My dear guests
I strongly believe that after people shared roof and meals they will never be fooled up by the governments creating "enemies", finding excuses for arms race, fences and wars.
Please meet my guests who made me believe in a small world and realise uniqueness vs similarity of us all. -:)
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relaxing night after Russian banya : Chris and Frances Woolcott from NZ, Helen , Anastasia (web-designer)
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| Jenny from Hawaii teaches how to play ukulele (Aug 08) |
Enjoying Australian-Russian Christmas tea (Dec 24, 2008) |
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the never-stop-smiling Alfred and Sally, USA
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Josh and Melissa, USA (and Gavr the cat) |
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my sunny guests Janusz and Alina
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Simon's cunning smile after an odd Russian-British-Australian dinner
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true ing and yang Laura, UK and Thomas, Portugal
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Aude and Morgan from France
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Geraldine and Sean teach me how to dance
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My thanks to the travellers who just stopped by but eventually left the long-lasting marks on my heart:
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2007
- from France:
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Valerian and Catherine played a lot with my daughter who learnt the funniest tricks with playing cards and "intellect-testing" games. I found in them unbeatable companions for philosophic talks (my favourite!)
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- from Argentina:
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The authentic Nora and Ariel brought hot aura of their country to my home and the city. This gifted couple made a sensation in Irkutsk by giving a master-class at La Palma dance club (shown on local TV). Nora and Ariel's hearts are so alive that they can't but speak out : they sing, they dance, they draw, they cook...All what they do comes from the heart and is very beautiful!
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- from Tasmania:
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George taught us more brain-breaking tricks with cards and told us stories about pirate ships with treasures which still can be found at Western shores of Australia. Also he introduced me to the scientific world of waves and particles - he is up to some "breakthrough" research!
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- from USA :
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A dear couple Marc and Myroon were an invaluable source of wisdom and parent-like loving care
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- from France:
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Phillip introduced me to Barjavel and French cuisine, also kindly provided his nice pictures of Irkutsk and the Lake Baikal
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- from UK:
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Matilda became my “lost and found English sister” after we realized our mental and spiritual closeness
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- from USA:
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Ian has become my best friend ever since summer 2005 after he spent three months in Siberia. He is an extremely deep, accepting and understanding person I have ever known.
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-from Germany:
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Through Gulian I met a terrific team of Russian volunteers carrying out project to support children’s asylums, he also was fantastically sincere about his personal life philosophy and travel experiences
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- from UK:
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Sandra and Judy told me all about NGOs and social work, I have never heard before. They were very generous, exceptionally supportive and empathic. Great fun to be out with too!
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| -from Germany |
Andy and Axel from Heidelberg were hilarious. Intellectual giants full of humour . Natural and spontaneous like kids they mixed up with new people easily and promptly, switching between languages without batting an eyelid. The true cosmopolitans, greedy for the new and unexplored, they were a thrilling company. Adequate, generous, kind, with spacious souls. My daughter commented: They were cool! |
| -from Switzerland |
The Hudson family from Switzerland (Mike, Nadine and their two boys Lenny and Desmond) was a good example of The Family with mature parents and obedient kids. Soft and sensible mother, ironic and fairly-judging father and the kids who were never fussy or demanding. I loved listening to the Hudsons’ well-balanced opinions on things, deep insight into people and the world, “here and now” state of mind and sensitivity to other people’s needs. We had great talks and celebrated Lenny’s 5th Birthday all together!
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| -from Netherlands |
Roel and Heime Pot - a father and a son traveling together were a sample of close relationships between generations rarely found nowadays! Knowledgeable, inquisitive, sane thinkers. Heime enlightened me upon “warm vs cold sales”, how «passion brings success» and a few more rules of business.The Pots expressed big love to their own country but at the same time followed Russian rules with ease - never refused to have a glass of vodka for dinner! :) Funny enough we have similar family names!
