The Wayfarer January/February 2015

The Wayfarer-January/February 2015

Europe/Russia Edition Hello again!

I SSA Mission Statement The Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA) is a global, voluntary, social organization for all spouses and partners of Schlumberger employees. We aim to create and maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for all members and their families. The SSA fosters fellowship through ongoing social events and community involvement.

am so glad to greet

our SSA website. Meet our

you in our pages

new Global Board

again. I have to say,

members. And please take

preparing a newsletter

a very close look to pages

during the winter holidays

69 through 81 for

is quite a challenge.

mouthwatering recipes

Everyone is either

from around the globe.

travelling; enjoying the

stress that these times

Why not try some of them

visit of family and Friends;

bring to our families. We

and send us a note to tell

or just chilling at home

all have hope in our hearts

us how it went?

and not thinking about

that this crisis will be over

Please know that all your

any contributions to any

soon and things will

contributions to The

newsletter. But guess

return back to “normal”.

Wayfarer are greatly

what? We have an

All I can say is: Do not

appreciated. You can send

AMAZING Europe/Russia

suffer alone. We have an

a small note; a long article;

Area Coordinator: the

amazing support group in

a picture from life in your

beautiful Diana Sguerra,

our SSA friends, who are

city; a recipe that your

who sent friendly

always there to lend a

family enjoys; a drawing

reminder after friendly

helping hand, a shoulder

from your kids... In short,

reminder until she got lots

to cry on, a friendly chat.

anything you’d like to

of pictures and articles

The true generous nature

share with the world! We

from most Area Chapters.

of all SSA members shines

put special emphasis on

All I can say is THANK

bright now more than

one Area per issue, but it

YOU, DIANA! And of

ever. Let’s never change

doesn’t mean that we can’t

course THANK YOU to all

that. And stay positive.

print contributions from

our contributors for

everywhere else. I am

everything you sent.

You will find lots of

looking forward to hearing

The new year got off to a

reasons to smile in this

from you all.

rocky start. We all read the

issue. Check out the

Thanks again for reading.

news. We all know what’s

gorgeous pictures sent by

See you next time!

going on in the oil

our friends in Europe and

industry. We all know the

Russia. Take a little tour of

Elsa Scheffler

SSA Global Communications Coordinator

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Contents Meet the Global Board, Page 4

Oslo, Page 54

Global Coordinator Message, Pages 5-6

Paris, Pages 55-57 Pau, Pages 58-60

Don’t miss our www.ssafara.net tutorial

Meet our new Global Board members, Pages 6-11

Stavanger, Pagew 61-62

Muriel Barnier, our SSA Program Manager, Pages 12-15

Tyumen, Pages 63-66

on pages 22-25

Vechta, Page 67

Social Media Webcasts, Pages 16-21

Warsaw, Page 68

Find your way around www.ssfara.net, Pages 22-25

Recipes from Europe/Russia, Pages 69-81

Europe/Russia Area Coordinator Message, Pages 26-27

Learn the SSA Acronyms, Page 82 Aberdeen, Pages 28-35 Who will be on our next issue? Find out on Page 83

Abingdon, Pages 36-37 Atyrau, Pages 38-42 Baku, Pages 43-44 Belfast, Page 45 Bergen, Page 46 Cambridge, Pages 47-48 Aberdeen

London, Pages 49-50 Moscow, Pages 51-53

Photo sent by Liliana Carrasco

Cover & Introduction photos: Eiffel Tower and London Eye

by Alejandro Scheffler

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Meet the Global Board Anisa Haddad

Nikita Goel

SSA Global Coordinator

SSA Global Webmaster

ssa-global-coord@slb.com

ssa-webmaster@slb.com

Deysy Lamas SSA Ex-Officio Global Coordinator ssa-exofficio@slb.com

Lorraine Albelto SSA Middle East Area

Coordinator

Elsa Scheffler SSA Global Communications Coordinator ssa-communications@slb.com

Sandra Showalter SSA Global Secretary ssa,globalsecretary@gmail.com

ssa-mideast-coord@slb.com

Lasairiona McMaster SSA North America Area Coordinator ssa-nam-coord@slb.com

Diana Sguerra SSA Europe/Russia Area Coordinator ssa-eur-slr-coord@slb.com

Petite Orteg贸n

Madeeha Saif

SSA Latin America Coordinator

SSA Asia/Australia Coordinator

ssa-lam-coord@slb.com

ssa-asia-coord@slb.com

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SSA Global Coordinator Message Creating and Maintaining a Support System: Finances and Friends As most of us who have “been around” for a while are aware of, economic slowdowns/ downturns are unpleasant, but are a common part of the economic cycle of expansion and contraction. While downturns can be stressful, there are things that we can do to cope with the current challenging financial environment. Planning and spending wisely during difficult financial times can help to positon us for healthier financial futures, but creating and maintaining a social support system is important as well. Which is more important? I think they are equal. Let’s discuss how both can help us to weather the economic storm that we’re passing through, but why don’t we get the financial part out of the way first? (Please note that the advice contained in this article is a compilation of “best practice” advice from different sources.

When in doubt, consult a professional.)

Show Me (How to Keep) the Money!

Building an emergency fund is usually a very important part of Financial Planning 101.

Some experts recommend keeping at least three months income in a safe, liquid account such as a savings or money market account.

Rethink your priorities and focus on saving rather than spending. Evaluate your expenditures by listing them in order of

priority and determine which purchases can be eliminated or reduced. Cut back on the non-essentials or in other words, only buy what is really needed.

Know exactly what your income and expenditures are by creating (and sticking to) a budget. Budgets provide a clearer financial picture and give us a better sense of control over your money. If you know exactly what your income and expenditures are, you will be able to increase savings and change negative spending habits.

Economic downturns are not the time to take on new debt because it increases expenses.

Build your smart money strategy by learning to live on less money than you make and by saving as much as possible for life’s unexpected future needs.

Make it a point to frequently check your credit card balance online during the month to keep track of exactly how much you are spending. This will help you to avoid being surprised when the bill arrives at the end of the month. Finally, make it a point to pay off your credit cards every month.

Social Support & the SSA Making new friendships may seem as difficult sometimes as managing our finances, but it is also important. Studies have shown that meaningful reciprocal relationships with

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SSA Global Coordinator Message– Continued

friends may be as important or more important to our well-being than spending time with our family, but what if you are new to a location or have recently transitioned into a new role where you are not working outside the home and do not have that built in work week interaction? How can we rebuild our social support system?

countries, don’t be shy to initiate conversations with people from other cultures and backgrounds as well. Members from our home countries may be able to provide us with a relatively safe environment to talk about our experiences in the location and to help us to find our all-important comfort items from “home” but we should always be aware that although our geographical backgrounds may be similar, the As SSA members, we have a ready-made way we perceive things and live our lives may opportunity to meet new people and the potential to form lasting friendships when we be very different. If we try, we can find that we have something in common with people attend SSA meetings and events. Whether from places we have never even been to (or you are the new person in a location or maybe even heard of) before and these meeting a new Chapter member for the first time, dust off some of those skills that helped commonalities will help us to form healthy us make friends as children – curiosity and an friendships. Eventually, if we are open, we will develop a new support group consisting open mind - and purposely try to meet of people with similar interests…a.k.a. someone new. friends.

OK, so I’ve met someone new. Now what?

We all have a pretty good idea of what is appropriate to ask a person at a social function. Religion, politics and social status are always a ‘no-no’ in any culture, unless you become very close friends with someone. In a new friendship, it may be best to focus on what you have in common. Once you find out what you have in common with a potential new friend, start building a conversation and hopefully in time, a new friendship.

Although it may be easier at first to gravitate toward other members from our home

By getting and keeping our personal finances in order and cultivating new friendships or strengthening the friendships we already have, we can weather the current economic storm.

Although this is not the first downturn to hit the oil and gas industry and it will not be the last, by doing both of these things and focusing on the positive, not the potential negative, we can emerge from these trying times financially and emotionally healthier and with a strong foundation for anything that comes our way in the future.

Anisa Haddad

Meet Lasairiona McMaster Our new North America Area Coordinator

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H

aving lived in Houston for five and a half years, and, with only a maximum of eighteen months left on our visa here, departure is not only inevitable, but also, fast approaching. I guess it's this, coupled with the fact that our very own little Houstonian native is soon to be turning one year old, that has spurred me to apply for the NAM position within the organization, to give a little more of myself to this amazing institution and, as a result, I've been reminiscing and pondering about my experience with my local chapter, the SSA Houston.

When I arrived here in June of '09, I'd never heard of SSA, barely heard of SLB, I was only dating my boyfriend IT guy who worked for "just another company" at home. The global scale of SLB/SSA isn't immediately apparent in Northern Ireland, and, when I took the plunge to move across the globe with him, I had no idea the world that awaited me down the rabbit hole.

My hubby Col, son Lewis and I at the ‘Greetings from Houston’wall.

I didn't know anyone, I had no kids to meet people at drop-off and pick-up at school. I had no pets to meet people in the dog park, and, probably the worst, I didn't drive here for almost a full year (what on earth was I THINKING?).

But none of that mattered.

I cried a lot. I hated it here. I didn't know anyone, I didn't do anything and I didn't go anywhere. I spent my days waiting for Col to get home from work and tell me about his day. I was alone, questioning my decision to move to the land of the free, and staring at four walls (which, for the record, the longer you stare at them, the more you find wrong with them!). There were even a few days on which my husband parked the car on the driveway at the end of his day, and sat having a couple quiet moments, because he wasn't sure what mess I would be in when he opened the door. It wasn't pretty.

A short time after I arrived, a lady (who is married to a colleague of husband) turned up at my door and took me to lunch bunch (Houston's monthly lunch group - my favourite activity on the calendar!) after which, a different spouse, whom I'd just met took me home.

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My life instantly changed.

By October, I was "volunteered" onto the board as Welcome Coordinator, "Las will do it", someone called out at the Fall Social (another of my favourite events here in H-Town) and that started my volunteering career with the group.

I think a common misconception about stepping up to volunteer for the SSA (other than the most obvious one, people thinking we all get paid a nice salary from SLB to do these positions), is that you don't get anything back. That you give and you give, and people take and they take, but you don't GET anything in return.

I can't begin to tell you how wrong you are. It’s those that *do* take the time to thank you for your hard work and dedication, that make it all worthwhile.

One Friday evening while I was welcome coordinator, I received a membership form back, the sender said "have a great weekend, will you be up to anything fun?" I replied that we would be watching the F1 race, but not much else. She asked where we would watch it, as her hubby was a big fan and he'd hate to miss it. I told her we'd watch it at home, and told her to come along if she'd like.

