A Publication for the SSA Global Community - December 2019
Baku Montpellier Bergen Oslo Bucharest Astrakhan Moscow Tyumen Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Aberdeen Cambridge London/Gatwick
Europe Russia Edition
Hi everyone! It’s time for Europe/Russia to be featured in The Wayfarer! Thank you to the Chapters that sent their contributions and also to Luciana (their Area Coordinator) for motivating them to participate! Special congratulations to the Russian Chapters, where all 4 active Chapters sent contributions! Since the last edition, we bid goodbye to Anisa Haddad from her position as Ex-Officio of the Global Board. Anisa has worked for the SSA for many years and still remains our most valuable advisor! We will probably never let go of her! Elsa is now our Ex-officio (so we’re definitely not saying goodbye to her!) and as you already know our new Global Coordinator is Pia Dey Verma, who previously was the MEA Area Coordinator (she’s actually still holding the position as interim AC). Thank you both for your work and support! I hope you enjoy this edition of The Wayfarer J
Until next time! Evelyn Bicelis M. Global Communications Coordinator ebicelis.ssagcc@gmail.com
In this edition… The SSA Global Board Thank you, Anisa! By Elsa Scheffler About our Website: SSAfara
4 6 8
Europe/Russia Active Chapters
10
Message from the Europe/Russia Area Coordinator
12
SSA Baku SSA Montpellier SSA Bergen SSA Oslo SSA Bucharest SSA Astrakhan SSA Moscow
16 24 28 34 38 46 48
SSA Tyumen SSA Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk SSA Aberdeen SSA Cambridge SSA London Contributions from our members
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Recipe corner: Kanelboller by Tiffany Blair Big Little Ideas by Ashima Goyal Ecology Talks by Biriukova Tatiana SLB Italy: HSE for Youth by Luciana Villanti Travel photos by SSA members
82 84 86 88 90
Cover shot by Caroline Aylmer Sanford of SSA Aberdeen, taken in Linn O' Dee (Scotland)
We hope you enjoy this edition of The Wayfarer, for comments or feedback email ebicelis.ssagcc@gmail.com
The SSA Global Board bal lo G e h t t o men At the m rs from 7 e b m e m s9 are all Board ha e W ! s e i r count k eep t u different b s n o i nt locat e r e f f i d n nd work i a h c u o t t e SSA! in constan h t t r o p p to su together Global Coordinator
Pia Dey Verma Mumbai, India
Jul 2019 - Jul 2021 ssa-global-coord@slb.com
Global Communications Coord.
Global Webmaster
Evelyn Bicelis M.
Erna Farizan
Beijing, China Mar 2019 - Mar 2021
Aberdeen, Scotland Mar 2019 - Mar 2021
ssa-communications@slb.com
ssa-webmaster@slb.com
Global Secretary
Ex Officio Global Coord.
Yara El-Emam
Elsa Scheffler
Kuwait City, Kuwait Feb 2019 - Feb 2021
Mexico City, Mexico Jul 2019 – Jul 2021
ssa-secretary@slb.com
ssa-exofficio@slb.com
4
AREA COORDINATORS
Africa Area Coordinator Pallavi Vaid Accra, Ghana Nov 2018 – Nov 2020
ssa-africa-coord@slb.com
Asia/Australia Area Coordinator Preeti Chowdhary Mumbai, India Jan 2019 – Jan 2021
ssa-asia-coord@slb.com
Europe/Russia Area Coordinator Luciana Villanti Bologna, Italy Jun 2018 – Jun 2020
ssa-eur-slr-coord@slb.com
Latin America Area Coordinator Nina Pikush Villahermosa, Mexico Nov 2018 – Nov 2020
ssa-lam-coord@slb.com
Middle East Area Coordinator VACANT (Acting Pia Dey Verma)
ssa-mideast-coord@slb.com
North America Area Coordinator New AC will start in January 2020! (Acting Elsa Scheffler)
ssa-nam-coord@slb.com 4
Thank you, Anisa By Elsa Scheffler
I first “met” Anisa in late 2014 on a videocall when I was about to start my first term as SSA Global Communications Coordinator. Anisa was the Global Coordinator then, so it was her responsibility to explain to all new Global Board members what was expected from them. She was living in Kuala Lumpur at the time, and I was in Ciudad del Carmen, so we set a time that was convenient for us; it was morning for her and night for me. I remember that I was sitting in my kitchen, kind of nervous about starting in this new position (really with no idea what to do or where to start), and we start the videocall, we introduced ourselves and then Anisa started explaining in a very clear way what my new responsibilities were. It was such a relief to hear what my new job entailed with such clarity! We talked about the SSA’s history, the SSA website, and various other topics. It was an information-filled conversation, with lots for me to absorb, but what I remember most is that during all that time, Anisa was sitting against a huge open window so her face was only a dark silhouette to me. When we hung up, I realized I had just talked to a silhouette for an hour. I never saw her face. I still laugh to this day remembering that I told her that I couldn’t see her, and she said maybe it was on purpose =) 4
I started working with her and soon I began to know more about her and very quickly understood that Anisa would be a huge influence in my life, not only in SSA-related matters, but also as an example of a strong, resilient, and if you pardon the expression, a total bad-ass woman. She is the whole package really. Her passion is contagious; her memory is privileged; her strength is unlimited; her willingness to volunteer to head such a large organization as the SSA apart from all her many other responsibilities from her family and her job without losing her cool is awe inspiring. During the 5 years that I have been a part of the Global Board there have been many times when I approached her for advice. I call her my guru. When other Global Board members met her, they immediately understood why. Anisa is a person you can count on 200%.
Global Board, because frankly, after more than 10 years anyone needs a break… but I also think that maybe, just maybe, someday she will be back. After all, as the saying goes: “Once a Global Board member, always a Global Board member”. Thank you, Anisa, for everything that you have done for the SSA and for being such a great friend to everyone who meets you. We surely miss you in the Global Board, but we know that you’re only a few time zones away and ready to help whenever we need, even if it’s in a silhouetted-videocall. Enjoy your “retirement”, but don’t go too far!
