Hey Everybody!

So theres this event out at Peterhof that happens twice a year. It's a fireworks show so we thought we would go. It takes about 40 min on the Metro to get to the bus which takes about an hour to get out there. It was gorgeous. This is the place with all the fountains and that staircase with all the statues. Anyway we happened to get out there right after they turned off the fountains for the day. Oh well what can you do. So I was able to get some good pics and will go back sometime again and actually go inside--this trip was just to walk around the grounds, which are incredibly large.
So after walking around for about three hours it was time for the show to start. Anyway what we didn't realize is that it was only time to get out tickets and go into the park and wait for the actually show to start. SO that was fun--we waited for another two and a half hours--in the rain. We just hated to think if we left that it was be this really cool show and it was kinda fun to see the thousands of people gather where we are standing below. I couldn't get a pic of all the people cause it got too dark. Anyway, after waiting around being wet the show started and it was ok, but not great. So we left early, which turned out to be a great idea cause it would have taken much longer to wait for everyone to get a bus. It was a fun night and we had a lot of laughs. So this last one if you can't tell is Shelly, Liz, and I snuggling under the umbrella waiting for the show to start. Unfortunatly, Shelly's husband got kicked out and got to take the picture. It was pretty fun. Oh I guess I should introduce them. Liz (from Omaha) is my dormmate--not my roomate, but shares my dorm room. And Shelly and her hubby Brian are from Logan. They are a lot of fun to hang out with. I'm working on getting other friends pics I just don't think about it while we are all together.
So--what else? Oh yeah! we have hot water now. Acually it's been a great day cause we got our internet hooked up. So yeah we didn't have hot water for a little over a week and it was supposed to be for another week so we were glad it was turned on today. It's a lot of fun filling up all our teapots and pots with warm water only to pour them over ourselves. I was and am prepared for this to happen again--cause it happens a lot here.

So thats it for now! Let me know how your all doing. If you haven't looked Amy had her baby and he is so cute. Also Becky has been putting so really good pics up as well so take a look.
Later for now!

It's getting colder here!!

So every night here seems like it's getting colder and colder, which isn't a good thing. I think that it's darker here than Alaska, which also isn't a good thing. BUT Im having a blast and that's all that matters. So we are going on our first excursion with the group I came over with--well I should say the people who also came over with the same program. Anyway we are going out to the country somewhere to Pavlovsk and Tsarskoye selo (village) -imperial residences so that should be a lot of fun. Even for as poor as people are here it's amazing the palaces and cathedrals that are here they are so ornate.

School is good--although I only have one class so I am looking into working or teaching english or something to pass the rest of the day away. I just got a roomate so I am no longer in my own room, which was sad, but she's really nice. She is from Florence (Italy) and she really doesn't speak English so we just speak in Russian, which is good for the both of us. There are now four of us in a dorm with two bedrooms and one toilet and bath. There is also one kitchen and that consists of a very teeny tiny refridgerator and that makes it hard to buy our own food so we have to eat out a lot. But then again thats not so bad either because Russia has mostly cafe's and regular restaurants that serve fairly healthy food. There are Mc'ds everywhere and I have found a Subway and KFC, but haven't eaten there yet. We like to try different cafes--oh yeah Sushi has really taken off here and there are sushi bars almost everywhere so we have eaten a lot of that too. Anyway I guess what I am trying to say is that eating out here is almost just like eating at home cause it's all pretty much prepared the same way. They don't deepfry a lot of food here in fact hardly ever do I see that.

Well--what else do you want to know? If there are certain places you would like pics of please let me know I would be happy to go. One thing here I didn't miss was the transportation system. Here when you ride the bus you have to be able to push, shove, bite (just kidding), and be able to stand within inches of someone else. They have no max. limit its just how many can possibly fit in. Especially in the am when everyone is going to work or school--people will crowd in so much that by the time they are all in sometimes the doors don't shut and someone has to ride with his butt sticking out--I AM NOT KIDDING! It's hilarious. When it's that full you have to know when your stop is and have to start asking everyone "are you getting off" if not they move if they can and you just push yourself through the mass of people. It's hard for the little people and just funny with my big butt--but what can you do, but smile and get through it. However, if they had any sense you could wait another 5 or 7 minutes and get on the next one. I will never understand it.

Well I guess that's enough for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Miss you!

The Hermitage

We went to the Hermitage last Thursday and we barely touched it, but saw some really cool things. They say if you spent 5 min in each room it would take you 5 years to see each room. It's that big. The rooms were amazing and so ornate. Here are some pics from what we saw...





Anyway there is a little taste of the Hermitage--I will go again and hopefully be able to spend some more time there. It really was neat. This next pic is a pretty veiw of the sunset thats about 10 min walking from where I live.


Well thats it for now..more later!

St. Peters is Great

This city of 5 million is pretty cool. It's so big and we have been going all over on the metro then will walk for an hour or more and can't even cover that much area--there is so much to see. St. Peters has so much history. We went into the Hermitage the other day and it was really neat. I have pics and will post them when I can. I can't wait to go to Peterof--the place with all the golden statues and fountains. The weather here has been nice, but nightime is getting colder--I hope the winters here aren't too bad cause we have to walk a lot, which isn't a bad thing for me. Anyway I am having a lot of fun.

Well friends and family I hope everything is going well with you--I would love to hear from you and find out how your doing!!! Later for now

Hey everyone!

Well I finally was able to hook my laptop to the internet and so here are some pics of where I have been and where I live. This first one is my room!! Pretty cool huh!

These next two are of my bathroom--or should I say toilet and shower/sink. And then my huge kitchen, which I won't use until I do a major cleaning cause it's preety nasty right now. All I can say is that I am glad I've lived in Russia and I knew what to expect or else I would be freaking out right now. Actually it's not that bad I mean what can you do--just make the best out of it right?? (sorry about the pics being sideways I forgot to fix them before I loaded them)


This one is the building I will be studying in. The campus i guess you can call it is pretty huge and that means a lot of walking--which is a good thing for me. But this is where my classes will be--I think anyway.

Here you are looking at the escalator that goes from the Metro to above ground. It's like this for all Metros (subways). This pic was take already a quarter the way up--it's really long. All I can say is that it would really suck for this baby to break down.

These two pic's are from across the street from the University. I have yet to learn what they are called, but will soon enough. St. Peters is really pretty and there is so much history.

Well thats all for now--I will post more later as I take them. I will also take requests if there is something you would like to see--believe me I would love any excuse to go exploring. Later All!

St. Peters is HUGE

I had no idea how large St. Petersburg really was. I mean to look at a map is so crazy. Anyway I am getting my bearings and am able to get around ok. I start school tomorrow so I am looking forward to that. I have yet to find somewhere to download my pics so I will keep working on that. There are a couple of other internet cafes I want to try. So one of my bags is still missing--the one with all my clothes--so I am hoping that comes soon. I called about it today and they said it should come in around 4pm so we will see. I am glad that I brought a couple different shirts with me just for that reason.

Russia is just as I remember it. The people are just as I remember them and I think it's gonna be great here. I hope everyone is doing well and I will post later.