Sunday morning, the door knocks and after Selfie with our besties—Alaska cruise. introductions, we watch the race. Before we know it, it's past dinner time, and, all with gurgling tummies, we chow down in a local restaurant, and chat the evening away.

Magz became my best friend, she was at my wedding a few weeks later, I'm Godmother to her first born daughter, my husband is Godfather to her son and her husband is Godfather to Lewis.

When she left Houston, eighteen months ago, a chunk of my heart went with her, but we chat every day, and know that regardless of what location we are sent to, our lives are inextricably linked forever.

Y'all could say that's an isolated incident, but I'd counter your argument, with a dozen more stories of a similar theme. Lewis' Godmother is a Canadian SSA lady, who has enriched our lives in such a way that, again, regardless of where we go in the world, where they are will forever be on our travel schedule.

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I've made friends who I can sit with in coffee shops, or restaurants and not realize time is passing, we'll meet at 9 a.m. and wonder, at 2 p.m., why we are hungry, and our sides will hurt from giggling hysterically (Nanees I'm lookin' at you!).

I've made friends from my home country who I see at least once a month. We get together and share our love of baking, producing delicious treats to share - one of my (and my husbands!) fave days of the month (shout out to the Great Irish Bake off Crew!).

This organization has truly changed my life and touched my soul.

I think one of the biggest displays of this amazing group of spouses, Me with Lewis’ Godmother, Sheri can be most obviously seen in Houston, at our annual International day.

Many of our events are small: book club, language groups, lunch groups, coffee mornings, play groups, baking groups and craft groups for example. Our calendar is JAM-PACKED with things to do here (I'm not kidding, you should see it!). But, once a year, we host a chapter-wide event, where we come together and share a little piece of ourselves with the rest of the chapter - who we are, and where we come from. This year was the first time I've been able to make it, in the three years it has been running - and it blew my mind.

The room was full to the gills and my senses were on overload. The colors, the smells - it was amazing. Tables packed with trinkets, displays, linens and foods from across the world, spouses dressed in their native dress, performing music, dancing, poetry, and sharing, just a snippet, of what their country is like, with the rest of us. There were prizes for various categories (judged by our independent adjudicators from the relocation company). My favorite bit, was obviously the food (Oh! The food!) with personal favorites from India, Indonesia, Thailand and Morocco - these gals sure know how to cook! It is most certainly one of the high-lights of our SSA Houston calendar.

And here we are, five and a half years later and NAM AC for an organization I believe in, and love whole heartedly. A mother, a wife, a friend. I love to craft and read, I love to bake and cook, I love hockey and Formula One, and, some say, I may have a mild (!!) addiction to social media, writing to you from my unlikely home, here in Houston, Texas.

If you’re considering volunteering, stop. Just jump in and do it – it’ll enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize, and undoubtedly, you’ll help someone, who may not even know they need it!

Las

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Meet Petite Ortegón Our new Latin America Area Coordinator Hello everyone,

My name is Petite Ortegón and have quite a convoluted background. I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia; however have Colombian parents.

In Australia, I worked in Events and Entertainment mostly managing Universal Studios Japan Audition World Tour, which was my main focus, but also managing corporate events for McDonalds Australia and Foxtel Cable Television. In spite of the fact that I loved my job I know that something was missing for me and as a result of my curiosity in my Colombian heritage at the age of 28 moved to Bogotá, Colombia to really see what life there was really about. I suppose now in hindsight I understand better why I moved there and how that decision led me to the life we all know and love, the expat life.

Soon after moving to Colombia I saw that English Language Services were very important in the Colombian culture and found that I was highly sought after as a English teacher. After a few months I realized I didn’t have more time to teach and that if I wanted to continue to look after all these people that I had met along the way, I would have to firstly set up a company and secondly hire people in order to fulfill the needs that clients had. And so in November 2010 I set up a language consulting company that offered language services to some of the biggest multinational companies in Colombia. Funnily enough, at that time and over the last few years Schlumberger became one of my clients and through my work I stumbled across my future husband.

This is just where the story gets interesting. You see, my husband is Russian and was on a temporary assignment in Colombia. After a while of dating we soon realized that his lifestyle meant that in any moment he would get transferred as is the case for all of us. And sure enough, once his transfer came through we were off to our current location: Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.

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I have to say I had a tardy introduction to the SSA here. I was one of the ones that slipped though the cracks, so to speak. I did not know about that SSA and in my interactions had not met anyone who was really actively involved, so it took some time for me to come into contact with them, also partly due to the fact that soon after we moved to Mexico I became pregnant. Shortly after, I flew home to Australia to have our beautiful baby girl Mila. Once I came back from having the baby, I made contact with one of the SSA Committee Members and was quickly an enthusiastic member of the group. Suffice to say that once I made contact with the SSA here in Ciudad del Carmen, it truly was a wonderful experience, I found all of the SSA Committee members so welcoming.

Surprisingly, they made the effort to learn my name and make me feel that I had always been a part of the group. What struck me the most about the SSA was that it is not only about supporting each other in our expat lives, which can be very lonely and isolating, but it is about positively impacting and making a difference to the local communities that we are living in, which has been one of the most profound experiences I have had and what makes me the most proud to say that I am a member of the Ciudad del Carmen Chapter.

As a result of my positive experience and guidance from the Local Coordinator I became interested in the SSA LAM Area Coordinator position, which means that I have the opportunity to continue to support each Chapter in the pursuit of their goals as well as making a difference to those communities within the region. It is with great pride that I take on this role and look forward to what 2015 holds for all of us.

Petite

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Have you ever wondered how the SSA and Schlumberger work together?

As you well know, our Association is sponsored by our spouse’s employee, Schlumberger. But how does it work? Well, the structure is quite simple: First, we have the Local Chapters. These are formed by spouses who live in a city where local Management allocates funds for SSA Activities. As of February 2015 we have 92 Chapters worldwide. Some are large, some are small, but they are all working to fulfill the SSA mission.

The Local Chapters are grouped by Areas. We have 6 areas: Africa, Asia/Australia, Europe/Rusia, Latin America, Middle East and North America. The Chapters in each Area are supported by SSA Area Coordinators, who are part of the SSA Global Board. The Global Board also includes the Global Coordinator, Global Secretary, Global Communications Coordinator, Global Webmaster, and last but not least, the Global Ex-Officio Coordinator. This position is held by the previous Global Coordinator, who after serving their term, continue as Ex-Officio, providing support and continuity to the Global Board projects.

OK, so what happens then? How does the Global Board communicate with Schlumberger? How do they decide what projects to work on? Who helps them reach people in remote locations?

Well, I’d like to introduce you to a very important member of the team: The SSA Project Manager, Ms. Muriel Barnier. Muriel is a Schlumberger employee, and her full job also includes coordinating the HSE for Youth program. She is the one who links us to Schlumberger resources. One recent example is the Social Media Awareness Campaign that consisted of several webcasts and local trainings by IT to explain the best practices and guidelines for the use of social media for SSA Chapters.

Muriel helps us when we have trouble with the SSA website. She implements a Survey to find out how to improve the way the SSA works. She is the one who approaches the Legal department when we need a form approved. She sends us relevant HSE information from around the world. She contacts us with the Dual Carreer Support Assistance (NetExpat) contracted by Schlumberger. She listens to us when we are frustrated over unresolved issues. She is all patience and sympathy.

And now I would like you to know her a little better in this interview. Enjoy!

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MURIEL BARNIER HSE & SSA PROGRAM MANAGER Q&A We’d like to know a little bit about you. Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I am French. I was born and grew up in Paris.

Where did you go to school?

I went to school in Paris, but after high school I felt like and it was not just an impression - I had spent my all life at school and in the same place, Paris. So I decided not to go to University but instead travel the world. I worked a few months at the Galeries-Lafayette Store (I’m sure many of you know the place ) and with the money I earned, I took a flight to the French West Indies! I stayed there for 6 months just enjoying the culture, the sun and beach. I then went back to France as my life there was not as adventurous as I was hoping for! I worked a few months again and this time I took a flight to Togo, West Africa. I stayed there for a year. Upon arrival, I took several “taxi-brousse” to go away from big cities and get to the most remote place I could find. I ended up in a village where they had never seen a non-African person. People were amazing with me, they welcomed me and taught me so many things…their culture, their values, their view of the world but also how to cook from scratch or live without electricity nor running water! After a few months, I was carrying heavy weights on my head with a baby in my back with much ease!

What a difference with my easy Parisian life!

Until this day, I am still in close contact with people there who were my age at that time. They are among my closest friends.

After several years travelling the world I decided it was time for me to settle down. I came back to France and because of all the things – good and bad – I had seen during my travels, I decided to study International Development / Humanitarian aid. I went to La Sorbonne University. I first got a Bachelors’ degree in HR and then got two Masters Degrees. One in International Development / Aid and one in Education Science specialized in developing countries.

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MURIEL BARNIER— HSE & SSA PROGRAM MANAGER How long have you been working in SLB? In order to pay for my rent while I was a student, I took a part-time job as a receptionist in a big company I had never heard of at that time…Schlumberger! It was in the office of Rue St Dominique for those of you who know about it.

The people I met there were simply amazing, their kindness, their competencies, the company’s values… I just wanted to join the company although all my friends from university were joining ONGs and had a hard time understanding my choice to go in the Oil & Gas industry.

Schlumberger offered me two internships and then hired me in 2008 when I completed my Masters degrees. I worked for the Schlumberger Foundation as well as the Global Citizenship Department. My first mission was to develop and launch the HSE for Youth program!

After 3 years in this role, I moved to HR and then was offered the role I have now to manage both the SSA and the HSE for Youth program again.

How long have you lived in Houston?

I have lived in Houston for 3 years now. I met my husband in Schlumberger, so I am also an employee’s spouse . Massoud, my husband, works for D&M. He worked on the field, mainly in offshore locations, while I was based in Paris. It was hard but OK until we had our first child. I had such a hard time taking care of our baby on my own while he was away for so long! That is when we asked the company to find jobs for the two of us in the same location. They found us jobs in Houston. It was such a relief!

What do you like most about expat life?

Before anything else, it is a strong human experience. Meeting people who think differently is so powerful. It helps us see our own country, culture and values from a different angle and I think this questioning process is so healthy and needed to become a better person.

What is it that you miss most?

Just by reading your question, it makes me crave for an old smelly French cheese!

Other than cheese and baguette (French bread), I of course miss my family and friends sooo much. I find it particularly hard to see my kids growing up far from their cousins…

What does your job as HSE for Youth & SSA Program Manager entail?

