Day 17: Back with the Host Family.
We got back at 6ish in the morning. Fortunately, we didn't have class, which was a good thing considering how little we slept on the train. I spent most of the day sleeping and reading books. My host sister took me shopping and I bought a new dress. It was fn shopping with her even though we have very different ideas about fashion and modesty.
Day 18: Back to Class and Kremlin Dinner
We started with Conversation in which we got a pop quiz, not a nice surprise. After class I came home to do homework and study for a quiz the next day, since we had a group dinner that night at the Kremlin. I got the homework done, but had little time to study before meeting everyone else, wearing my new dress. They liked it. The dinner was not good, but we had fun just hanging out together and there was dancing at teh restaurant, which everyone, but Valerie took part in. I came home and studied until I went to bed.
Day 19: More Classes and Wooden Architecture Muesem
I went to class where I took a quiz. Then I spent a lot more time in classes. After class we had our last excursion. We went to the open air wooden architecture museum, a trip that we were told would last no more than two hours since we all had tests the next day. There "that women" lectured us for over two hours before gining us half an hour to explore and for the boys to play a game, of course Anna and I joined. It involved runing in a circle while holding on to a rope then jumping and holding on for your life. Harrison fell off and in trying to avoid him I hit my foot which caused me to fall of backwards and sumersault, after which I sat there for a little bit to laugh. Then "that woman" came back, helped us straighten the ropes and told us we were to hop with one foot in the loops and then jump up. Just the guys tried this and it didn't work too well because there are only four of them and 7 ropes, but when Anna and I joined in it seemed to work fairly well and we had some fun. When we finally got back it was almost 3 and a half hours after we left. None of us were too pleased with that because we needed to study.
Day 20: Class, Class, Class
After class I went to a book store with Anna, but didn't find anything that interesting, so we left within fifteen minutes. I walked her to the nearest bus stop and then checked out the last book shop that I knew of. This store had absolutely no books in English, so I was getting ready to leave when I encountered my host aunt and cousin. He was about to head off to Moscow to get his visa to study in America in the fall, it turns out that he's going to the States on 28 July. He still doesn't know where he'll be living. Then I came home and rested, so that I could stay up to watch the football game. Russia lost horribly, 3-0 to Spain.
Day 21: Class, a Boat Ride, and Hanging Out
So more classes today. We have a big test on Monday and the teacher said that it will be harder because of Russia's horrible preformance. Then we had a pop speaking quiz in Conversation. After all of our classes we planned to meet at 5 by Lenin so that we could go on a boat ride to the lake, which the guys and Megan were very excited about. Max and Matt didn't come, but the rest of us went to see where we could buy a ticket. That was an adventure in itself, eventually, we learned that the boat would leave in an hour and that they wanted at least 50 people in order to leave (it cost 250 roubles for an hour ride) and after wandering around a lot looking for a ticket office we learned that you just sit on the boat and they collect your money eventually. We played frisbee for a while and then Megan, Valerie, Beth, and I got on the boat. Suddenly, the engines started, we tried to wave to the others, but in less than 3 minutes the boat had left the dock and they had not noticed our frantic waves. The boat when forward a bit and then stopped. Then we did a big circle and were approaching the dock again, but there was a smaller boat headed that way as well. We ended up being backed up by the other boat and then they were tied together. then we took the smaller boat to the dock and the otheres got on the smaller boat and were allowed on ours. Then we left on our "cruise." It was a very scenic route and we took a lot of pictures. When we came back we decided to get dinner together. We went to the Japanese/pizza resturant in the mall. Afterwards we decided to meet Max in a park, but got distracted on the way by this really interesting Soviet relic of a building, which used to be a theater of soem type. We spent a long time there but eventully made it to the other side of the river where we met Max at his bus stop (he'd been there a while). We were trying to find a cafe, buut everything was closed. We ended up meeting Matt's host family and hanging out with them for a while before we split up for the night. Three of us waited for a bus for over half an hour and then were joined by a fourth. Eventually we decided to just walk, at least to Big St. Petersburg St (that's the English translation), which I live right off of. When we got to my intersection one of teh guys asked if I was sure that I wuld be all right walking the rest of the way by myself and I said yes, i had less than a block to go I could do that even kinda late, so we split up, with the other three continuing on to a bus stop. I came home, sat with the family for a while and then went to sleep.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Return from Moscow
Day 13: Part 2
So the train was very slow. At least we had sleeping compartments, although very little sleeping was actually done. We were stopped at a train station in the middle of the Russian countryside in a little town, when all of the sudden one of the girls in my compartment starts yelling, "It's the KGB, they're walking outside the train." The other three of us get up to try to see what she's talking about but the men were already long gone. We spent the rest of the night having girl talk, gossiping and giggling until well into the early morning hours.