How to say goodbye from the Global Board to Anisa? There is no simple answer to that question. Her contributions to the SSA are many and even though our members might not know it, we owe a lot of the respect and recognition that the SSA has within SLB to her hard work as part of the Global Board. I know she was eagerly waiting for the time when she could retire from the
Love, Elsa 4
About our Website: SSAfara
What is SSAfara?
Why join?
Our SSA website was created by SLB in 2017 to store and share our official information, for the Chapters to present themselves to the members worldwide and as a great resource for members to learn about their possible next location in a discreet way!
To access official SSA information, learn about other Chapters or learn about your next location, get contact information of any of the boards, to help build our Member Database (which will be used in the future to determine Chapter Budgets!), all SSA members need to join!
How to join SSAfara? Send the link below to your spouse (SLB employee) to request your access by giving your name and email (any domain works!). https://slb001.sharepoint.com/sites/ssafara/Lists/PrimaryInfoCollection/NewForm.aspx?Source=htt ps://slb001.sharepoint.com/sites/ssafara/SiteAssets/coeapp-1.1.0/pages/ThankYouPage.aspx
Once we process the request you will receive the log in guide with the steps to follow to join SSAfara J SLB employee requests access
Webmaster (Erna) processes the request
Over 1100 requests received from over 90 cities!
SSA member follows the steps in the guide and LOGS IN
J
59% have logged in (we need everyone to log in!)
• Once members log in and register, we can see which location they belong to and they enter the SSA Global Database • Admins: Chapters need to keep their pages updated, so newcomers can learn about your Chapter and find your contact information easily! • If you requested access but haven’t logged in, please do it ASAP (The system deletes old requests of people that did not log in at least once!)
If you have any questions, please email our Webmaster at ernafarizan@gmail.com and we will help you J If you already joined, THANK YOU!
Europe/Russia
Country
Chapter
Azerbaijan
Baku Montpellier
France
Paris Pau
Germany
Vechta
Kazakhstan
Atyrau Bergen
Norway
Oslo Stavanger
Romania
Bucharest Astrakhan
Russia
Moscow Tyumen Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Aberdeen Abingdon
UK
Cambridge London/Gatwick Stonehouse
Active Chapters
Message from Luciana Villanti Europe/Russia Area Coordinator Wow! What can I say on living in Italy? In a town that I’m living in for the first time ever, despite of visiting it at least thrice a year, and at the same time be the Europe/Russia Area Coordinator? It has been FANTASTIC!! Challenging as every new location, but fantastic to know how supportive the SSA is, no matter how far a member is from an active chapter or his/her own country. Fantastic to discover how united and active the SSA is, the magic the SSA members can make when helping a newcomer turn into a resident, the beautiful souls we find willing to help us, to hold our hand, give us advice, guide and show us the light when we struggle. And I can say that I struggled at least 4 times here and having the support from the SSA was fundamental to me to do my path through my own challenges and difficulties. The cultural diversity and the beauty I’ve found in this GeoMarket, in the countries I have visited or got to know
through the Chapters’ Newsletters, simply astonished me! I confess I happily and rapidly gained 10 kg during my stay until now - so it’s time to close my mouth for all the temptations my brain is welltrained and oriented! J Being part of the SSA for almost two decades has helped me reinforce my own beliefs in “listen to be able to understand”, and only after that give some advice, never criticize - everybody feels and sees their environment or situation differently from others. So, before we speak, it’s rather better to listen to understand the core of the issue. By doing that
we can avoid a long list of misconceptions. It has been a great adventure and a pleasant stay with tons of knowledge and experiences exchanged, which is automatically translated into gains in terms of enhanced culture, being more focus outward, with better attitudes to what’s happening around you, on what people around you are doing. Coordinating 17 active chapters, supporting 2 others to restart their activities, as well as guiding the creation of 2 new ones, making a total of 21chapters, and at the same time taking care of my family, a son starting the University in England, and conciliating all that with my studies and new
projects it hasn’t been easy but not impossible, as I see all these as a such valuable opportunity to learn and improve my own skills – “The challenge is our energy” is a motto that drives me, energizes my stamina and empowers me. All that has been possible only with the support of my own family and the amazing Local Coordinators and Board Members we have here, the SSA Global Team expertise along with Schlumberger HRs cooperation. You all have my HUGE thanks! It was not easy in the beginning, but today I have the fulfillment to say that we could build an enriching and collaborative community that works together to reach the same goal through high levels of respect, a common sense and empathy, the core of our mission, which is to create and maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for all members and their families. I can’t stop saying how it has been FANTASTIC and so enriching to be part of SSA! When you least expect, good things happen. And I believe that all is for the good to those who work hard, honestly and diligently to the others wellbeing.