I work 50% for HR and 50% for HSE. My main focus is the SSA. I also spend much of my time managing the HSE for Youth program which has become so big. We have on average a workshop taking place every 2 ½ days in the world. Last year, we reached out to more than 4,000 kids (employees’ kids and kids in the local communities) in 43 countries. I also work on special HSE Corporate projects and I manage the HSE Hub. We post two to three stories per week.

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MURIEL BARNIER— HSE & SSA PROGRAM MANAGER Tell us about your hobbies. What do you like to do on weekends?

Spend as much time as possible with my kids and husband. I also work on my spare time on a project we have started with a small group of employees and spouses. We have created an NGO to support a school in Chad founded by a Chadian employee. It is an exciting project and we plan to communicate about it to Schlumberger employees and spouses in the coming months.

We receive excellent support from you. Always helping us and looking for ways to improve the way the SSA works. What can we expect in 2015?

Since I joined the company, I had the chance to meet SSA members who were volunteering along with employees for HSE for Youth. Their energy and passion for the program, and their professionalism impressed me a lot. It was an honor for me to take this role as SSA Program Manager and it is a pleasure to work every day with the 11 board members who are such hard workers and so incredibly dedicated to their mission.

My main focus is to strengthen and further structure the partnership between the company and the SSA. The company’s top management is very committed to the SSA. However the support to the SSA from a location to another is not always consistent. That is why we have done a lot of work with HR, HSE and IT to clearly define their role and responsibilities towards the SSA. I believe local chapters will start to see fruits of this work this year. For example, more and more HSE trainings will be organized for the SSA; communication and collaboration with HR will increase significantly. As for IT, they are currently doing an amazing job at running the Social Media Awareness Campaign for the SSA. Long life to the SSA!

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Social Media Awareness Campaign Did you get a chance to attend one of the webcasts that were held in January regarding the use of Social Media? If not, there is still a chance to take advantage of this great initiative from our SSA Project Manager and the Global IT Team. Local trainings are being held right now in various SSA locations. However, here is a summary of what was shared.

How can sharing details of SSA activities in social media lead to risks if SSA Groups are set to Private and only members can see those posts?

What are the risks of social media?

Social media in general, such as Facebook, Twitter or so many others, are used by well-meaning people as much as by people with wrong intentions.

Well, for starters, you never know who is watching online. Hackers can find ways to read those postings. Then they can alert others of where and when a group of ladies will be meeting. There are places where this could lead to their safety being compromised.

While it may be hard to believe… some seemingly harmless postings may in the long run affect you and your family. They could affect your personal security and reputation. Sharing too much information can lead to being a victim of home robbery, bullying, stalking, identity theft, harassment, scams, etc…

When booking an event, read the contract very carefully because sometimes venues post pictures in their own social media and mention SLB and the SSA specifically.

Some real life examples from SLB employees around the world were shared in the webcasts and presentation to illustrate these points.

What about promoting our own businesses in SSA Facebook groups?

This is not in line with the SSA Best Practice of not promoting commercial entities. Some Chapters have created a separate Facebook group where members can share only personal business related information. The only sales related info that can be shared on SSA Facebook groups is regarding the selling of items if you are moving.

Never share internal company information on Social Media.

SSA members are not allowed to share Schlumberger or SSA official communications on social media. You could inadvertently be revealing confidential information that could have legal consequences. This information could be used in a way that could further affect those involved in a negative way by outside third parties.

Sharing pictures without proper license.

There have been cases where SSA members posted pictures online without checking if those pictures were copyrighted, and SLB has had to pay fines to the owners of those rights. Whatever pictures you intend to share in SSA Facebook Groups, make sure that you own the rights to distribute (i.e., you took the picture or you paid the distribution fee), and also be aware that all pictures that you post on Facebook can be used by them without your permission (read the small print of your Facebook contract).

How do I contact an SSA Facebook Group if I am being transfered to another location?

The recommendation is to get in touch with your new location SSA Chapter via our website (www.ssafara.net). Fill out the “Contact your local SSA” form, or get in touch with your new Area Coordinator. She can send you the appropriate contact information and you can go from there.

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Social Media Awareness Campaign So, in summary: 

If you choose to post on SSA Social Media groups, be sure to comply with the general SSA Guidelines.



Participation in SSA online groups indicates your acceptance and agreement to act in accordance with these Best Practices and related guidance.



Remember that you are liable for what you post on social media sites.



Members are not authorized to represent either the SSA or organizations related to the SSA on such sites.



SSA Groups should not be used to promote private buisness ventures.

The following SSA Facebook Groups User Best Practices and Guidance was shared with all SSA Chapters worldwide and is strongly encouraged to be promintenly posted on their Facebook Groups description.

SSA Facebook Groups User Best Practices and Guidance The SSA strongly encourages SSA members to use the official SSA website www.SSAfara.net to communicate and share information. However, the following best practices and guidance is made available regarding usage of SSA Facebook groups.

Best Practices & Guidance    

Members are not authorized to represent either the SSA or organizations related to the SSA. SSA Facebook groups must not be used to promote private business ventures.

Overall activities and postings on the SSA Facebook groups should always comply with the general SSA Guidelines.

Remember that you are liable for what you post on social media sites such as Facebook.

Participation in SSA Facebook groups indicates your acceptance and agreement to act in accordance with these Best Practices and related Guidance. SSA administrators reserve the right to remove posts, and restrict or deny access to any SSA user(s) who engage in activities or conduct which can be considered to be:    

Abusive, defamatory, obscene, offensive or illegal in the relevant location, Fraudulent, deceptive or misleading (including the use of “fake” accounts), In violation of any intellectual property right or privacy right of any person or SSA group (including the posting or misappropriation of photographs, images or videos) Solicits products and services or promote private business ventures

What to do if there is an issue on a SSA Facebook group?

Report the issue to the SSA administrator of the Facebook group. You can also contact the SSA Social Media Champions: ssa-webmaster@slb.com or ssa-communications@slb.com.

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Social Media Awareness Campaign As expected, there were a number of interesting questions after the presentations.

This is a compendium of what was asked and answered.

Q1: Should SSA Facebook groups be set as public, closed or secret?

SSA FB groups should not be set as public. For personal security reasons, it is recommended to set them as secret rather than closed, however the decision to set them as closed or secret to be made by the FB Admins and related SSA Local Chapter board. It is the responsibility of the Local SSA Chapter board to make this determination, based on its assessment of local safety and security considerations.

Q2: How do I change the privacy for a FB group I admin?

Follow the instructions on this page: https://www.facebook.com/help/286027304749263 Q3: What is the difference between Private and Secret Groups?

Secret is more secure, but cannot be searched. The spouse has to be invited by someone who is already a group member. It also helps to verify people’s identity and therefore reduces the risk of having spammers trying to infiltrate the group.

Q4: Does a secret group keep our posts private from friends?

Yes. Although please note FB does change their policies from time to time, so you should always assume that whatever you post on the social media site may eventually be viewed by external third parties.

Q5: As far as setting the privacy settings to secret, how are new members moving to a new location supposed to request information from members or join the group?

Members moving to a new location can get in contact with the new location chapter through the SSA website. They should complete the Contact Your Local SSA form online.

Q6: Can we create events on our SSA FB group to communicate to the members about our upcoming activities? Does it depend on whether the group is Closed or Secret? Can we display information about activities cost?

You can create events on your SSA FB group, however we recommend that you ask members to refer to an email for more information about the event (such as exact location and time).

Providing information such as where and when you meet, event cost and who is participating can expose you to significant security risks and even home burglary, kidnapping or terrorist attacks.

Q7: If a member is transferred to a new location, can the spouse remain a member of the old FB group?

While there are no policy reasons requiring the removal of spouses from FB groups after they leave a location, there may not be any practical benefit from continued membership. Thus, except in specific situations, it is recommended that departing members are removed from the local FB account, and can of course remain friends with the members using their private FB account.

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Social Media Awareness Campaign Q8: The pictures we post from the events include reference or logos from the place of the event. Are there copyright and security issues?

Publishing photos of public locations on FB is not prohibited. However, if the event is at a location where the SSA has signed a contract to host the event, you will need to review the terms of the contract before publishing any photo or video as it is possible that there will be restrictions about use of images or logos.

Overall, photographs in public place are acceptable to be published, including images or logos, but make sure there are no negative or derogatory comments associated with the photo, even if no harm is intended – i.e. “Restaurant XX– greasy fries make the playground slides quicker” which may be thought of as a joke, but could be thought of as negative by the company. When in doubt, do not say it. And, of course, places where an individual expects privacy – doctor’s office, public restroom, etc., should never be included in published photographs.

Q9: Can we request a general photo permission at the time we admit a member to the group to cover all future photos? Should it be in writing?

The new standardized SSA membership form includes a section discussion the rights to images used by the SSA referencing internet use of the photos and videos as well as social media.

Therefore as long as the member has signed this form, there is no need to have her/him sign another one.

Even where members have signed permissions allowing the SSA to publish photographs of minor children, please refrain from publishing identifying information such as their first and last names of either parent or child, as it puts them at risk and can go against laws protecting children’s online identities.

Overall, before posting pictures of SSA activities on FB, always ask yourself: Are you sure that all the members agree with you posting their photos? Is it safe?

Q10: When posting pictures of group activity, should tagging the members be restricted due to security requirements?

It is recommended to not tag members for personal security reasons. They can tag themselves.

Please note that members can set personal settings to not allow tags of themselves.

Q11: If I post some informative videos and links in my closed group like recipes for example. Is it ok to post them?

It is not recommended to copy/paste the recipe but to include the URL in order to avoid copyrights issues.

The URL should not be hidden as a link but clear as to what the site is that will be visited, e.g. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3682/ultimate-sticky-toffee-pudding In this way the recipe is presented and the author is credited.

Prior to posting links, you can always use a service such as BrightCloud to check the link is safe. http://www.brightcloud.com/tools/url-ip-lookup.php

Social Media Awareness Campaign

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Q12: I have noticed that most people on our group do not have their original names as their profile names. How do we make sure that the people requesting to join the group belong to the SSA? Local Chapter boards should keep an accurate database of their members. Therefore when a spouse requests to join a SSA FB group, the Admins should work with the local SSA Board to ensure the spouse is indeed a member of the chapter. If any doubt, an email can be sent to the HR contact for the SSA locally.

Q13: Despite several announcements that have been made, members do not follow the best practices. What should I do?

The Best Practices and Guidance that will be posted on your FB group page clearly states that SSA Admins reserve the right to remove posts, and restrict or deny access to any SSA user(s) who engage in activities or conduct which go against best practices.

It is recommended to contact the persons in private to explain why you have to delete their posts, prior to taking action. If these people persist in acting in a manner inconsistent with the Best Practices and Guidance, it is recommended that you seek advice with the SSA Area Coordinator or SSA Social Media Champion and remove these people from the group if necessary.

