Some highlights for me: OS on OS XIV (LONGISH)

Wed Aug 9 04:50:17 PDT 2006

Dear friends in Open Space
I?ve now unpacked my bags and thought I?d share a few of my
experiences/highlights that I had during my stay in Moscow. I'm sure there
will be lots of stories as well as photos available soon.

TRAVEL AND THE CITY OF MOSCOW
The journey from Sweden was not very expensive, visa-procedures were not
that difficult for me as soon as I understood some key-questions. For me
Moscow seemed to be a friendly, safe and very clean city with lots and lots
to see and do. A couple of times I asked people in the Metro about the way,
although they seemed to be in a hurry rushing along, they were always
looking back to see I was doing alright, pointing me to the right place.

Learning the russian alphabet and learning to say some basic things was hard
work. I felt like a child again when I was happy every time I managed to
read a sign or find the subwaystation/streetname I was looking for.

WHALEWATCHING SAFARI
Before I left for Russia I received an invitation from Vera to visit her and
go whalewatching with her. An invitation I could not resist! So I took the
metro to a suburb of Moscow where I met her. We had a walk and finally came
to a park. Hmm do they have whales in the parks here? Walking through the
park I saw that the Moscow river was at the other end...and all of a sudden
I saw something huge black at the river bank...could this really be true...?
We sneaked up to it through the trees of the park. And there it was - a
great big old submarine! I guess that?s as close one can get to a whale in
Moscow. So thanks Vera for taking me on this whale-safari.

OSonOS
On thursday evening about 20 of the participants gathered for a tram-trip on
the Moscow river, passing many interesting sites such as the Kremlin as well
as monuments and Cathedrals. So Friday morning it started. The site for
OSonOS consisted of a large room and space around for break-outs. Coffee/The
and things to eat were always available and the last day it was spiced with
a buffe/smorgasbord that the participants had brought.
Lunch was served downstairs and there was always a wide choice of russian
dishes. I think these basics were very well organized.

As usual lots of issues were raised spanning all over the space of open
space. Lots and lots of good conversations in and between groups. I'm happy
for all the new and old friends that I met and all the wisdome they shared.

Interpreters bridged between English-Russian speaking participants in an
extra-ordinary way. In the big circle as well as in every small group there
was always someone willing to help out - and it worked beautifully and was
lots of fun.

I enjoyed Veras The-corner where everyone was invited to sit down, have a
cup of the, relax, talk, sit in silence or whatever. The drumming session
conducted on day 2 was great fun and good learning - bridging between
cultures and languages. The artists workshop on day 3 was also inspiring for
many of us.

The decision about the 15th International OSonOS was a long process. There
were three offers from Ukraine/Kiev, San Francisco and Paris. For me the
physical presence and the energy shown by the Ukraine team as well as the
opportunity to support the growing community of OS-facilitators over there
was the main reasons for me to support going there. Lots of passion and
willingness to take responsibility there!

I am greatful to Raffi, Michail and Galina + everyone else in the organizing
team + all participants who together made this OSonOS so successful!

I wish the best to the Ukrainan team and will do my best to support in any
way possible to me.

So holidays are being rounded up over here and there will be lots of space
opened for the coming month. Better start working...
Warmest regards
Thomas Herrmann

> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> Fran: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]For Thomas Herrmann
> Skickat: den 8 augusti 2006 00:13
> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Amne: SV: OS on OS XIV
>
>
> At this late time, just a BIG THANKS to the russian team who arranged this
> increadible event. I will share more as soon as I?ve got some
> more sleep. I
> arrived in my home an hour ago. For me it has been a very very
> rich week in
> Moscow and I?m already longing to go to Ukraine. Just wishing I could have
> joined the party tonight too, instead of sitting in the plane.
> Good night
> Thomas Herrmann
>
> > -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> > Fran: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]For Raffi
> > Aftandelian
> > Skickat: den 7 augusti 2006 23:37
> > Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > Amne: OS on OS XIV
> >
> >
> > Dear fellow open space technology facilitators,
> >
> > When it's over, it's over.  When it's not over, it's not over.
> >
> > There is much to share about this OS on OS. Yet many of us are tired
> > after a post-conference party at my apartment this afternoon. So for
> > now I am taking a moment just to share a few thoughts.
> >
> > Close to 60 OST facilitators and admirers of OST gathered in Moscow
> > August 4-6 at the Moscow House of Community Organizations. Pakistan,
> > Nepal, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Canada,
> > and the United
> > States were represented.
> >
> > Proceedings in English will be posted to www.openspaceworld.ru and
> > www.openspaceworld.org
> >
> > Where is the talking stick travelling to next? Drum roll please!
> > Ukraine!
> >
> > The passionate Ukrainian delegation made a very strong case for the
> > 15th International OS on OS there next year.
> >
> > We here in Moscow look forward to helping to make that conference a
> > huge success.
> >
> > The three days as usual were extremely rich, full of many surprises.
> >
> > We would like to thank the international community for its support in
> > making this conference possible, including the work of the distance
> > spaceholders.
> >
> > Warmly,
> > Raffi
> >
> > *
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