Day 14: Arrival in Moscow and Someone Really Needs to Learn to Count
We arrived in Moscow by six am, but no one had gotten much sleep in the train and we were all hungry, but of course we couldn't go eat right away. First, we went to a park, where the group seperated into two portions and the teacher later got very angry about this. We were hurried through this park and not even allowed to look at all sides of the main monument. Then we got back onto the bus and went on part of a bus tour of the city, followed by another rushed park, followed by a little bit more bus. Finally, at 9, three hours after getting off of the train we were allowed to eat, but we ate at a Hard Rock Cafe, although it was on Old Arbat. Then we went to Red Square, just for a few minutes and then to the Kremlin, where we were very hurried. At one point the guide told us to take a look at this 200 ton bell, there was a portion that had broked off during casting. While five of us were looking the tour guide, teacher, and six other students left without saying anything. Let me restate that, there were 11 students on the trip and 5 got left behind without the teacher noticing. After a minute or two of not seeing the Tour guide we looked around the bell but couldn't find them. We decided to stay put and let them return for us, unfortuately none of us had any identifying documents with us either so I was a little nervous. Over ten minutes later one of the other students is sent back by Dr. G to find us, they had turned a corner, gone into a crowded square, and gotten in line to go in a church-museum. Then the teacher yelled at us for wandering off and we took it but were thinking, really, you just lost half the group and you're yelling at us? It was ridiculous. Anway, it all worked out. Then we finally got to go to the hotel at 1. There we decided to shower and sleep until dinner time. We had dinner in the hotel at 6 and then we hung out in one of the rooms after a quick run to the grogercy store. We played Kings, talked, and just generally hung out for the rest of the evening.
Day 15: Shopping and Football Wins
We spent the morning shopping in a famous market (I'm not even going to attempt to spell it). Dr. G made us all go to this one scarf shop first, where she said that she could get us good deals, sucha lie. First Beth and Valerie wandered off, then they came back to say that they had found softer scarfs for less than a third of the price. I went with them and ended up buying a scarf there. We were supposed to stay in groups, but I ended up with people who were spending the whole time looking at things way out of the price range, so I went off on my own and practiced my Russian a bunch. Before we splitup I was also helping translate for a friend in the same class that I'm in, so that was strange. I bought gifts for everyone but Dad and Grandma there, and I still spent less than $125, since I've been in Russia, although I also want to pick up some old coins for Richard the next time I go. At one of the stalls I got 50 r knocked off a 350r item, so that was nice. In the afternoon we went to a gallery, which I felt that we ran through, at the end we were given 10 minutes to go through 5 rooms. When we left one of the girls was left in teh bathroom, so Anna went to get her while the rest of us tried to get Dr G to wait. Then the lost girl showed up without Anna and Harrison had disappeared, he went to tell the girls that we were waiting. Within a few minutes everyone had made it back, but once again Dr. G should have counted before we took off, although it was only one person this time, not half of the group. After that we went to dinner and then everyone but Sam and I went to the opera, I just couldn't afford it and it was funny beause we both missed the plane together and now they dumped us n the middle of Moscow on our own, at least he's a fun kid to hang out with. We just wandered around, ended up inside two bookstores, an underground mall, and then back on the Kremlin lawn. It was definitely interesting. We met back up with everybody and the girls returned to the hotel while the boys stayed to watch the football (read soccer) game, it was the quarter finals, Russia v Netherlands and Russia was supposed to lose big. Once again we spent some time hanging out, eating chocolate and having girl talk. The boys came back around 1 and were very excited, Russia was winning 1-0. We went down to one of the guys' rooms (none of the girls had a working tv) to watch the end of the game. With five minutes left Netherlands made a goal and tied the score 1-1. It ended up going into double overtime and Russia won 3-1. There were fireworks in Moscow and now Russia is in the semi-finals.
Day 16: Way Too Many Churches and Departure
So we saw two churches, a convent, and a cemetary today. That's way too much religion for me in any one day. The girls were a little mad at Dr G because she neglected to warn us that we were visiting churches this day, because it is expected for girls to cover their heads and some of them did not have scarfs readily available because they were not told. Also it was a holiday commemorating the beginning of WWII for Russia, so there were a lot of people at the churches who did not appreciate the lack of scarves. We were also supposed to see Lenin's body, but Red Square was closed until the afternoon and his body can only be viewed until 1 pm. Seems a little odd to me, but whatever, so all those people only doing the first trip will not get to see it. It seems like I got teh much better deal because we will also be going back to a lot of the same places, hopefully with more time to look around on the second trip. In the end we got back on the train and the compartment arrangements were really strange this time, partially because no one wanted to be in the room with Dr G who goes to sleep by 11. We slept very little in my compartment and mostly discussed religion and politics, it was a long ride with very little sleep.
