Snowy Petersburg

привет!

Well, I now understand why the Nazis couldn't handle the Russian winter...It's definitely cold here! This week was the first week of heavy snow fall and colder weather (Right now, it is 4 degrees farenheit, just as an example). Yet, I think the snow and cold makes St. Petersburg even more beautiful. Winter has certainly come to Petersburg!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving meal is my absolute favorite meal of the entire year and thus, I wanted my last meal in the States before coming here to be Thanksgiving. It feels almost strange having Thanksgiving in August AND in November but it was done. My program decided that the American students and Russians included should celebrate Thanksgiving even in snowy Russia. Thus, we ordered probably the only 4 turkeys in the city. The fun of the week came when I volunteered to make a pecan pie. Now, at home, I would just go to one store and buy everything that I need, have the convenience of having a reliable oven, and having a pie-shaped pan. But, of course, that was not the case here. My friend Allison and I went to over 7 shops looking for pecans...and now, I'm pretty sure they do not exist in the entire country. Mind you, we went to these 7 stores during a snow storm. What fun. Since pecans don't exist (and most people we asked didn't even know what they were), I figured that hazelnuts and chocolate would be just as good. So, my host mom, host sister, and my housemate and I went to the kitchen with a mission- to make a pie using two different languages. Oh, and did I mention I was making this pie using a cookie sheet? 40 minutes later, we had a pie/cookie/hazelnut/chocolate thing. You do what you can in Russia, I guess. I brought our creation to our Thanksgiving feast on Thursday and although it wasn't like the Thanksgiving I'm used to, I am so thankful that I got to spend the day with my wonderful American friends. It was a fabulous Thanksgiving after all!

This week, I also did something for the first time: I went to the banya. The banya is the Russian public bath house...and I went to it. I had heard such great things about going to the banya and yet, I was still very nervous. You first walk into a room where you undress, then you talk a small shower, and then into a sauna room. I had to talk very small steps at first because it difficult to even breathe. Then you just sit there and basically sweat for 20 minutes, again go out and take a small (and cold) shower, drink as much water as you can, and then repeat the process. Although I was surrounded by old, naked, Russian ladies, I have never felt so relaxed. And now, I can say that I've been to a public bath house...and it was actually enjoyable! :)

Now, I am just trying to enjoy my last few weeks in Petersburg. It's strange how close I am to coming home. See you all soon! :)

Until later,
HD

ps. I can't take any credit for the picture...that was all Dave Wollin. Thus, you get to see beautiful, snowy Petersburg at the expense of Dave being really cold! Thanks Dave :)

Albion News

Hi Everyone!
Thought you might like to check out the article that I wrote for Albion! :)

http://www.albion.edu/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1315

Continued...

Sorry for making two different posts...but anyways...

Part 3: Scotland!
At 5:00 in the morning on Sunday, Emily, Hanna, and I packed our luggage and headed again for the infamous Moscow metro system. Our destination was the Aeroexpress train station, a train taht would take us the 45 minutes to the Moscow airport where we would board a train to London and then to Edinburgh. As you may have guessed, travel week is a very important week for us because well, we are given absolute freedom. Most students either stay in Moscow for a few extra days, Egypt is popular, the Trans-Siberian railway, or like us, students head towards Europe. I picked Scotland and luckily, 2 friends were also interested in the trip. And my mom and sister were meeting us there! I was excited to get out of Russia and just be there...obviously.
So, despite missing our flight in London, we made it to Edinburgh later that night. And of course, we started the week off right...fish and chips and haggis! :)
Most of the week was spent either A. sleeping in or B. meeting members of my family. And, that was exactly what I needed, especially after being in Russia for 2 months already. I got to meet some of my fabulous cousins that I met when I was 3 (the last time I was in Scotland) or some that I have never met before. I loved every second that I was with them and I'm so glad that I'm a part of their family.

