A great thing about living with a host family is they spoil you. Especially with food. Breakfast today was eggs and sausage. I don't think these were normal eggs though, they were bigger than my face. Regardless, still delicious!
Anya took me to the bus station to show me the route to the first school/head teachers apartment. I got scolded in Russian, which is always great but I suppose she only wanted me to sit down instead of hold onto the rail.
After I got to the head teachers apartment, we headed to exchange money. I do have to say that the exchange rate is definitely in favor of the Americans and prices here rule. Cigarettes go for about 55 Roubles, AKA less than two dollars. That is just one example.
I went through the checkout line to get a bottle of water, and was scolded in Russian once more. All I heard was 'Nyet, nyet, sldfhjasuibnjvao;sldkxjoauhwrgifajsndamiowuhg.' I understood nyet which is no, but the rest scared me. She gestured for me to go back out of the line, so I did and went to another register and bought my water without issue. Sveta, (one of our coordinators) told me the cashier said she didn't want to give me change for my 1000 rouble bill, and told me to wait or go to another register.
Russians do NOT like to give change.
Then began our first Russian excursion!
We got to ride the subway again (WOOOO!) But this time went to the center of St. Petersburg. Sveta was our guide and I am convinced we are the luckiest group to have her as a coordinator. She would begin to randomly jump up and down and dance, and her favorite phrase is 'Exciting! Cool!' Greatest woman ever!
Our group walked around a lot, just to kind of get a feeling for how much history and art there really is in St. Petersburg. My eyes almost went blind from sheer awesomeness (name the movie). I saw palaces, cathedrals, canals, bridges, and Russian people.
What? Russian people?
As we were looking at the Winter Palace, lo and behold we spotted a crew of Russian Navy men. Being majority girls, a photo op arose! Sveta asked for a picture and so we all gathered in for an epic digital document of the moment. As the picture was shot, one of the navy men lifted his fist and said 'Russia Forever!'
Needless to say, it was hilarious.
Many more photo ops also arose that day.
I will take this time now to just state for all of the internet how freaking great all the teachers in my group are. I feel like I am with my kind here! And for the creepy stalkers reading this that ARE my fellow teachers, hey buddies! I feel like we all have a bond. A match made in heaven if you will.
Continuing, after about 4 hours of walking and filling our brains with beauty and history, it was time.
LUNCH!
On our way there, we were crossing the street with a different crew of Navy men (they were everywhere today!) And one decided to come up and grab my arm to escort me across.
I almost died.
He tried to speak to me but I was too busy cracking up and blushing to even attempt to understand the foreign jabber he was speaking. It was embarrassing, yet extremely awesome.
At last we reached the cafe. Sveta helped us order (because bless her soul, no one speaks Russian except Andrew) I got a cabbage and egg blini and a banana and chocolate blini (like crepes!) and I felt like an angel was singing to my tastebuds. It was a glorious meal.
When we finished, Sveta asked if we would like to go to the park.
When Sveta said park, I was thinking some trees, some swing sets, a slide or two. Yeah, a park!
Nope.
It was like disneyland.
But cooler, because I am in Russia.
It was like a crazy amusement park with rides that make you scream just looking at them! Well, I did at least out of sheer excitement. And a giant Yoda (photo op!) and random things like Batman bumber cars, Slingshot rides, rockets, and other things that you look at and want to pee your pants. They even had a teacups ride, with the pot from Beauty and the Beast and the clock and candlestick too (photo op!) We didn't ride anything, but definitely are planning to go back with loads of roubles and just go crazy.
We returned to Marcis apartment, did some AWESOME training, and after a while Marci turned on the Anastasiya soundtack.
Situation: Perfect
Now I am chilling at home. It has been a day filled with wonderous beauty and hilarity. I give today a big thumbs up.
Russia forever!
Anya took me to the bus station to show me the route to the first school/head teachers apartment. I got scolded in Russian, which is always great but I suppose she only wanted me to sit down instead of hold onto the rail.
After I got to the head teachers apartment, we headed to exchange money. I do have to say that the exchange rate is definitely in favor of the Americans and prices here rule. Cigarettes go for about 55 Roubles, AKA less than two dollars. That is just one example.
I went through the checkout line to get a bottle of water, and was scolded in Russian once more. All I heard was 'Nyet, nyet, sldfhjasuibnjvao;sldkxjoauhwrgifajsndamiowuhg.' I understood nyet which is no, but the rest scared me. She gestured for me to go back out of the line, so I did and went to another register and bought my water without issue. Sveta, (one of our coordinators) told me the cashier said she didn't want to give me change for my 1000 rouble bill, and told me to wait or go to another register.
Russians do NOT like to give change.
Then began our first Russian excursion!
We got to ride the subway again (WOOOO!) But this time went to the center of St. Petersburg. Sveta was our guide and I am convinced we are the luckiest group to have her as a coordinator. She would begin to randomly jump up and down and dance, and her favorite phrase is 'Exciting! Cool!' Greatest woman ever!
Our group walked around a lot, just to kind of get a feeling for how much history and art there really is in St. Petersburg. My eyes almost went blind from sheer awesomeness (name the movie). I saw palaces, cathedrals, canals, bridges, and Russian people.
What? Russian people?
As we were looking at the Winter Palace, lo and behold we spotted a crew of Russian Navy men. Being majority girls, a photo op arose! Sveta asked for a picture and so we all gathered in for an epic digital document of the moment. As the picture was shot, one of the navy men lifted his fist and said 'Russia Forever!'
Needless to say, it was hilarious.
Many more photo ops also arose that day.
I will take this time now to just state for all of the internet how freaking great all the teachers in my group are. I feel like I am with my kind here! And for the creepy stalkers reading this that ARE my fellow teachers, hey buddies! I feel like we all have a bond. A match made in heaven if you will.
Continuing, after about 4 hours of walking and filling our brains with beauty and history, it was time.
LUNCH!
On our way there, we were crossing the street with a different crew of Navy men (they were everywhere today!) And one decided to come up and grab my arm to escort me across.
I almost died.
He tried to speak to me but I was too busy cracking up and blushing to even attempt to understand the foreign jabber he was speaking. It was embarrassing, yet extremely awesome.
At last we reached the cafe. Sveta helped us order (because bless her soul, no one speaks Russian except Andrew) I got a cabbage and egg blini and a banana and chocolate blini (like crepes!) and I felt like an angel was singing to my tastebuds. It was a glorious meal.
When we finished, Sveta asked if we would like to go to the park.
When Sveta said park, I was thinking some trees, some swing sets, a slide or two. Yeah, a park!
Nope.
It was like disneyland.
But cooler, because I am in Russia.
It was like a crazy amusement park with rides that make you scream just looking at them! Well, I did at least out of sheer excitement. And a giant Yoda (photo op!) and random things like Batman bumber cars, Slingshot rides, rockets, and other things that you look at and want to pee your pants. They even had a teacups ride, with the pot from Beauty and the Beast and the clock and candlestick too (photo op!) We didn't ride anything, but definitely are planning to go back with loads of roubles and just go crazy.
We returned to Marcis apartment, did some AWESOME training, and after a while Marci turned on the Anastasiya soundtack.
Situation: Perfect
Now I am chilling at home. It has been a day filled with wonderous beauty and hilarity. I give today a big thumbs up.
Russia forever!
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