It’s valid to bring here a few words from our SSA Volunteer Management Handbook, created in 2009 by then SSA Global Communications Coordinator, Anisa Haddad, with the intention of supporting SSA Volunteers worldwide and reinforcing the importance of the SSA Chapter Guidelines and Mission Statement. Here they are, vibrating and resonating to our SSA spirit and stamina: “As SSA Board members, you are the leaders of our Association. It is not always common knowledge the amount of time and effort that Local and Global Board members put into their positions. We are all volunteers, and we gladly accept to take on these roles for the good of the SSA. I want to extend my thanks and admiration to you all. The SSA is strong thanks to volunteers like you, who take on the responsibility and do your best efforts to fulfill your tasks with a smile on your face.” – Anisa Haddad. It has been great to collaborate with the improvements and implementation of the New way of working in our GeoMarket by extending that to the SSA and
adding that to our best practices. SSA Europe/Russia has been working closely with SLB HRs Management in order to find the best way to work in consonance with their expectations, bringing to clarity the reality of each chapter in our area of coverage, taking this opportunity to make our SSA Guidelines and Mission Statement well-known, aiming to promote it with efficiency. SSA members are our soul. SSA Board Members are our heart that makes the SSA beat! Our SSA Local Coordinators are our stars shining bright like diamonds when spreading friendship, support and solidarity to every
new family they welcome with their smiles and hugs, reinforcing our true mission and the reason of our existence. Those smiles and hugs one day stopped at my door and rang my bell, at the moment I was feeling lost and frustrated for not being able to speak a single word of French to buy tomatoes - in Pointe-Noire, Congo. That was everything for me and the beginning of my best friendships I still have in my life. SSA was present when I miscarried after 2 months of pregnancy, and 4.5 years later when our building had a fire and we remained without a house for at least a
week. HSE management was strongly effective providing 24/7 of full monitoring and assistance – that happened when my husband was not there anymore, as he got transferred and was already working in Accra, Ghana. SSA brought diapers, milk, clothes, etc. to me and my kids!! That was priceless, unique and unforgettable. Thank you SSA friends, from the bottom of my heart. As long as there is compassion and solidarity in our hearts, there will be SSA! Love, Luciana Villanti
SSA Baku, Azerbaijan Baku, the capital and commercial hub of Azerbaijan, is a low-lying city with coastline along the Caspian Sea. It's famed for its medieval walled old city, which contains the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a vast royal complex, and the iconic stone Maiden Tower. Contemporary landmarks include the Zaha Hadid–designed Heydar Aliyev Center, and the Flame Towers, 3 pointed skyscrapers covered with LED screens.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
In SSA Baku we have currently around 26 members from many different countries: Venezuela, Brazil, United States, India, France, Iran, Bolivia, Russia and Scotland. We have Coffee Mornings and events every month, we welcome our newcomers and do other fun activities that help strengthen the relationship of our SSA Family here.
Our activities have included cultural tours to the carpet museum, walks around the old city, Baku modern art museum visit, etc. We have also done Zumba classes, Plate painting classes, scrapbooking classes, cooking classes which have always been a favorite, since everyone comes from different countries with such diverse cultures.
SSA Baku, Azerbaijan Enjoying a traditional Azerbaijani Breakfast
Celebrating International Women's Day
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Traditional Azerbaijani Plate Painting Class
SSA Baku, Azerbaijan
Turkmen Food Cooking Class
Zumba Session
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SSA Baku, Azerbaijan Ladies’ Night
Couples’ night out
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Baby Shower
A fun photo session in Traditional Azerbaijani attire after a walk around the Old city
SSA Montpellier, France Montpellier is France's 8th largest city, it is a city near the south coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea. Montpellier has one of the world’s oldest universities: University of Montpellier, founded in 1160. Almost one third of the city population are students. The city has a Mediterranean climate with mild, damp winters and hot, dry summers. The center of the city is called Place de la ComÊdie.
SSA Montpellier has around 27 members, we meet once or twice a month. We do coffee mornings, seasonal lunch and dinners, potlucks and other creative and sportive activities. You can see some of our photos in the next pages
The Wayfarer⎹ Europe/Russia 2019
French Patisserie class One cannot miss the opportunity to learn world’s famous French desserts while living in France!
Home décor workshop using dried flowers
SSA Montpellier, France
Bowling with the kids
Spring lunch followed by a car racing game
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
Christmas dinner
Pic-Saint-Loup hiking
Farewell gathering
Potluck
SSA Bergen, Norway Fun Facts about Bergen Impress your friends and family with this list of fun facts about Norway's second city and the gateway to the fjords, Bergen. Hordes of tourists visit Bergen every year but how many of them know very much about the city? We've gathered some facts and trivia that you may not know. Enjoy!
1) Bergen is known as the city of the seven mountains: But locals argue which seven they are, for the city is surrounded by peaks. It was playwright Ludvig Holberg who gave the city its nickname, after being inspired by the seven hills of Rome. 2) Bergen is Norway's second biggest city: The population of the municipality is around 280,000, roughly half the size of Oslo. Bergen is significantly bigger than Trondheim and Stavanger, which vie for third place. 3) Bergen is one of Europe's rainiest places: Forget those postcards of Bryggen looking its best in glorious summer sunshine! On average there is some rainfall on 231 days per year. The rainiest months tend to be September and October, although rainfall is possible at any time of the year. The moist Atlantic winds rise over the mountains that surround the city and that causes rainfall. Expect cool summers and mild winters, with temperatures rarely dropping below 10C/14F.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
4) Bergen is famous for its dialect: Unfortunately, Bergensk happens to be the most difficult Norwegian dialect for foreigners and Norwegian learners to understand! Learning Norwegian in Oslo (or online) and then moving to Bergen has tripped up many people who thought they were fluent. 5) Bergen is getting the world's longest cycle tunnel: The escape tunnel for the new light rail line connecting Fyllingsdalen and the city center will also serve a tunnel for cyclists. It's nearly 3km and will be protected by more than 100 video cameras. Once complete, the tunnel will cut 5.5km off the cycling distance, saving about 20 minutes. Pedestrians will also be able to use the tunnel, which is set to open sometime in 2023. 6) Bergen is twinned with Seattle: It is very appropriate that one of Europe's rainiest places is twinned with one of the USA's wettest! According to the City of Seattle, Bergen's Nordnes Park has a totem pole from the city. In Seattle's Ballard community, there's a mini-park that was dedicated by Norway's King. Bergen has five other twin, or sister cities. These include Newcastle in the UK, Turku in Finland, Aarhus in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden, and Asmara in Eritrea.
