well its been 3 weeks since i left my home in the US to go to Russia. but in the last week a lot of stuff has happened that ill try to tell about. the trip to frog mountain was really exciting and fun. i noticed how much my scouting experience in the US helped me scale hills and know how to manage in the wilderness better then most others. it was also really good to have Karcakov Rotary Club with us. that day in Russia was probably my wierdest yet. for in that same day i jumped into a freezing cold lake. and when i got home. i went for my first time in a Russian Banya. soon, ill be able to handle the 100 degrees temperatures.
when i returned to school the next day, the Russian school had an issue with my language. apparently i was suppose to come over already fluent in Russian?? well the school became less of an issue. and i am now seeing myself help teach english class.
i can actually say now that i have seen a chicken cross the road, on my way to school, in my village, a chicken crossed the road right infront of us. i immediately said "why?" "wait.. its a rooster!" "wait, no.. its a chicken"..
i also am trying to get my schedule full to keep myself busy. basketball, library, and classes of Russian tradition and language by my host mom's friend. i did try out for soccer. but the fact that they dont have and shoes in my size is an issue they dont wanna deal with.
everywhere in Russia has flies. i have probably killed more flies then i can imagine, i definately beat my record of 2 in the US for flies killed. besides the school not understanding Youth Exchange and difficulty of the language, i am really enjoying it here. Russians are very curious about Americans. the Russian nation doesnt live in the cold war past like the US. all the time in school. people i dont even know, come up and say hello to me. and contrary to american fears, Russian people would never support a war against the US. the impressions Russia gives off makes it seem like the minute it was said, nobody would want to partake in it.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
First Time
well. im in Russia. not exactly what i imagined at first but then again what is. ill try to sum up everything thats happened since i last posted. i met up with other exchange students in LAX and Seoul/Incheon international. so it was good to have some people to talk to while waiting hours to get to Vladivostok. when we arrived in Vladivostok. some of our friends were there and also some rotary people. it was a great welcome to Russia. we all drove 2 or so hours to Partisanks, Russia for orientation. and it was also nice to see my other friends who were there, and make some new ones. the orientation was great and surprising, as it was in the center of mountains and had no service. after the orientation, some of the kids left and those who remained (me and 7 others) got a tour around Nahodka, Russia. where we visited many sites, such as a WW2 memorial and a sacred Russian church and saw Nahodka's shipping port. we also ate lunch in Nahodka in a restaurant. then Lillian, Roxane, and I all went to the airport (Vladivostok International is very small.) to go to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. after the funnest plane ride ever, we finally landed in Yuzhno and saw our host families. Julia and i became instant friends in a day and she loved all the gifts i had for her. im starting to read Russian children stories that Julia has and she is reading english books. soon it will be my englished version of "War and Peace" by Loe Tolstoy. hahaha.
on the first day of school, i was asked to make a presentation of myself to the class. i did so, and once i stood up, the kids automatically asked me if i was into basketball. i said no, and that i have never played it officially before. but they insisted that i come after school some days and play with them.
as for school. i really like the Russian system. it would be better if i could understand what was going on. which brings me to the next topic.. language
as for the language. it is really hard, i dont even understand the Russian children stories. mostly because im not paying attention because im spending so much time reading. i can hold my place in a conversation and understand the meaning of whats going on. but im no where near ready to be on my own.
so i did end up playing with the students after school. and even though i told them, and that they saw that i cant shoot first hand. they want me to join the school basketball team. partly because Russians are short, the hoops are inches from dunking to me, and the court is much smaller. but i will join if possible, just will practice a lot.
it does get rather annoying in school, everyone stares at Roxane and I like we have the word "Foreigner" written on our foreheads. and everyone comes to talk to us in english. even though they know i speak well enough Russian to make small talk.
after school on saturday, we had our sport day. which was basically just for me, refereing for "tug of war". and tomorrow, we will go to "frog mountain" (i dont feel like spelling it in Russian)
Russian food is awesome. the first words i leanred in Russia all had to do with food. "im not hungry" was the first. Russians love to feed as it seems. probably some culture taken from the soviet times when they would make giant meals for foreigners. but im not sure.