So the train was very slow. At least we had sleeping compartments, although very little sleeping was actually done. We were stopped at a train station in the middle of the Russian countryside in a little town, when all of the sudden one of the girls in my compartment starts yelling, "It's the KGB, they're walking outside the train." The other three of us get up to try to see what she's talking about but the men were already long gone. We spent the rest of the night having girl talk, gossiping and giggling until well into the early morning hours.
Day 14: Arrival in Moscow and Someone Really Needs to Learn to Count
We arrived in Moscow by six am, but no one had gotten much sleep in the train and we were all hungry, but of course we couldn't go eat right away. First, we went to a park, where the group seperated into two portions and the teacher later got very angry about this. We were hurried through this park and not even allowed to look at all sides of the main monument. Then we got back onto the bus and went on part of a bus tour of the city, followed by another rushed park, followed by a little bit more bus. Finally, at 9, three hours after getting off of the train we were allowed to eat, but we ate at a Hard Rock Cafe, although it was on Old Arbat. Then we went to Red Square, just for a few minutes and then to the Kremlin, where we were very hurried. At one point the guide told us to take a look at this 200 ton bell, there was a portion that had broked off during casting. While five of us were looking the tour guide, teacher, and six other students left without saying anything. Let me restate that, there were 11 students on the trip and 5 got left behind without the teacher noticing. After a minute or two of not seeing the Tour guide we looked around the bell but couldn't find them. We decided to stay put and let them return for us, unfortuately none of us had any identifying documents with us either so I was a little nervous. Over ten minutes later one of the other students is sent back by Dr. G to find us, they had turned a corner, gone into a crowded square, and gotten in line to go in a church-museum. Then the teacher yelled at us for wandering off and we took it but were thinking, really, you just lost half the group and you're yelling at us? It was ridiculous. Anway, it all worked out. Then we finally got to go to the hotel at 1. There we decided to shower and sleep until dinner time. We had dinner in the hotel at 6 and then we hung out in one of the rooms after a quick run to the grogercy store. We played Kings, talked, and just generally hung out for the rest of the evening.
Day 15: Shopping and Football Wins
We spent the morning shopping in a famous market (I'm not even going to attempt to spell it). Dr. G made us all go to this one scarf shop first, where she said that she could get us good deals, sucha lie. First Beth and Valerie wandered off, then they came back to say that they had found softer scarfs for less than a third of the price. I went with them and ended up buying a scarf there. We were supposed to stay in groups, but I ended up with people who were spending the whole time looking at things way out of the price range, so I went off on my own and practiced my Russian a bunch. Before we splitup I was also helping translate for a friend in the same class that I'm in, so that was strange. I bought gifts for everyone but Dad and Grandma there, and I still spent less than $125, since I've been in Russia, although I also want to pick up some old coins for Richard the next time I go. At one of the stalls I got 50 r knocked off a 350r item, so that was nice. In the afternoon we went to a gallery, which I felt that we ran through, at the end we were given 10 minutes to go through 5 rooms. When we left one of the girls was left in teh bathroom, so Anna went to get her while the rest of us tried to get Dr G to wait. Then the lost girl showed up without Anna and Harrison had disappeared, he went to tell the girls that we were waiting. Within a few minutes everyone had made it back, but once again Dr. G should have counted before we took off, although it was only one person this time, not half of the group. After that we went to dinner and then everyone but Sam and I went to the opera, I just couldn't afford it and it was funny beause we both missed the plane together and now they dumped us n the middle of Moscow on our own, at least he's a fun kid to hang out with. We just wandered around, ended up inside two bookstores, an underground mall, and then back on the Kremlin lawn. It was definitely interesting. We met back up with everybody and the girls returned to the hotel while the boys stayed to watch the football (read soccer) game, it was the quarter finals, Russia v Netherlands and Russia was supposed to lose big. Once again we spent some time hanging out, eating chocolate and having girl talk. The boys came back around 1 and were very excited, Russia was winning 1-0. We went down to one of the guys' rooms (none of the girls had a working tv) to watch the end of the game. With five minutes left Netherlands made a goal and tied the score 1-1. It ended up going into double overtime and Russia won 3-1. There were fireworks in Moscow and now Russia is in the semi-finals.
