Day 41:
We visited European University, which might have been more interesting had they not used the first half of it to try and recruit us to study there. Then we talked some about the current state of democracy in Russia, which was much more interesting. We had to choose between that and Catherine's Palace because of incompetant scheduling so no one was happy. That was pretty much it for the day.
Day 42:
First we visited a communal apartment. It was very similar to the apartment that I stayed in in Novgorod, with the exception that the woman only had one room, but all of the rooms, the kitchen and the bathroom looked the same as the ones in Novgorod. In the afternoon we had a scavanger hunt. We were to find the strangest thing possible not on Nevsky. I found this creepy looking golden toad in an Asian shop and I thought that it was the best, but Highlander 5 won. That night I had a talk with Jack about not saying everything he knows in the group meetings because it makes them painfully long and everyone is bored. I feel bad for the poor kid because he's just socially akward.
Day 42:
Today was an interesting day, but for part of it we split up into smaller groups, so I can only tell my part of the tale. First, we went to the Hermitage, also known as the Winter Palace. It is a wonderful museum, full of beautiful art and antinquities collected by the former nobles of Russia and by the State. The architecture is also amazing. We spent several hours there wandering by ourselves or in small groups. I spent most of my time looking at Egyptioan, Greek, and Roman artifact but I also visited the Malachite room, and exhibit on the Middle East, the Russian culture exhibit, and some of the Western European painters. After that, some of us met for an afternoon walk. We went to the Summer Gardens where we once again saw the statue of the Twelve Chairs. Then we returned to the hotel where we talked and set about buying supplies for the boat ride. We had dinner and then walked down to the canal as a group.
While walking to the boat ride we passed St. Issac's Catherderal, which is an imposing church that was once a museum of anti-religion. We got a little confused trying to figure out where our boat was and when we finally found it the dock was flooded. We had to get on by holding onto the column and stepping on a plank, which was interesting, but not that difficult. On the boat we had a little party, we sat around talking and having a little snack while we took in the riverfront architecture of the town. The best part was when Adam decided to have some fun. He waited until the boat was under a bridge then jumped up and grabbed one of the supports. As one might expect, he could not hold on forever, so he was forced to let go. When he did, he misjudged the speed of the boat and landed several feet back from where he started on his rear. It was rather funny and he was quite embarassed, but I think the thing that stung the most was his pride. Then we walked back to the hotel for the night. The students continued to sit around and talk long after our professors went t bed.
One thing that I didn't put in the school blog was that I was hit by a motorcycle on the way back to the hotel. We were walking on the sidewalk and the motorcylce decided to drive on it so that he could park on it. In the process he hit my hand, causing me to drop the wine bottle that I was carrying and it to shatter. It was pretty funny because I was not seriously hurt.
Day 43
It was supposed t be our free day but we had to go on a horrible Crime and Punishment walking tour where we broke ito half of the lacations on the tour. I also watched some RUssian TV and I need to sign off because I have almost no time left.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Day 35:
I can't really remember what we did on ths day and I don't have any notes, so we must have been on tours all day. I'm sure that I can write about it after I llok at the itenerary.
Day 36: Free Day
Valerie and I decided to take full advantage of the free day today rather than to do any of the organzed activities that teh adults had set up. Around 11 we met with the guys and went to the market where I bought the last of my souveniers. Then we had lunch at the mall, came back, did laundry, and napped. In the evening we hung out with some of the others.
Day 37:
We had an interesting meeting with the head of Journalism in Extreme Situations, an NGO which works to show the problems faced by journalists in Russia. The conclusion of this speech seemed to be that there is no true free speech in Russia and that the first Chechen War was the high point of freedom of speech for journalists/ the golden age of Russian Journalism. That afternoon we also met with the head of Glasnost Defense FUnd, whose father was actually a major character in a book I read for class last semester. He, too, seemed pessimistic about the state of free speech in Russia and gave us each a books with "the best of Russian journalism." Both of these men were interesting characters and the second even claimed to have the largest private collection of turtles, numbering over 2000, inanimate of course.
