RRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
Yes, I am here in Russia. Cool, huh? Well, I think so anyway. I'm here teaching English for the next 4 1/2 months livin' while I'm young here in Moscow (1D anyone? Anyone? Buhler?) Catch up? Okay, here we go...
So, on January 21 I left the big town of Declo and ventured to the SLC airport where I said goodbye to my family for four months. After living at home for a whole month it was pretty hard saying bye. Living at home I think my sister and I built a pretty solid relationship with a foundation based on 4 British men and 1 Irish man. They are all really attractive. Don't believe me? Here's a picture:
Finally we left on a 10 hour flight to Moscow. After watching tons of movies, trying to sleep, and staring out at a very dark window, the sun rose at 9:30 am and we arrived.
We met our native coordinator, Gulya, at the airport and then were dropped off to our host families. On our way to our families there were crazy people everywhere. It is well known that Utah drivers are the worst, well they are like baby angels compared to Russian drivers. There are no rules when it comes to merging, people get out of their cars to yell at you if you bump them (even if it's in the middle of the highway), and then there are crazies who just jog down the middle of the highway with frost on their beards. No joke, I saw all of this. Utah has nothing on Russia. After that craziness, I met my host family with my friend Sara. We're living together for a bit...or the whole time...we're not really sure. My host family is awesome. My host mom, Zoya, is so funny! She's super skinny, short dark hair, wears crazy pants, and is a stellar cook. Today she said, "If you want learn to use phone, born a baby and they teach you how!" I laughed so hard! Her husband is Vitalik, we finally met today. He doesn't speak any English but is a bit of a tease. The daughter is Valentina. She's 20 and a student at a university. She's very fluent in English. Sasha is the son. He's 18, really shy and nice. He's knows how to speak English but doesn't talk to us for some reason. They're just a great family.
The first night I went to sleep at 8:30 and then slept til 4 am. I would've slept longer but Mom didn't realize the time difference and decided to text me...and then Face Time me. Sweet, but not my favorite at 4 am. I woke up at 8 am to darkness. The sun doesn't rise until 9:30 here. Crazy, I know. I had a fcousna (delicious) breakfast of Russian corn flakes that have much less sugar than American corn flakes and are yummy.
Yes, I am here in Russia. Cool, huh? Well, I think so anyway. I'm here teaching English for the next 4 1/2 months livin' while I'm young here in Moscow (1D anyone? Anyone? Buhler?) Catch up? Okay, here we go...
So, on January 21 I left the big town of Declo and ventured to the SLC airport where I said goodbye to my family for four months. After living at home for a whole month it was pretty hard saying bye. Living at home I think my sister and I built a pretty solid relationship with a foundation based on 4 British men and 1 Irish man. They are all really attractive. Don't believe me? Here's a picture:
What did I tell ya?
Also, there was a little bit of love for each other in there...but mostly just for the boys. The last boy-man-boy is my favorite. His name is Louis (Lou-ee). My second favorite is Liam. He's on the far left. Madi likes the blonde in the middle. He's Irish and is named Niall (Ny-all). He'll probably marry me. The other two are great. Zayn is the one in the gray and Harry's the one with the hair. Haha, Harry..hairy...Okay okay, back on track. So, I said goodbye after some hugs and almost tears and Ethan saying, "Can we go back to the hotel? I'm tired." Lots of love. The other teachers and I took off on a 5 hour red-eye to New York where we had a 10 hour layover. I just tried to sleep...it didn't work out to well. Here are some pictures:
Finally we left on a 10 hour flight to Moscow. After watching tons of movies, trying to sleep, and staring out at a very dark window, the sun rose at 9:30 am and we arrived.
We met our native coordinator, Gulya, at the airport and then were dropped off to our host families. On our way to our families there were crazy people everywhere. It is well known that Utah drivers are the worst, well they are like baby angels compared to Russian drivers. There are no rules when it comes to merging, people get out of their cars to yell at you if you bump them (even if it's in the middle of the highway), and then there are crazies who just jog down the middle of the highway with frost on their beards. No joke, I saw all of this. Utah has nothing on Russia. After that craziness, I met my host family with my friend Sara. We're living together for a bit...or the whole time...we're not really sure. My host family is awesome. My host mom, Zoya, is so funny! She's super skinny, short dark hair, wears crazy pants, and is a stellar cook. Today she said, "If you want learn to use phone, born a baby and they teach you how!" I laughed so hard! Her husband is Vitalik, we finally met today. He doesn't speak any English but is a bit of a tease. The daughter is Valentina. She's 20 and a student at a university. She's very fluent in English. Sasha is the son. He's 18, really shy and nice. He's knows how to speak English but doesn't talk to us for some reason. They're just a great family.
The first night I went to sleep at 8:30 and then slept til 4 am. I would've slept longer but Mom didn't realize the time difference and decided to text me...and then Face Time me. Sweet, but not my favorite at 4 am. I woke up at 8 am to darkness. The sun doesn't rise until 9:30 here. Crazy, I know. I had a fcousna (delicious) breakfast of Russian corn flakes that have much less sugar than American corn flakes and are yummy.
Mango juice, milk, corn flakes, and cocoa puffs
Cocoa puffs...mmmm!
After breakfast we went to the institute where I am going to teach. It's a pretty big building about 10-15 minutes away from the apartment. We did some training and then went on an adventure to Red Square! We saw the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral (easily my favorite).
Teachers in front of the Kremlin
Built in 1409 to protect Moscow!
Stones from houses that were burnt or destroyed during Napoleon's raid. A memorial to the families' sacrifices.
Names of heroic cities in WWII
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame
The guards change every 15 minutes
On Red Square
Sweet church rebuilt in 1990s
St. Basil's Cathedral!!!
It was a great day. I was dead tired by the end and slept like a rock. We had training the past two days and went to the ballet Friday night and saw Beauty and the Beast. I slept through most of it, but the parts I did see were beautiful.
Kremlin theater
Yesterday (Saturday) Valentina took Sara and I to the market where we bought some food. Here are some pictures of our food:
Cabbage, carrots, sausage, and yellow pepper stir fry--mmmm
Me and Sara with ice cream!! So good!
Today we went to church. It's just a small international branch but the members were very welcoming. It's a 50 minute metro ride to get there, but I know it will be worth it. Actually, I think I may be called to Relief Society pianist...maybe I'll start going to the Russian branch ;) Church was really great, though. There were Armenians, Africans, Filipinos, and Americans all there. Each were so kind and I'm really excited to get to know the branch better even if I have to play the piano!
This week we start teaching...AHHHHH! Hopefully all will be well. Well, that's it! Dasvedanye!