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| - from Paris |
Sweet Aude of 19yo came to make a trip around the Lake Baikal owing to the support of Zellidja Fund (France). Most loving and kind person but also mature, brave and clever. Played chess with my daughter at even score. No losers! |
| -from Spain |
Clara and Gustavo from sunny Spain have brought a gust of hot Spanish temperament! Talking to Clara was thrill, she has seen and experinced a lot however younger than myself. Gave me an exhaustive list of non-profitable organizations and charities around the world, shared what she knew on how people help the others in trouble and in the end gain through giving help...Full of joy, responsive, smart! My type of people, I will definitely come to visit them on Spanish beaches of the Meditteranean one day! |
| -from NZ |
Shirley and Norm -a tireless couple of travellers indeed who AFTER they retired has travelled through over 150 countries and has seen and experienced the riskiest and oddiest things. Ther must be an adventure bug in their blood as they don't seem to be willing to settle down. Even when home in NZ they go on travels in their home-on-wheels! Norm is just a terrific Granddad with most amazing stories of personal experiences at hand (from banji-jumping to Gorilla's hugs). Shirley is the liveliest woman who is definitely her man's best half :)
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| - from Japan |
Rare bird in Russia - a Japanese traveller at my place. Tommy and I were like two different worlds at most time (mine - loud, emotional, straightforward, his - quiet, intravert, no-rush, enigmatic). So I am still unsure if he was happy at my home or my manners and behaviour were too rough for the true Japanese valueing style and quiet harmony in the first place. |
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2008
- from Italy
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Always sad to say goodbye to people who become part of your life and occupy big territory in your heart. Marco's bright and ever cheerful spirits (a beautiful sunny land of Italy produces the most charming people, now I know it :) made two ordinary days of my family festive. Excellent pasta-and-wine dinner kindly served by Marco, his enthusiastic participation in any activities/talks and just generally accepting and sensitive nature of his made atmosphere in my flat warmer. The big man made a big difference :) Marco also kindly granted some of his pictures for this site. |
| - from UK |
The young couple from London was a gift for my teenager daughter as Samantha turned out to work for a famous British rock group (Kate's favourite)! So she simply got stuck to Sam pestering her with questions about the group soloist and kept us all laughing at her childish excitement. No wonder - she could not even dream of suddently becoming in such close touch with her idol! Sam and Tim are great representatives of young highly educated generation, very intelligent and knowlegable but relaxed and open at the same time. Despite graduated from London and Cambridge Universities they failed to crack our favourite IQ testing games! :) Well, in return we were given a nice world-spread card game and their own IQ test which Kate and I successfully failed too! |
| - from USA |
Bright personalities with classy manners and high style also visit my modest place. Well, once in a while even stars leave the sky to meet the earth ;) David from LA’s posh backgrounds was as chic as open-minded, simply terrific narrator and a grateful listener. His tales on Russian history kept the audience by dinner table open-mouthed for minutes! Artful at supporting any point of view or initiative and staying cheerful and good-humored in the unlucky or unfavorable circumstances (oh, that trolley-bus ride took for ever:) Enormous inner space, generous heart, fantastic company, which I’d gladly enjoy for a bit longer (Dave there are more Russian fairy tales for you to learn by heart!) . |
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- from Japan and USA
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The stay of this international couple with a wonderful story of their love which overcame language barrier, distances and time was very intense. We talked, we laughed, we shared expertise and business-ideas a lot. Michie a woman with megawatts of energy is a Guinness book winner for her unique home plants back in Japan and an enthusiastic organizer of 14-day trips around her country for individuals. See JAPAN page for details www.helenpot.com/page/15.html . David in the background of a bright star Michie was rather a quiet type of an intellectual. On one of the nights he surprisingly found my daughter a perfect companion for their 3-hour music exchange :) |
| - from Australia and Finland |