Day 38: Last Day in Moscow
So today we visited Mosfilm. This is a little like visiting Universal studios and getting a real behind the scences tour. We looked at all of the cars that they had used in movies. Then we walked on outdoor sets and looked at an indoor one under construction. After the tours we actually got to meet with the head of the studios, who is also a director although there was a miscommunication, so it was a rather short meeting. After that we had some free time in the afternoon. Beth and I went back to the market where she was good at playing the helpless female, so everyone treated me like a translator and thought that I could speak fluent Russian, which was definitely interesting. Later we packed and then the girls and Harrison hung out.
Day 39: The Train
We took the day train this time so we sat in a large compartment with a lot of other peole. It was not airconditioned, athough at lest some windows could be cracked this time. I read, slept, and talked to others in the group. We arrived in St. Petersburg in the evening and had a meeting before going to bed.
Day 40:
Today we listened to a really long speech on the Seige of Leningrad. Then we went to a couple of monuments, followed by a museum dedicated to a female poet. At least thist time the guide was not obsessed with the writer. Then we were to go to the Marinsky to see Swan Lake again, but several of us who had already seen it on the first trip (the guys and myself) did not want to see it again so the fiveof us and one of our teachers sold our tickets. Then we wandered around town for our "alternate excersion." We ate at a small place, walked some more, and then came here. I plan to go back to the hotel, read, hang out, and sleep. I don't need to sleep early because there was a hitch in the plans, so I don't need to be ready until after noon tomorrow, which is really exciting. I'm enjoying my time here, but I'm ready to be home.
I can't really remember what we did on ths day and I don't have any notes, so we must have been on tours all day. I'm sure that I can write about it after I llok at the itenerary.
Day 36: Free Day
Valerie and I decided to take full advantage of the free day today rather than to do any of the organzed activities that teh adults had set up. Around 11 we met with the guys and went to the market where I bought the last of my souveniers. Then we had lunch at the mall, came back, did laundry, and napped. In the evening we hung out with some of the others.
Day 37:
We had an interesting meeting with the head of Journalism in Extreme Situations, an NGO which works to show the problems faced by journalists in Russia. The conclusion of this speech seemed to be that there is no true free speech in Russia and that the first Chechen War was the high point of freedom of speech for journalists/ the golden age of Russian Journalism. That afternoon we also met with the head of Glasnost Defense FUnd, whose father was actually a major character in a book I read for class last semester. He, too, seemed pessimistic about the state of free speech in Russia and gave us each a books with "the best of Russian journalism." Both of these men were interesting characters and the second even claimed to have the largest private collection of turtles, numbering over 2000, inanimate of course.
Day 38: Last Day in Moscow
So today we visited Mosfilm. This is a little like visiting Universal studios and getting a real behind the scences tour. We looked at all of the cars that they had used in movies. Then we walked on outdoor sets and looked at an indoor one under construction. After the tours we actually got to meet with the head of the studios, who is also a director although there was a miscommunication, so it was a rather short meeting. After that we had some free time in the afternoon. Beth and I went back to the market where she was good at playing the helpless female, so everyone treated me like a translator and thought that I could speak fluent Russian, which was definitely interesting. Later we packed and then the girls and Harrison hung out.
Day 39: The Train
We took the day train this time so we sat in a large compartment with a lot of other peole. It was not airconditioned, athough at lest some windows could be cracked this time. I read, slept, and talked to others in the group. We arrived in St. Petersburg in the evening and had a meeting before going to bed.
Day 40:
Today we listened to a really long speech on the Seige of Leningrad. Then we went to a couple of monuments, followed by a museum dedicated to a female poet. At least thist time the guide was not obsessed with the writer. Then we were to go to the Marinsky to see Swan Lake again, but several of us who had already seen it on the first trip (the guys and myself) did not want to see it again so the fiveof us and one of our teachers sold our tickets. Then we wandered around town for our "alternate excersion." We ate at a small place, walked some more, and then came here. I plan to go back to the hotel, read, hang out, and sleep. I don't need to sleep early because there was a hitch in the plans, so I don't need to be ready until after noon tomorrow, which is really exciting. I'm enjoying my time here, but I'm ready to be home.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Leaving Novgorod
Well, I had really good entries written up about all of this, but I cannot plug in a jump drive, so I'm going to do a brief update and post the detailed one later.
