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Happy Birthday Dan!

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By Culbert Report

October 9th was a big night at 173 Bolshaya Cherkizovskaya.  The little apartment rang with good conversation, games, and a thundering round of Happy Birthday, half in English, half in Russian.  Birthdays are a big deal in Russian culture:  one spends all day preparing food and desserts for all of your guests to enjoy, cleaning the apartment, and thinking up toasts and happy wishes for all invited.  We were no exception!  I started preparations at 10:00 am, and finished up as guests started arriving at 7:00 pm!  But the caviar and crackers, chicken fajitas with homemade tortillas, fresh salsa of all natural ingredients, sliced $6 avacado (a rare find here, but worth every rouble!), pan seared Kubanski peppers and onions, hot tea with sugar, lots of local cookies and treats, and a double decker chocolate chip cookie cake (courtesy of our teammate Kim,) made the day very memorable for all.  

Here are some moments from the evening.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

The boys (from left to right Egor, Chris, Dan, Yan)... and Dahsa enjoy the appetizers and some Pepsi.

Dan and Robi dig into some black caviar, a tasty treat served at most big occasions.

Yan built this delicious fortress out of the cookies and treats available.  He's in a prep school to become an engineer and constructor one day.  Off to a good start!

Our teammate Kim and her oh-so-fabulous-cake, complete with icing spelling С Днем Рождения Данил!  (Happy Birthday Daniel!)

Dan managed to blow out almost all of his imaginary candles.  He missed two.  Better luck next year.

Our happy crew enjoying tea and cake after a round of pictionary.

Happy Birthday, Dan.  And many more.

-rkc

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Carolyn Culbertson said…
I am happy that your birthday was celebrated! you might have gotten Marmite sandwiches and sausge rolls here but for sure no black caviar. Yeah for Kim making that cake!
October 19, 2009
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