SSA Bergen, Norway SSA Bergen has 34 members with 20 different nationalities. Here are a some photos from our events in 2019:
Fjord Cruise Annual General Meeting
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
Yoga class
Family Halloween Party
SSA Bergen, Norway We asked our members to describe Bergen in 3 words Olga Anisimova; from Russia 1) Wonderful nature 2) Tunnels 3) Mountains (hiking)
Camila Lis Andrade; from Argentina “Surrounded by nature”
Erin Bolton; from Canada 1) Koselig 2) Hiking 3) hytteliv
Nadine Gasser; from Austria; “Home for now”
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Joanna Szewello; from Poland 1) Green scenery 2) Beautiful nature 3) Lots of tunnels
Alena Zakharova; from Russia 1) Moss 2) Moose 3) Brown cheese
Redouane Lahsen; from Algeria “Landed in BERGEN?”
Dan Han; from China 1) Mountains 2) Rains 3) Bryggen
SSA Oslo, Norway Oslo is Norway's capital and largest city, with 1,000,339 inhabitants. Surrounded by mountains and sea, this compact, cultured and fun city has a palpable sense of reinvention SSA Oslo has 18 members from 9 countries. being a small expat community, our members are very close. We gather twice a month for a friendly chat over a coffee or a fun activity, such as visiting a museum, opera, cinema, etc.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Oslo, Norway
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Bucharest, Romania Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial center. It is located in the southeast of the country. Bucharest is the center of Romanian media, culture, and art. Its architecture is a mix of historical, interbellum, communist era and modern. In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of "Little Paris" (Micul Paris). Although buildings and districts in the historic city center were heavily damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes, and Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of systematization, many survived and have been renovated.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom. In 2016, the historical city center was listed as "endangered" by the World Monuments Watch. Adding the satellite towns around the urban area, the proposed metropolitan area of Bucharest would have a population of 2.27 million people. Bucharest is the sixth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits, after London, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, and Paris. Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania. The city has a number of large convention facilities, educational institutes, cultural venues, traditional "shopping arcades" and recreational areas.
SSA Bucharest, Romania SSA Bucharest is active since 2006 and has quickly grown. At the beginning there were about 15 members only and today we are over 100 members, both male and female. The SSA community in Bucharest counts on mutual support and enjoys different activities, all over the year. From the usual Coffee Mornings (hosted by members or held in coffeehouses), to the discovery of the local culture and traditions (pottery classes, city tours, etc.), SSA Bucharest is a very active chapter! Here we have hot summertime (with over 40C) and very cold wintertime (with even – 15C), giving us the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons with all their typical colors, from the white icy winter, to the yellow/red autumn and the colorful springtime. Bucharest is a nice location to discover and enjoy together with the new and old friends from the SSA community! Photo credit: Rita Schlicht, Novita Ariasandy, Yana Uno, Juliet Egu, Fadzlyna Abdullah, Fiona Dyas, Lisa De Masi, Sarah Barlow
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
City Tour
SSA Bucharest, Romania
Coffee mornings
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Museum visit
SSA Bucharest, Romania Annual General Meeting
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Pottery Class
SSA Astrakhan, Russia Astrakhan is a wonderful city. First of all, this city is one of the sunniest cities one can find in Russia. It has the most sunny days compared to other cities and is famous for its delicious watermelons. Secondly, Astrakhan is one of the oldest cities in Russia. This city history is very rich and diverse. The trade routes and cultures of East and West have always encountered each other in Astrakhan which makes people call Astrakhan a “Caspian pearl”. Without any doubt, one of the main historical and cultural attraction of Astrakhan is Kremlin - a unique example of military and engineering art of the second half of 16th century. Kremlin is surely the first place to visit in Astrakhan.
Excursion around old Astrakhan The life of many SLB employees’ families is very mobile and implies relocation. We relocate from one city to another and change countries, taking us to new places. No matter which country and city we are currently based in, we must respect the place we move to. What does respect to a city mean? It means a reverent attitude to the city, its history and traditions. It is even more entertaining to see this city with the eyes of local citizens. Recently we organized an excursion around the old places of Astrakhan – the old look of some of the places speaks for itself, however the view of the city is still splendid and bright.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
Our guide showed us the other side of the city apart from Kremlin and promenade which turned out to be very cozy and touching. Having survived through years, there are still merchant houses and inns of the beginning of 20th century present in the city. Even though many buildings are old and rickety, they still attract your attention. In the courtyards of the city center, the clothes which are hung up to dry can still be observed, and in the old entrances one can find tiles of 19th century and old cupboards. During the excursion, we went through different alleys and were lucky to hear various fairy tales and legends. It was surprising to get to know that each family in Astrakhan always had a 3-liter bottle with black caviar inside their fridge during the tough times in 90s after the Soviet Union collapse at the times when other cities in post-Soviet countries suffered from food shortage. During those times there were also cases when illegal Sarmatian coins found in mounds nearby Astrakhan were offered for trade. During this half of a day which we dedicated to the excursion, we walked several miles and it was a very interesting event which in its turn made Astrakhan city closer to our hearts.
SSA Moscow, Russia Moscow is the capital of Russia, with a population of 12 million people. Russia is the largest country in the world: Multinational, ambitious, rich, daring and contrasting! Here you can find the wooden houses of Kitay-Gorod and skyscrapers of Moscow City, the magnificence of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and Hi-tech offices, the regality of the Bolshoi Theater and restaurant lofts, a Retro steam locomotive and highspeed train “Sapsan�, parks are drowning in greenery and innovation center Skolkovo, freezing winters and sunny summers. The silence of the winding alleys and the deafening parties, more than 500 museums and estates. All of this is Moscow! Moscow may not be too smiley at the beginning, with the serious faces of the passersby and the cold winter evenings, but as soon as you open your heart to this city, it will open its arms with generosity. Stock up on a spoken dictionary and Welcome to Moscow!
