I had my first Russian class today and it will be an interesting experience.  I am not sure how I am going to do this.  The language is so different and based on a different alphabet.  At least there are about 11 people who have never taken Russian either so I am not crazy and not totally alone.  I would write some of the words I learned in class but I haven’t figured out how to do that on my computer.  Maybe, one day I’ll just upload some of my Russian homework. 

            In terms of the city though, it is much better than what I expected and wrote about before.  The city is much more busy and active now.  I think it was just the fact that is raining all day and on the weekends many Russians go to the country.  But we took the Metro to Nevsky Road, which is a main area.  I loved it down there; it felt like a big city.  The only thing I am worried about is that many people get pick pocketed here so I will have to learn to travel light and just be super aware of my surroundings.  But there is a lot to do and shop for down there.  I am going to buy a Russian Cosmo down there.  Also, there are many movies for sale here that aren’t even out in the States, like the Hangover and its 5 dollars. I don’t know how good it is but I am going to buy one and let you know. And so far it is very difficult to find Russian music, all the music is from America or England.  I’m trying to fully immerse myself into the culture and the language through various aspects.  I am hoping that not hearing English constantly will help me learn better or faster.  Oh and we found a great grocery market so I will not come back emaciated.  I am getting enough food, mama (that is mother in Russian but there are no humps in the m’s so picture it as a lower case m with a capital letter M’s characteristics.).

            Oh so interesting fact.  Over 70% of the foreign students who come to Russia to study are Chinese.  Also, I have a question for many of you: Should I take 12 credits or 15?  I am just not sure what I want to do because I want to take Contemporary Russian life (politics class) and Russian Orthodox Religion and its History (for my religious studies upper division credit).  If I do 12 credits then I have to pick between the two, and I am so interested to study these topics in Russia and from a Russian point of view.  Any help would be much appreciated. 

 

With Much Love,

Emma (the russian name I can pronounce)

So, I am going to begin my first Russian class today in about 20 minutes.  To be honest, I am not nervous yet about the difficulty of the class.  I want to be able to start to understand the language and symbols.  I am slightly worried though about how the class will progress and the difficulty level.  I am sure I will begin to get nervous soon.  This whole experience so far has been like starting freshmen year again, and I know I am not ready for classes to start.  I still feel like it is summer and I am just on vacation.  I think I am ok right now only because I feel like I will be heading back to the States.  I think I will have more culture shock when the orientation week is over, and I begin a life here for 3 months.  I just have to wait to see right now, it seems like I do a lot of waiting for many things.

            Anyway, I am off to my first Russian class now.

 

With Much Love,

Emily

Time Difference

By the way the time is wrong on the post and I'll figure it out later but it is 10:03 here in St. Petersburg

With Much Love,

Emi

My Apologies

Ok, so sorry I had to post two different ones at the same time because my internet access has been non-existent.  

But I also want to say sorry about any grammar mistakes, it is really just my ramblings and like a journal so I don't correct it besides spelling.  

I hope you all enjoy it!  Plus if you want mail or a gift from Russia leave  a comment on this post!  And pictures will be up hopefully next internet access! 

Thanks and I hope everything is going well back in the States!

With much Love, 

Emily

Overview and Summary of my quick but AMAZING few days in London

I’m back, well it doesn’t really seem like that for you guys since I have no internet in London thus I have to post all of these in one setting.  But I have been in London for over 24 hours now and I am leaving tomorrow morning bright and early at 5:45 in the morning for the airport. 

            To begin where I left off, the nerves have quieted down greatly and there are some amazing people on this trip, which really helps, right now and will help when we are all going through homesickness in about a month.  I am excited and ready to do this I think.  And I feel better because there are people on this trip that speak no Russian either so I am not as crazy as I thought. 

            Well, I really just want to try to describe the last few hours of my life and what London is like.  To give you a brief synopsis, we arrived then went exploring and wandered into Hyde Park, and then we had introductions, and went to explore the city more with Tim, a Londoner who was our guide.  We went to dinner then did this mini-pub tour.  I don’t know what the bar scene is like in the US, but I love the pubs and the atmosphere.  It was a Thursday night and the pubs were busy, which shouldn’t surprise me.  Then today, which I should specify because I am not sure what day it is back in the United States, but anyway on Friday we had a 3 hour bus tour or London then we had the afternoon free to wander the city.  First we tried “pasties”, which is like a calzone but stuffed like a potpie and with a bigger crust.  After lunch we went on a tour of Parliament then saw the Westminster Abbey, and then the British Museum.  Also, we did take the Tube around, which was fun and gave us this sense of freedom.