The most memorable part of the trip was our one "night on the town" with my cousin Lewis and his friend. We didn't really know where to go at night and thus, Hanna, Emily, Michelle, and I became the followers. And mind you, I would follow Scottish boys probably anywhere ;). They took us to what is called a "silent disco." Everyone in the club is wearing headphones and the same music is playing in those headphones. There is no music playing in the club, just in the headphones. If you take your headphones off, you can only hear everyone collectively singing the song that is playing. What a ridiculous and yet ingenious concept. It was fantastic! With our headphones on, we formed a small circle among the cramped room (and yes, it was on a Wednesday) and danced the night away! :)

Edinburgh is such an amazing city and honestly, I think coming from St. Petersburg made it even better. For the entire week, I only heard English...and what a beautiful language it is! I ate haggis, fish and chips, frosted flakes, fruit loops, peanut butter, and simply got to enjoy the company of friends and family. After being in Edinburgh for only a few hours, I decided that I would like to spend maybe a full year in the city, taking a class and working. Sounds pretty good to me!
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and on Saturday, we packed our bags again. We went to the airport, flew again to London (had a nice little 5 hour layover), flew to Moscow, got back on the aeroexpress, went again through the Moscow metro system, boarded a train at the Leningradskaya metro station, and thus, headed for St. Petersburg. Now, unlike our train going to Moscow, our train ride coming back to Petersburg was completely different. Instead of a quiet, comfortable 4-person room, we were in a wagon with no doors, just beds, meaning about 50 people were in the same wagon. People walked right by my head and I could do nothing about it. In fact, I slept incredibly well. I wish I had taken a picture. It would have blown your mind. So, after another 8 hour train, we now boarded the Petersburg metro system and 30 minutes later, I was "home," 24 hours after leaving Edinburgh.

Although the trip was absolutely fabulous, there was one problem: I didn't want to leave. I love being in Russia but I got to experience a week of being in my comfort zone again. I was incredibly homesick on the plane because I had a little taste of home...and I couldn't have it back for another 5 weeks. 5 weeks is not a very long time but nevertheless, it is still 5 weeks. Anyways, I am now settled back into my Russian home and can now see the tip of December 18th in the distance.

Until next time,
HD

From the East to the West and back again...

The past week and a half is simply too difficult to put into words. I had been anticipating the week for over a month because 1. I would get to see the infamous city of Moscow and 2. I would get to leave Russia for a short time and most importantly, I would get to see my mom and my sister in Edinburgh, Scotland for my week long vacation. I packed my suitcase early in the morning on November 4th and sat on the edge of my bed until 11pm when I would have to go to Moscovsky train station and take the midnight train to Moscow. (And yes, Don't Stop Believing was going through my head the entire time...except I didn't take it to "anywhere..."). So, here begins part 1...

Part 1: The train and Moscow

The train to Moscow was absolutely wonderful. We had a four person compartment with a locking door. For the first half an hour or so, we (to put it simply) had a feast in our little room. I think my favorite part of the trian was that I got to be in a compartment with 3 girls who, although I spend a lot of time with them, I didn't know much about them at all. We spent the next hour swapping stories about boys, which was no surprise. The landscape of mysterious Russia passed us by and soon, we were all fast asleep. When I awoke in the morning, I was in Moscow.

Moscow is the biggest city in Europe, with a population of over 10 million people. While the population size is quite intimidating, nothing compares to the acutal size of the city. Someone once said, "Everything is bigger in Moscow," and they were certainly not lying. The buildings are these massive concrete structures built during the Stalin era as a way to prove to Western Europe that Russia was a great power. We first did a bus tour around the city, stopping to take pictures of the Kremlin from afar, a very strange statue of Peter the Great, and finally to Red Square.

Red Square was breathtaking. The four sides of the square are: The Russian History Museum, Гум (pronounced "goom", a ridiculous shopping center), St. Basil's Cathedral, and then Lenin's Masoleum and governmental buildings (the Kremlin). What a sight! Unfortunately, there was a military parade commerating the Soviet Army march to Germany (November 1941) on the Sunday of our trip and thus, I was one of the few who saw Red Square before it closed. I was disappointed to find out that Lenin's Masoleum was closed all weekend. Apparently the man still sets his schedule, 80 years after his death. I was quite bummed actually. As I was standing in the middle of Red Square, all I could think was "Wow. I'm in Red Square." I mean, the REAL Red Square. Totally unreal experience! Once we realized that the square was closing for parade practice, we made our way to a very delicious Georgian restaurant before heading back to our room after a long, tiring day.

