Monday, September 01, 2008

Sister City-Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia

Novosibirsk (Russian: Новосиби́рск, pronounced [nəvəsʲɪˈbʲirsk]) is Russia's third-largest city, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg. It is also the largest city in Siberia and the administrative center of Siberian Federal District, in the southwest where it is located.

A number of years ago I took students from our school in St. Paul as well as a small group from Duluth, Minnesota to Siberia to join students from Norway and the USSR for a winter trek that was filmed by the Soviet government for tourism purposes. This was before the break-up of the Soviet territories. There were hundreds of students that walked or cross-country skied from village to village. As you can see from the photo, the Soviets took pity on me and gave me a sled pulled by reindeer that transported me from place to place. Villagers greeted us warmly and private homes housed the students overnight. During the evening the students from these different countries usually met in community centers for athletic competitions, recreational and cultural dances. It was a spectacular event, exhausting but spectacular.

The above image is a photograph from the trip. I have borrowed my son's printer and have no manual so I had to guess at the method to scan. I had not done this before but after several attempts I produced this acceptable, but not great, picture. Could be better, but here it is. I have good memories of this journey because of the friendliness of the people, despite the many hardships they had to endure during that period of history.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participantsAdelaide, Australia by Gordon, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Edmonton (AL), Canada by , Evry, France by Olivier, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gothenburg, Sweden by Lo/David, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Istanbul, Turkey by mustafa34, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Anthony, Mashhad, Iran by Meead, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Muizenberg, South Africa by Pentaxjunkie, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Nice, France by Angelaj, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Andrew Foderaro, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Rancho Palos Verdes (CA), USA by Sarah Adams, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Turin, Italy by Livio, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Villigen, Switzerland by z, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

25 comments:

  1. That must have been quite an experience and a cold one...I love that sledge!

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  2. What an exciting adventure for you Kate. I love the reindeer and the fur coat the person has on in the background.

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  3. Anonymous1:59 AM

    How lucky you were! What a marvelous experience.

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  4. belle photo, et voilà une ville jumelée très originale. prévoir les moufles avant de faire un tour ;o)

    beautiful picture, and this is a very original twin city. provide mitts before making a turn :o)

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  5. What a fantastic experience!!! Must have been a bit tough ... but fantastic!

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  6. What a fabulous trip that must have been, Kate, if a little chilly. Lovely post for today's theme.

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  7. WOW KAte - that is wonderful - my favourite pic from today's collection so far. You look like Julie Christie in Dr Zhivago!

    Sydney Daily Photo

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  8. How exciting!!

    Thanks for visiting my blog, Kate. Lovely to see you.

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  9. Anonymous7:30 AM

    Wow. That was some experience, Kate. I am sure you will never forget it or the interesting people who made you feel welcome. The photograph is excellent too.

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  10. Anonymous8:32 AM

    You are certainly the winner in a contest of most exciting sister city, where one has been!

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  11. great photo and a fabulous memory

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  12. What a fantastic experience for you and the students; you were certainly dressed for the occasion - a great photo!

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  13. Looks really cold there!!!...

    I was inscribed in SISTER CITIES TO, but I didn't know I had to post on the 1st of September... Maybe I can post tomorrow!!!???

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  14. I don't agree with you and think your shot is very good!
    So, your sister city is a snowy one too...

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  15. Brilliant use of an older photo for a current theme day. It looks cold there to say the least!

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  16. Kate, how cool! It must have been a memorable experience on so many levels, not least the whole "santa Claus" bit! We registered for this theme, but the portal seems to have lost us, which is very frustrating!

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  17. Anonymous3:31 PM

    I was commenting accidentally with my Google name even I have not any more such kind of blogs!
    But this URL: is working still:

    http://leejattas.aminus3.com

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  18. Hi Kate!!

    I had to look twice to make sure I was in the right blog haha You had me there - I thought I was on a russian blog - gosh you have been well traveled!! What a great shot and memories to boot! I guess one day I will get into the theme of things, but for now, Ill just enjoy yours!

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  19. Awesome photo and experience!

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  20. I spent one , make that ONE, winter in Neenah, Wisconsin. My humble opinion is that Siberia's and Minnesota's winters are probably very much the same. BBBRRRR
    Your students definitely had something in common with the young people in Siberia!

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  21. How exciting it was, I would imagine! Love your sled!

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  22. My company offered me a job there in the 90s. We might have met...

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  23. I was surprised to see the Sami flag on your blog. Now I am staying in northern Norway, there are quite a lot of Sami people living here.

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  24. Hello !

    Hey, le Père Noël a de l'avance !

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  25. Wow! a sister city in Siberia! What an interesting trip that must have been.

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