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Moscow, Russia SSA Moscow has over 60 members. We organize 1-2 activities a month: Themed coffee mornings, visits to theaters, museums, art exhibitions, ladies' nights, bowling, dancing and boat trips on the Moscow river. In autumn this year, the Moscow Walking Club began its operations in the most hidden corners of the city’s history. We conduct surveys and get feedback from SSA members for improvement and greater socialization in SSA Moscow.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Tyumen, Russia Tyumen was the first Russian settlement in Siberia. Today it is an important business center that is located on the Tura River. Tyumen is 2,500 kilometers east of Moscow. This is one of the most important industrial and economic centers east of the Ural Mountains. The climate is humid continental, somewhat humid summers and long, cold winters (that can be a problem for some people who love the warmth of the sun). SSA Tyumen has 36 active members, most of us speak Russian and we also have some members from different countries. Our Chapter is very active and health oriented. At least twice a month we try to direct our energy to physical activity. We mix outdoor and indoor activities that help our members keep their minds and bodies in good shape.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Tyumen is very active!
SSA Tyumen, Russia The SSA Tyumen board looks for the opportunities to give the members a chance to join the events with their kids (coffee mornings, sports, lectures, classes).
Craft class
Art class
Baby club
Boat ride
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Different Monthly Activities
SSA Tyumen, Russia Cancer Awareness session at SLB
Here are some photos of our annual events! SSA Tyumen organizes different types of activities. The aim is to help every newcomer to find something interesting or useful at the new location and feel our hospitality and cooperation.
e Hallowe
n par t y
The Wayfarer⎹ Europe/Russia 2019
Women’s Day
New Year’s dinner
Family picnic
SSA Tyumen, Russia This year we had a chance to dive into the region’s history in the Archeological museum. We learned about the early inhabitants, nomads, who were followed by the Khanty, Nentzi and Mansi people. Much information was given about their everyday life and customs. Participants over 6 gave archery a try and everybody tried on ancient military outfits and other ancient clothing. We also took a train ride by the Tyumen Children Railway. Its drivers, conductors, station keepers are children over 12. That was very special!
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Tyumen, Russia About Tyumen
by Aysilu Galieva (SSA Tyumen Baby Club Coordinator) My husband has been working for SLB since 2010, his first location was Pyt-Yakh, Russia and he was later transferred to the US, he moved from the severe Siberian climate to hot Louisiana! In 2016 our family was transferred back to Russia, by then there were 4 of us: we were happy to become parents to two girls. After almost 3 years of him working offshore we moved to Tyumen, which welcomed us with cold weather in January 2019. We were amazed with the great amount of skating rinks, skiing opportunities, and indoor activities that the city offered. Summer in Tyumen is very pleasant. Lots of sunny days, beautiful parks with healthy activities, a gorgeous embankment where one can get to know the history and origins of the city. Tyumen is a city that is proud of its history, taking great efforts to preserve its numerous historical architectural buildings and looking forward to a future full of modern technology and design.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Tyumen, Russia Meet SSA Tyumen’s kids! Tyumen is not a big city, but it is a significant city, economically speaking. When people move here, they can easily find many options for developing their kids' skills - sports, science, creative activities and many others.
ipov (3) z a h K t a r r Ma ing drive c a r e r u t A fu
) Sergey Kirshin (5 robotics Gymnastics and
Valeriy Pa skhalov (1 0) Plays ches s & footba ll & Ivan Paskh a lo v ( 7) Plays ches s & practic es judo
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Renata Na limova (8) ) R 5 o ( ll e r-skates, khmetova Lana Khabibullina (6) Rhythmic g Erika Valia mnastics ymnastics n! Rythmic gy A future veterinary surgeo and also p lays piano
Eva Burdin a ( 8) Flying yoga
Milana Khusae nova (8) National danc e ensemble: The Tyumen Da wns
) Elena Kirshina (8 Dance group Kids' 'The Company
SSA Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is a city on Sakhalin Island, in eastern Russia. It is located in the Far East part of Russia, situated north of Japan. Gas and oil extraction as well as processing are amongst the main industrial manufactures on the island. Here are some photos shared by SSA Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Cooking class
Nevelsk excursion
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
Aniva bay
Easter Celebration
SSA Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia
Tikhaya bay
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
View from the Bolshevik mountain
Museum visit
SSA Aberdeen, UK Aberdeen is a city in northeast Scotland and the third largest city in Scotland, with an estimated population of around 196,670. It is nicknamed the oil capital of Europe and is also known as The Granite City, due to the local pale stone which adorns so many of its outstanding buildings. A short drive from Aberdeen City center takes you to the beautiful, breath-taking countryside of Royal Deeside onto The Castle Trail and famous Distilleries. With rolling hills, open farmland and towering mountains in the west and sweeping beaches, coastal cliffs and panoramic skies in the east, Aberdeenshire has hundreds of attractions to explore.
With over 260 castles, stately homes and ruins, Aberdeenshire in known as “Scotland’s Castle Country”. There are more castles per acre than anywhere in UK. We will name only 2 of them, which should be on your list to visit: Dunottar Castle – an iconic tourist destination for visitors all over the world, a photographer’s paradise Balmoral Castle – the Scottish home of the Royal Family can be visited from April until July, you can visit the gardens, grounds, exhibitions and the Ballroom. Not far away is the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, another city you don’t want to miss in your journey in Scotland. Here you will find Edinburgh Castle – the number one visitor attraction in Scotland, also, the most iconic building in the city.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Aberdeen has around 75 members from 31 different countries (Australia, Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mexico, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Russia, Syria, UK, USA, Venezuela and Vietnam). We plan activities for everyone: coffee mornings, afternoon teas, special celebrations like the International Day, December Holidays, activities for the kids: Easter egg hunt, Halloween, activities for the entire family – Family Day, and of course HSE activities. We have at least one activity each month and we try to get together as many times as possible. The photos on this page are from our last End of Year Party, in the following pages you can see some more photos of the different activities we organize in Aberdeen, enjoy!