Day 29:
So, today was my last full day in Novgorod. I wandered around the Kremlin in the morning and spent the afternoon shopping. I wanted to find gifts for my host family. I bought my host mom a little dove and tried to explain to here that in the States i stood for peace and happiness. I bought my host sister a kitty puzzle because she is obsessed with her cat and likes puzzles. I couldn't decide what to buy my host brother, so I got him some candy. I got some beautiful amber earings and a cute box from my host family. I also finished the book, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, which I had just bought.
Day 30
We took the overnight train to Moscow. Everyone else arrived in one piece as well. We took the others to visit Red Square and had some dinner.
Day 31: First Day, Trip Two
So today we visited with a guy from the international department of United Russia, who said ocratic tradition. Who said that Russia had no democratic tradition. We got a lot of other interesting quotes out of him as well. In the evening we met with an author, her speech was fairly boring and Beth fell asleep. It was kind of funny, but Dr. Sutcliff was very excited because he had written an article about the author. THis was followed by dinner and bed.
Day 32: Gaidar and Students
We met with Gaidar this morning, which was kind of exciting because he was so well known. At the same time there was a lot that he said he could not answer and he was very reluctant to criticize the regime. This tendency was even more pronounced when we met with Moscow State University Students in the afternoon. They said that they were okay with only having one candidate and were shocked that I was able to criticize the war in Iraq as well as being very surprised that we were all willing to publically state who we had or would vote for in teh Presidential elections. But they were a nice lot and some of them made arrangements to hang out with some of our students later.
Day 33:
W toured the Kremlin again today which was still interesting. At least this time no one got left behind at teh bell. But it started raining by the end, so we ran to the mall for lunch. Then we went to the gulag muesem. It lacked any personal stories and really had very few artifacts. Most of the exhibits were art or hokey re-creations that did nothing to give you the feel for the tragedy of the camps. After that we went to the Carnigie foundation and learned that they are under a lot of pressure from the Russian government, but by and large that meeting bored me too.
Day 34:
We visited the House on the Embankment today, which was cool because of its significance in both political and literary history. The museum there was much better done than the State Gulag Museum. Then we went to a writer's colony and visited Pasternack's house. The woman who worked there was absolutely obsessed with him and it was funny in a pathetic way.
Well I'm out of time so I'll catch you up on testerday adn today later.
Day 29:
So, today was my last full day in Novgorod. I wandered around the Kremlin in the morning and spent the afternoon shopping. I wanted to find gifts for my host family. I bought my host mom a little dove and tried to explain to here that in the States i stood for peace and happiness. I bought my host sister a kitty puzzle because she is obsessed with her cat and likes puzzles. I couldn't decide what to buy my host brother, so I got him some candy. I got some beautiful amber earings and a cute box from my host family. I also finished the book, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, which I had just bought.
Day 30
We took the overnight train to Moscow. Everyone else arrived in one piece as well. We took the others to visit Red Square and had some dinner.
Day 31: First Day, Trip Two
So today we visited with a guy from the international department of United Russia, who said ocratic tradition. Who said that Russia had no democratic tradition. We got a lot of other interesting quotes out of him as well. In the evening we met with an author, her speech was fairly boring and Beth fell asleep. It was kind of funny, but Dr. Sutcliff was very excited because he had written an article about the author. THis was followed by dinner and bed.
Day 32: Gaidar and Students
We met with Gaidar this morning, which was kind of exciting because he was so well known. At the same time there was a lot that he said he could not answer and he was very reluctant to criticize the regime. This tendency was even more pronounced when we met with Moscow State University Students in the afternoon. They said that they were okay with only having one candidate and were shocked that I was able to criticize the war in Iraq as well as being very surprised that we were all willing to publically state who we had or would vote for in teh Presidential elections. But they were a nice lot and some of them made arrangements to hang out with some of our students later.
