So I’m sitting in the Subway on Nevsky Prospect, which has free wifi and dijon mustard that burns your nose. The mustard is amazing even though it’s so spicy, especially because Russian food is so bland most of the time. I’ve never loved American export-commercialism more. When you all start thinking that I’m basically living the Russian version of an extended spring break, which I feel like sometimes, let me tell you about my morning. I spent most of it on the metro, running around the general St. Petersburg area. I started at the Nevsky office of S7, which is t [View Full Entry]

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I forgot to mention about Tallinn - on the way back, it took us three hours to cross the border (Russians vs. Estonians, round 843). During the wait, the bus (or most of it) sang the entirety of Bohemian Rhapsody a cappella. It was fantastic. This morning was the first morning where it was legitimately dark when I left my apartment. It’s been dusky and dark, but today it was really night black. Ironically, I think the music on my ipod seems to know this and I got a lot of songs that seemed fitting. Regardless, I’m getting more used to [View Full Entry]

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What? I’ve been listening to a lot of Sinatra. Plus Russia takes a lot of effort sometimes. Ok, it’s official, I suck I updating. I try, I really do, and then I fail. So just deal. On the agenda for today: Dima Bilan (of both varieties), metro, Tallin, Swan Lake, and whatever else I remember during the course of writing. And since I’m writing this with an internet connect present, if you message me while I write, I may just add your conversation in…..be careful what you wish darlings…. Russian music isn’t exactly what we would term quality, bu [View Full Entry]

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I have a few measures of business to take care of, but first, omg, I have forgotten who plays the supporting role in Singing in the Rain. Not Gene Kelly, but the guy who sings “Make ‘em Laugh”. This is bad. While I’m writing this, I’m doing my homework for pazgavor (discussion) which is about movies, and so in a weird way relevant to my life. Ok, business. I’d like to welcome to the blogging world an old friend of mine (I don’t like linking. If you know who he is, you’ll find him.) For a guy who always swore against [View Full Entry]

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I’m sorry! I know I disappeared, but I had some things to take care of. If I told you though, it would totally kill the fun of it all. Anyway, back to business. I’ve had a few requests for topics, which I’ll try to cover. But first, where did you all go? Am I not worth the emails? Keep the love coming guys. Ok, the last entry was a little harsh on the Russians, and they’re not a generally bad sort. There’s a lot wrong with this country and I plan on pointing it out, but before someone calls me on [View Full Entry]

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In fact many of you have been waiting for it. Oh sure, it’s nice a fun to hear about the sight-seeing and the adjustment to Russian culture, etc. But when the shit starts hitting the fan, now that’s when everyone starts tuning in. Some of the kids in the group have come up with a phrase: TIR. This is Russia. It explains anything from why the internet café in Smolny (my campus) closed an hour and half early to the fact that you may want to buy something, and the person may want to sell it you, but they absolutely refuse [View Full Entry]

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Honestly, I don't know. But that's where I am and I thought you all might enjoy it. This place is a little wierd when you step off the streets of Nevsky Prospect because it's nice and clean and ultra-modern, and definitely does not have a Russian vibe. I'd also like to give a shout out to my program headquarters in Maine who I found out patrol our blogs to see if we violate any of the rules and then post about our misbehavior. I don't know if they've found me yet, and I don't imagine they'd find anything worth worrying about, [View Full Entry]

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Since you looked at me. No. That's the BNL song. I've been here a week and I've backloaded some pictures. More will come. Classes have started because Russia too begins school September 1st. All the means for the forty Americans piled together here in Smolny Campus is that we have a siginificant amount of Russian language classes and an odd exposure to Russia teachers. Getting to school each morning has been a trip. I live on the other side of the city and have to take the metro or bus to school everyday along with most of the people from the [View Full Entry]

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Sorry for the randomly fast entry yesterday. I'm back in business and ready to roll. That said, I'll try to tone down the use of cliches. Orientation was odd, I'm not going to lie, but I did get to meet everyone in the Russian Language and Russian Area Studies Programs that's here through the same company I am. All told there are about 40 of us (ironically, we're all trying to cram in the same internet cafe right now) from all over the US and one girl from the Phillipines with varying degrees of Russian ability. Orientation covered in general the [View Full Entry]

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But that's what my host mom's dog looks like. I kid you not. Actually folks, I'd love to write a real entry detailing to ups and downs of arriving at an airport that looks like it may fall down any minute, getting picked up by a guy who didn't speak English, who the regailed me in Russian with the wonders of St. Leninsburg, including, I might add, how pot is legal in Russia (it's not) and how Lenin started the revolution by smoking LSD by a lake a sharing it with others (I don't think that's possible), but my host mom [View Full Entry]

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