Land Travel
Before we left in August, leadership shared the vision for Expedition Route, which included land travel whenever possible. Prior to arriving in Georgia (the country), travel was largely 1-3 hour road, fast rail, and air. Overland travel got real after Georgia, and now I’m able to better understand why it is a part of Expedition. Public transportation in and of itself lends great opportunity to interact with locals and experience culture at a new depth. We learned at a greater depth how an Eastern culture functions.
Armenia to Georgia to Azerbaijan to Aktau, Kazakhstan to Astana, Kazakhstan.
Ten days of movement: 5 taxis, 3 overnight trains, 2 buses, 1 cargo ship.
A Few Things We Learned
–Much of life is what you make it. When it’s boiling hot in your compartment with lots of smells going on, no outlets for charging, and your calves are hanging off the end of your top bunk…it’s a choice to have a good attitude. Thankfully, when you choose wrong in a collective society, you get a kind, yet persuasive wave to come down for some tea and chocolate.
–Hide your peanut butter. No, I’m not speaking in code, your bible is fine, it’s the peanut butter that is going to cause problems. When two countries are at war (Armenia and Azerbaijan) and border patrol finds peanut butter with an Armenian sticker, it is a sad day for you, and for every bag that is searched after yours.
-Bottom bunks are gold…. And can be sold for a hefty price if you meet the right world racer.
-Your compartment is your family. Our longest train was 44 hours. I was laying on my top bunk when I felt a tap. I thought, “Oh my, she just touched me!” Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I chose not to respond thinking, “maybe she’ll think I’m sleeping”. Then came another tap and some Russian or Kazak utterances that I didn’t understand. I poked my head out and was met by a large chicken, loaf of bread, box full of hot dogs/sausages, crackers, and a large tea pot. Then my eyes met the woman tapping me, with a persistent smile she spoke and gestured, “dinner time!”. So, I climbed down, peanut butter, Oreos, and Pringles in hand, and we enjoyed the first of many meals together. We laughed, they force fed me chicken and hot dogs, repeatedly saying “ish, ish” and placing food near my mouth. They taught me Russian and Kazak words and phrases, we laughed, and then after tea, I returned to my bunk.
–Exercise is feasible. Thirty hours on a cargo ship can result in 9,962 steps and 18 flights climbed if you get creative
–Separate checks are an American thing. When you ask for the check at a restaurant and they ask how many, you’re not getting separate checks, your ordering tea. “Check”/“Chai”. Life can be funny, embrace it.
–Never underestimate the kindness of a stranger… Picture this: You arrive at 1:00 AM to a shipyard in the middle of nowhere, not a taxi in sight, and your phone won’t work. Ask for help, and praise God when you get it.
– Personal space is relative. The same folks that are pressing against you and filling the gap of space in front of you will translate without hesitation to help you successfully get the ice cream you were hoping for.
Crossed arms are like turnovers (in basketball), they are bound to happen but we went to decrease them as much as possible. We became all too familiar with the universal “forbidden” or “stop” sign. Most of the time, it was for things like opening windows, exiting through doors that weren’t actually exits, or overloading outlets. However, the time that made my stomach drop was when I received it from border patrol. As my bag exited the x-ray conveyer belt, alarms went off. I looked up to meet the all familiar arms crossed forming an X. Carrying my bag, I headed over and waited as he typed something on his phone. He turned the phone to me and I read “You cannot enter”. I thought to myself, “Dang.. that was pretty direct”; he carried a very serious tone. I continued to stand there, trying to figure out how to change his mind (and what had offended him so much). He then said, “Go” and pointed back to Kazakhstan, where I had just come from, and again made an X with his arms. Luckily, soon after, a kind English-speaking border patrol woman arrived. She spoke with the man briefly, and before I knew it, my passport was stamped and I was on my way. Praise God!
Lastly, if nothing else, keep track of your train towel.
Here are two videos of our squad’s land travel.
Thank you Brittani and Andrew for sharing your videos!
Andrew’s video of the train ride
Photo Credit: Kiana Yingst
Dining Car
Photo Credit: Kiana Yingst
Brittani’s video of travel from Armenia to Kazakhstan
