Wow

Can you believe that I have been here for almost two months? I sure can't. I leave a week and a few hours from now, heading to Turkey to meet some friends. My time of study is almost over (even though this has been almost more of an educational vacation).

Last two weeks has been a fairly touristy one---went to the Hermitage twice, went to Peterhoff, and did a lot of other last minute things. Pictures will be up eventually. Already up on facebook, if you follow that. Now all that is left is a boat ride down the Neva watching the bridges open. I think that that is planned for Friday.

I have no idea where to start on how this experience has effected me. I have loved it, been frustrated by it, close to tears, and have died of laughter from a Russian joke (that I actually understood!) Overall, I would say that the experience has been a positive one.

I love St Petersburg and I want to come back. But now that I have been here, I know that when I return, I will do some things differently and some things exactly the same. It will be hard leaving the new friends that I have made here, but really, now I have an even better reason to return.

This last week here will be a good one; I can feel it. I was sick, but am feeling better. The weather has cleared up and its supposed to be in the 80's for the next three days. Looking forward to some beach time.

I wish I could say that my Russian has gotten magically better and I am now super fluent, but alas, that is not the case. What has happened is that I finally understand all of the things I should have before, but never did. My vocabulary has increased tenfold (if not a hundredfold) and I feel much more comfortable speaking in my broken Russian then I ever have before. I wish I could retake 2nd year Russian. I would get out so much more then I did last year.

Well, as it is after midnight (the sun still has not set) I should probably head to bed. My last day of normal class schedule/teachers is tomorrow and I want to be able to enjoy it.

See y'all in a month!

The Metro

My goodness. I WISH Minneapolis had a metro system. The light rail really does not cut it. Cannot remember if I have previously mentioned how far of a trek it is for me to get to school every day, but I can tell you that it would be more then twice as long without the metro.

To get to school, I walk for 20-25 min to the metro station, ride the metro 3 stops, switch lines, ride one more stop, and then get off for a 30-40 min walk to school. It usually takes me between an hour and 20 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes to get to school. It all depends on the traffic, how tired I am, and if I get distracted while walking (which I usually do). There is just so much to look at! And I love listening in on Russian conversations that I really do not understand.

The metro is fairly simple to use. I found the Stockholm metro system a bit more complicated.

Here is the metro map, English-fied. (Not mine, borrowing it from St Pete's tourist site)

This map also shows you that St Petersburg is made up of several different islands, something that I did not conceptualize beforehand. I sadly do not live on the main island, so my area is mostly old high-rises that look like giant building blocks. But I do find some beauty in it all.

Basically, this post is to say that I love the Metro. And that I think every big/mid-size city should have one.

p.s. Some of these metro stations have the longest escalators that I have ever seen. Kinda scary.

Quick birthday post!

My birthday was good. Weather was beautiful so me and my roommate Becca headed down to the beach to relax under the sun and on the sand. Its been so nice and warm, and I have been getting quite the tan. But yes mami, I have been remembering to put on sunscreen. (Most of the time).

My birthday party was amazing though and that is why I think it was my best birthday ever (20!!). I got flowers, a dinner, an H&M gift card (I seriously buy something every week from them) and a really beautiful necklace.

It was a small party, only 7 of us, but it was basically perfect. A few of my Russian friends offered to host it at their house which was great. I, my roommate Becca, some Russian friends, a Venezuelan (who I met through the Russians), and another Russian friend who did not know anyone other then me, were there.

Jesus, the Venezuelan, made us dinner, chicken and rice with a blue cheese sauce. It was soooooo good. He also made fried bananas topped with cheese. That may sound a bit crazy, but its really good even though it is usually made with plantains which are impossible to find in St Petersburg.

My party mostly consisted of just sitting around, listening to music and talking. Three languages were spoken, and they constantly intermingled into one Span-Russ-Glish language. Loads of fun. We debated leaving the house to go dancing, but it seemed like so much work that we did not end up going anywhere.

Danced a bit around the living room though, which was really silly and fun. There are some pretty bad action shots of our tango, so doubt that I will post them on here. Hope that your summer has been going well! As you can see, mine definitely has.

Lots of love from St Petersburg. Only three weeks left!

Birthday Flowers!