is a definite benefit so that Lika can get a superior education in a good atmosphere.  Lika as 13 kids in her class.  11 boys and 1 other girl.  Katya is a very nice girl and will be a great friend for Lika this year.

Lika's typical day runs from 8:30 to 3:15, five days a week.  Then there are private lessons and homework help until 6 PM.  Typical Russian schools run 6 days a week from 8 to 2 PM.  We are letting her stay until 6 pm most days because we can't really help her with her homework.  As you can see from the list below, Lika has extra classes 4 days a week. Two days she has extra help with Math, one day she has a private music lesson (flute) and one day she has art.  Only the art class costs extra.  Everything else is included in tuition along with breakfast after her second lesson, lunch and snacks after regular school is over.  We only need to feed her dinner at home.  

We are so proud of Lika for testing into 7th grade Russian (she shocked the teachers) and all of her other classes.  We found out that Lika has already read numerous11th grade Russian books required for graduation.

Notice that American smile among the masses.  She really does have great classmates (7th grade)

Lika and her Art teacher

Lika's first oil painting "still life" grapes and an apple

Ah, yes. the uniform

Guess who dresses Lika.  Danielle in her Uniform
at Perm State University 

Snacks interrupted

When Katya is gone (sick or something) Lika and her teacher Olga Alexaevna typically have some girl tea time instead of playing outside with the boys.

They have pretty good technology.  Lika has one of the best cell phones because "it is amazing that you could have English on it."  It's my old Blackberry that we had to get unlocked from AT&T ($8 fee to buy a code - legit I think).  Now I can put in a SIM card from anywhere in the world and have a local cell number.