Q14: Is it ok to form a group of SSA members on Viber or What's app to communicate?

It is ok to do so. However be aware that all free apps usually contain low privacy settings which mean that a third-party may be able to access your conversations.

Q15: The Group founders cannot be removed from the Admin list. When they leave SSA, what should we do about that?

Seek advice with your SSA Area Coordinator or one of the SSA Social Media Champions.

The decision can be made to close the group.

SSA Social Media Champions can be reached at: ssa-webmaster@slb.com ssa-communications@slb.com Q16: Can members post advertisements to sell items as they are moving out?

It is not against the SSA Guidelines to sell items such as furniture when moving. However, it is not recommended to do it on the SSA FB group. Remember that in accordance with the SSA Guidelines, SSA Members should not use the Association as a means to promote their own commercial or business ventures. Therefore, any member engaged in using the SSA to promote his/her any personal business will be subject to suspension from the FB page.

The SSA website Forum can be used to sell items when moving. To request access to the SSA website, please complete this form online.

Q17: Should Admins be in control of SSA sub FB groups such as activity groups within a chapter?

All FB groups, whether main or sub ones containing the acronym SSA should be managed

by Admins who participated in the training and agree to fulfill their role as explained during the training.

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All the Social Media Awareness Campaign documents were translated to different languages by very talented SSA members who kindly volunteered their time and effort. We got so many volunteers in some languages that we had to turn them down. But don’t worry, we will keep you in mind for future translations !

THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING!!

ARABIC Salma Alaoui Zenia Kanawati Maha Sousak Reham Rabia Sana Obeid Patricia Chaghoury

CHINESE Siew Yee Ningfen Wang Yingqi Lu Wang Jingmei DUTCH Karen Weeder Marie Thielens Jenny Busaidy and the ISKL students

FRENCH Anne Laure Pezenec Sylvian Dossou Veronique Sweerts Magali Larive Butre Emmanuelle Cudennec Marine Rio Pauline Le Poutre Anne Conort Armelle Lahitette GERMAN Katharine Huber Inger Lorsignol NORWEIGAN Helen Benoit Axelia Larsen Cecilie Idsoe Janicke Gunvaldsen PORTUGUESE Tatiana Borges Jessica Kano

ROMANIAN Catalina Catoi Andreea Florina RUSSIAN Katrina Nikitina Svetlana Kassab Elena Kruglyakova Olga Orlova Natalia Fulton Zhansulu Abisheva Yulia Kolomiets SPANISH Liliana Villarreal Maritza Vargas Heidy Infante Aurora Perez Erica Jarma Johanna Orozco Lourdes Nava Lucia Ochoa

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WELCOME BACK! www.ssafara.net Our website is up and running, and we’d love to have you back!

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If you belong to the “old school”; that means, if you have been an SSA member for a while, then you might remember that we used to have a website. Then, one day, the website was down and it stayed down for a loooong time. We know, it wasn’t fun. We might never know why the website was taken down. But what we do know now is that we have it back and we hope that you come back too!

While the SSA website was down, our members had to find ways to keep in touch with each other, and so a lot of them turned to Facebook for this purpose. At this time, there is no “official” SSA Global Facebook group and if you are a member of a Chapter Facebook page, you need to be aware of the safety recommendations for Social Media use as metioned in the SSA Web Etiquette manual and the SSA Facebook Best Practices & Guidance document (which can be found on the website). As of now, the only official way of communicating and where you can be sure that your information, pictures and events are “safe” is www.ssafara.net.

And because it is a resource provided to the SSA by Schlumberger, you can be sure that everything that is shared there is safe and true.

In the following pages, you will learn a little bit of what you can find on the website. Although we understand that the website is not currently as visually appealing as some other websites, it is being re-designed as we speak by our amazing SSA Global Webmaster, Nikita Goel, who is working very hard to make sure that it will be easier for you to navigate and find all the information you need.

There are a few parts of the website that are open to the public, like the Global Blog that you see below the map on the main page. It is here that you will find official SSA Anouncements, Calls for Applications to various SSA Global positions, SSA News, HSE information, among other useful info. Other parts of the website require you to log in, like the Chapter pages that are usually updated by the Local Coordinators, Website or Communications Coordinators for each Chapter. So, for example, if you are being transfered to Quito, you click on the map on the Quito Chapter info, and there you will find a lot of useful info and contacts for your move.

In addition to all this, a cool new feature is that you can sign up to receive an email every time new content is added to the website, so you will not miss anything that might be of interest for you.

To be able to log in, you need to associate an account with the website via the “Need IT Help” link on top of the website. Click on it and fill out the form with all your data. Someone from the Global IT Desk will be in touch with you (usually in less than 48 hours) to help you set up your account and password.

One note on this point: We have had a few complaints about this process being too complicated and long. Why not just sign up and be able to use the website immediately? The reason is that to ensure the security of the website, IT needs to link your account to your spouse/partner’s GIN Number. This is a process that takes a little time, and our good friends in IT are doing a great job helping us get our accounts as fast as possible. However, if you encounter any problems with this process, please let us know (either to your Area Coordinator, or to me: elsascheffler.ssagcc@gmail.com). We can help you get the issue fixed and you can help us detect any glitches in the process.

Some of our Chapters are still updating their respective pages, so we ask for your patience while they get this work done. Slowly but surely we have been having more web traffic and more Chapters will get their pages up to speed. If you find that the info you are looking for is not up to date, please be sure to let us know (also via the Area Coordinator or me).

And so, I leave you with Nikita for her website tutorial. We hope to see you at www.ssafara.net soon. Enjoy!

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A quick guide to the SSA Website (www.ssafara.net) Home Link: The SSA logo on the top left corner of the header will take you to the homepage of the SSA website.

Global Header:  

Contact your local SSA: Use this form if you are either moving to a new location or joining the SSA for the first time. This form does not substitute your chapter's forms.

Need IT Help : Takes you to the IT Support form. 



 

 

All requests for assistance with member accounts for the SSA website, for SSA website password, etc. should be made here. Members should fill in the form completely and submit.

The system logs all help requests and a response should be received from the IT Helpdesk shortly. If you do not receive a response in a timely manner (48 hours max) or you receive a response, but your situation is not resolved, please contact your Area Coordinator, copying the SSA Global Webmaster (ssa-webmaster@slb.com).

Please keep all IT Helpdesk ticket numbers until your issue is resolved. The ticket number is a unique identifier and will enable the Helpdesk to locate your request.

Members should not make direct requests to Helpdesk technicians who have helped them on previous occasions. All requests should be made through this IT Support Form on the SSA website to ensure that help requests can be properly assigned and tracked.

Secure Gateway: Takes the members to the Schlumberger internal Gateway. This is the place where members can update their current location.

Sign In: Allows the member to login the website to see the secure information, such as Local Chapter contacts. If one does not have login credentials, please go to IT Support Form.

Navigation: 

  

SSA Home: Allows members to search for their chapter. When one searches for a chapter; example: Houston, its local chapter page opens up. Members need to sign in to the website to explore more features and start posting content.

Global News: Includes latest SSA news.

Global Health and Safety: Includes health & safety related information.

About the SSA: Includes list of global board and SSA goals and principles

A quick guide to the SSA Website (www.ssafara.net)

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Global Blog: Scrolling down the home page of website takes you to the Global Blog.

On the right side of the website you can find the following portlets:       

Search: Allows you to search the website content.

Global Photo album Communicate & Share: Includes SSA related Documents and Forums.

Global News: Includes latest SSA news.

Global Articles: Includes Global articles.

Global Newsletters: Includes newsletters and can be viewed after signing in the website.

Resource centre: Includes resources helpful to spouses which are not directly related to SSA.

Note: In order to access all the information on SSA website, you need to login first.

For further queries please contact: Nikita Goel (ssa-webmaster@slb.com)

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Our feature presentation: EUROPE & RUSSIA

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A message from Diana Sguerra Europe and Russia Area Coordinator

It

has been a pleasure to be the Area Coordinator for Europe and Russia. I have been with the SLB family since 1995, almost 20 years, it has been an adventure, a great ADVENTURE. I have always tried to be involved in the SSA because I think it is a great organization with a good purpose, it is not easy to get to a new place and start from zero every two or three years! I have moved 12 times in this past 20 years and when you don't speak the local language or you don't know anybody in the new place and you need help‌ the SSA has helped me settle down (12 times! Is this amazing or what?). I am grateful for this, not many companies have this type of organization, and it is worth it!

In this area we have 23 active chapters, 10 countries (Russia, Norway, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Romania, Poland, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan), different cultures, different languages; but all of them share the same feeling, kindness and respect for others and are always willing to help members by giving their time and knowledge about the location where they are.

To be an Area Coordinator it has been challenging and fun. It is a job where you are able to help people that you don't know, but you understand them very well because you are one of them. I have a great team of Local Coordinators, without them I couldn't do my job. They are a great group of spouses who are ready to volunteer and help chapter members always! Thank you for all you do, thank you for all the time you spend organizing events, coffee mornings, sightseeing trips, fun activities and more. You are the heart of our organization. Without you as coordinators we couldn't do it!

Diana

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ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

A

berdeen is Scotland's third largest city, and is known as the Oil Capital of Europe due to the abundant supply of crude oil which is found in the North Sea. Modern day Aberdeen is a sight for the eyes just after heavy rainfall when its many granite buildings glimmer pure and white under the sunshine. It is for this reason that Aberdeen is often called the Granite City. Aberdeen is also known as the 'Flower of Scotland' due to its amazing parks and gardens.

The city boasts spectacular architecture and captivating museums; fascinating history; a wealth of art and culture; and a lively social scene. Aberdeen's famous 'Granite Mile', Union Street, is the gateway to over 800 shops, restaurants and bars. Visitors can chillout in lovely flower-filled parks - Aberdeen is a 13 times winner of Britain in Bloom.

Best of all, the city has its own golden sandy beach.

The city's two universities, The University of Aberdeen (founded in 1495), and Robert Gordon University, which was awarded university status in 1992, make Aberdeen the educational centre of the north-east. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland.

Aberdeen City and Shire is adored by the Royal Family, and it is a region with a maritime heritage that offers lively events and a selection of thrilling activities. It is also home to over 300 castles, ranging from striking cliff-top ruins to grand fortresses and sumptuous royal residences. Some of the region's best known castles include Crathes Castle, Haddo House, Balmoral Castle and Dunnottar Castle. With more castles per acre than anywhere else in the UK, it's not hard to see why Aberdeen City and Shire is known as "Castle Country".

ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

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On behalf of the Aberdeen Chapter, I'd like to congratulate all of the SSA Global Board and especially Elsa for The Wayfarer; thanks for such an amazing newsletter. Well done!

