newsletter
THE AMERICAN WOMEN’S ORGANISATION OF MOSCOW
June 2019
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT As the summer break approaches and the days leading up to it become filled with farewell events for those leaving, we start reflecting on our expat life cycle. I must say this is the stage I look forward to the least, as I don’t like saying goodbye. Even though we feel as though we have been preparing for months to let our friends go, somehow it still feels so abrupt when the time comes for them to leave. As an expat, for some we know it’s inevitable, we know that we are creating more global friendships, when people move to other parts of the world and we know that one day it will also happen to us, but still why is it so hard when it actually happens? I think for us this is the stage of the cycle that we never want to think about, unless we really want to leave. However I think for most it’s the reality of the ending of an expat era where so much work went into creating our lives and now we once again have to think about starting a new one. However to my AWO family members who will leave this summer, thank you for giving us the opportunity of being a part of your expat journey. You might have come to the end of this expat cycle but never forget you have friends and an organization back in Moscow who will always be your support as you once again start another cycle. To Michelle Rowe and Dawn Biyash, AWO Board members, thank you for your continued support and commitment to the AWO Moscow. You both played vital roles on our board and we will forever be grateful for the contributions in moving us forward and making us better. It is not goodbye but see you later until our paths cross again.
Michele
List of Contents 3 4 5
Save the Date
Notes from the Editor
16
19
Special oers for AWO Members
Your 2018-2019 AWO Board
Events of the Month
6 Invitation to AWO Family Picnic
7 8 9
11 12 13 14 15
Charitable Lego Drive
Review: AWO Charity Cocktail
Review: Cultural Outings Interest Group
Review: A Coee Morning with Kate Chirkova
Summer Activities in Moscow: Elk Island
Summer Activities in Moscow: Yoga Summer
Summer Activities in Moscow: Panda Parks
News from FAWCO
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June 5 11:30am - 1:30pm Lobby Lounge June 19 July 17 August 7 and 21 O2 Longue The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Tverskaya Ulitsa 3. from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
AWO Family Picnic Sunday, June 16, 2019 from 12-4pm (see page 6 for more information)
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THE SUNFLOWERS One of my happiest memories when I was a kid, was playing in my grandfather's 8ny sunflower field in summer8me. I loved how tall they were and how fun it was to watch them follow the sun. I felt that they were mischievous creatures that never stood s8ll like other plants but changed their places every 8me I looked. They were quite nasty once you wanted to rip their seeds off but were very cheerful when you wanted to play hide and seek under their long leaves. Many years later I learned that they symbolized loyalty, family, and friendship. What a great symbol! Don’t we all watch out
for our loved ones and follow them with our heart wherever they go? June is a biKersweet month where we have to say farewell to some of our loved ones and embrace the coming of summer at the same 8me. For the ones who are staying in Moscow, let's enjoy this beau8ful city as much as we can. The summer months are as beau8ful and lively as winter 8me. For all my friends who are leaving, may your new life bring you happiness, love and abundance like sunflowers. Irem
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Events of the Month Russia Day - June 12, 2019 // Various Locations June 12 marks one of Russia’s youngest national holidays, Russia Day. Festive stalls and stages will be placed all over the city centre. It is most likely that Red Square will be closed this day. The International Knight Festival - June 12 - 16, 2019 // Kolomenskoye Park This is going to be a fun event to watch! St. George Tournament, which happens to be the world’s largest tournament is going to take place in the main parks of Moscow in June this year. Visitors of the festival will be able to watch the opening ceremony of the tournament between 12 knights and enjoy a medieval fair for five days. Following the awarding ceremony upon the completion of the tournament, there will be shows including magic hunting, historical theatre and a big picnic. For more information, visit: http:// turnir.moscow/ Concert: Muse - June 15, 2019 // Luzhniki Stadium The tickets are sold at: https://eng.luzhniki.ru/objects/bolshaya-sportivnaya-arena Photo Exhibition “Vacation” by Jean Daniel Lorieux - till June 23, 2019 // The Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography. One of the most renowned fashion photographers between the 1970s and 2000s. After his military service in Algeria, Jean