Day 16: Way Too Many Churches and Departure
So we saw two churches, a convent, and a cemetary today. That's way too much religion for me in any one day. The girls were a little mad at Dr G because she neglected to warn us that we were visiting churches this day, because it is expected for girls to cover their heads and some of them did not have scarfs readily available because they were not told. Also it was a holiday commemorating the beginning of WWII for Russia, so there were a lot of people at the churches who did not appreciate the lack of scarves. We were also supposed to see Lenin's body, but Red Square was closed until the afternoon and his body can only be viewed until 1 pm. Seems a little odd to me, but whatever, so all those people only doing the first trip will not get to see it. It seems like I got teh much better deal because we will also be going back to a lot of the same places, hopefully with more time to look around on the second trip. In the end we got back on the train and the compartment arrangements were really strange this time, partially because no one wanted to be in the room with Dr G who goes to sleep by 11. We slept very little in my compartment and mostly discussed religion and politics, it was a long ride with very little sleep.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Day 12:
So, not much to say, I guess that i should add that I got an 89% on my grammar test yesterday. I made it through classes and hung out with some of the others at a skethcy cafe for awhile. Then we went to a shop with a wall of chocolate. I came home and wanted to go to bed by 7:30 pm because I had a migraine, but managed to wait until 9:30 so that I could eat dinner first. However, I had another test the next day, so I decided to get up early to finish studying.
Day 13: Train
So, we go to Moscow today. I'm excited, but I doubt that I'll be able to write before I get back (5am Monday). I still had my migraine this morning, so I didn't get much studying done and only got an 82% on my test, oh well, there's nothing I can do about it now. Well, I guess I'll update more later.
So, not much to say, I guess that i should add that I got an 89% on my grammar test yesterday. I made it through classes and hung out with some of the others at a skethcy cafe for awhile. Then we went to a shop with a wall of chocolate. I came home and wanted to go to bed by 7:30 pm because I had a migraine, but managed to wait until 9:30 so that I could eat dinner first. However, I had another test the next day, so I decided to get up early to finish studying.
Day 13: Train
So, we go to Moscow today. I'm excited, but I doubt that I'll be able to write before I get back (5am Monday). I still had my migraine this morning, so I didn't get much studying done and only got an 82% on my test, oh well, there's nothing I can do about it now. Well, I guess I'll update more later.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Descriptions
First, I forgot to add that Max got his suitcase back on Sunday.
Now, it's time to describe the apartment and the food, if I can.
Apartment:
Well, the outside is a kind of pinkish color, there's some graffitti on it. I actually can remember my apartment building because across the street someone spray-painted "Goth Undead" and the anarchy symbol. In order to get in you need a code at teh backdoor, then you walk about three feet and need another code to get in the next door. I live on the third of three floors. There are two locks on the door, which opens and there is another door less than an inch from it, which is padded and needs another key. It's kind of old, the wallpaper is some sort of warp-wft pattern, which I am sure that becca could describe much better. The floors are wood, painted reddish-brown. Whenever you come in from outside shoes are immediately taken off and slippers put on. When you enter there is a living room on the left, which has a tv and the computer I am currently using, my host sister's. There is also a chouch here which pulls out into a bed where my host sister and host mom sleep. Off of the living room is my host sister's room, which is where I am living now. If you were to pass the living room and continue down the hall on the right is a claustrophobic closet which contains the toilet. Next to it is the room with the sink and bathtub/shower. Directly across from it on the left is the fridge in the hallway and then the door to my host brother's room, which is always closed and has rock music coming through it. If you follow the hall to the end there is a tiny kitchen, smaller even than the one in Wells. A table is set against the side wall with four little stools on three sides, this is where we eat. Also in the kitchen is a stove, sink, and washing machiene. There is no dyer, clothes are hung throughout the apartment to dry. Additionally, there is a gas water heater in the kitchen, which you need to use in order to get hot water. First, you turn on the gas, then light it, then turn on the water valve there, and only then can you turn on hot water in the shower. Interesting, right?
Food:
First of all, let me assure you that I am eating plenty, contrary to what many people expected. Here they try to feed you until you explode, the teachers said it was something about Russia hospitality. They eat a lot of mayonaise, it's on everything, even pasta. Normally I have corn cereal for breakfast and a cheese and meat sandwhich for lunch along with an apple and some tea, which the school provides. After class, which ends at 3, we often go to the cafe and get a candy bar or pastry and a soda. Then we go home where they offer tea. We eat again around 8 pm, so far there has been pasta, chicken, some other meat, salads covered in mayonaise, lots of cucumbers--I will hate them by teh time this trip is over--, pasta with meat, and some potatoes along with apples. I am sure that I will explode from all of the food. Here I try almost everything, some of which I like and some of which I don't. Oh, I almost forgot about Russian pizza, my host mom made some, the crust was normal enoughbut instead of sauce there was a coating of meat (beef, I think), then some cheese. On top tere were bits of tomato, cucumber, mushrooms, and some other type of meet. The result looked like a strange cross between a nacho of taco supreme and a pizza, but was suprisingly tasty, although I still pulled off the mushrooms. While trying all of these dishes I have learned that I wil eat many more types of food but I still hate rice and mushrooms.