Day 33:
W toured the Kremlin again today which was still interesting. At least this time no one got left behind at teh bell. But it started raining by the end, so we ran to the mall for lunch. Then we went to the gulag muesem. It lacked any personal stories and really had very few artifacts. Most of the exhibits were art or hokey re-creations that did nothing to give you the feel for the tragedy of the camps. After that we went to the Carnigie foundation and learned that they are under a lot of pressure from the Russian government, but by and large that meeting bored me too.
Day 34:
We visited the House on the Embankment today, which was cool because of its significance in both political and literary history. The museum there was much better done than the State Gulag Museum. Then we went to a writer's colony and visited Pasternack's house. The woman who worked there was absolutely obsessed with him and it was funny in a pathetic way.
Well I'm out of time so I'll catch you up on testerday adn today later.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Cast of Characters: School Edition
Now that classes are over, I should probably write about the others in my class...
1) Conversation Teacher
It really doesn't matter what her name is. She is very strict. She does not speak English very well, she is actually a French teacher. We learn al ot in her class, but most of it is rote memorization, so I don't always feel that I have a good handle on what's going on. She seems to hate Beth, but she also seems like a decent person.
2) Grammar Teacher
I don't remember her name either. She is very nice and speaks English very well. She is getting married at the end of August. We can always distract her by asking about Russian culture, but we still learn a lot. She also has a great sense of humor and wants to be a photographer.
3) Max
He's the only boy in the class and just finished his freshman year. He is also obsessed with learning all of the rules about Russian grammar. Unfortunately he takes this too far and gets the rest of us confused with his convolted logic. I guess that in explanation I should add that he is a Math major.
4) Megan
She has also kind of graduated from Miami, she just has to finish her student teaching in the fall, freshman history. She's nice and a lot of fun. She's very laid back, which makes her different from any of my Miami friends from before. She's also one of the few non-honors/scholars kids on the trip. She is the wild chil/rebel without a cause of the trip.
5) Anna
Also just finished her freshman year. She's a little emo/goth, but a lot of fun. She's willing to try a lot of new things and is really smart. She's kind of funky and reminds me of Megan from high school.
6) Beth
Poor Beth, she finishes everything last, so the conversation teacher is always carping at her. She's a nice girl, although slightly highstrung. She's a closet Harrison scholar. She's also very outgoing, but lacked some motivation in the program because she gave up within the first week, I think that Russian was probably the first thing that was ever hard for her.
1) Conversation Teacher
It really doesn't matter what her name is. She is very strict. She does not speak English very well, she is actually a French teacher. We learn al ot in her class, but most of it is rote memorization, so I don't always feel that I have a good handle on what's going on. She seems to hate Beth, but she also seems like a decent person.
2) Grammar Teacher
I don't remember her name either. She is very nice and speaks English very well. She is getting married at the end of August. We can always distract her by asking about Russian culture, but we still learn a lot. She also has a great sense of humor and wants to be a photographer.
3) Max
He's the only boy in the class and just finished his freshman year. He is also obsessed with learning all of the rules about Russian grammar. Unfortunately he takes this too far and gets the rest of us confused with his convolted logic. I guess that in explanation I should add that he is a Math major.
4) Megan
She has also kind of graduated from Miami, she just has to finish her student teaching in the fall, freshman history. She's nice and a lot of fun. She's very laid back, which makes her different from any of my Miami friends from before. She's also one of the few non-honors/scholars kids on the trip. She is the wild chil/rebel without a cause of the trip.
5) Anna
Also just finished her freshman year. She's a little emo/goth, but a lot of fun. She's willing to try a lot of new things and is really smart. She's kind of funky and reminds me of Megan from high school.