Another international couple made me realise once again what a small world we live in. Women and men born thousands of miles from each other find their destiny by chance through travelling. The Finnish girl Marianne and a vivid Ozzie guy Cameron have planted a new idea into my Russian mind. The new concept was "never let anyone discriminate you by age, nationality or whatsoever ". I am very thankful to Marianne for telling me her life story and encouriging me for endevours I never thought I 'd dare to undertake! |
| - from USA (Portland/Hawaii) |
I wish we could have more spare time for talks with Richard and his daughter Jennifer. One night Jennifer made a performance for all of us - she played ukulele (Hawaiian guitar) and sang Hawaiian songs. Her soft voice, lullaby style of singing and heart-felt affection to the place where she currently lives (she moved from NY to Hawaii a few years ago and never regretted) touched my heart. I could listen to her tales on the Hawaiian language, music, traditions, beliefs for hours! :) I loved "pono" approach to life the Hawaiians exercise. It means "whatever you do, do it right". Hey, comrades, let's pick it up and apply in this country to replace the out-dated Soviet mentality "just do it SOMEHOW"...:) No wonder Richard has a daugher with the big heart, he himself is an open-minded and generous person, in love with Baikal Lake and the area. Dick has been here a number of times as a researcher, made life-long friends and even donated to the local environmental organization Great Baikal Trail. I appreciated Dick and Jennifer's stamina and non-complaining disposition. :) |
| -from Greece |
Greeks and Russians are very close historically, spiritually, religiously. No doubt. Marious and his great friend Makis were a terrific company and left pangs of pain in all the hearts they touched during too a short stay... We had Greek salad for Russian dinner, shared music and books and laughed alright (So you think Russia with hundreds belles walking in the streets is heaven for men? Well, I am sure then Greece must be paradise for us women! :) My Greek guests are currently undertaking a fund-raising journey to support homeless kids in Bogota. Pls see here http://thedoublemarch.blogspot.com . I am sure that kind people are supported by Destiny and Good Luck as it happens to Marious and Makis during their trip. |
| -Germany and Hungary |
The sweetest softest Iris and her Hungarian boyfriend Stefan soothed away my unlucky stripe of life by traditional home-made gulash and wine. Can possibly people be so calm, pure, kind-hearted, peaceful, loving? Dear Iris and Stefan, come next time for your honeymoon and stay for free! ;) |
| - Australia /UK/Poland |
Tash with her Russian roots and Warren with his Polish ones seem to have made a perfect match. They were a special treat to me the lover of English language as they both immensely enjoy using it with a twist and like billyo taking every opportunity to exercise their speech-makers' skills! And they had a lot to tell - they have travelled for months by the time they came to Irkutsk! Eloquent and highly-educated yet handy and helpful they volunteed not once at Helen's Homestay household routines. They are so good at observing the world around and Warren is an excellent photographer let alone a bril designer and blog-writer! When Tash and Warren left I had a proper swot at their blog http://wprasek.com/blog/ decoding the Australian slang and ingenious passages here and there, but was rewarded by many healthy laughs. Some jokes were put in my notebook to be used later when occasion offers. :) My thanks to Tash and Warren for their ability to love - each other, cats and people. Happy wedding next spring! :) |
| - Australia (again!) |
Getting on well with the Australians is easy! Despite I am normally too a stressed-out type for charmingly relaxed and laid-back Ozzies, they seem to happily accept me the way I am, the more so that we seem to be very close-minded. :) Mike's disarming openness was flattering, his Xmas gifts - not just kind but thoroughly thought-out and the natural way he was all about - so comfortable. Many thanks to Mike for his enthusiastic support of my plans and dreams, for a great book of recepies and just being such a lovely person, ready to forgive and grow through recent bad luck and misfortunes...let them be the worst and the last in his life...:) |
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2009
- USA
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Josh and Melissa are great.Josh's tales on Korea were eductaional and side-splitting at the same time. The guys are not only compessionate and care for other people's needs (they volunteer in rikhshaw race this August as a part of a clear water project in India) but also most comfortable people to be with! Special thanks to you guys from Kate (you know why:) |
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- UK