In this chapter we currently have 90 members from 35 different countries. We usually organize more than one activity monthly. Our activities have included walking, cooking classes, coffee meetings, crafting, and visiting museums. We continuously look for new things to do and encourage our members to submit suggestions/recommendations on new activities. We also plan activities for our children that include mini golf, origami lessons, picnics at the park, and for the little ones there is also a "toddlers group" gathering monthly. Every year we try to have more than one international potluck function to enjoy and share our cultural diversity. In March we celebrate International Women's Day and hold our AGM, in October we join the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and in December we have our annual Christmas event. Our HSE coordinator is always in touch with the SLB office arranging safety trainings. The year 2014 was a great year. We have seen an increase in SSA member involvement and have had more participation in our activities which we are extremely happy about.

I am confident that 2015 will be a wonderful year!

Liliana Carrasco SSA Aberdeen Chapter Coordinator

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ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND Aberdeen Board Team Our local board holds a monthly meeting and everyone is always in good spirits with a fantastic attitude. We are surrounded with positive energy and much enthusiasm.

(Seated left to right): Era Erawaty, Basti Ismayilbayli, Yuen Koon Wong, Rosario Alurralde, Naoko Kurata, Vinka Mangal and Agnes Bodoni. (Standing left to right): Liliana Carrasco and Jolomi Wilbert.

Liliana Carrasco (Peruvian) - Interim Chapter Coordinator and Activity Coordinator.

I am so glad to be part of this wonderful group around the world, SSA has always been a great support to me in most of the locations that I have had opportunity to live as expat wife since 2001. Currently in Aberdeen I enjoy working with a board of incredible ladies supporting our fellow SSA members.

Rosario Alurralde (Argentinian) - Secretary.

My experience meeting members in Warsaw this April for the first time was great. We were transferred to Aberdeen in July and it's very nice to be part of a team that is meant to help others in the same situation.

Moving around the world is a wonderful experience but help and support is always needed when arriving to a new place. Feeling warm and cozy is importan when it comes to family traveling all the time.

Emanuela Cinti (Italian) - Treasurer.

I moved to Aberdeen with my husband and our two kids almost three years ago and I have just become the new Treasurer of the SSA. I have taken over this position from Arjani Alvarado. Although this is the first time for me in this role, I'm trying to do my best working with the other board members for the mission of the SSA. Naoko Kurata (Japanese) - Communication Coordinator.

Hello everyone. The SSA Aberdeen Chapter is a small, but very welcoming community. I'm very glad to participate in it.

Erawaty (Indonesian) - Welcome Coordinator.

Hi My name is Erawaty. Just call me Era. I am a full time housewife with no kids yet, but we badly want to have baby :). I came from Pekanbaru, Riau Indonesia. I just joined SSA Aberdeen chapter a month ago to help them on chapter welcoming side. SSA will help us to have community so we can exchange new ideas, find many interesting things about each other and experience new things. That's the beauty of diversity.

Jolomi Wilbert (Nigerian) - Welcome Coordinator.

I moved from Russia a year ago with my husband and three kids and so far we are enjoying Aberdeen, wind and all! We are happy to welcome new members to our growing community!

Vinka Mangal (Indian) - Activities Coordinator.

The SSA has a very dynamic and dedicated team of spouses, welcoming and supporting families away from home.

Agnes Bodoni (Romanian) - Sunshine Coordinator.

Moving to Aberdeen was a new experience for me, as this was our first relocation. The SSA helped me a lot not just by sharing useful information and organizing fun events and activities, but also by offering many occasions to know the other spouses, even to make new friends.

I'm glad I became a board member and that I have the possibility to organize Toddler's Group as well. I'm grateful for all this!

Basti Ismayilbayli (Azerbaijani) - Website coordinator.

Yuenkoon Wong (Malaysian) - HSE Coordinator.

This is my 3rd expat location. I am aware of difficulties when you live Aberdeen is a very beautiful and peaceful town. The weather may be abroad and happy to help newcomers being a member of a great team cold but the people here are definitely warm and friendly. The SLB HSE here. Hope SSA members feel our support and love. team has planned a lot of activities and trainings throughout the year for SSA members. We are truly grateful for their efforts and we have gained a lot of valuable knowledge in all these trainings.

Volunteers are not paid, Not because they are worthless, but because they are PRICELESS!

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ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

Art Gallery Tour

Christmas Party Coffee Mornings

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ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

Children Activities

Coffee Mornings

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ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND Potluck

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ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

Piano concert Walking along River Dee path

Walking tours Chocolate making class

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ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

Welcoming new members to Aberdeen!

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In the UK, the Abingdon chapter has currently 48 registered members. The Local Coordinators are Despina, from Greece, and Tatiana, from Brazil. Muthiah, who used to be the Welcome Coordinator, moved to India in October 2014.

We organise coffee mornings monthly and that is a good opportunity to make new friends and socialise with old friends, trying different places around town. These are also organised to welcome the newcomers.

Coffee morning—May 2014 The Upper Reaches Hotel (Left to right: Chryso from Cyprus, Denisse from Mexico—she is now in Rio de Janeiro, and Chinedu from Nigeria)

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Coffee morning—January 2014 The Crown & Thistle

Coffee morning—September 2014 Rosie’s Tea Room (Left to right: Chinedu from Nigeria and Tatiana from Brazil)

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I would like to introduce Atyrau SSA team. Our group is not that big, however it is very united and amicable. For us last year was very saturated with different events and activities.

Kazakhstan is an amazing multicultural and multireligion country. It’s a perfect example of tolerant. SSA members have explored cultural sites and famous religious places in Atyrau together. We visited a Mosque, an Ancient Russian Orthodox Church and a Catholic Church.

Thanks to the organized tour, now we know many interesting facts about architecture, traditions, history and legends of the region where we are all located now. It’s become easier to understand traditional and cultural particularities of the country.

Thanks to each other, we learned more about Italian, Japanese, Russian, Venezuelan, Spanish and Tunisian cultures and traditions.

We not only saw, but fitted on some of the traditional clothes.

Luba Bragina and Sophie Zhao

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One of our activites was to learn amazing Arabic and Spanish dances.

Natalia Bragina

Lovely SSA members learning to dance.

We also had plenty of cooking and gastronomic experiences. For example, we learned how to cook famous Venezuelan dishes, Japanese sushi, and exotic Chinese cuisine.

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We learned how to make very healthy and tasty deserts.

Kenia Galeano, Sophie Zhao and Elsa Cordera

We tasted delicious traditional Russian food.

Oksana Antonova

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Our united international team worked together on the Winter/Christmas Charity Fair. With our hands we’ve made many interesting and unusual jewelry, festive decorations and Christmas tree toys. Also our SSA members made amazing desserts and beverages to sell to help local orphanages. We contributed our souls and energy in this project.

Ring Tags by Sachico Higashimoto

Wooden toy by Anna Burova

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Besides all these activities, of course we had regular Coffee Mornings, where we discussed future plans and organized activities. I would like to note that our SSA community is very united and active, so we all participated in arranging our activities.

Last year some of us had very exciting moments and we celebrated them all together. In 2014 we had three newborns! Congratulations to the happy mothers!

And finally, we celebrated New Year It’s always sad to say goodbye to our good friends and fellows. This year we had 5 farewells.

and the SSA’s 25th Anniversary together!

However, it’s also always nice to say hello to somebody new! In 2014 we welcomed 4 new members to our team.

Natalia Bragina and Marilena Cappelli

I would like to say thank you to all Global SSA team for their support and wish all of you the best in 2015!

Together we can do more!

Anna Burova SSA Coordinator Atyrau, Kazakhstan

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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

S

SA Baku has grown in a big way since 2014, with a lot more Spouses coming in and being active with the group. Everybody has been doing their part. SSA Baku comprises a lot of Spouses from different countries and nationalities. Some of the most interesting discussions that take place among the ladies, is about the cultural Food is one of the most visible manifestations of a culture and is something people are proud of and like to share with guests to their country. So, what better way to enjoy an afternoon chat than with food from around the world.

SSA Baku planned and organized an INTERNATIONAL LUNCH event, where all the Spouses made one dish from their country.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

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From Venezuelan Empanadas, Turkmen Plov, Indian Curry and Scottish Clooty Dumpling, we had a hearty meal.

It was an afternoon full of fun, laughter, knowledge, and lots and lots of food.

By Prerna Kaur Kurawle SSA Baku Coordinator

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BELFAST, IRELAND

B

elfast started out as a small hamlet with fertile land along the mouth of the Lagan. Soon, marauders and pirates realized our lough was deep and our shores were safe from the north Atlantic storms. The perfect haven for repairing sea ravaged ships. From these early stages the industrious locals developed a boat building trade. And the rest is our history.

So what’s Belfast like today? Well, it’s packed with history, culture, exciting events, great food, super shopping… you might even spot a ship or two. You’ll also find some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

We have had a very exciting and busy first year for SSA Belfast! We had regular coffee mornings, afternoon teas and parties. We found that our kids are of similar age and we seem to be getting involved in each other's lives by walking the dogs, attending each other's children's parties and getting together for BBQ as friends! Kinda Samaan (HR Manager) asked the SSA to organise the Belfast Schlumberger Family Fun Day and we found very exciting to find a venue, get catering and entertainment for the Schlumberger Staff and their families.

We are looking forward to 2015 and will keep you up-to-date on all our adventures!

By Louisa Stockdale SSA Belfast Coordinator

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BERGEN, NORWAY The SSA ladies in Bergen keep busy with fun activities for the whole family. As part of the School holidays they had a day out at the Science Museum. A lot of budding future engineers in the making.

It was a day of fun for kids and adults!

They also had a scary Halloween party for kids and adults.

A fun-filled day with a visit to the farm to pet some cows, turkeys and horses.

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CAMBRIDGE, UK SSA - A Personal View Whilst I was not in the original founding group of the SSA, I was one of those welcomed by that group when we moved to Paris in 1990 with a 2 year old child. I was so appreciative of the assistance given to me by Liz, who took me off to the local “grand surface” shopping centre to help me to buy the appliances I needed for my new house. What I hadn’t realised at the time was that she lived about an hour’s drive away from me, yet she had given up a day of her time to help me to start my new life in a new country.

When I moved to Houston, I contacted a friend who had gone there ahead of me. She asked me for a shopping list and went out and bought the food, which she brought to the apartment we would be living in. We arrived in the evening with two jet-lagged children who woke at 3 am wanting their breakfast. Thanks to Tracey, we had the food there so they had their breakfast and they were happy, so we were also happy!

It wasn’t long before I was able to “pay it forward”, helping other families who were moving to Houston from Cambridge, our original Schlumberger location. There were other opportunities once the Houston Chapter was established and further friendships were made.