6) Beth
Poor Beth, she finishes everything last, so the conversation teacher is always carping at her. She's a nice girl, although slightly highstrung. She's a closet Harrison scholar. She's also very outgoing, but lacked some motivation in the program because she gave up within the first week, I think that Russian was probably the first thing that was ever hard for her.
Wrapping Up Russian Language
Day 26: Final Review
S we reviewed in grammar, but we learned new stuff today in conversation and it will be on the eam tomorrow. We got the same book that the Russian 2 students are using in conversation, which is kind of exciting. After school we went on an excursion to an archeological dig in Novgorod that goes to the early 1tth Century right now, they want to make it to the 9th century. It turns out that Putin had even visited the site. It was interesting, but needless to say it ran over again and I needed to study for finals. I made it home and studied some, but not as much as I should have. I ended up talking to people on the net a lot instead. I'm getting a little homesick.
Day 27: Finals
So We had our listening final first. I got a 98 and was the second one done. Then we had another lesson where we learned about directions for getting around the city, another chapter in the 2nd year book, but I really didn't want to learn in between finals. After lunch we had the grammar final, I got a 84, but I was the first one done, so the teacher gave me an extra 3 percent, giving me an 87. Overall I had a 98 in conversation and 90 in grammer, which worked out to a combined 93, but here you have to have a 95 to get an A, so I got an A-. We managed to talk the grammar teacher into not having class and letting us have a party tomorrow instead of learning the genetive plural. After class we went to the cafe. After that I came home and napped.
Day 28: Party and Certificates
So, we had our party today, we read a story, learned some Russian games, and taught our teachers a few American games as well. Then we had to hide all of the food before the director came for the certificate ceremony. At the ceremony the teachers gave a little speech about each student and had us guess who it was. I was first, the teachers described me as kind, modest, and fast. We all thought that they were talking about Anna at first. They gave us a certificate, pen, and keychain. After "classes" we went to the big market and then to the cafe. I came back to the flat after that and now am writing this, I don't know what I will do for the rest of the day today and tomorrow.
S we reviewed in grammar, but we learned new stuff today in conversation and it will be on the eam tomorrow. We got the same book that the Russian 2 students are using in conversation, which is kind of exciting. After school we went on an excursion to an archeological dig in Novgorod that goes to the early 1tth Century right now, they want to make it to the 9th century. It turns out that Putin had even visited the site. It was interesting, but needless to say it ran over again and I needed to study for finals. I made it home and studied some, but not as much as I should have. I ended up talking to people on the net a lot instead. I'm getting a little homesick.
Day 27: Finals
So We had our listening final first. I got a 98 and was the second one done. Then we had another lesson where we learned about directions for getting around the city, another chapter in the 2nd year book, but I really didn't want to learn in between finals. After lunch we had the grammar final, I got a 84, but I was the first one done, so the teacher gave me an extra 3 percent, giving me an 87. Overall I had a 98 in conversation and 90 in grammer, which worked out to a combined 93, but here you have to have a 95 to get an A, so I got an A-. We managed to talk the grammar teacher into not having class and letting us have a party tomorrow instead of learning the genetive plural. After class we went to the cafe. After that I came home and napped.
Day 28: Party and Certificates
So, we had our party today, we read a story, learned some Russian games, and taught our teachers a few American games as well. Then we had to hide all of the food before the director came for the certificate ceremony. At the ceremony the teachers gave a little speech about each student and had us guess who it was. I was first, the teachers described me as kind, modest, and fast. We all thought that they were talking about Anna at first. They gave us a certificate, pen, and keychain. After "classes" we went to the big market and then to the cafe. I came back to the flat after that and now am writing this, I don't know what I will do for the rest of the day today and tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
My Host Family
Well, some people have been asking for a more complete description of my host family, so here is the cast of characters:
1) The Host Mom
Her name is Elena, but I never use it, I never adress her by a name in order to avoid akwardness and because she speaks very little English, so we have to be in the same room to alk so that we can sign to each other. She is very nice and likes to cook. If she were not here I do not know how the family would function, she does all of the cooking, laundry, and cleaning. She even cleans up after her children when they eat. She is a teacher at the local high school (chemistry, I think) and tutors in the flat in the evenings.
