Russia Update 1

I finally have a Yota that works! (a device you plug into the usb port of your computer to gain internet access here) Believe me, this is no easy feat in Russia, but well worth the ability to skype and blog again. Especially when it is down right impossible for me to phone anywhere in Saskatchewan, I have tried a few phone cards and it just isn't happening. It must be that Russians don't communicate as often as I thought with farmers from the Saskatchewan prairie. School here started a week ago, and the classes are already intense. (at the moment I should be preparing my presentation on 18th century literary genres in Russia) Everyday I am overwhelmed with the information force fed to my prairie boy mentality, living in a city this size is incredible on every level. I can't even shop for groceries without having to read and speak in a different language about things I simply would not think about buying groceries at home. One thing that is particularly good about living here is that food comes cheap if you know what your doing. I got all my groceries today (milk, sausages, bananas, ketchup, and a snickers) for just 190 rubels!! (equal to 6 Cdn dollars)

Since being here I have seen tons of Soviet and Russian architecture, been to the Hermitage, Kazansky Cathedral, two Church services with English translators, visited a WWII memorial museum, walked through fake Disneyland, and made friends from all over the world. And this is all been in the last week and a half! Each day my studies are taking me deeper into Russian culture and understanding the development of modern Russian life, this rare opportunity is truly a blessing and I will do my best to make the most of these four months.

St. Petersberg is the most beautiful city I have ever visited. If your not walking around the city or through one of the many parks (all bigger then Wascana), then you are on the Metro. It is a strange way to travel, and you have to get used to certain customs while aboard (such as allowing the elderly and children to always take your seat without being asked). Even simple things like talking in public, one must be mindful of others because it is quite rude if people can hear you coming, you must talk directly to the person and keep it down as much as possible.

The International group (that is the 7 of us from North America) got invited to dinner at Dr. Negrov's, school president, flat on the weekend. If I was to choose I would say this night is the highlight thusfar. Aside from the food and desert and coffee (which is rare here, everyone drinks tea) we had a great night of conversation, games, a walk through the park to visit three Orthodox churches all built within 100 ft. of each other, played some football (that is soccer), and had a tour of the city center at night. The thing to do if you are in St. Petersberg is to go down to Nevskiy Prospect at midnight to watch the bridge go up. There are lights and people everywhere and it is something that everyone, tourists and locals, like to take part in. I hope to go a few more times because the expeirence cannot be captured by words.

I leave you with a picture of The Narva Triumphal Arch which was built to commemorate Russia's victory over Napoleon in 1812 (I live just down the street from it, literally 2 min. walk from my dorm room):

Final Preparatory! Russia Comences in 8 hours!!

In approx. 8 hours I will be on the plane headed for the land of opportunity (that's Russia if you didn't catch it). I will be meeting up with my traveling group and fellow students and friends throughout the day in Winnipeg and Toronto as we head toward our future scholastic institution. I am still not packed, rather I blog and do last-minute laundry when I have to leave so soon. The excitement has been growing these past couple days and my fellow adventurers Adam Berg and Justin Wolf have started blogs to update us on their experiences on the Russia Exchange. I suggest you begin following these blogs because this trip is going to change to face of Briercrest hereforth. Many thanks to Briercrest College for all the hard work into making the exchange possible, and even moreso for letting a motley crew like US go.

Philosophers of the Future

In the hands of new philosophers - Knowledge has become the master of European virtue, and the greatest person has let their "knowing" become "creating". How long must we wait before this cruel judge will look down and say, "O herd of decadent beings! of what use is your morality if it does not go beyond good and evil?"

Russia in 3 days!!

For anyone who has not heard, I am off to Russia in 3 days!! The anxiety is literally taking over my life, I get way too nervous anytime I look at my suitcase and try to spend as much time away from my home as possible. It's way to scary to try and pack for four months, let alone for a country you've never been to. Perhaps I am just a really bad traveler because traditionally I wait until the night or morning of my departure and throw a couple tee's in my backpack. What could a student possibly need in Russia other than a couple sweaters right? My good friend and fellow exchange student Kevin Schur has started a blog completely dedicated to the Briecrest Russia exchange students where friends and family will receive regular updates of what's going on. I too will be writing of my experience, but something tells me that Kevin's unique humor and extreme love for metal and beards will add a twist that no reader can afford to miss. That is unless you don't like metal or beards, then I would suggest that you have no place on this blog either.

Gospel of Peter, Conspiracy Theorists, and Summer Tunes

If there is any connection between these three things it was a complete accident, or was it?...

Check out this amazing collection of pseudo-gospels and other early Christian writings that have been made available online. Most recently added were some scans from 'The Gospel of Peter' manuscripts, really great stuff!

...And to go along with your blog reading, make sure you head over to Jamison D.'s (of Tremulance and Captain fame) blog to download the new 'Two Bicycles' album, it's folky-meadow sound will make it the perfect soundtrack to your summer.

This was just too funny not to post...


























sometimes these theorists are just asking for it, Cracked does a great (hilarious) job of debunking some of the theories.