I think I will save describing school and the bus system for another time. I hope that you are all having fun where ever you are.
Now, it's time to describe the apartment and the food, if I can.
Apartment:
Well, the outside is a kind of pinkish color, there's some graffitti on it. I actually can remember my apartment building because across the street someone spray-painted "Goth Undead" and the anarchy symbol. In order to get in you need a code at teh backdoor, then you walk about three feet and need another code to get in the next door. I live on the third of three floors. There are two locks on the door, which opens and there is another door less than an inch from it, which is padded and needs another key. It's kind of old, the wallpaper is some sort of warp-wft pattern, which I am sure that becca could describe much better. The floors are wood, painted reddish-brown. Whenever you come in from outside shoes are immediately taken off and slippers put on. When you enter there is a living room on the left, which has a tv and the computer I am currently using, my host sister's. There is also a chouch here which pulls out into a bed where my host sister and host mom sleep. Off of the living room is my host sister's room, which is where I am living now. If you were to pass the living room and continue down the hall on the right is a claustrophobic closet which contains the toilet. Next to it is the room with the sink and bathtub/shower. Directly across from it on the left is the fridge in the hallway and then the door to my host brother's room, which is always closed and has rock music coming through it. If you follow the hall to the end there is a tiny kitchen, smaller even than the one in Wells. A table is set against the side wall with four little stools on three sides, this is where we eat. Also in the kitchen is a stove, sink, and washing machiene. There is no dyer, clothes are hung throughout the apartment to dry. Additionally, there is a gas water heater in the kitchen, which you need to use in order to get hot water. First, you turn on the gas, then light it, then turn on the water valve there, and only then can you turn on hot water in the shower. Interesting, right?
Food:
First of all, let me assure you that I am eating plenty, contrary to what many people expected. Here they try to feed you until you explode, the teachers said it was something about Russia hospitality. They eat a lot of mayonaise, it's on everything, even pasta. Normally I have corn cereal for breakfast and a cheese and meat sandwhich for lunch along with an apple and some tea, which the school provides. After class, which ends at 3, we often go to the cafe and get a candy bar or pastry and a soda. Then we go home where they offer tea. We eat again around 8 pm, so far there has been pasta, chicken, some other meat, salads covered in mayonaise, lots of cucumbers--I will hate them by teh time this trip is over--, pasta with meat, and some potatoes along with apples. I am sure that I will explode from all of the food. Here I try almost everything, some of which I like and some of which I don't. Oh, I almost forgot about Russian pizza, my host mom made some, the crust was normal enoughbut instead of sauce there was a coating of meat (beef, I think), then some cheese. On top tere were bits of tomato, cucumber, mushrooms, and some other type of meet. The result looked like a strange cross between a nacho of taco supreme and a pizza, but was suprisingly tasty, although I still pulled off the mushrooms. While trying all of these dishes I have learned that I wil eat many more types of food but I still hate rice and mushrooms.
I think I will save describing school and the bus system for another time. I hope that you are all having fun where ever you are.
Finally, an Update
My host sister had an exam on Monday, so I haven't had a chance to update in a while.
Day 7: Back to Class
So, we had the previous day off but went back to class today. We learned plurals. After class we got dragged to the Saint Sophia Cathedral and were supposed to see another monument, but ended up spending an hour and a hlaf there because the annoying tour guide wouldn't shut up and kept repeating herself. By the time it was over we couldn't wait to leave.
Day 8: Class on a Saturday
I think the title says it all, Class-ON-SATURDAY, it was a crime. After class we had to go with the same tour guide AGAIN, this time to see the monument that we didn't have time for on Friday and then across the river to Yarslov's court and the old market place to look at very old churches-again. There was one church that if you ran around three times you were supposed to have a happy marriage, teh group wanted someone to do it, so I ended up being teh fool. Then we all split up and went home.
Day 9: Rest
Finally a day of rest. I spent my time sleeping, reading, and studying.
Day 10: Back to Class
Learning with a vengence, more verbs all of which are a pain. I apparently learn numbers very quickly, I even managed to win the game we played. The conversation teacher appears to hate Beth less today, but still when she gets everything right on the first try merely says okay, and when Megan got Brown right we clapped. It's strange. We have two tests tomorrow, and we only have two classes.
