Day 22, 23, & 24

So I had to pack everything I wanted to bring with me to Moscow before I went to class... carry it all on the bus, in the heat, without ac, in jeans, with people glaring me down... it was hell... and I was late for class haha

But we left for Moscow right after class, the train was very cool... literally and figuratively... it had AC, wifi, and was very comfortable... so it was a nice 4 hour ride to get to Moscow from Petersburg

As soon as we arrived in Moscow we rode to our hotel, which from the outside looked horrible... but was absolutely amazing on the inside... I forgot how much I love hot water and AC

We didn't stay too long, because we decided to Red Square (Krasnaya Ploschad) before it got too late... so we headed there by the metro (which is INSANE in Moscow, it's so freakin big!) And when we got to Krasnaya Ploschad, we got to see St. Basil's Cathedral, Lennin's tomb, and The Kremlin, all which were unbelievable to see in person! But it was getting late, and unlike in Petersburg, it was actually getting dark haha... so we headed back

Day 23

Today we woke up to a tour of the city, which was really cool to see so much of such a huge city... then after the tour we had a small break then got to go to the Moscow City Circus!

It was a beautiful performance... even though I'm pretty sure it broke about a hundred American laws... and even though it was a kids show, the women were in nothing but thongs and bras for most of the show and dancing around... I guess sex sells everything here haha

But it really was a lot of fun, and I have a video that I'll put up when I get home!

Day 24

It was the best day so far here!

We started the morning really early because we had to get to Lennin's Mosuleum (sp) early enough that we didn't wait long in line... so we got there an hour before it opened and were the first group there... we had to check our bags, since it cost money, I offered to let my friend Rachel put her purse in my bookbag, well after we checked it, we realized she didn't have her passport with her... and if she gets stopped and doesn't have it, she can be "detained until her identity is able to be proven" which can take days supposively... so we went back to get it, and she asked for it, and the guy told her she didn't need it... so I went and asked for it... and he argued with me about how we didn't need it and it wasn't important and he wouldn't get it! (all in Russian) So... we went through the tomb... which was so weird seeing a pickeled old man in a coffin... but then rushed back and THIS time he allowed us to get my back...

After we went to this very Americanized street, which had a starbucks, so we hung out there, and I met a new Russian friend there! So that was cool, I'm excited about having a Russian penpal

After hanging out there for a bit we went to the market place for souviners... which was SO MUCH FREAKIN FUN

All it is, is literally hundreds of stands of nothing but Russian souviners and the people there don't have anything marked with prices... so you ask how much something is... then you have to haggle with them for the price... well, you don't have to... but it made it so much fun...

I'd run up to a stand, I spoke nothing but English to them (the understood most of it, they almost all spoke English, and it made me look stupid)... but I'd tell them what I was willing to spend... and they would attempt to haggle with me... and if they didn't go for it... I'd walk away hahaha... it was awesome, we spent a few hours there...

Now we've been hanging out back at the hotel, and we're gonna start getting ready to go out for our last night in Moscow!

Day 20 & 21

Day 20 was only class and being lazy... nothing special

Day 21 was the hottest day EVER!
Today after class we decided that we were going to go out. Since I also had to go see Katalina (the waitress that told me she was working today) we decided we were going to eat dinner at that restaurant again too... but 1st we decided to go inside the Church of Spilled Blood. It was beautiful, of course, it was decorated with mosaics all over the walls and ceilings and such. Then I had to rush back to the homestay to get dressed to go out, I missed the bus and had to take the subway... which was actually a break from the heat... after a 20min walk in the direct sunlight in jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. So we got the the restaurant and the waitress comes and talks to me a bit, we eat, then we head downtown.
The first two places we went were closed, so we went to this random bar... inside it looked like a Bondage hangout... but luckily it wasn't... I don't think... cause it was just a bunch of old people doing karoke and dancing. So we drank for a bit, then luckily made it to the last metro of the night to head home

Day 19

Today we had class, I showered, which is occuring more frequently actually. Then, we went to a ballet at the Marivenskaya (?sp?) Theater. It was a very pretty performance, but I didn't understand it... I thought the main girl died of a seizure? Nope, apparently it was a broken heart... tomatoe/tomatoe I guess...