2) The Host Brother
His name is Pasha (that's actually the diminuative, but that's what I was told to call him). He is 21 and he studied computers at school and is the one the family turns to when there is a technology problem. He spends almost all of his time in his room with the door closed and the music on. He speaks more English than his mother but still does not speak much, plus he seems to be naturally quiet.
3) The Host Sister
Her name is Katya and she is the one I talk to the most. At some point in high school she studied in New York ro a year, so she is fluent in English. She is 20 and majors in foreign languages at University. She also knows Spanish and had taken German. She's a lot of fun and very friendly. She is usually very patient when she needs to explain things to me and is often the only one I talk to once I get home for the night. She was also kind enough to let me read the books that she has that are written in English, which included Agatha Christie's The Man in the Brown Suit, Brimstone, and The Peacock Throne.
4) The Host Aunt
Her name is Natasha and I have only seen her a few times. She is extremely outgoing. She often acts like one of Katya's friends rather than an older relative. She took me out one night and tried to get me drunk. She speaks English pretty well, but often has trouble finding the right words. She's a lot of fun to hang out with and I should try to visit her before I leave/
5) The Host Cousin
His name is Slava. he is in high school (he's not quite sure wht grade it translates into, but I think he's a sophomore). He will be studying in the States next year, but does not know where yet although we are both departing Russia on the same day. He seems rather quiet, but curious. He is learning English, but his vocabulary will be greatly improved by a year in the States.
Next time I will describe my two teachers, maybe that will be after the final, who knows.
1) The Host Mom
Her name is Elena, but I never use it, I never adress her by a name in order to avoid akwardness and because she speaks very little English, so we have to be in the same room to alk so that we can sign to each other. She is very nice and likes to cook. If she were not here I do not know how the family would function, she does all of the cooking, laundry, and cleaning. She even cleans up after her children when they eat. She is a teacher at the local high school (chemistry, I think) and tutors in the flat in the evenings.
2) The Host Brother
His name is Pasha (that's actually the diminuative, but that's what I was told to call him). He is 21 and he studied computers at school and is the one the family turns to when there is a technology problem. He spends almost all of his time in his room with the door closed and the music on. He speaks more English than his mother but still does not speak much, plus he seems to be naturally quiet.
3) The Host Sister
Her name is Katya and she is the one I talk to the most. At some point in high school she studied in New York ro a year, so she is fluent in English. She is 20 and majors in foreign languages at University. She also knows Spanish and had taken German. She's a lot of fun and very friendly. She is usually very patient when she needs to explain things to me and is often the only one I talk to once I get home for the night. She was also kind enough to let me read the books that she has that are written in English, which included Agatha Christie's The Man in the Brown Suit, Brimstone, and The Peacock Throne.
4) The Host Aunt
Her name is Natasha and I have only seen her a few times. She is extremely outgoing. She often acts like one of Katya's friends rather than an older relative. She took me out one night and tried to get me drunk. She speaks English pretty well, but often has trouble finding the right words. She's a lot of fun to hang out with and I should try to visit her before I leave/
5) The Host Cousin
His name is Slava. he is in high school (he's not quite sure wht grade it translates into, but I think he's a sophomore). He will be studying in the States next year, but does not know where yet although we are both departing Russia on the same day. He seems rather quiet, but curious. He is learning English, but his vocabulary will be greatly improved by a year in the States.
Next time I will describe my two teachers, maybe that will be after the final, who knows.