End of Year Party
SSA Aberdeen, UK
Coffee Mornings
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
Afternoon tea
Easter egg hunt with the kids
SSA Aberdeen, UK Family Day One of our most successful events, held together with Schlumberger, in a beautiful place: Castle Fraser. The photos show how everyone had a fabulous time, despite the bad weather at the end of the day.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA Aberdeen, UK
International Potluck
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
Yoga classes
SSA Cambridge, UK Cambridge is a university city and the county town of Cambridgeshire, England, located 50 miles (80 km) north of London. SSA Cambridge was reactivated this year when an influx of new arrivals from around the world disembarked on a new journey with Schlumberger Cambridge. We are a relatively small chapter with 16 members, some of whom are new to the location and others who have been here for many years. We reestablished the chapter in hopes to help create a community for Schlumberger spouses in which they can create lifelong connections with each other. Although we are a fairly new Chapter, we have already experienced many fun activities together such as coffee mornings, cultural activities and cooking classes. We are looking forward to establishing a Chapter that can be a resource and community connection for many years to come.
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
SSA London/Gatwick, UK London is the capital city of the Our chapter serves spouses of United Kingdom and is a big, bustling, vibrant, multicultural city. It families based in both the London is an important global hub and over and Gatwick offices in the southeast of England. the years has claimed many titles including; the world's most Activity in the SSA London/Gatwick powerful, most desirable, most influential, most visited, most chapter had been on a hiatus since expensive, most innovative, most August 2018 due to many families moving out of the area. However, sustainable, most investment friendly, and most popular forwe are happy to report that we have recently elected a new board work city in the world. With art galleries, museums, theatres, music and are up and running again! We venues, parks, palaces, shopping held our first board meeting in October followed by a coffee and history galore it’s a fun explore. Whether you have a few days, or a morning at one of our member’s houses in central London, in early couple of years you will always find something fun to see or do. November. We have a further coffee morning in the Gatwick area Gatwick is located 30 miles (48km) and a holiday celebration planned south of London in the beautiful in the next few weeks and are busy putting together a programme of countryside of South-East England. Despite being within easy access of coffee mornings, cultural and HSE London, it feels like a a different events for 2020. world with rolling green countryside, historical towns, stunning coastlines If you are moving to the London/Gatwick area, or if you are and lots of gardens, stately homes and castles. With woodland walks already here but haven’t through fallen leaves in the autumn contacted us yet, please send us and pub lunches or afternoon tea in an email to SSAlondon@gmail.com. the summer it’s a great place to We would love to welcome you! escape from London. As a Chapter we are lucky to have the best of both worlds!
The Wayfarer⎚ Europe/Russia 2019
Our first coffee morning in London, November 2019
1st meeting with the new SSA London/Gatwick Board 2019-2020. Planning lots of fun and exciting activities! From left to right: Mey Jensen & Marie Theilens (Welcome), Jo Henson (Local Coordinator), Ilse McCann (Activities Coordinator) and Angie Gooch (Communications Coordinator).
Remember to keep in touch! SSA Global Community Remember to join the official SSA Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSAGlobalCommunity/ It’s a great tool to keep in touch, share photos of current events and get information from SSA members all over the world! You can also invite other SSA friends to join!
SSAfara Our website is the best place to get updated contact information of your next location. Your spouse (SLB employee) can request your access here: https://slb001.sharepoint.com/sites/ssafara/Lists/PrimaryInfoC ollection/NewForm.aspx?Source=https://slb001.sharepoint.co m/sites/ssafara/SiteAssets/coeapp1.1.0/pages/ThankYouPage.aspx Once we receive the request we will follow up and guide you!
Email us if you have any questions! ebicelis.ssagcc@gmail.com
Contributions from our members Recipe corner Kanelboller by Tiffany Blair
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Articles Big Little Ideas by Ashima Goyal Ecology Talks by Biriukova Tatiana
84 86
Local activities SLB Italy: HSE for Youth by Luciana Villanti 88 Travel photos by SSA members
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Kanelboller
By Tiffany Blair @tblair816 SSA Stavanger Norway
A Scandinavian cinnamon roll This recipe is to prep & freeze. The yeast has been doubled for the freezing process. If making the whole batch immediately then use just half of recommended yeast.
Ingredients
Dough
1 kg flour 500 ml whole milk 50g dry yeast †1 egg 150 g granulated sugar 150 g butter 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp ground cardamom
Filling
150 g butter, softened 150 g granulated sugar 2 Tbsp cinnamon ground 2-3 Tbsp cardamom ground
Egg wash
1 egg (room temp) 3 Tbsp full fat milk
DIRECTIONS Warm milk to just below body temperature. Remove from heat. If you overheat just let it cool off a bit — if it is too hot it will kill the yeast.
Cut approx. 16-20 strips of dough at 0.5in or 1.25cm wide from short edge to short edge. Gently roll dough until twisted long ways, then **twist in a knot.
Add yeast & sugar. Stir. Let sit to bloom (approx. 3-8min).
Skip this step if not freezing. Place on a flat surface to transfer into the freezer for 1h. After an hour it is ready to be bagged and wrapped in foil.
*Optional— melt half the butter. Keep the solid butter off to the side. Stir in 500g flour, egg, salt, and cardamom. Gradually add half the melted butter/pats of butter. Gradually add the remaining flour and alternate with small pats of butter. When dough is too hard to stir with wooden spoon — turn out on surface and knead until combined, it should not stick to your hands or surface. Return to lightly greased bowl. Cover with cling film and place in a warm non-drafty place. Let rise until doubled (45-90min) While dough rises, combine all ingredients for filling and set to the side. Punch down dough. Turn out on lightly floured surface. Roll into a rectangle. Spread butter cinnamon mixture evenly on dough. Fold long edge bottom to cover 1/3 of dough. Fold other 1/3 to cover the piece you just folded up. Tuck edges and roll until width (short edge) is doubled.