Day 11: Doomsday
So, two classes, two tests. I'm fried and I still have work to do. I got 100 percent on my matching conversation test today, but not everyone did so well. Beth was teh last one finished and didn't do as well, so when we were learning nationalities the teacher pointed at us and had us say "I am American" (in Russian of course), but when she came to Beth, the teacher asked if she did well on the test and proceeded to teach her to tell teh rest of the class that she did poorly, it was akward for everyone else, most of all Beth. Then, by the time we got our second test I was laughing so hard that I was crying. We have a lot of homework tonight, most of which I have finished, but I hope that my host sister will check it sometime tonight.
Day 7: Back to Class
So, we had the previous day off but went back to class today. We learned plurals. After class we got dragged to the Saint Sophia Cathedral and were supposed to see another monument, but ended up spending an hour and a hlaf there because the annoying tour guide wouldn't shut up and kept repeating herself. By the time it was over we couldn't wait to leave.
Day 8: Class on a Saturday
I think the title says it all, Class-ON-SATURDAY, it was a crime. After class we had to go with the same tour guide AGAIN, this time to see the monument that we didn't have time for on Friday and then across the river to Yarslov's court and the old market place to look at very old churches-again. There was one church that if you ran around three times you were supposed to have a happy marriage, teh group wanted someone to do it, so I ended up being teh fool. Then we all split up and went home.
Day 9: Rest
Finally a day of rest. I spent my time sleeping, reading, and studying.
Day 10: Back to Class
Learning with a vengence, more verbs all of which are a pain. I apparently learn numbers very quickly, I even managed to win the game we played. The conversation teacher appears to hate Beth less today, but still when she gets everything right on the first try merely says okay, and when Megan got Brown right we clapped. It's strange. We have two tests tomorrow, and we only have two classes.
Day 11: Doomsday
So, two classes, two tests. I'm fried and I still have work to do. I got 100 percent on my matching conversation test today, but not everyone did so well. Beth was teh last one finished and didn't do as well, so when we were learning nationalities the teacher pointed at us and had us say "I am American" (in Russian of course), but when she came to Beth, the teacher asked if she did well on the test and proceeded to teach her to tell teh rest of the class that she did poorly, it was akward for everyone else, most of all Beth. Then, by the time we got our second test I was laughing so hard that I was crying. We have a lot of homework tonight, most of which I have finished, but I hope that my host sister will check it sometime tonight.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Day 6: Night Life in a Smallish Russian Town
So, I guess I should say that this town has around 215,000 people, much bigger than I thought. My host aunt called me last night around 10:30 pm and asked if I wanted to go to a cafe with her and a friend from Denmark. I agreed, thinking that by cafe she met someplace with tea, coffee, and snacks. It turns out that I was very miguided. It was basically a bar/club, but we didn't dance. I tried some beer, it was much better here than in the United States, but still not good. While she was drinking she lectured me on how bad drinking cola is for you and I found that funny. We got in around 1:30 am and everyone else was asleep. It was an adventure.
Day 7: National Holiday--Class or Not?
So, on the schedule we were given today it said that today was a national holiday, so we would not have class. However, our teacher showed up yesterday and informed us that we would be touring the Sofia (a church) today. Some of us met up early to have some lunch at the cafe where we would not be overstuffed. I live less than 10 minutes from where we were meeting, but I left early, which was a good thing because I got lost. It ended up taking forty mintes for me to find the place because I made a wrong turn and when I saw the outside of the building from a little distance I thought that it did not look right. I found it and was only about ten minutes late for meeting people but very frustrated. So we had a tour with a guide who drones on and on about stuff we could care less about and then decided to hang out for a bit. We wandered around the Kremlin and checked out a statue. Then some of the boys played frisbee while the rest of us practiced our Russian. Finally, it was time to go and we ended up playing a very bad version of following the leader, so we ran up a very steep hill and then walked on a thin path rather than the street. Finally, we were ready to go home and I tried to tell people where the bus stop was but they wouldn't listen to me, so even though I took the long way around I was turning into the backyard of my building before theymade it to the corner. It was funny. Now it is time to read then study some more before dinner. We have to know three Russian dialouges by heart for tomorrow. I don't understand teh point of memorizing dialouges, I would rather make up my own as I go along, just like what would happen in real life, it just seems pointless this way.
So, I guess I should say that this town has around 215,000 people, much bigger than I thought. My host aunt called me last night around 10:30 pm and asked if I wanted to go to a cafe with her and a friend from Denmark. I agreed, thinking that by cafe she met someplace with tea, coffee, and snacks. It turns out that I was very miguided. It was basically a bar/club, but we didn't dance. I tried some beer, it was much better here than in the United States, but still not good. While she was drinking she lectured me on how bad drinking cola is for you and I found that funny. We got in around 1:30 am and everyone else was asleep. It was an adventure.
Day 7: National Holiday--Class or Not?