When we moved to Aberdeen, the SSA was well-established and I was able to contact the local coordinator to find out what was happening there. Since then, we have moved back to Houston, back to Cambridge, back to Paris and back to Cambridge again and I have been involved in the SSA in each of those locations, finding new friends and opportunities to help other people who are arriving for the first time. In Houston, I even helped to set up a similar welcoming programme at my children’s school as there were lots of people arriving from different countries who were experiencing the same “culture shock” and trying to work out what they needed to know to live there happily.

So here I am, back in Cambridge for the third time. I am English, so I understand the health and education system here, which makes me a useful contact for people transferring in. Through my other volunteer work, I have friends who have younger children who I can contact for current information on local schools, which I can pass on to the new families before they arrive. My children are now grown up but I will never forget how important the welcome from other Schlumberger families was in helping me to get them settled so that we were able to fully enjoy each place we lived.

We are very lucky that those Sedco Forex ladies started something that is continuing to make an impact over 25 years later and I am privileged to be a part of it.

Susan White SSA Cambridge Coordinator

CAMBRIDGE, UK

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The SSA Cambridge is a small group, but we remain dedicated to the values of the SSA in our efforts to welcome newcomers and help them to settle into their new location. In the past year we have welcomed four new members and have corresponded with others who needed information before they actually transfer here.

Our main activity is our monthly book group, which is a good excuse to get together for coffee and a chat, with no obligation to read the book, so nobody is excluded if they have not read the book for whatever reason. We hold these meetings in our own homes, rotating around the group, so new members get to meet people in relaxed and informal surroundings where they don’t have to worry if they are bringing small children with them.

Our core members are those who have lived in other countries and therefore fully understand the importance of being able to settle in a new location as quickly and easily as possible. The majority of employees in Cambridge stay for many years, so their partners are well integrated into their communities and most of them work, too.

In addition to the book group, we try to arrange activities to suit the interests of the group. We have some very talented artists in the group and have arranged activities from making Christmas Cards to a multi-media art day. In the summer months we try to arrange to visit a stately home or a beautiful garden, so we have made trips to Audley End House, Anglesey Abbey, Houghton Hall and the Queen’s house at Sandringham in Norfolk. We have also visited local historic towns in addition to taking walking tours around Cambridge itself.

We are not too far from London, so we made a trip to the Royal Academy exhibition to see the Manet exhibition and followed this with a tour of Turner’s paintings at the Tate Gallery.

We are very lucky as there is an active Social Club at SGR in Cambridge, so we have joined with them for evenings at the Comedy Club and events as diverse as wine tasting and chocolate tasting.

We all enjoy tasting dishes made by the different members of our group, so we will occasionally have a pot-luck lunch and there is always something that we have never tasted before.

Recipes are often swapped as a result of these lunches. We recently welcomed a Polish lady and she kindly arranged for us to go to a local restaurant to eat genuine Polish dishes in a very friendly atmosphere.

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LONDON, ENGLAND

T

he London Chapter sure knows how to have fun! Last year they attended a wonderful CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP where they had a chance to créate and decorate their own chocolate pieces to take home. They went on a special visit to one of England’s largest vineyards, Denbies Vineyard. The day started with a 50 minutes journey on an outdoor train that took them to some of the highest and most beautiful viewing points of the winery. Everyone enjoyed a glass of Denbies sparkling wine whilst experiencing the breathtaking panoramic views of the North Downs. There was a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show, the most famous flower show in the United Kingdom. This event is held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London.

The biggest event of the London Chapter year was the Royal Ascot Visit and Lunch.

Ascot is one of Europe’s most famous race meetings. It dates back to 1711. Every year, Royal Ascot is atended by her majesty the Queen and various members of the royal family, arriving each day in horse-drawn carriages. SSA Members, clad in fabulous dresses and hats, were welcomed by the beautiful sunny weather and enjoyed a delicious lunch and a whole day of fun by the racecouse. They even met the Queen and Duke… even though it was from a distance.

In another Royal visit, they had a chance to visit the Royal Pavilion, which is a former Royal residence built for George, Prince of Wales.

And though SSA Members love those amazing Royal visits, they also enjoy casual coffee mornings. They meet at little cafes and enjoy each other’s company.

When the holidays approach, they visit the Christmas markets in Kingston upon Thames. There, they found so many beautiful Christmas goodies, a variety of international foods and artifacts for everyone to enjoy. Their Christmas lunch was held at a beautiful country house hotel, where they enjoyed an amzing three-course meal and had a gift exchange.

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LONDON, ENGLAND

Since 2014 started out as the wettest winter in years, roads in most parts of England were constantly wet and in the worse case flooded. SSA Members had to drive through flooded roads which contributed to their stress levels and made them wonder if they would make it to pick up the kids from school and after that if they would make it back home! These driving conditions lead the amazing SSA Chapter Board members to offer all SSA Members Driver Training clases and on-road instruction by SLB designated driving instructors.

This was especially usefu to newcomers, because driving on the wrong side of the road is common and might prove to be a daunting experience.

As the nicer weather finally arrived, their focus turned to stay safe and healthy while still enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Throughout the year they generated Safety and Health Tips, Home Safety and Security Tips while on holidays, Summer Safety Tips, Ebola Information, Tips for Back to School, Mental Wellbeing, and other relevant information that was shared with the SSA London members.

A First Aid Training Days was set up through St. John’s Ambulance, where SSA members learned how a little knowledge could make a difference between a Life Saved and a Life Lost.

And last but not least, it is worth mentioning that the SSA London Chapter is also involved in Charity activities. Last year they participated in the Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Appeal (Operation Christmas Child). They met at the Gatwick Office, where they wrapped and assembled shoeboxes with ítems for children who may not receive a gift on Christmas.

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA Moscow is the capital city and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural and scientific center in Russia and in Eastern Europe.

The remains of the Soviet state are scattered all around the city. Monuments remember fallen heroes and victorious battles, while museums attempt to analyze and synthesize the past.

The very founding site of the city, the Kremlin and Red Square, are still at the heart of Moscow – historically, geographically and spiritually. Feel the weight of this significance as you wander within the walls of the ancient fortress, marvel at the mind-boggling magnificence of St Basil's Cathedral. Moscow will move you. The city will tantalize your senses, soothe your spirit, and boggle your mind.

The SSA Moscow chapter is one of the most active chapters in the ĂĄrea. It is a large group of diverse spouses, who enjoy every moment that they share. Despite the very cold and long winters, SSA members get together for lunch, dinners, trips to museums, craft classes and more.

The lovely ladies of the Moscow SSA Board .

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA

SSA Moscow annual BBQ

Icon Museum

SSA Moscow Board

Soap making class Boat tour

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA Chocolate Factory tour

Beautiful SSA Moscow members enjoying various SSA functions

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OSLO, NORWAY SSA Oslo has had an amazing time organizing events throughout the year. We have waved goodbye and welcomed many members and have created a lovely little family. Our members have gotten to know each other. It feels great whenever we meet up seeing old faces and new.

This year we have had lots of members attending events like coffee mornings at beautiful and picturesque locations, and also events for the kids and family.

We have had a larger number of board members this year, compared to previous years. The members have worked very hard to create such organized events. It has made the experience very enjoyable.

PARIS, FRANCE

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Ahhh, Paris, the city of light. Why is it often called this way? Well, according to Wikipedia, this term refers both to its leading role during the Age of Enlightenment, and more literally because Paris was one of the first European cities to adopt gas Street lighting. However the term came to be, it is true that this is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. How lucky to be able to live here and roam the streets!

My family had the chance to live in Paris for a year and it was a year full of contrasts. I marvelled every day at driving along the Seine, or having the Chateau de Versailles as a usual part of my commute to take my oldest daughter to school. But then all my friends back home thought that I went to museums everyday or had fabulous lunches in little bistros all the time. I did those things, but not everyday. Living in Paris is like living anywhere else. There are errands to run, a house to clean, homeworks to finish, lunches and dinners to be prepared, and a long list of chores that you still have to do even if you live in the city of light. But how fun it was!!

Elsa Scheffler The SSA Paris Chapter is a very busy one.

There are Coffee Mornings, like the one they held in November 2014 at the impressive and historical Brasserie of Printemps.

PARIS, FRANCE

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The many activities that the SSA Paris offers to its members also include an Beginners and Advanced French Conversation Groups, a Book Club, Guided Tours by an excellent art historian, a Play Group for the little ones, HSE Trainings, among others.

The walking group meets every 2 weeks in Paris in picturesque locations, and it usually finishes with lunch together.

There is one activity called the “One Day Activity”, in which a group of SSA members get together to share their knowledge and interests for a day. This may include painting, singing, photography, cake decorating, visiting temporary exhibits, sharing the best places to shop, and where to find certain spices or foods. This helps SSA members enrich their lives in Paris.

The Gourmet Club is an informal group of food lovers where members take turns to host and share their culinary skills. Last srping, they did a Cookbook with the recipes from the Club, and all proceeds were donated to charity.

The SSA Paris Chapter has been involved in charity for many years. In 2013 at the Christmas coffee morning, they collected nearly 50 gifts for sick children at the Pediatric Hospital Rober Debré. In 2014 they collected more tan 80 gifts!

PARIS, FRANCE

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Coffee morning

Aicha & Anne

Lillian & Katya

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PAU, FRANCE Our SSA community from Pau, a cozy, small French city located near Pyrenees, is pleased to share with you the wonderful south-west of France, with its famous sunny beaches in Biarritz and Hendaye, the old castles full of history. And of course, the well-known French cuisine with legendary French wines.

Pau holds the record for the greenest city in Europe with more than 700 hectares of parks. Villa Navarre, where we went to enjoy memorable moments, is a charming 5 stars hotel located in a mature parkland of over 2 hectares and one of the most important historical buildings in Pau. In this very British atmosphere offered by the architecture of Villa Navarre, we welcomed two new SSA members.

In autumn, SSA Pau went to a warm, relaxed place: The thermal baths in ArgelesGazost, located in a beautiful 19th century building. We enjoyed peaceful and tranquil moments at the spa, with thermal water therapy associated with colorful lights and stress-free music.

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PAU, FRANCE A bunch of friends coming together to enjoy a beautiful afternoon at the distinguished 3 Michelin stars restaurant (the only star from Southwest France), Les PrĂŠs EugĂŠnie resort, "a small palace, from the country-side" as the owners call it. The tasty French cuisine combined with a perfect ambiance made our day to be just wonderful!

Pau is also a sportive city and SSA is a part of it. We participated in an important charity women-only running competition, La feminine de Pau.