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Sarah from London was sheer fun! We had laughs over the kitchen table sharing English/Russian sayings (Sarah's "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" must come from British feminists), I also learnt from her how to whistle a glass blade and play "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon" and not to feel looking "frumpy" among glamourous Moscovites! Shame Sarah did not manage to find a suitable diving suit at a scuba diving club in Listvyanka otherwise she would have something to tell about the Baikal sealife.There is hi to you Sarah from Nastya and Dizzy the dog))) |
| - USA, Indiana |
My multinational family grows bigger with years of hosting travellers. Sometimes you meet up with people who you wish you had as relatives. Alfred and Sally kept me up till 2am with absorbing language-related talks, girlie's gossip, card playing, jam-cooking for 3 nights...I never minded. Al fixed up my telephone line within a second and his DIY spirit longed for more deeds it seems.The cats peacefully walked over my guests and the latter never grumbled. Being the teachers they inspired me with more ideas on an alternative private school (I have been thinking of opening), made me envy their boating adventures in England and their energy levels in general. I will never forget Sally' s infectious laughter (her Lemonjello, Male&Female will become a legend) as well as Al's funniest faces and comments. I really wish the Parsons lived next door! |
| -UK |
15 years ago I visited Norfolk and I remember how I was charmed by the very English touch of the place. Could I know then that one day I will be hosting a guest from that area, someone who is deely in love with Russia and the Russian language? Kevin from Norwich has smoothly merged into a bit chaotic lifestyle of my family, joined any activity be it potato peeling, laundry hanging, watching Russian TV programmes, late tea-drinking or watching my crazy cat's performances. I greatly enjoyed our trip to the lake, linguistics-and movies-related talks (Sinekdohe will be unbeatable as a password !), swapping up idioms and having added VIP/ NFN /PMTs to my vocabulary :) All sweetteeth of my family were thoroughly pleased by Kevin's treats on his last night and special thanks from Gavr the cat :) I hope we meet up again. |
| -Poland/ Latvia |
Alina and Janusz kept my family awake for all the nights - oh, what great fun we had teaching each other games and telling stories and jokes.Alina treated us all to kholodnik soup (I could not believe I was really enjoying the strangest combination of food stuffs in one bowl!) and was unfairly on duty in the kitchen too often.Janusz was so busy with chats and laughs and wine drinking so Alina's grumbling only made us laugh louder! I fell in love with the guys, they are sunny people - even the traditional shot on the sofa has proved the fact! |
| -Estella and Frieder, Germany |
The young couplestayed at ours almost a week.What great time we spent together! Estella cooked the yummiest pancakes for Saturday morning and PotatoPuffer for dinner, we watched Pan's Labirinth and cried at its final, he guys told endless stories about their extensive hitch-hiking travels and we planned together their trips around the Lake baikal.We went to an alpinist's camp in Angasolka village on the Lake together and spent a day walking along old Circumbaikal railroad , meeting crazy climber's glued to the rocks and eating omul fish. |
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- Osa and Oscar, Sweden
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Have I ever seen an energizer before? Probably not.Oscar - the giant young guy who has done so much by his 23, kept my mind toned asking questions on politics and history! I am the wrong person Oscar! While I tried hard to keep up pace with his remarkably fast mental activity, Osa made me slow down and soften up by her lovely feminine manner of speaking and listening. They just look great together. The kind-hearted Osa did her best to involve Kate into conversations and encourage her efforts in English, they discussed music, movies, bands,I myself learnt a lot about Sweden and even got a list of things to see and do when in Sweden.Ok, guys next time I am on a round-the-world trip, I'll pay you a visit! |
| - Simon and Davina, Uk/Australia |
If there is real joy for me in this world it'd be reading and having a good conversation. Oh, with Davina and Simon I have felt more than contented - both quick-witted and fast-spoken they kept me on toes alright! Davina' s experience in teaching teenagers makes her the most inspired speech-maker- I did not mind playing an audience. :)Simon's humour and ever busy hands (he was just a washing up angel in my kitchen!) were a perfect balance to us two chatterboxes! I felt so much at ease discussing my personal affairs/doubts/plans with them (well, sorry if I left you no choice guys) as if we have known each other for ages. Cheerful, positive, delicate about priviacy issues and the most easy-to-share-a-flat-with people. |
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2010
-Cyril Schafer, NZ