So, on the schedule we were given today it said that today was a national holiday, so we would not have class. However, our teacher showed up yesterday and informed us that we would be touring the Sofia (a church) today. Some of us met up early to have some lunch at the cafe where we would not be overstuffed. I live less than 10 minutes from where we were meeting, but I left early, which was a good thing because I got lost. It ended up taking forty mintes for me to find the place because I made a wrong turn and when I saw the outside of the building from a little distance I thought that it did not look right. I found it and was only about ten minutes late for meeting people but very frustrated. So we had a tour with a guide who drones on and on about stuff we could care less about and then decided to hang out for a bit. We wandered around the Kremlin and checked out a statue. Then some of the boys played frisbee while the rest of us practiced our Russian. Finally, it was time to go and we ended up playing a very bad version of following the leader, so we ran up a very steep hill and then walked on a thin path rather than the street. Finally, we were ready to go home and I tried to tell people where the bus stop was but they wouldn't listen to me, so even though I took the long way around I was turning into the backyard of my building before theymade it to the corner. It was funny. Now it is time to read then study some more before dinner. We have to know three Russian dialouges by heart for tomorrow. I don't understand teh point of memorizing dialouges, I would rather make up my own as I go along, just like what would happen in real life, it just seems pointless this way.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Day 5:
Not a lot exciting to say about today, although when I went to the library with my host sister the librarian thought that I really was her sister. It was funny. I can now understand a few words here and there, but still not much. And I was very tired.
Day 6: Today:
Well, we had our first quiz today and I got 100 percent. It was over vocabulary and I worked very hard to learn the Russian cursive. Then the Director of the Institute came to talk to us and said she would try to get the luggage for the one guy (three people lost their luggage but two got it back before we left St. Petersburg and they want to charge the third guy 250 dollars to get his bags). After class some of the Americans went out together today. We went to the cafe in one of the malls and checked out some of the stores. I ended up buying another Russian-English dictionary because this one is small enough to fit in a pocket and was about two dollars. Then we played frisbee and I came back to my host family's place to do some homework. Tomorrow is a holiday, but we are meeting for a tour of the local church.
Not a lot exciting to say about today, although when I went to the library with my host sister the librarian thought that I really was her sister. It was funny. I can now understand a few words here and there, but still not much. And I was very tired.
Day 6: Today:
Well, we had our first quiz today and I got 100 percent. It was over vocabulary and I worked very hard to learn the Russian cursive. Then the Director of the Institute came to talk to us and said she would try to get the luggage for the one guy (three people lost their luggage but two got it back before we left St. Petersburg and they want to charge the third guy 250 dollars to get his bags). After class some of the Americans went out together today. We went to the cafe in one of the malls and checked out some of the stores. I ended up buying another Russian-English dictionary because this one is small enough to fit in a pocket and was about two dollars. Then we played frisbee and I came back to my host family's place to do some homework. Tomorrow is a holiday, but we are meeting for a tour of the local church.
So this blog begins with the story of my trip from the US to Russia.
Day 1: Flight to New York and Russia?
So everything went well for a while, I got there plenty early and made a new friend, Christine, who was flying to Kuwait to visit her family. Then the gate was moved, not a big deal. Then it was moved again and there was the possibility of an unknown delay. Then we were told that our 1^15 flight would leave at 3, I needed to be in New York and on the next flight by 5:45. Then teh delay was only to take until 2:15. We got on the plane around two, but sat there for over two hours and didn't leave until 4:15. In fact, we did not see a single Northwest Airlines plane leave during those two hours. I made another new friend on the plane, the woman sitting next to me also had a son that attends the same University I did. The plane landed at 5:30. A nice man from across the aisle let us use his phone to call our teacher who informed us that she had arranged tickets for us on the next plane, 24 hours later. Sam, another student on the same trip and I were stranded in JFK. We decided to make the best of it and tried to find a customer service person so that we could get compensated for a hotel room, but all of the workers had already left, so we had to stay in JFK overnight because we missed our international connection. I ended up staying up all night reading while Sam slept on a cement bench because that was the only thing to sleep on. We also hung out with Christine whose flight was delayed 3 hours but she made it out of there. We made it our mission to visit every terminal in JFK and did just that.
Day 2: Flight to Russia Take 2
Well, I did get a lot of homework read this day. We finally got to see a custmer service agaent and all they gave us was a 5 dollar coupon for food. Eventually, we made it on the plane where I met two more nice young women. I ended up feeling rather motion sick and one of them lent me her motion sickness bracelets for the flight. We ended up landing late in Helsinki too and were afraid that we would miss our connection to St. Petersburg, but it turned out that most of that flight was on our plane so we didn't get stuck. On the half hour flight I ended up getting sick and then we made it to Russia. We claimed our bags and got through customs no problem to be met by a guide. We missed seeing the Hermitage but changed the rest of our money and met the group in a cafe. Then we went for a walk with the group followed by a nice dinner. I was still feeling very sick by the time we got back to the hotel so I took a shower and went to sleep, only to wake up less than an hour later, thinking that it was the next morning and time to leave. I found the professor and she put me back to bed.