When ready to bake — remove desired amount of Kanelboller and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Let rise at room temp or in the refrigerator overnight. The kanelboller should be about double in size and slightly springy to the touch. Brush with an egg wash — this is what gives the twists their lovely glossy finish. Bake for 10-15minutes at 160C/325F convection/fan assist or 190C/375F standard † Fresh yeast requires double of dry amount. If baking without freezing, only use half the amount of yeast. Fresh yeast rises a bit faster. * Optional: this method is easier if you do not have access to a stand mixer, I use a wooden spoon when I do not have access to a stand mixer. The wood just works better with the dough and does not stick as much. With a stand mixer use the paddle or bread hook attachment and gradually add pats of room temp butter instead of melted butter. **This is a link to a video tutorial of how to create the twists. https://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=TrTsqBdQUbo
Big Little Ideas
by Ashima Goyal (SSA Houston) Last month my husband and I stood in front of the city hall with 100s more to show our support for the global Climate Strike. It was a huge worldwide event and I am glad we were there. Organized by high schoolers, the event invited everyone to stand in support of our only home - the Earth and raise awareness. Many children spoke about their brush with climate crisis (given the nature of storms and hurricanes in Houston which has intensified lately almost everyone has had a first hand experience) and all their resolutions and hopes for a world they would like to inherit. But I was most touched by this poster that 2 year old Julian and his mom carried.
my juice, groceries packed in plastic packaging, a takeaway coffee or a mineral water bottle from the shop — all seemed pretty harmless. But slowly listening to people’s stories and reading more and more, an awareness started to build up. We live in an interconnected world with shared natural resources. Some of us may have the access to the resources for longer than others but ultimately we will all be out of it, if we don’t protect and preserve now. When Cape Town ran out of water, it wasn’t that a rich person had access to more water than a poor person it was 50 L per day per person. Sometimes people say, what can I do? I am just one person... It is the government and the big organizations that need to bring change. But I want to say that I am not just one insignificant number. I am 1 in 7 billion and like Howard Zinn said we don’t need to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change.
Most of us have been fortunate enough to live privileged lives and it can be difficult to understand the impact of our actions on the environment when we don’t see the immediate damage or the long-terms effects of the actions. There was a time when most of my actions and decisions were based on the ease they brought me. A straw for
With that hope, I just want to share 10 little but BIG ideas that each of us can adopt. It is simpler than you think:
1.
Carry cloth/reusable grocery bags for shopping. Be careful of what you put in the cart. Maybe buying loose apples is better than buying a packaged bag of apples. More than 30% of our waste is simply packaging material alone.
2.
Switch off appliances and lights when not in use. Unplug devices when they are charged. Interesting read: Just how much power do your electronics use when they are ‘off’?
3.
School Lunches: From little ketchup pouches to small juice boxes and wrappers, it is scary to see how much trash can one mealtime produce in schools. Reusable lunch boxes and water bottles helps reduce waste.
4.
Picnics: Picnics are great fun till you start to clean up and see the big garbage bags that have been filled up in just a few hours! Enjoy nature and each other’s company while being smart about your waste. Take reusable plates and cutlery from home.
5.
Plant a seed: Planting a seed is planting hope for tomorrow. A tree is the most natural climate solution. Whether you live in an apartment or have a beautiful backyard space, bring home some plants!
6.
Travel: Carry a water bottle when traveling to use and refill. Bonus points if you also carry a reusable coffee cup too!
6.
Avoid wasteful drips: Switch off the tap while brushing, soaping, cleaning hands. Just1% of all the water on Earth is readily available for human use. There is simply no excuse for letting water run when it is not in use.
7.
Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle: We can all aim for reducing consumption of new material, reusing old items, and segregating our waste for recycling.
8.
Car Pool & use Public Transport: While going from one place to next, it is always good to go with friends!
9.
Clear your Inbox: This might be surprise you but storing 1 GB of email consumes 32.1kWh of energy. It is also great for your mind to have a clear inbox (and an emptied spam/junk folder)
BIG little Ideas
Ashima Goyal SSA Houston
A little boy once said: “I know that it’s easy for one to forget but do it enough and a habit you will set!”
Ecology Talks: Throwaway Culture by Biriukova Tatiana (SSA Moscow) According to scientists, by 2050, our habit of using disposable items will bring us to the point where there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Each year, 8 million tons of plastic are dumped in the oceans. We pollute the Earth’s water with plastic at a rate of 300 kg per second. How did we end up here? In August 1955, LIFE magazine published an article called “Throwaway Living”. A new stage of “carefree life” began, when cleaning was considered a waste of time, and disposable items were designed to save a person from the hardships of this activity. The article is saturated with ideas about "liberation": “Washing objects flying through the air in this photo will take 40 hours, but no housewife should worry about it. All these objects can be thrown away after use,” the article says. Who would have thought back then that after 60 years, people will be faced with the question "How do we get rid of garbage?". Plastic freedom: throw it away and be happy Until this turning point, most things were made for long-term use - they were treated with care and repaired and used until the “last gasp” when a breakdown occurred. In the 20th century, new manufacturing processes and materials, mainly plastic, changed society. Plastic was invented in the second half of the 19th century, but the plastic revolution began to gain momentum at the beginning of the 20th century, and in the 50s industrial production of plastics began.
