A Picture of Russia

Saint Basil's Cathedral - Moscow

This is Red Square. This is a real place.

With Leti on our first day in Ukraine

Something like Bouldering on Ukrainian Ruins - Rivne.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral...back in the Peterburg.

A Day in the Life

Time flies here in Petersburg.

What was three and a half months now stretches before me as a mere five weeks. In an attempt to give a fly by summary of some of the things I have seen and done here, for lack of inspiration, is a list.

-3 days spend in Moscow. Went to the Circus. Saw Lenin's Body (he is mummified into perfection). Walked around Red Square. Took a tour of the Kremlin. Went to the first and largest MacDonalds in Russia (you may think this is lame...but its a symbol of the end of the Cold War...and its massive and ridiculous).

-Spent my mid-semester week break in Ukraine. Traveled with two friends: Alex and Leticia. We explored the capitol of Kiev to no end and I took a little detour to Rivne for a few days to visit some of my Ukrainian friends. It was the perfect break I needed and so good to visit my second homeland.

-Moved into my Russian homestay. I now live with a Russian mother (Tatiana) and brother (Kiril). They are fantastic and the opportunity to daily practice my Russian, eat delicious Russian food, and experience the culture is simply GOLD. Oh, and we also have two cats whom I love.

-Took day trips to the towns of Pushkin and Viborg. Beautiful and wonderful to see the Russian countryside.

-Toured the home of Dostoyevsky where he wrote "The Brother's Karamazov and later died. This man is amazing, read his stuff. The Russian people consider him a prophet for Russia.

-Passed my midterms with flying colors.

-Continued working at the Youth Transit Center. I visit this home once a week to spend time with the kids. Playing, making crafts and simply talking with these kids lost in translation. Most are removed from abusive homes, are illegal immigrants or come from busted gypsy camps. Their fate is the orphanage. It is a common tale.

-Went midnight ice-skating. Let me just say, Russians are way more skilled at this than I am.

There is so much more to say I am sure, but don't let me exhaust you. I'll just give you one more image of my time here in Russia. Here is a day in the Life:

Wake up at 8am. Its the perfect hour - not to early or late. Take a shower, if my host brother or roommate hasn't already claimed it. Hustle about our 2 room apartment gathering my things and getting ready for the day. Step onto the balcony off of my room to determine just how frigid today's weather will be. The usual verdict: absolultey freezing. 9am - breakfast time with Mama Tatiana and my roommate, Linsey. Often its Tea with Blini, or Kasha, or some other delicious Russian treat. We talk and talk and talk about our plans for the day, our activities yesterday, etc...Out host mother, Tatiana might work today as a tour guide in the city or she might not. If not, she'll probably be in her pajamas covered in long white cat hair with one of the two feline loves of her life in her arms. Its a beautiful sight. 9:30 - we run down the four flights of stairs and catch the passing Tramvai (train like form of public transportation). After a 10-15min ride we walk another 10 minutes to our university and begin 3 hours of Russian language class. Class goes and goes and goes and my brain almost can't handle anymore Russian once the three hours is up. Then its lunch time either in the cafeteria or perhaps we'll do some cooking in a friend's room in the dormitory. Class again, this time an elective focusing on history or literature. Wonderful subject matter, but our professors don't have the greatest command of the english language, so things lag a bit.

The freedom of the afternoon could be filled with hanging out in the dorms, going on an adventure down town on Nevski Avenue, exploring a new metro stop, working in the Youth Transit Center, using my new gym membership, or chatting more with my host mom. It is usually never filled with homework...this is purely a Russian phenomenon. When dinner time rolls around it is time to a) cook in the dorms b) cook with our host mom c) go on a cuisine adventure in the city to try some eastern ethnic dish like shashlik or borsht. Depending on the choice above, the rest of the evening might involve further city exploration, relaxation, or a bit of Russian studying. I catch the midnight metro or tramvai home and fall asleep in my tiny but plush bed with a kitty at my feet. This is Russia. This is home.