SSA Pau is pleased to have talented members who are happy to share their skills and aptitudes. We have met a few times and have learned how to create beautiful mosaics using pieces of colored glasses in order to make small plates. Imagination has no limit and we tried our best in decorating different trays.

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PAU, FRANCE

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Unique in the world - a château stands next to the largest private lake in France – Brindos Castle located near Biarritz, a romantic château where Sir Reginald Wright, an influential English senator, hosted tea dances in the 1930s, offered us peaceful moments and memorable souvenirs in the company of local wild ducks.

We hope that the short journey through the SSA activity in Pau made you feel the enjoyable life near the Pyrenees and maybe we made you decide for a vacation on the SouthWest of France!

Gabriela Grindei SSA Pau

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Stavanger, Norway

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Stavanger, Norway

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The SSA Stavanger Board members organize regular Coffee Mornings and lunches to welcome newcomers and say farewell to those who are leaving. Of course there are also activites for the little ones in the Baby & Toddler Group, and amazing cooking lessons. Be sure not to miss the recipes on pages 76 & 77‌ Virgin Strawberry mojito, anyone?

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TYUMEN, RUSSIA Tyumen is located in Western Siberia, behind the Ural Mountains and 1800 kilometers east of Moscow. It is one of the oldest cities of Asian Russia and one of the

wealthiest. The growth of Tyumen is explained by the discovery and exploitation of significant oil fields.

Currently the Tyumen Region produces 65 percent of Russia's oil and 87 percent of its gas.

There are many legends about the name of the city. Tatar legends bound it with the word “tumen” which means a 10,000 army. Also it is possible that the Russian city took the name of old Chimga-Tura which derived from the Ugrian “Chemgen” and meant “a city on the way”.

Truly, the second description fits Tyumen the best. Until the 1960s, Tyumen was a quiet rural Siberian city. Most of its citizens lived in wooden houses along the Tura and Tyumenka rivers, for which it became known as the "capital of villages." Because the city is a main transportation point to Eastern Siberia and Far East of Russia, Tyumen has experienced all major historical events in Russia, such as revolution turmoil and Civil War. Many famous people were born or studied in Tyumen. Among them is the famous chemist Dmitrii Ivanovich Mendeleev, who not only created his own version of the periodic table of elements, but also contributed to the oil industry in Russia.

One may describe Tyumen is a walking city, as well as a city of contrast. Amongst wooden houses and old churches you will see the modern glass buildings of The World Trade Center and the Law Department of Tyumen State University, and typical Soviet style neighborhoods with multistory apartment buildings. Cultural life is supported by the theaters, several cinemas, museums, which will catch your attention. Tyumen is also an educational center, with more than 40,000 students.

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Last June, SSA members and their family visited of Tyumen recreation center “Verkhniy Bor” for a traditional annual family picnic. This was a great chance to meet all together with families after the working week and enjoy sports activities, fresh air and just simply get positive emotions.

Natalya Polchenko, the new SSA Tyumen Chapter Coordinator, said that this was one of the best outdoor events she had ever been to. There was entertainment for every taste and age. Kids could play near a lake with a beach, go to a mini-zoo, whereas their parents could enjoy hot springs, try

horse-riding, play sports such as a beach volleyball, paintball, trampolines and much more.

It was a really nice day: lovely weather, good people, active games and delicious food. There were animators invited to participate in sports activities and organize dancing competitions.

Mahriban Gurbanova, SSA member: "Our family was very impressed with the last family outdoor meeting. Everything was good! Some people brought home-made food and it’s very interesting to try international authentic home dishes from all over the world. Our company is such a pleasure to spend time with!"

SSA would like to thank D&M for arranging transport, led by Mounir Sai, and all event organizers.

In September we had a Baby Club Picnic. At first, there was small rain, but later on the weather became beautiful! We said GOODBYE to summer! It was a great day of fun with the children.

Halloween is one of the most beloved days for kids, it’s the day when they can dress up, have their faces painted and just have fun. Trick or Treat! Last year the celebration took place at Zanzibar in Zhiraff.

Funny Mashka made aqua grimm for everyone who wanted and after that there was great entertainment from Mashka and Andryshka.

There were fun competitions, contests and songs. For parents and children particularly such event is a real celebration that brings out true positive emotions. Everyone had fun and was in a great mood.

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TYUMEN, RUSSIA

At least twice a year the Moscow and Tyumen chapters of the Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA) hold lectures for employees’ spouses on such health topics as vaccinations, heart attack and stroke, first aid basics, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

In line with the SSA’s mission to help employees make their new location a place to call home, such events help the spouses adapt to life in their transfer country. Furthermore, the evidence that Schlumberger values their employees' family connections increases employee job satisfaction.

Tyumen is a key focus SSA location in RCA, as the city does not have international clinics and has limited opportunities for interpersonal communication for spouses who do not speak Russian.

In November 2014 the SSA Tyumen met in the Tyumen SLB office for a five hour lecture covering such topics as breast cancer, Ebola virus, heart attack, stroke, and flu. The lecture was given to ten Schlumberger spouses by Sergey Dudin, Tyumen and Volgo-Urals Medical Advisor. The audience was diverse and eager to learn. Most of the ladies attended with their children, who enjoyed

the sweet buffet as much as their mothers did.

The feedback from participants was very positive and constructive.: “Everything was wonderful. I would like to thank Sergey Dudin for the interesting and useful presentation about flu and Ebola, and especially about breast cancer. Special thanks to Natalia Polchenko for organizing the event and the sweet buffet.” “I’d like to suggest to schedule a lecture on smoking hazards, and the right and wrong behaviors affecting women’s and children’s health.”

SSA Tyumen organized a party in the Spa of the Eurasia hotel. We got a chance to use the Finnish sauna, Turkish bath Hamam, Jacuzzi with hot and cold water, ice fountain, experience the shower and could choose one 15-minute treatment of body peeling or massage. We had a wonderful time and got some rest for our souls and bodies. The jacuzzi and sauna were a great idea to warm up during this snowy Siberian winter. Such a nice event definitely helps all members to become closer friends.

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In December the Baby Club had active games and dancing with the children.

We were very lucky to have Lilia Nalimova, as she is a counselor at the summer camp, and she knows many funny games. One of the favorite activities was sculpting from dough (Play Doh) different desserts and many other things. I’d like to note that some of the mothers were sculpting with pleasure too.

Before the Christmas and New Year holidays we had a great master class on handmade Christmas

toys. Children were busy with cards preparation while adults were preparing the Christmas toys. We had great fun and enjoyed each other’s company.

We are always happy to welcome the new members in our chapter. And to the one who is leaving, we aren't saying "Good bye!” but "See you again soon!” as we are sure that all changes are positive.

By Natalia Polchenko SSA Tyumen Chapter Coordinator

Cooking class

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VECHTA, GERMANY Hello from Vechta, Germany!

The SSA Vechta has 12 members coming from Romania, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, Brazil and Germany. We keep in touch regularly and meet at least once a month. We also organize parties once in a while.

Be sure to check out page 80 for a mouthwatering recipe from Vechta!

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WARSAW, POLAND To celebrate the Christmas holiday season our small group enjoyed a ladies night out at a traditional Polish restaurant in Warsaw called Dawne Smaki. Beef tartar, duck, wild boar, herring, and, of course, Pierogi’s were on the menú!

Good conversation and smiles were had by all. The highlight of the night was our beautiful handmade Polish Christmas ornament gifts. We look forward to doing it all again next year!

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RECIPES FROM EUROPE & RUSSIA Aberdeen

Cullen Skink Haggis

Cranachan Shortbread

London

Victoria Sponge

Moscow

Borscht

Stavanger

Virgin Strawberry Mojito Tuna Pastel (Pie)

Tyumen

Turkish Pilaf Baklava Rolls

Vechta

Cinnamon Apple Muffins

Warsaw

Holiday Spice Cookies

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FROM ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND CULLEN SKINK Ingredients: A large smoked haddock (weighing around 2 lb) 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1½ pints (900ml) milk 2 tablespoons butter

Salt and pepper 1 bay leaf Chopped parsley Water Triangles of toast (as an accompaniment)

8 oz mashed potato

Method: 

Cover the smoked haddock with water, in a shallow pan, skin side down.



Bring to the boil and simmer for 4/5 minutes, turning once.



Take the haddock from the pan and remove the skin and bones.



Break up the fish into flakes, return to the stock and add the chopped onion, bay leaf, salt and pepper.



Simmer for another 15 minutes.



Strain, remove the bay leaf but retain the stock and fish.



Add the milk to the fish stock and bring back to the boil.



Add enough mashed potato to create the consistency you prefer (don't be afraid to make it rich and thick!).



Add the fish and reheat.



Check for seasoning.



Just before serving, add the butter in small pieces so that it runs through the soup.

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FROM ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND HAGGIS Ingredients: Set of sheep's heart, lungs and liver (cleaned by a butcher) One beef bung 3 cups finely chopped sue One cup medium ground oatmeal

One cup beef stock One teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper One teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon mace

Two medium onions, finely chopped

Method: 

Trim off any excess fat and sinew from the sheep's intestine and, if present, discard the windpipe.



Place in a large pan, cover with water and bring to the boil.



Reduce the heat and simmer for an hour or possibly longer to ensure that they are all tender. Drain and cool.



Some chefs toast the oatmeal in an oven until it is thoroughly dried out (but not browned or burnt!)



Finely chop the meat and combine in a large bowl with the suet, oatmeal, finely chopped onions, beef stock, salt, pepper, nutmeg and mace. Make sure the ingredients are mixed well.



Stuff the meat and spices mixture into the beef bung which should be over half full. Then press out the air and tie the open ends tightly with string. Make sure that you leave room for the mixture to expand or else it may burst while cooking. If it looks as though it may do that, prick with a sharp needle to reduce the pressure.



Place in a pot and cover with water. Bring to the boil and immediately reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for three hours. Avoid boiling vigorously to avoid bursting the skin.



Serve hot with "champit tatties and bashit neeps" (mashed/creamed potato and turnip/ swede). For added flavour, you can add some nutmeg to the potatoes and allspice to the turnip/swede.



Some people like to pour a little whisky over their haggis - Drambuie is even better! Don't go overboard on this or you'll make the haggis cold.



At Burns Suppers, the haggis is traditionally piped in and Burns' "Address to the Haggis" recited over it.

FROM ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

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CRANACHAN Ingredients:

3 oz (half cup) pinhead or coarse oatmeal 1 tablespoon Drambuie (optional) Half pint double cream

Method: 

Toast the oatmeal in a frying pan on a high heat until lightly brown.



Whisk the cream into a soft consistency and mix in the oatmeal and Drambuie (alternatively, use a few drops vanilla essence or other flavouring of your choice).



Serve in tall glasses.