Day 3: Leaving St. Petersburg and Meeting the Host Family
I was feeling much better even though we had a three hour bus ride ahead of us. On the bus teh professor attempted to teach us some survival Russian but I didn't retain much. Then we arrived and met our host families. The daughter in my host family is very nice, she is studying English in teh University and studied in America for a while so we can talk. My host mother and brother also seem nice, but do not speak any English, so... Oh, and did I mention that I found out my host sister's birthday was the next day?
Day 4: First Day of Class
The first day of class was daunting and exhausting, we learned about half of the cyrillic alphabet in cursive, some words and some dialogue. Then we toured the Kremlin. We came back to the apartment and within an hour or so people began arriving for her party, which started at six and lasted until after midnight. My host aunt is a lot of fun and very interesting, I'm supposed to go visit her at some point. Her son is planning to study in the States next year. I also met her ex-boyfriend who only spoke Spanish and Russian (only my host sister, aunt, and cousin could speak English), so I practiced my Spanish as well. It was a lot of fun, Russian birthday cake is delicious, but exhausting.
Day 1: Flight to New York and Russia?
So everything went well for a while, I got there plenty early and made a new friend, Christine, who was flying to Kuwait to visit her family. Then the gate was moved, not a big deal. Then it was moved again and there was the possibility of an unknown delay. Then we were told that our 1^15 flight would leave at 3, I needed to be in New York and on the next flight by 5:45. Then teh delay was only to take until 2:15. We got on the plane around two, but sat there for over two hours and didn't leave until 4:15. In fact, we did not see a single Northwest Airlines plane leave during those two hours. I made another new friend on the plane, the woman sitting next to me also had a son that attends the same University I did. The plane landed at 5:30. A nice man from across the aisle let us use his phone to call our teacher who informed us that she had arranged tickets for us on the next plane, 24 hours later. Sam, another student on the same trip and I were stranded in JFK. We decided to make the best of it and tried to find a customer service person so that we could get compensated for a hotel room, but all of the workers had already left, so we had to stay in JFK overnight because we missed our international connection. I ended up staying up all night reading while Sam slept on a cement bench because that was the only thing to sleep on. We also hung out with Christine whose flight was delayed 3 hours but she made it out of there. We made it our mission to visit every terminal in JFK and did just that.
Day 2: Flight to Russia Take 2
Well, I did get a lot of homework read this day. We finally got to see a custmer service agaent and all they gave us was a 5 dollar coupon for food. Eventually, we made it on the plane where I met two more nice young women. I ended up feeling rather motion sick and one of them lent me her motion sickness bracelets for the flight. We ended up landing late in Helsinki too and were afraid that we would miss our connection to St. Petersburg, but it turned out that most of that flight was on our plane so we didn't get stuck. On the half hour flight I ended up getting sick and then we made it to Russia. We claimed our bags and got through customs no problem to be met by a guide. We missed seeing the Hermitage but changed the rest of our money and met the group in a cafe. Then we went for a walk with the group followed by a nice dinner. I was still feeling very sick by the time we got back to the hotel so I took a shower and went to sleep, only to wake up less than an hour later, thinking that it was the next morning and time to leave. I found the professor and she put me back to bed.
Day 3: Leaving St. Petersburg and Meeting the Host Family
I was feeling much better even though we had a three hour bus ride ahead of us. On the bus teh professor attempted to teach us some survival Russian but I didn't retain much. Then we arrived and met our host families. The daughter in my host family is very nice, she is studying English in teh University and studied in America for a while so we can talk. My host mother and brother also seem nice, but do not speak any English, so... Oh, and did I mention that I found out my host sister's birthday was the next day?
Day 4: First Day of Class
The first day of class was daunting and exhausting, we learned about half of the cyrillic alphabet in cursive, some words and some dialogue. Then we toured the Kremlin. We came back to the apartment and within an hour or so people began arriving for her party, which started at six and lasted until after midnight. My host aunt is a lot of fun and very interesting, I'm supposed to go visit her at some point. Her son is planning to study in the States next year. I also met her ex-boyfriend who only spoke Spanish and Russian (only my host sister, aunt, and cousin could speak English), so I practiced my Spanish as well. It was a lot of fun, Russian birthday cake is delicious, but exhausting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)