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Cyril has become nearly a member of our family after staying over a month at our place! Big height and soul-wise, a remarkable professor of anthropology Cyril treated every Russian experience (let it be Russian public banya, Birthday or New Year party, drinks with newly made friends or visiting Russian families) as an opportunity for his anthropology studies. Funnily we all turn out to be walking study objects to him))) He has been very kind to all members of my family (the cats included- he spoilt them with loads of yummy foods) and left many reminders of his stay (Cyril's gifts are all over the place and used every day waking up memories). To say nothing of his openely expressed delight at spending his annual vacation in Siberia, exposed to frosts, ice and snow! We joked a lot about how it could be nice to swap up homes - quite understandably I dream of the opposite - a vacation on a seaside, exposed to sun, heat and the ocean breezes...:) |
| -Thomas and Laura, UK/Portugal |
Portugal is the best and Cascais is the best of the best , Thomas, you have convinced me in the fact (although Laura would always mock at your patriotism!). Brutal Thomas and tender sweet Laura make a terrific couple, both young, attractive, bright. We spent an evening watching The Fountain, shared our movie favourites (La Vita Belle recommended by Thomas is so touching as touching is Thomas's hobo spirit and his admiration at Into The Wild main character). One from Portugal another from the UK meeting in Africa - will this surprise nobody but me?? |
| Seiji and Kaylene, Australia |
The guys' stay coincided with my brother's visit and we all had dinners together.We treated Seiji and Kaylene to omul fish, boys again proved be boys ever (no interpreter required when boys are having beer), we discussed benefits of a teacher's profession, omnibus and doubledeckers, social work, Japan, laughed at "having a nap" instead of "having a map", just had great time! I wish Kaylene stayed longer and I took a pleasurable class of Math in English from her! |
Helen's Homestay season 2008 is over. We have hosted more than 60 people at our modest place between March and end of September. I am thankful to all my guests and hope they forgive us if we failed to provide perfectly smooth service sometimes. I hope one day Helen's Homestay becomes a bigger business letting me leave my full-time job and devote all my time to hosting guests of Russia and Siberia. ;)
Now my cordial thanks to the internatioonal couples who made my belief in "love without barriers" stonger. I have hosted many of such! Listening to their sometimes unbelievable but always "heart-pumping" love stories I was making mental notes...The stories differed in detail but were all alike in one way.The happy soulmates I hosted were truely brave hearts, fearing not time, distance, language and cultural differences, inconveniences, misunderstanding and fights. All that did not matter to them that much compared to the happiness of finding each other and the strong desire to stay together ever since!.
I wish you all my dear continued happiness as families not just couples!
Helen's Homestay season 2009 is over. Quite a number of teachers stayed at my place during the past few months (from NZ, Scotland, USA)- sometimes both partners were teachers. They were all people with the mission which made them stand out from the rest. Focused on their work, in a constant search of improvement, kind, great listeners and motivators. I want to be like them! My very best wishes to all people who chose my place when visiting Irkutsk and shared their time, ideas and dreams with me.Good that the heart has no limits for accommodating all good memories otherwise mine would have broken through the chest growing bigger with every new friendship! :)
Testimonials:
We are a 60 year old couple that travels extensively. In Irkutsk we stayed at Helen's Homestay. We had just spent a month camping in Mongolia and
staying with Helen was like coming home. Helen showed us around her
hometown of Irkutsk which retains many older wooden houses and is a charming
friendly city. She also took us to Lake Baikal where we feasted on smoked
fish with the local people on the beach. We got to see Siberia with a
native and learned many things about local customs and legends. Helen
speaks flawless English and can even do simultaneous translations between
you and the people you meet! And you couldn't stay with a nicer family then
Helen's!!
- Marc and Myroon Halpern
Denver, Colorado, USA
References: Helen's interview taken by travellers' section on Suite101.com : http://russia-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/helens_homestay_in_irkutsk
For hesitating customers: please contact Ruth Imershein from LonelyPlanet (she is in charge of Russian Section at ThornTree, nickname Everbrite) for info on Helen's Homestay.
Helen's Homestay: Russia, 664059,Irkutsk, Yubileyny,111 flat 70,+7-3952-468559,Elena Gorshkova, helen_pot@mail.ru , enshora@gmail.com |
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