Finally have internet

September 2

I finally have a chance to write a blog post! I just moved into my host family’s apartment a few hours ago, and jet lag and my babushka’s loud voice are prohibiting me from sleeping.

My first international flight went very well. I sat next to a German 7^th Day Adventist Pastor, and we both tried speaking together in Russian. All went smoothly until I arrived in Moscow. We arrived around 8:10, and my transfer flight left at 9:40. I had to go through passport control, reclaim my baggage, get a new boarding pass, and go through security, which I thought would be no problem. By the time I found the correct line for my boarding pass it was 920, and the woman at the desk yelled at me saying I had to pay more for my baggage (of course I didn’t understand her AT ALL). I had to go to a separate office to pay, then find an ATM to change rubles, pay 1600 ruble fine –which is ridiculous, find some other lady to pay her, get back in the original line, and prove to this woman that I paid. Needless to say, I got on the plane about two minutes before takeoff carrying my shoes and belt from the security checkpoint.

After landing in St. Petersburg, we stayed in a hotel called “Park Inn” by Ramada (not very Russian, eh?). They served the exact same meal for all meals! Until yesterday, I didn’t even feel like I was in Russia because we spent most of our time in the hotel, which was on the outskirts of the city. Yesterday, we went on a city bus tour of the city and saw the most popular sites of St. Pete’s.  I can’t wait to explore the sites from outside a bus! The weather here varies by the minute. One moment it is sunny and the next raining very hard.

As I mentioned, today I was dropped off at my host family’s apartment. I met a man named Grisha who brought me to this tiny door on a side street. He brought me to a elevator covered in graffiti, which only fit one person at a time. When I reached the fourth floor, an old lady Lubov (Grisha’s mother) met me and kindly invited me in. My room is MUCH bigger than I imagined-twice the size of my single at school. They gave me five hangers for my clothes and the biggest key I have ever seen in my entire life for the apartment. I have two big windows and a view of the canal right outside. Grisha speaks some English and told me he works in “show bizness” for a music band. After he left, Lubov explained to me in Russian that she used to teach Russian language and literature for many years. She then told me her family’s whole history (how her grandson is the 7^th generation to live in St. Petersburg). She also told me ALL of her friends and their occupations and was really proud that she had two friends in America. She is the nicest lady but speaks so quickly and is missing front teeth both top and bottom so it makes it very difficult for me to understand her. I was so exhausted that I just smiled and said “da” “xorosho” and sometimes didn’t bother explaining that I didn’t understand. The only thing I think I understood was that I am in her old room and if I eat cereal or kasha I have to flush it down the toilet. It is now around 1:30 am, and she is watching Russian TV loudly and talking on the phone to a friend about me (but I have no idea what she is saying!)

September 3-

Today we went to the Hermitage! With my студенческый билет (my student ID), I can get into almost any museum for free (We were still harassed by the employees for being Americans). What an incredible place! To think that one family would live in such a huge palace and only for part of the year. Every room was more spectacular than the last. I took about 400 pictures and only saw about 1/3 of the museum. There is everything from Michelangelo statues and Rembrandt paintings to icons and furniture of the palace. One of my favorite parts was the Ancient Greek and Roman section where the Classics Major inside of me started geeking out. Through CIEE, I also have the opportunity to volunteer there this semester!

After our excursion, we ate our first Russian blini! I could eat it all the time. My host brother Grisha met me to take me home and showed me around. I live ten minutes walking distance from St. Isaac’s Chapel, Nevsky Prospekt (the main street in the city), Gostini Dvor, Kazanski Cathedral, the Church of Spilt Blood, Hermitage, and the Russian Museum-all the main attractions of the city. My window overlooks a canal and in less than a minute I can walk to Sennaya Ploshad, a square with three metros, supermarkets, McDonalds (which is very popular here and healthier), Subway, FOUR shoe stores, sushi bars (also very popular in St. Petersburg), and almost anything else I could possibly need.

I like my host mom more and more every day. She served me dinner today but didn’t stay to chat because she was absolutely dying to watch an American romance movie in Russian. The dinner, borsht and bread, reminded me of Jordanville trapeza. Lubov is very patient when I don’t understand something (which is more than not) and tries explaining what she is trying to say in a different way. I think my Russian will greatly improve by speaking with her.

Tomorrow I have my placement exam. Hopefully, I will remember most of my grammar and place with my classmates from UofR. That's all for now!