Then we went to this restraunt we really like and had the same waitress as the other day. I got such an ego/confidence boost... the girl was obivously flirting with me and when I asked her if I had an accent, she told me no, that I spoke very normal! :)... yea right haha

The pictures from Peter Hof finally!

Day 18

So I only got like 5-6 hours of sleep last night, I was up late studying... and no matter how use to it in the states I am... not having enough sleep in a foreign county is NOT a good thing haha
First thing, I got on the bus, and as I was reaching for the bus railing inside, the bus took off, and my arm hit a Babooshka (elderly woman) in the head... and she started smacking me until finally I ran to the back of the bus, where she continuously mean-mugged me until she got off... I was attacked by a BABOOSHKA!

Second, in language class, it is IMPOSSIBLE to not pay attention and when called on, still be able to answer a question... you can't even guess what the hell you might be talking about!

Other than that, some of the group went to church, while the rest of us sat around watching youtube videos and discussing what we could be doing besides sitting around... it was entertaining haha

But It has been so hot here lately... it reached 36C here the other day, that's like Louisiana weather... but since everyone here has to constantly be dressed nice, everyone STILL WEARS JEANS! It's MISERABLE! However, it's ok for guys to walk around without shirts on here... even though I have not done this yet, it's quite tempting haha...
The pictures will be uploaded later, I'm running late!

Day 14, 15, 16, and 17

So I know I haven't really been updating, but I guess the wow factor has kinda started to lose it's effect and we haven't been really doing anything too fascinating or amazing beyond trying to communicate and deal with some nice and some horrible Russian store workers haha
But I have been buying lots for very little! Very nice, I love the exchange rate so much!

Today though, we went to the most beautiful place ever created by humans... it's called Peter Hoff... it was a HUGE palace with more fountains than I could even count! It was insane that it was possible for someone to make this! It was absolutely beautiful, I coulda stayed there forever... I have also decided that I am becoming President of Russia and will make that my command palace haha
Imma add the pictures tomorrow, the internet is acting up... ttyl!

Day 12 & 13

Nothing happened on day 12... I finally showered after 3 days haha... I borrowed the hot water from my friend Samantha, she has hot water in her dorm while we do not in our homestay... we had a wopping 4 1/2 hours of language classes again today... they are so freakin exhausting... we went to a nice restaurant near the metro and I got beef stroganoff... but other than that we just studied and went to sleep

I'm really started to get comforatable with Russian though, when we walk around, sometimes I forget we're even in Russia... the signs are so easy for me to read, and I understand almost all of them... it's not until I get around a group of Russians talking that it'll even hit me that I'm not back in the states. Classes are all going really well though, minus the crap-ton of new vocabulary words, they're almost easy...

Today we went to the Political History Museum, it was really interesting... just about the end of the monarchy (the czars), the beginning of communism, and the end of communism, stuff of that sort, so very interesting... then Austin and I went with some friends of ours from the group (Matt and Will) to a pub, it was a lot of fun, and after we drank for a little there, we went to the pizza bar near the metro. After which we returned to our homestay and I have been surfing the Russian tv channels, which not suprisingly, just like in the states, MTV does NOT play music... the one thing that I wanted to find... but I did find a channel that plays Family Guy and Futurama and stuff like that in Russian... so I'm content for the moment being haha
Now I'm off to study, and since I don't have internet near my homestay and I have to go to a MakDonalds or one of my friend's dorms... I don't get to update this as often as I'd like, but I will keep on top of it when I can!

Day 11

Nothing really interesting happened today for the first time this trip.
We had class... for 4 1/2 hours today... after classes were over Austin and I went to the Adidas store where I made a successful transaction for a bad that every guy in Europe has and then we went to Teremok (the Blini place) and had another successful transaction there... so all was good in the transaction department
On a dissapointing note, we probably won't be able to stay in our homestay's dacha which I was looking forward too... but the program doesn't look like it's going to let us go
Something else though... the Mardi Gras beads which I gave my homestay... which is completely lost in translation.. try explaining Mardi gras using on gestures and the phrase "big celebration in Louisiana"... it's damn near impossible... so now my homestay mother has assumed those beads are used as jewlery... she was wearing them today... I kinda feel bad haha... ignorance is bliss though lol