| |
|
Siberia
Here I Come! - Adventure
Travel Part 1
|
|
by: Nomadrick
Chapo
|
|
“You must really hate
this job.” That’s what my
boss said when I told him I
was moving from San Diego to
Siberia for a year. In
reality, I was bored and
looking for something that
would be completely and
utterly new. Whether it was
sunstroke or a developing
tolerance to margaritas, San
Diego just wasn’t cutting it
anymore. Heck, I hadn’t even
gone to the beach in nine
months and it was only a few
blocks away. Time to
rediscover a zest for life.
As you are doing now, I
trolled the Internet looking
for that rare opportunity that
would renew my vigor and let
me brag to my domesticated
friends. Pick coffee in the
South Pacific? No, I already
drink too much of it. Sail
around the world on a
container ship? No, I wasn’t
ready for involuntary
self-reflection. Before I knew
it, I had agreed to move to a
city in Siberia known as Chita.
Yes, I was going to be a
professor at Chita State
Technical University through a
program put together by
Siberian Intercultural
Bridges. Donate - they need
the money: http://www.siberian-bridges.org.
So, what does one take for a
one-year stay in Siberia? Why,
I’ll just go buy a guidebook
on Siberia and read the
“what to take” section. My
search of the local mega
bookstore was disappointing.
Shockingly, there were no
guidebooks for Siberia. I was
tempted to write a nasty
letter to Lonely Planet and
others until the bookstore
clerk said, “You’re going
WHERE?” When she started
giving me the “you must be a
criminal on the run” look,
it was time to go.
Fortunately, I was able to
find experienced travelers
that could provide me with the
details and items that were
absolutely necessary. My
girlfriend gave me the
all-important electric
blanket, a power converter and
intimate details about what
would happen to me if I should
dare share it with another
women. Grandpa gave me a World
War II down coat that was
about three sizes to big and
made me look like a walking
gopher. Family, friends and
random strangers contributed
further items and advice that
would be critical to my
survival.
Apparently rating my chances
of survival at 50-50, friends
and family put together a
going away/never see him again
party the day before I left.
Of course, everyone brought
Vodka as a humorous going away
gift. The tide quickly turned,
however, as all were
asked/forced to try a “taste
of Russia.” Many of the
events of that night will
remain forever sealed in
antiquity, but it should
suffice to say that the wife
of one friend went into labor
which made it a very fun night
and subsequent day for him at
the hospital. Few got off so
easily.
Gigantic backpack, electric
blanket, hangover and I headed
to the airport the next
morning. But that’s a story
for part 2 of this nomad
adventure travel series…
About
the Author: Rick Chapo is
with http://www.nomadjournals.com
- makers of small, compact
travel journals, hiking
journals, rock climbing
journals, fly fishing
journals, bird watching
journals and more. Record in
detail special moments of your
adventures so they don’t
fade away with time.
|
|
|
|
|
-
Great Gifts
from Japan -
| |
|
|
Japanese
Puzzle
Box
- Our
puzzle
boxes
are
each
individually
handcrafted
in the
city
of
Hakone,
Japan
and
imported
by us
directly
from
the
artists
offering
the
best
quality
and
pricing
available.
The
skills
have
been
passed
down
through
the
generations
since
the
Edo
Period. |
|
| |
|
|
Japanese
Sake
Sets
-
The
finest
traditional
glazes
are
used
to
create
these
sake
sets
that
are as
much
art as
they
are
functional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Japanese
Sushi
Sets
-
Add an
Asian
flare
to you
next
dinner
of
Sushi
or
Chinese
food.
These
complete
sets
include
everything
you
need.
Plates,
Sauce
Dishes,
and
Chopsticks.
|
|
| |
|
|
Woodblock
Prints
- We
offer
a wide
selection
of
genuine
Japanese
Woodblock
Prints
created
by the
Fukui
Asajido
Company
in
Kyoto
Japan
using
the
old
world
techniques.
|
|
|
|