'We Intuitive Men' - A Poem For Wanderers

I started writing this poem during treeplanting as a reflection of some of the things that had captured my mind for endless hours on the block. I worked on it off and on but never really finished it while I was out there. It had the potential to be much longer, as I thought about this more than actually writing it, it became a full-on epic in my head with tons of characters and interactions that I have since forgotten. This however, shall suffice. It does play with a few key topics that I had thought a ton about this summer, so without further ado I give you 'We Intuitive Men':

‘We Intuitive Men’

I
A dead eternal stare veils the heart,
his eyes were as dark as the
Sun was light.
With each capricious step he wanders,
Further still, until all
Sensation can no longer be sensed.
Questions invade him, answers withheld,
The road takes charge his
Rampant mind.
Neither sand nor snow will relent
His desire.
Frequent pondering overtakes
His Soul.
And by whose will is this
Overtaking permitted,
Let us make logic for dislikes,
Auto da fe, our tired excuse.

II
Since all questions must
Be born of answers,
All things are knowable.
Even a wanderer knows this.
It is deemed best by Nature to never
Speak with a wanderer.
Lie still in empty culmination,
And Reason will forfeit its gain,
Dialogue amongst fellows will
Denounce silence as heresy;
One’s shadow meets certain
Condemnation.
Shall we arrive in one town
Together once and for all,
Or shall we arrive in the same town
Eternally, to meet with the local
Shopkeeper on Tuesdays.

III
“Ah, Sir, I see you have found your way into
My humble shop” said the old grocer,
“I trust all your traveling needs to be met here
Sir, but do keep in mind that I myself
Am a sick man, often forgetting what
It is I do here, especially on Tuesdays.”
The old grocer, with one honest hand raised in the air,
Says, “That is of course unless your concerning
Matters of the heart, why I would suggest you
See the Good Physician while he is still in town,
He was able to help me when I was very sick,
Sicker then now, why I was filled with
Spite in those days.”
As the old grocer brought a hand flat against his chest
In a frantic motion, as if to check that everything was still there,
The urgency faded as his gentle voice spoke, “This heart I have now,
I cannot say for certain whom it belongs.
Seek out the Good Physician Sir, and
Return to tell me whether the heart
Can be claimed by oneself,
Or by another?”

IV
“Your just in time! Come in! Come in!
I’ve just discovered three satellites orbiting our Jupiter,
Why you could not have arrived at a more
Convenient time. That is,
If you believe time can ever really be
Convenient at all. I had heard you were
Looking for someone, am I right? A Physician perhaps?
Don’t worry yourself, the old grocer rambles
About a drunken stupor, while we plan for the festival each Wednesday night,
Telling us of Tuesday occurrences, that you were looking
For a Physician. Well, I am afraid that man left
Years ago, surprised the old grocer remembers him,
(You mustn’t trust the memory of old grocers)
he couldn’t stand living in a place like ‘Otherworldly’,
That’s us you know, our town name, been that way
Since I was assigned this place to do research in.”
A dread-filled gaze came over the Astronomer like a sickness
As he lifted his eye off the scope. “How wondrous
Are the spheres of the heavens? To think that my
Profession should lead me to find such incalculable beauty,
And for precisely this shall I be silenced. To think that I
Deserve to know why beauty exists at all, whether in the
Graceful movements of the moons or the eddying streams of water.
To think of myself among the infinite night, and charge that my Self
Is something made of that same beauty.
You best be on your way, I can be of no further assistance,
You must leave at once!”

V
“Is it truth you seek young man?” a soft voice in the air seduces
The attention of all who are near. “Do you want to become strong?
Then come, sit at my feet, and drink my words,
Let not my youth discourage you from receiving that which
Even Kings desire, knowledge greater than God.”
The words dripped from the tongue of the veiled oracle
As a sacred pneuma surged about her. “Give me your hand Sir,
And do not delay, for Pythia gives to take away.
I see that your hand has no line, as it is
Your Self keeps no name. Continue on this path
And see what it is you already know to be true.”
With this, the veiled oracle faded
Into the night without ever moving
Or looking away.

VI
“Being poor or sick is a blessing Sir, because they
Have me to look after them, this is my curse.
But enough about me already, this is the life chosen for me
By God, and I must fulfill His Will
For my life” said the tatty monk.
“Every notion of God has been an assertion
Not of my choosing. One might call it an
Invasion of the Soul.
It reaches into the depths of my Self and returns with
An uncanny master, who becomes Will.
And I had never looked inwardly before entering the monastery
For fear that my mind might not even be my own.
But, I do perceive thought, this much I am sure,
And everything beautiful lies in the heart.”
The tatty monk turned away, kneeled indigently,
And began to murmur, “…maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
Make straight the path that is before me.”

VII
The time is come.
The festival has commenced without recantation.
Overwhelmed with intention, the wanderer walks
toward the banner overhanging the crowds.
Children run through the crowds like wild fire, anxious to see the penitent victim.
Inscribed across the banner are the words,
‘Faith, Truth, and Reason; For All and For None’
“Welcome to the Festival Good Sir” said the old grocer,
“What a delightful year to attend, for this year we hang a Physician!”