I HAVE 4 KITTENS!!!! :D
and i have seen more cows in the road than Bears in Russia. so stereotypes arent always true :)
the Russiabn people really live it rough. looking out my window i see run down houses that no american would want even for a minute. yet the Russians live in everyday. it just goes to show the strength of the Russian people and spirit. when the first americans set foot in Russian after the fall of communism. they said "and this is the enemy we took so long to defeat". yet looking at that question now, after only 1 week in Russia, you can see why.
on the first day of school, i was asked to make a presentation of myself to the class. i did so, and once i stood up, the kids automatically asked me if i was into basketball. i said no, and that i have never played it officially before. but they insisted that i come after school some days and play with them.
as for school. i really like the Russian system. it would be better if i could understand what was going on. which brings me to the next topic.. language
as for the language. it is really hard, i dont even understand the Russian children stories. mostly because im not paying attention because im spending so much time reading. i can hold my place in a conversation and understand the meaning of whats going on. but im no where near ready to be on my own.
so i did end up playing with the students after school. and even though i told them, and that they saw that i cant shoot first hand. they want me to join the school basketball team. partly because Russians are short, the hoops are inches from dunking to me, and the court is much smaller. but i will join if possible, just will practice a lot.
it does get rather annoying in school, everyone stares at Roxane and I like we have the word "Foreigner" written on our foreheads. and everyone comes to talk to us in english. even though they know i speak well enough Russian to make small talk.
after school on saturday, we had our sport day. which was basically just for me, refereing for "tug of war". and tomorrow, we will go to "frog mountain" (i dont feel like spelling it in Russian)
Russian food is awesome. the first words i leanred in Russia all had to do with food. "im not hungry" was the first. Russians love to feed as it seems. probably some culture taken from the soviet times when they would make giant meals for foreigners. but im not sure.
I HAVE 4 KITTENS!!!! :D
and i have seen more cows in the road than Bears in Russia. so stereotypes arent always true :)
the Russiabn people really live it rough. looking out my window i see run down houses that no american would want even for a minute. yet the Russians live in everyday. it just goes to show the strength of the Russian people and spirit. when the first americans set foot in Russian after the fall of communism. they said "and this is the enemy we took so long to defeat". yet looking at that question now, after only 1 week in Russia, you can see why.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Final Thoughts
well, its my last full day in the US before i go to Russia for my exchange year. i can only begin to express all the thoughts going through my head at this time. that feeling you get when youve waited over a year for something and youre a day away from it, can only be understodd through experience. I am completely ready to go to Russia, my Visa came in the mail last week, my flights are still on for tomorrow, and mentally, ive been ready a long time ago. as for the language, my Russian is actually quite good for only an 8 month learning period. i taught myself Russian using Rosetta stone, Essential Russian Grammar, and Russian for Dummies. and for where its at at this point is considerably good. I finished my last grammer lesson today, i only hope more clicks in my mind come up when it comes to learning Grammar... Russian that is, ive given up hope on my English grammar.
I cant help but still think and look back at the start of my exchange training. me, wanting the land of the Rusing sun, doing everything in his power to the best of his ability so he could get Japan. only to have it slip from his hands at the last minute. I still believe there is a reason that I got Russia, but I wont know why until im there i guess (:
i get my last chance to say goodbye to my friends today, at the Scout meeting for my Boy Scout Troop. it seemed kinda cold for me to get my eagle and then immideately go to Russia. so hopefully they wont hate me as much.
the entire week before my departure has been "out with a bang". Michigan my college team beat UCONN 30-10. my High School beat Dublin Coffman, who we lost to in the Semi-finals last year to a bad call. 31-21. im getting really good luck when it comes to chance. i just hope it all carries over into Russia.
i cant express the gratitude enough for the people who made this life changing event possible for me, my Rotary Club, but especially my Mother and Grandma. I love you both and thank you for everything.
The Russian Anthem in playing in the background, a French girl needs her kisses and hugs, 28.5 hours remain. the training that 6690 gave me.
sounds live a good year ahead of me :)
До свидания США.
Жди меня Россия!
I cant help but still think and look back at the start of my exchange training. me, wanting the land of the Rusing sun, doing everything in his power to the best of his ability so he could get Japan. only to have it slip from his hands at the last minute. I still believe there is a reason that I got Russia, but I wont know why until im there i guess (:
i get my last chance to say goodbye to my friends today, at the Scout meeting for my Boy Scout Troop. it seemed kinda cold for me to get my eagle and then immideately go to Russia. so hopefully they wont hate me as much.
the entire week before my departure has been "out with a bang". Michigan my college team beat UCONN 30-10. my High School beat Dublin Coffman, who we lost to in the Semi-finals last year to a bad call. 31-21. im getting really good luck when it comes to chance. i just hope it all carries over into Russia.
i cant express the gratitude enough for the people who made this life changing event possible for me, my Rotary Club, but especially my Mother and Grandma. I love you both and thank you for everything.
The Russian Anthem in playing in the background, a French girl needs her kisses and hugs, 28.5 hours remain. the training that 6690 gave me.
sounds live a good year ahead of me :)
До свидания США.
Жди меня Россия!
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