People were taught to throw things away. Disposable items were considered more convenient. After all, they do not need to be washed, you do not need to worry about not breaking them. Consumer society relied on stimulating demand for new products. This meant that the goods should break, be updated, constantly replaced with new ones. Then, marketing was born, the main task of which was to convince people to voluntarily throw things away. And the manufacturers did it well. Since then, disposable plastic gave us the “freedom” and at the same time literally covered the planet. Here are the items which are most frequently found in the oceans, on the beaches and inside of ocean animals. It is important to note that we can easily replace them in our day-to-day life, if we consciously choose to switch to reusable alternatives
1. Plastic bags
Plastic bag decompose in 400 to 1000 years. During this time, it causes irreparable harm to the nature. Pieces of plastic poison the soil and water, and therefore the plants, causing the death of more than 100,000 sea turtles and other marine life annually. However, life without plastic bags is possible and very enjoyable. An ordinary backpack or a bulk bag can come to the rescue. Eco-bags and shoppers made of natural materials are popular, and they can serve not only to carry products, but also become a stylish accessory. You can also get along without plastic bags thanks to eco-sacks that are convenient for weighing products. Large vegetables and fruits in small quantities can also be weighed without any bags.
4. Coffee cups
2. Plastic bottles
A plastic bottle decomposes in 450 years. Bottles take 5th place in the list of waste most commonly found in marine litter dumped ashore. Plastic is harmful not only to nature, but also to humans. It contains bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, chemicals hazardous to health. On average, bottled water contains 325 particles of microplastic per liter. You can take care of yourself and the planet by replacing plastic bottles with refillable ones that will last for many years. If necessary, install a filter at home and before leaving the house fill your bottle with filtered water. During the day, water supplies can be easily replenished - in many public places and offices with coolers. A bottle will also save you from using disposable cups.
3. Plastic straws
Right after the plastic bottles, on the list of the most common marine debris are the drinking straws - a completely unnecessary attribute of modern man. A huge amount of resources, both natural and labor, is spent on producing a plastic straw that a person uses for few minutes and then throws away. After that, the life of the straw continues for many years in a landfill or in the ocean, causing harm to the environment and animals. But the reality is that a person can easily drink without a straw. It is easy and natural. Those thinking that they cannot, can still come up with a replacement - straws made of other materials: bamboo, which decomposes quickly, glass or metal, that can be used for many years.
The theme of drinks is continued. It may seem surprising, but opposite to what many people think, coffee cups are not environmentally friendly at all. Disposable coffee cups are usually coated on the inside with a layer of polyethylene to prevent the cup from getting wet. 95% is paper, 5% is plastic. Such a mix makes the product non-recyclable and increases the decomposition time. And the cups’ lid is made of polystyrene plastic, which, when heated, releases hazardous substances and is rather difficult to process. However, the good news is that reusable alternatives to the takeaway coffee cups also exist. They are: thermomugs from various materials (metal, bamboo and safe plastic) and small steel thermoses. A nice bonus would be a discount on coffee in coffee houses that have joined the “My cup, please” movement. The list of non-environment friendly plastic items can be continued with disposable dishes, shoe covers, wet wipes and many more. It is important that all of us understand the scale of the problem looming today over humanity. Any individual actions produce a measurable impact on the planet’s state by repeating routine actions day after day, year after year.
If each of us makes a conscious decision to change habits and strive to reduce waste, it will be a great contribution to the better future of our children. Biriukova Tatiana SSA Moscow Secretary
SLB Italy HSE for Youth 2019 by Luciana Villanti (Italy) On October 26th Schlumberger organized an “HSE for Youth” at the establishment BMPC2, in Occhiobello county, for 5-13 year-old children about the topic “Personal Safety”. HSE for Youth is a Schlumberger program which encourages the employees and their families to share their own experiences, with the aim of spreading knowledge by raising awareness and responsibility on safety, health and environment to the youth.
Learning HSE through Recreation Kids had a great time on the BMPC2 premises making arts & crafts, taking part in games and short presentations, and visiting the warehouses prepared by SET (Schlumberger Engagement Team), which allowed most of them to finally know where “Mom” and/or “Dad” works.
Families touring the SLB BMPC2 warehouses and offices
Schlumberger Engagement Team (SET): Patrizia Achilli
(Project Management Manager – Leeden Facility), Cinzia Bononi (Project Manager – Valves & Measurement), Luciana Villanti (SSA EU/Russia Area Coordinator)
Schlumberger employees and their families enjoying the delicious lunch, refreshments and desserts served at the event. Everything carefully organized and prepared. Thank you!
Schlumberger Engagement Team, Luca Bossolari (MI-SWACO Quality Supervisor MV1 & Supplier Quality Assurance) and Schlumberger families who participated in the event
Travel diary Travel stories and photos from our members around the world
Montpellier, France
By Anshika Agarwal (SSA Montpellier)
Scotland
By Caroline Aylmer Sanford (SSA Aberdeen)
Linn O’Dee Balmedie Beach
Isle of Skye
Heilan coo on Isle of Skye
New Slains Castle
Quirang, Isle of Skye
Winter in Bucharest Sent by SSA Bucharest
Baku
By Michaela Marko (SSA Baku)
Photos of Scotland by Aidana Atasheva (SSA Aberdeen)
Santorini, Greece by Angie Gooch (SSA London/Gatwick)
Hardanger Fjord region, Norway By Tiffany Blair (SSA Stavanger)
UK
by Angie Gooch (SSA London)
This summer our family visited Highclere Castle, the Victorian-era English manor where "Downton Abbey" the movie and PBS Television series were filmed! It is an actual working estate in Hampshire!
We also visited one of the oldest cheese shops in London Paxton and Whitfield- they have been serving famous (and not so famous) cheeses for over 200 years. Prince Charles even has his own favorite cheese there!
Winter in Moscow Sent by SSA Moscow
Yantarniy beach
Sent by SSA Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Walking through old Astrakhan Sent by SSA Astrakhan
Flora of Sakhalin island Sent by SSA Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Thanks again to the Chapters and members that collaborated on this edition of The Wayfarer Remember to stay in touch through our Facebook group + SSAfara Website! Wishing all our members lovely holidays! We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Wayfarer, for comments or feedback email ebicelis.ssagcc@gmail.com