A popular variation is to mix in 6oz (one and a half cups) of fresh raspberries. Or use vanilla ice cream instead of cream.

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FROM ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND SHORTBREAD Ingredients: 6oz plain flour

2oz caster (granulated) sugar

4oz soft butter

1 oz cornflour (cornstarch)

Method: 

Mix the butter and sugar together (preferably with a wooden spoon) until it is pale and creamy.



Sieve both the flour and the cornflour into the bowl and mix well.



Put a small amount of flour on your working surface and place the dough on this.



Shake a little flour on top and roll out about quarter inch thick.



Prick with a fork and cut into rounds with a cutter or, if you want one large shortbread round, pinch the edges with thumb and finger all round.



Use a palette knife to lift the shortbread onto an oiled baking tray and bake for 25 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 325F/170C/Gas Mark 3.



If the biscuits are ready, they will be pale brown and crisp; if not, return to the oven for 5 or 10 minutes.



Shake a small amount of caster/granulated sugar on the top of the shortbread immediately after they have been removed from the oven.



Use a palette knife to move them to a cooling rack and store in an airtight tin once they are cold.

FROM LONDON, ENGLAND

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VICTORIA SPONGE Ingredients: Batter for cake 4 large eggs or 5 medium sized eggs Butter –softened 250g Caster sugar Plain flour Baking powder 1.5 teaspoons Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon Milk 1 –2 table spoons

Filling Butter 100g Icing sugar as much as is required or preferred 1 teaspoon of vanilla a little milk, 1-2 teaspoons, be cautious a decent quality jam Strawberry or Raspberry as preference

Method: 

Use two 20 to 23cm wide circular cake tin and grease them with butter. Turn oven to 180ºC /350ºF. Weigh the eggs intact in their shells. This will give you the measurement for the sugar and flour. If the measurement for the eggs is around 300 –275 grams 250 grams of butter is fine. US butter is slightly different and greasier, so you could manage with 200g for a 275g measurement.

Cream the sugar and butter together until it is light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one by one, mixing as you go.

Add the vanilla.

Sieve in the flour and baking powder into the bowl. If you are to mix this manually, fold the flour into the mixture and add a little milk. If the mixture is a little too stiff then add a little more milk. If using the food processor, pulse the mixture together doing the same with the milk. Do not over mix, as you will knock the air out of the batter.

Once you have a cake batter, which is like a thick pancake batter you are ready to divide the mixture between the two circular cake-baking pans.

Place both pans in the middle of the oven. Cooking time is about 25 minutes depending on your oven. Don’t open the oven too soon or the mixture will sink. Check at about 20 min using alight if you have one without opening the oven. It should have a light golden brown color and when tested with a knife at its centre it should come out clean. If you touch the top gently with your finger it should spring back.

Allow the cakes to cool down a little prior to removing them from the pans, but don’t wait until they are cold or they will be difficult to remove.

When they are cool, they are ready to ice. First place butter icing on the top of the bottom layer, then add two to three tablespoons of strawberry or raspberry jam and spread over the top.

Add the top layer of the cake.

Sprinkle icing sugar over the top.

Eat with a good cup of English tea.

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      Tips:

If you live at high altitude then add more baking powder and make the batter less thick.

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FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA BORSCHT Borscht is a simple beet soup typically made with beef broth and garnished with sour cream. We give it a kick with horseradish. For a vegetarian soup, use vegetable broth instead.

Makes: 4 servings, about 1 cup each Active Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth, or vegetable broth 1 medium russet potato, peeled and diced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 cups steamed cubed beets, 1/2inch cubes (see Tip) 2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Method:      

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Add onion and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes.

Add broth, potato, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the potato is just tender, about 8 minutes.

Add beets and vinegar; return to a boil. Cover and continue cooking until the broth is deep red and the potato is very soft, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Combine sour cream and horseradish in a small bowl.

Serve the soup with a dollop of the horseradish sour cream and a sprinkle of parsley.

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From Stavanger, Norway VIRGIN STRAWBERRY MOJITO Ingredients: 7 mint leaves 3 Strawberries 1 teaspoons brown sugar

Method:  Mix all ingredients and enjoy!

½ glass ginger ale ¼ glass apple juice Ice Crush

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From Stavanger, Norway TUNA PASTEL (PIE) Ingredients: 2 garlic cloves, chopped ½ onion 2 slices anchovies 1 teaspoon oyster sauce 2 teaspoon ketchup 1 teaspoon sweet soy sauce 1 teaspoon brown or white sugar

¼ lemon 2 cans of tuna 1 small package glass noodle 1 small can of corn 1 carrot, chopped 1 red pepper, chopped 1 spring onion, chopped Store bought puff pastry

Method:             

Preheat the oven at 200C. Heat a pan, pour olive oil, add garlic and onion. Wait until fragrant. You can add chili flakes to add spiciness.

Cut the anchovies into small pieces and add into the pan.

Add tuna, stir fry.

Mix oyster sauce, ketchup and soy sauce in a bowl. Add into the pan.

Add salt & pepper.

Keep stirring until mixture is dry.

Add corn, carrot, pepper and onion.

Heat a baking tray in the oven, wait until it is hot.

Cut the puff pastry in 4 pieces. Brush edges with water.

Add tuna and fold puff pastry unitl the tuna is covered.

Bring the hot baking tray out of the oven, add oil on top, put the pies on the tray and brush the pies with oil.

Bake for 20 minutes.

TYUMEN, RUSSIA

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TURKISH PILAF Ingredients:

Rice Butter or any kind of oil (preferably butter) Salt Raisins (optional) Cold water

For the sauce: Minced beef or lamb Onion, diced Bulgarian pepper, diced Salt and spices Potatoes, diced (optional) Lecho or adjika Cooked chickpeas Oil

Method:   

Fry rice into a little oil. Add water just above the rice and add salt Cook until it water is absorbed.

Add raisins and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes.

For the sauce:     

Fry minced beef or lamb with a little oil.

Add onion and pepper. After 2 minutes add letcho or adjika.

Add chickpeas and a little bit of water.

Add salt and spices Cover and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.

Done!!! Bon Appétit!!!

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TYUMEN, RUSSIA

BAKLAVA ROLLS Ingredients: ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 1 ½ cups (7 ounces) coarsely ground almonds 1 ½ cups (7 ounces) coarsely ground walnuts

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 14 sheets of phyllo dough 2 cups cool Honey Syrup for Rolled Baklava

Method:    

 

     

Place rack in center of oven, and preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Brush a 9-by-9-inch pan with melted butter. Set aside.

Combine almonds, walnuts, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Place one sheet of phyllo on a flat work surface. Brush with melted butter. Fold the long sides in to form a 9 1/2-by-15-inch rectangle. Brush folded edges with butter. Place a second piece of phyllo over first sheet, and gather it like a curtain to fit inside rectangle.

Brush with butter.

Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the nut mixture over the bottom one-third of the phyllo rectangle.

Fold phyllo over to cover nuts. Brush folded phyllo with butter. Spread 1/4 cup nuts in a 1-inch-wide line parallel to, and about 1 inch from, the edge of pastry. Fold over once to cover nuts. Roll like a cigar almost to the end. Fold in ragged edges, and brush them with butter. Finish rolling, and fold ends under.

Place seam-side down in prepared pan. Brush with butter.

Repeat with remaining phyllo and filling, laying each roll next to the other so they are touching.

Cut rolls crosswise into 21 pieces total (drag knife through a second time to assure a clean cut).

Transfer to oven, and bake until crust and nuts are evenly golden, 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Remove pan from oven, and cool for 10 minutes.

Pour cool Honey Syrup over pastry; it will come about three-quarters of the way up the sides. Let sit until most of the liquid is absorbed and nuts are saturated, about 30 minutes.

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FROM VECHTA, GERMANY CINNAMON APPLE MUFFINS Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Serves: 12 Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour (+ 2 teaspoons for coating apples) 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (+ ½ teaspoon for coating apples) 2 cups diced apples ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons pure vainilla extract ½ cup milk

For the Topping: ½ cup butter, melted ½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup ground cinnamon

Method:  Preheat oven to 375º F. Spray muffin tins with bakers spray or coat well with shortening or butter and flour, making sure to discard any excess flour from the tins after coating.  Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.  Toss together diced apples and 2 teaspoons of flour to coat apples in a separate bowl. Set aside.  Cream together butter and sugar until lightened in color, about 3 minutes. Add an egg, one at a time, taking care to fully incorporate before adding the other. Mix in vanilla.  Gently fold in flour mixture, alternating with milk. Stir until just combined. Fold in diced apples and scoop mixture into prepared muffin tins, filling about ⅔ to ¾ full. Bake until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 30 minutes.  Prepare topping for muffins while the muffins are baking by melting the butter and allowing to cool slightly. Pour butter into a separate bowl sized easy for dipping tops of muffins. Mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl and set aside.  Once muffins have baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly in the muffin tin.

Then, remove each muffin and dip first into the melted butter and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture. Place onto a plate to finish cooling.

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FROM WARSAW, POLAND

HOLIDAY SPICE COOKIES Ingredients: Mix until fluffy: 1 Cup White Sugar 3/4 Cup Softened Butter 1/4 Cup Molasses 1 Egg

Mix Together: 2 1/4 Cup Flour 1 Tsp Cinnamon 1/2 Tsp Ginger 1/4 Tsp Nutmeg 2 Tsp Baking Soda 1/2 Tsp Salt 1/2 Tsp Cloves

Method:      

Mix all together. Cover with parchment paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350F. Shape dough into 1 inch balls.

Roll in 1/4 cup of sugar.

Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.

Bake for 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned.

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It seems like we love acronyms, don’t you think? These are the most commonly used acronyms by the SSA:

SSA SLB GB GC GCC AC LC CC WC HSEC LAM NAM EUR/SLR ME A/A

Schlumberger Spouses Association Schlumberger SSA Global Board SSA Global Coordinator SSA Global Communications Coordinator SSA Area Coordinator SSA Local Coordinator SSA Local Communications Coordinator SSA Local Website Coordinator SSA Local Health, Safety & Environment Coordinator Latin America Area North America Area Europe/Schlumberger Limited Russia Area Middle East Area Asia/Australia Area

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I hope you enjoyed this edition of The Wayfarer.

It was prepared for you with love thanks to the contributions from many SSA members around the world.

I would like to especially thank Liliana Carrasco, Anna Burova, Tatiana Fujiki and Natalia Polchenko for their great help and patience while preparing this edition.

Our next issue will feature the Middle East Area!

So get ready, you will receive a Call for Contributions very soon!

If you would like to send an article or picture for The Wayfarer, please contact me at ssa-communications@slb.com or elsascheffler.ssagcc@gmail.com See you next time!