            Anyway, I don’t know if I can describe London and the atmosphere, it simply is amazing.  My mother was right I do love London, even though it is pricey.  And I am so proud I picked up on the money system quickly, not that it is so hard, but it made life easier.  The thing about London that amazed me the most was the immense amount of history, there is so much to learn about here and the most amazing thing is that mostly all the museums except private ones are FREE!  I loved that!  It just emphasizes and encourages learning.  In addition it creates so much for students and people to do.  It was just amazing.  In addition you see their history everywhere and it can’t be ignored plus many buildings are protected so that creates more unique features.  It also makes history more prominent and important in peoples’ lives.  I love the history aspect, which ties into the government.  The tour of Parliament was simply breathtaking.  I wasn’t allowed to take pictures but that building is so beautiful and blows away the awe I felt for many of the buildings in D.C. But don’t get me wrong I still think those buildings are gorgeous.  But the intense detail and tradition in Parliament is just so historic and shows the grandeur of London, which you see in the people as well.  The women dress so well and fashionable in London.  I have no idea where these women are going but I admire the work and courage they put into outfits.  Some things they wear I would never think of but they pull off their clothing well and confidently.  And the heels they wear and walk around the city are beautiful within themselves.  I want to do that so badly.  In fact, sometimes we and I felt underdressed just walking around the city and doing simple things like taking the Tube.  Now for the Tube I love the accessibility and freedom it gives you.  I don’t know how many people own cars but you really don’t need one when you have the Tube it gets you anywhere and walking is easy.  I can’t describe it, maybe because I need sleep but I simply love it, along with the atmosphere of the pubs.  It is just a large social gathering and is extremely easy to begin conversation with anyone.  Plus there are pubs on like every corner of the streets.  Just think of Starbucks, which they have, and think about how many stores there are or can be within blocks of that, and that is pretty much what is like. 

            So I know I just ranted about the amazing things about London and to be fair there are some negatives, but I loved my stay in London and just want to focus on the positives, a) because I just got back and the excitement is still recent and b) that is my new life philosophy to mainly focus on the good/positive.

            Ok, so I must go and try to get some sleep but next time you hear from me I will be in St. Petersburg, Russia and will probably have started school, which is sad but I think, well at least hope I am ready.

 

With much Love,

Emi

A Long Flight

            Before I land in London and begin this crazy journey I chose I want to just reflect slightly over summer and what was the build-up to this trip.

            To saw the least, it has been one of the most interesting summers of my life.  I made the decision to stay in Denver for the summer for bad reasons but the end results were the best “consequences” (for lack of a better term).  I feel that this past summer has been the biggest self-learning experience for a while now besides the one that I am currently flying towards.

            To start, I feel I have always been pretty independent as a female and a person.  I lost that for a while but I am proud to say that I have rediscovered and enhanced that personality trait.  I don’t know where it went but I am so glad that it is back and I am determined to never let it leave again.  It is a trait I have learned to hold dearly now since I have had the feeling of or experience opposite of independence. 

            I will admit it was at times extremely difficult to live far away from my mother and sisters that even telephone calls could not satisfy my desire to just see them.  I am extremely grateful though for their patience with me and my sometimes-constant calls.  I do want to say though that I do not regret staying in Denver one ounce.  I met amazing new people and improved pre-existing relationships.  I want to emphasize here my extreme gratitude to those people from Iggy summer residents to my office and so many others.  I do not think I have told you all well enough or sufficiently how amazing you all were to me.  You all truly became my family and were present and supportive when I really needed others.  There were so many little gestures that meant the world to me and made my summer the best summer of my adult life regardless of how summer started out.  There is no better way I know how to say it than thank you!

            Looking back, I was not sure how summer was going to turn out.  Before it started I had this preconceived notion of what and how summer was going to be.  I laugh now because that notion was not exciting and silly to think that I wanted.  Instead life, as it likes to, took me on a crazy detour that I am so happy with.  I really limited myself in the first notion but this life’s detour has really shaken me out of my comfort zone and I love.  I got to complacent with life and it was time to change.  I mean I feel great in mind body and soul.  I just feel very happy and accomplished.  I never imagined that I would climb a 14er but I did and I loved.  What I am trying to say is that I feel ready for this new adventure and I am not sure I would have been ready if summer had gone the way I had thought and planned it would have gone.  Now I am not going to lie, I am so nervous because I was sitting in the gate area and I am sitting in this plane thinking, “what the hell and I doing?” and “I have to be crazy to be going to St. Petersburg for such an amount of time!”  My new life’s motto though is to look at it in a positive light because that is what got me through summer.  So yes I am crazy but that craziness is going to lead to amazing life experiences and memories that will change me more, because the summer of drastic change, and growth is not over it is just rolling over to fall semester as well.

            So once again, thank you so much to everyone who was there for me this past summer, you have no idea how much you helped me.  I am so excited to see you in the spring!

            Well, that is all I have tonight as I fly over the ocean.  Next, I’ll be in LONDON and I am so ready for it, nerves are not going to override my excitement!!!

 

With much Love,

Emily