In the morning, we had a tour of the Kremlin. Unbelieveable! Red walls surround the Russian "fortress" and held inside are Russia's most prized possessions. I was overwhelmed when I saw the real Fabrege eggs! I came to Russia to experience its history and I was standing in the center of it. After the tour, some friends and I went to a almost fairy tale-like souveneir market. We learned a very important word for bargaining...бесплатно (meaning "free"). The prices always went down after you offered the price of "free" to the sellers!

We had heard that the Moscow metro stations are some of the biggest and most beautiful metro stations in the world, one line even forming a ring around the center of the city. Emily, me, and four boys decided that it was a necessity to see these metro stations. Thus began our marathon metro experience. We would get on the train, take pictures of the station, then jump on the next train. Although we were once stopped by the militsia, we never missed the next train. The marathon lasted for 2 hours! These metro stops were simply outrageous and of course, they were massive, just like the rest of the city. We returned to the hotel afterwards in anticipation for the week to come: travel week!

Into the Woods...

Hello,

Well, the past week have consisted of what you would expect when studying abroad: homework. I had 3 papers due on the same day (and just actually rememberd that I have one due tomorrow...oops) and while that does not seem to be much for Albion standards, its a little overwhelming when all I want to do is explore the city. So, most nights have been spent in my room on my computer...Very lame for being in such an amazing city.

You may be curious about the title about this blog because 1. Who would go to the woods in Russia? and 2. Why would you want to go to those absolutely freezing woods? Well, I asked myself those same questions and...went anyway. Our program had organized a weekend at the University Campground (which just happens to be in the woods) with a group of students from the Political Science department of St. Petersburg State University, the same students we see every day and are just too nervous to talk to (I think that's just me actually). So, anyways, on Friday after school, I boarded a bus to the Russian forrest. To be honest, I really didn't want to go. I figured that the entire weekend would in only Russian, meaning that I would further my frustration with not being able to understand. I have never really tried to talk to the Russian students and I was always under the impression that there was a separation betweeen the Russian students and the American students. "You are in our territory" sort of feeling. Yet, we were thrown together in one place for the entire weekend. Thus, I was somewhat nervous about the whole experience.
We arrived at the camp and were told to pick a room. The room that I just happened to pick didn't have a heater. For those of you who are complaining about the cold in Michigan, stop complaining. You aren't in Russia. Not having a heater is like not having water in your house (oh wait, that happened too). Yet, the wonderful 4 boys who picked the room next to ours decided on their own accord to switch rooms with us. This meant that they were in "our" room most of the time because it was warm. :) The first night, we all gathered in a large room and separated into smaller groups as an introduction activity. Luckily for me, the Russian students were willing and able to speak English. I tried my hardest to speak in Russian but just the knowledge that most could speak English was extremely reassuring.
The next day was filled with another opportunity for us to interact with the Russian students. We even had a Halloween party and a дискотекa (discoteka) or giant dance party. I didn't bring a Halloween costume but it is amazing how easily you can improvise. We even had a pumpkin carving competition! We made a Cheburashka, or the Russian equivalent of Mickey Mouse) pumpkin and although we didn't win the competition, our program director gave us all candy anyway just because she liked it so much.
On Sunday, we had another informal meeting with Russian students and again boarded the bus for St. Petersburg. I was not looking forward to the weekend and yet, I had a lot of fun...and I can now say that I was in the Russian forrest.

This week, like last week, as been full of homework and studying. I had two exams today and I cannot tell you how happy I am to be done with them. I can now relax until we leave for Moscow on Thursday night. And then, after Moscow, I get to see my mom and my sister in Scotland! I'm sooooooo excited. I may not want to come back to Petersburg ;)

I will definitely blog next week about Moscow!

пока! (bye!)
HD