Daniel Lorieux decided to only take photographs of vivid, contrasting colours. Price of ticket 400 rub weekdays, 500 rub weekends. Bolotnaya Embankment 3, http://lumiere.ru/contacts/ Festival: “Taste of Moscow” - June 27 - 30, 2019 // Luzhniki Stadium For more information about the schedule and the location, please visit: http://tastefestival.ru/ Music Festival “Park Live 2019” July 12 -14, 2019 // Gorky Park The Festival will host the likes of 30 Seconds to Mars on an open air stage. http://park.live/ Concert: Ed Sheeran - July 19, 2019 // Otkritie Arena The tickets are sold at: http://otkritiearena.ru/en/contacts/ Exhibition: Ilya Repin - till August 18, 2019 //New Tretyakov Gallery. A large-scale exhibition of works by Ilya Repin (1844–1930) will present a modern interpretation of the great painter’s art. The best works of the master, created from the early 1870s to the end of the 1920s, will be on display. Price of ticket 600 rub. http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/for-visitors/museums/novaya-
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Invitation to AWO Family Picnic
June 2019 // !6
Charitable Lego Drive Our fellow member Maggie Ghidirim's son Nicolas has built a LEGO table as a part of his Eagle Scout Service Project and is organizing a LEGO Drive during May 29 - June 19. The table and LEGO bricks will benefit children at the hostel school “Udelinskaya Shkola-Internat� near the Udelnaya village in the Moscow region. In order to donate, please bring your lego bricks to the next AWO meeting on June 5. Alternatively, contact Maggie to coordinate the collection of your LEGO bricks: +7 916 391 30 07 mgferriero@yahoo.com
June 2019 // !7
Review: AWO Charity Cocktail by Daniele Kuznetsov
The AWO Charity Cocktail was the place to be on Friday, May 17, 2019. Thanks to Masha Megrelis and her superior organizational party skills, 48 people came to support Nastenka and a total of 122,500 rubles were raised, to continue the 17 year history AWO has supporting children with cancer in Russia. This was our inaugural experiment and it surely was a success. Many thanks to all who attended, supported, and volunteered their time. Masha will remain the contact person for future Charity Dinners/Cocktails along with me and it is our hope to expand this idea to support other organizations, as well. You will hear more about this in the months to come as we hope to expand AWO's generosity far and wide. On that note, we are modernising our approach in Spread Sunshine to fundraising and support! Beginning this fall, AWO will
have a new application process for Spreading Sunshine. The application will allow us to better address local needs and connect the charities that AWO members would like to support. We are looking to create a team for fundraising and the allocation of those funds. If you are interested in participating, please email kuznetsov.danielle@gmail.com for more information. The application will be ready mid-summer and by September when things gear up again, you will be receiving it via email. Personally, I would like to THANK all of the women who make AWO a wonderful  place for friendship, socialization, and service. Your willingness to give and work collaboratively on behalf of others inspires and encourages me that together change is always possible.
June 2019 // !8
Review: Cultural Outings Interest Group by Lynne Tognet-Loge
The end of an era for Cultural Outings/ Neighbourhood Walks Interest Group. It is with a heavy heart that our current Cultural outings ,formerly known as Neighbourhood walks, comes to an end. Valentina led this group for many years, since 2004, alongside Susan Partridge for many years and myself for the last year and a half. She eagerly sourced interesting exhibitions, sharing her knowledge of the time period, artists and architecture as well as keeping our attention with fascinating anecdotes. Valentina was ill at the end of February of this year which had many of us concerned about her health. She recovered well and thanks the AWO for the lovely flowers she received while in hospital. Valentina is currently in Stamford, Connecticut with her family where she will stay indefinitely. I want to share our last walk which should have appeared in an earlier addition of the newsletter but feel it can find its right place in our end of season newsletter. I want to extend AWO’s gratitude and thanks to Valentina for the many years nurturing many of us, inspiring us and shaping each of our own Moscow adventure! She is a true pioneer with the AWO and is already sadly missed. February’s Outing At the beginning of February, The Cultural Outing group went to the Bakhrushin The-
The Bakhrushin Theatre Museum
The Permenant Exhibition
atre Museum located next to Paveletskaya Metro Station. In the late 19th C, Alexy Bakhrushin, a local industrialist and patron of art, opened up his estate home to view his private collection of theatre memorabilia including costumes, set designs, portraits, etc.