Day 22 The Walk that Never Ended:
Today the internet was finally working again and I found out that I had missed the deadline to apply for NYU on campus housing by 24 hours. I was very angry and this triggered a flurry of e-mail writing. Then, I met up with three other students at the mall--Val, Anna, and Adam and we decided to walk to the WWII front lines, which are just down this one street... Well, after about half an hour at a fast pace through middle of nowhere Russia we were starting to get tired, but decided to keep going, after an hour we were about ready to turn back, but I suggested that we go about another city block where there was a sign and a stopped wedding party, I figured that they had to have stopped to see something. Sure enough that was where the front line was. There was a tank and and some sort of gun, but that was it, we walked an hour to see it, it was about 5 miles each way as it turns out, plus the mile or so we walked in town first. Then we walked abck home and I had dinner and read.
Day 23 Not Nearly so Exciting:
Not a lot to say about Sunday, I slept a lot and read. my host sister had gone out the night before and had Absynth, so she was still drunk. I also studied for the test on Moday.
Day 24 Another Monday, Another Test:
We had the test, I got an 89. After class we went to the mall where I picked up (didn't buy) a book with advice about the differences in behavior in the West, one of the stranger things I read was that it advised people not to eat everything they are served in teh West, but rather to leave some food on the plate to show that they are not too hungry, I found that odd. Then I cam home and read/did homework. I also got an e-mail from NYU saying I might stll be able to get housing if I fax a document by 5pm their time, the only problem was that no one knows if there is even a fax machiene in Novgorod and it was 9pm, too late to try and find one, so I frantically e-mailed my parents in hope that they could send it.
Day 25 Today:
It's almost time for finals. We had a pop dialogue recitation test in Conversation today and I didn't do too bad. I also got a quiz back in that class that I got 100 on, not a surprise when the teacher corrected it and let me change my answers before I turned it in. After class we went to the other mall for a snack and some of the girls played MASH. I came home to get an e-mail from my parents saying that they had faxed the form and one from NYU saying that they had never recieved it. I am not sure what is going on there. I also finished a 750 page book, The Peacock Throne today. Further, I have started to make a study guide for the final on Thursday. Tomorrow we have an extra expedition to an archeological dig.
Today the internet was finally working again and I found out that I had missed the deadline to apply for NYU on campus housing by 24 hours. I was very angry and this triggered a flurry of e-mail writing. Then, I met up with three other students at the mall--Val, Anna, and Adam and we decided to walk to the WWII front lines, which are just down this one street... Well, after about half an hour at a fast pace through middle of nowhere Russia we were starting to get tired, but decided to keep going, after an hour we were about ready to turn back, but I suggested that we go about another city block where there was a sign and a stopped wedding party, I figured that they had to have stopped to see something. Sure enough that was where the front line was. There was a tank and and some sort of gun, but that was it, we walked an hour to see it, it was about 5 miles each way as it turns out, plus the mile or so we walked in town first. Then we walked abck home and I had dinner and read.
Day 23 Not Nearly so Exciting:
Not a lot to say about Sunday, I slept a lot and read. my host sister had gone out the night before and had Absynth, so she was still drunk. I also studied for the test on Moday.
Day 24 Another Monday, Another Test:
We had the test, I got an 89. After class we went to the mall where I picked up (didn't buy) a book with advice about the differences in behavior in the West, one of the stranger things I read was that it advised people not to eat everything they are served in teh West, but rather to leave some food on the plate to show that they are not too hungry, I found that odd. Then I cam home and read/did homework. I also got an e-mail from NYU saying I might stll be able to get housing if I fax a document by 5pm their time, the only problem was that no one knows if there is even a fax machiene in Novgorod and it was 9pm, too late to try and find one, so I frantically e-mailed my parents in hope that they could send it.
Day 25 Today:
It's almost time for finals. We had a pop dialogue recitation test in Conversation today and I didn't do too bad. I also got a quiz back in that class that I got 100 on, not a surprise when the teacher corrected it and let me change my answers before I turned it in. After class we went to the other mall for a snack and some of the girls played MASH. I came home to get an e-mail from my parents saying that they had faxed the form and one from NYU saying that they had never recieved it. I am not sure what is going on there. I also finished a 750 page book, The Peacock Throne today. Further, I have started to make a study guide for the final on Thursday. Tomorrow we have an extra expedition to an archeological dig.
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