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We toured the permanent exhibition, then continued to the special exhibition entitled “Main Goal is to Survive”. This was devoted to the 75th anniversary of the Vorkuta State Drama Theatre. This theatre company comprised of imprisoned artists of the Vorkuta Gulag created August 1943 for the entertainment of the population of the Vorkutinsky coal mining basin. The imprisoned former chief director of the Bolshoi Theatre, Boris Mordinov, was appointed chief director. The artists mined coal during the day and prepared to perform in the evening. All sets, costumes and practices took place after a gruelling day mining. By 1948 the theatre troupe comprised about 150 people. Exhibition curator Nadezhda Mordinova writes,”the Theatre was created on the verge of life and death, freedom and bondage, war and peace, good and evil, the bitter cold of the camp and the warmth of the auditorium. « There was a feeling that I went from hell to paradise... » - these are the words from the memories of the artist Alexi Markov, a prisoner who was taken to the theatre from the hardest work in the mine.” The exhibition comprised of memories written by the artists, photos, set and costume designs with some of these drawings and letters hung by barbed wire in the central exhibit area. Even though there was very little English translation you could get a feel for this time period. It was wonderful to have many from our group help translate the stories of survival. We were fortunate to meet Sasha and his wife Alla as well as Lyudmila who told us that they were born in Vorkuta as their parents were residents there. This was a very poignant exhibition for them as they described stories from their parents. Meeting
Ballet slippers of famous dancers Anna Pavlova and Matilda Ksenshinskaia
Pictured with us are Lyudmila, Sasha and his wife Alla
them and hearing them speak gave the exhibition a very human element. After Stalin’s death and the release of prisoners the Vorkuta Drama Theatre entered the city system where it successfully continues to exit today. A special thank you to Valentina for sourcing this exhibition and for her lovely friend Natasha for guiding us with enthusiasm in the permanent exhibition.
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Review: A Coffee Morning with Kate Chirkova by Michele Kuhlen At our May 29th coffee morning, we had the pleasure of having Kate Chirkova, a certified professional beauty consultant, MercedesBenz Fashion Week make-up artist and Mary Kay Sales Director. During the meeting Kate shared with our members summer skincare beauty secrets accompanied by live demonstrations on two of our members. We also had an opportunity to try the latest Mary Kay summer products and a few lucky members even took home some limited edition products, which they won as raffle prizes. Kate shared useful tips on easy but effective skin care procedures for a perfect vacation. She also gave suggestions on how to create your own perfect beauty case for traveling especially by aircraft and trains which limits how much liquid can be taken in hand luggage. We also received tips on how to obtain a healthy perfect tan for the entire
family and secrets on how to obtain the best glamorous summer photos. Kate’s presentation also covered skincare tips for outdoor summer excursions and the best ways to maintain your tone and to keep your pores clean and skin relaxed after long hours of sun exposure. Kate Chirkova has been a Mary Kay beauty expert and Sales Director for the last 10 years. She is also a former TV international producer for more than 50 scientific documentaries about new technologies, health, anti-age research and a MercedesBenz Fashion Week make-up artist for celebrities since 2014. She also offers corporate master-classes for the Russian Ministry of Justice, Siemens Russia, Megafon, Technopark, Moscow English Club, women's clubs, fitness-centers and medical centers. Kate can be contacted for products and master classes via email at ckey.ntv@gmail.com or cell +7(915)470-3530.
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Summer Activities in Moscow DISCOVER THE ELK ISLAND! Located right behind the Sokolniki Park, the Elk Island has many wonders that you may want to discover during summer.
This large wildlife reserve has nine dierent ecological centres that are almost a few minutes drive away from the city center. The Elk Island oers several excursions and events for nature lovers at all ages. Visit their website before you plan your trip as many of the excursions require guided tours: http://en.elkisland.ru/
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YOGA SUMMER! Yoga Journal is organising the 8th Yoga Summer Events in Moscow this year. From June 1 to August 31, certified teachers will organize regular yoga classes in 37 parks. Classes are suitable for both experienced practitioners and those who make the first steps in yoga. All classes are free of charge. All you need to do is to show up on time with your yoga mat! Sign up is not required. Just select the park you wish to visit from the map and check the class schedules: https://yogajournal.ru/parks/map/
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PANDA PARKS! If you’re likely to stay with your kids in Moscow during summer, the wide selection of Panda Parks around the city might just save your life! Each panda park has different options for kids of different heights. It’s good to check the website to make sure your child will have a couple of courses for his/her height range. http://pandapark.org/
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News from FAWCO by Daniele Kuznetsov
May has almost come and gone and summer is on our doorstep. For most of us at AWO that means the end of school and summer travels. For others going home is the next adventure on this expat journey. FAWCO offers resources for all members of AWO. For those heading back to the States check out the relocation and retirement resources at FAUSA https://fausa.org. FAUSA ladies are movers and shakers, very active in FAWCO and certainly making a difference in their communities. Reach out for someone with a similar experience! FAWCO Foundation also offers opportunities for your growth and pleasure https:// www.fawcofoundation.org/programs. Applications for the FAWCO 2019-2022 Target Health Program are now available online and applications may be submitted by FAWCO and FAUSA members. Projects for consideration are those focusing on empowering women and girls by promoting
healthy living, increasing awareness of issues affecting health and improving education and human rights regarding health and well being. Visit the FAWCO website and read Target Program Blog: Health and sign up for the Target Program: Health Bulletin. If you have any questions email Christine Rigby-Hall at target-applicatino@fawco.org Finally, if your student wants an opportunity to volunteer aboard with other sons/ daughters of AWO members throughout the world, please go to https://www.fawco.org/ global-issues/youth-program/culturalvolunteers and download the application form. The program dates are October 16-23 in Athens, Greece. This is another way for students to grow in their global citizenship and complete community service projects for graduation requirements. Watch for more FAWCO information in future newsletters.
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Special Offers for AWO Members
LADIES NIGTHS IN O2 LOUNGE!
O2 Lounge restaurant announces Ladies Thursday Summer Nights. Celebrate the upcoming weekend in the company of your girl friends and colleagues with the best panoramic view over the Kremlin and Red Square. Enjoy a bottle of wine as a compliment (white, rose or red on your choice) if you place an order at 4 000 RUR or more.
June 2019 // !16
Rosinka: Your Home in Russia Rosinka Residences is a full service gated community that has been home to Expats and Diplomats for over 27 years. Our residents consider Rosinka the best place to live in Moscow. We offer furnished and unfurnished townhouses for rent at competitive prices. The prestigious International School of Moscow (Nord Anglia Education School) elementary campus is within the gates of Rosinka. One of the greatest benefits of our residents is priority enrollment. Please book an appointment to visit our community at your earliest convenience. We assure you that you will be amazed with our facilities and service! Contacts: +7(495)730-32-00 +7(985)998-05-85 +7(916)900-05-13 www.rosinka.ru rosinkarentals@gmail.com
April Junel2019 2019// //1! 7 !17
 
US Dental Care is happy to offer a special discount for the members of AWO – 15% on the first visit and 5% thereafter. www.usdentalcare.com
Thanks to our sponsors:
Your 2018-2019 AWO Board
Michele Kuhlen President, Charity Liaison
Irem Sunar Newsletter
Danielle Kuznetsov Vice President
Meg Aw
Salma Nurmohamed
Treasurer
Secretary
Spread Sunshine, FAWCO REP Facebook
Dawn Biyashev Interest Groups
Kelley Jackson Special Events and Fundraising
Beth Osowski Monday Updates
Becky Zenkevich Ex-OďŹƒcio
Eugenie Tsesarenko Membership Newsletter
Photo Credits: Page 11: Maggie Ghidirim
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