Happy New Years!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful New Years!! I am back in Utah and staying with my sister and her husband for a week before I start school again. I can't believe that it's the new year already--time really does fly. Russia was a lot of fun and I learned a lot, but it's nice to be back home. Salt Lake is just as I remember it and am excited to finish my last semester at school. I can hardly believe that I am almost finished--it's been a long road, but I've done a lot of things and have met people from all over the world.

I will post more pictures as soon as I can use my own computer--my sister lives in a cute little town called Mona and it's really out in the middle of nowhere--so internet for my computer won't come until Im back in Salt Lake. It's really quiet out here and it's been nice visiting with my sister--she's so cute (she's pregnant) even though she doesn't think so. I am excited for her and Corey.

Well not much else is happening with me--I hope everyone has a great night and will chat with y'll next year!

My Night in Paris!

Since my layover in Paris was so long I was able to go into the city and see the sights--well a few of them anyways. One of my friends from school in Russia was there and he met me. It was really nice cause then I had someone that actually spoke French and knew the city. I was in the 4th section of the city for the most part and was able to sleep over at my friends friends apt. He was staying there and the girls let me bunk up as well. Let me tell you that was a lot better than sleeping on the floor in the airport. I wasn't able to get pics of the Louvre or the E. Tower cause I was on a bus and they didn't turn out. But was able to go right up to Nortre Dame. That was the main thing I wanted to see, but it was too late to go in. Anyway here are some pics of the little part of the city I was in...

This is the Nortre Dame Cathedral--it was so pretty up close. I will have to go back sometime so I can actually go inside. For some reason I thought it would be bigger, but it was still amazing.
This building is where the Mayor or Gov. of Paris lives--thats what my friends says anyway. Other VIP people stay there too-I think.
This is the same building in the above picture. They have build an icerink in front and actually have an igloo there. I thought that was pretty amusing. It's just for Christmas and the New Year. Russia does that too--they build outside rinks just for the celebrations then take them down.
This is a church--not sure what it's called, but thought it was pretty.
This is the Republic of France.
The pic above is of a mopehead. These things are all over the place--It seemed like there were more of these than cars. It makes sense cause the streets are really narrow. Anyway this one I thought was cool cause it's so decked out--with a roof and everything.

Write more later--gotta get on the plane!

Bad Night

So this weekend is the last for many of us so we all decided to go out one last time. We went to this pub/dance club place that actually plays something other than techno and we were all having a good time until I felt something hit me on the head. I thought something fell from the ceiling, was thrown from behind me, or someone was holding something in their hand and accidently hit me in the head. My friend who was standing next to me and I starting looking around on the floor for whatever hit me and then I realized that my hand was all wet--yeah I was bleeding. It was about an inch long and straight(horizontal) and about a half inch above the top of my forehead. So my roommate turned and saw me and took me to the bathroom where I washed off--this was me walking through a whole bunch of people with blood running down my face and all over my shirt. I really freaked some people out cause it was pretty crowded and had to get pretty close to some people as I pushed myself through the crowd. Anyway got home and cleaned it off really well thinking it wasnt too bad till I got a better look and saw that, it actually was deeper than I thought. Don't worry it's still not that deep, but I got myself three stitches now and look like a quarter mummy. I went to the American Clinic and the doctor had to cut away some of the little hair I have on the top of my head to do the stitches. When it came time to putting the bandage on he couldn't get it too stick because of my hair--so he wrapped the bandage around my head so he didn't have to cut off more hair. I look like an idiot, but wasn't about to loose more hair. I already have a bald spot and am gonna be wearing hats for awhile. Anyway here I am before the stitches and after I cleaned the cut when I got back home. It looks like someone was holding a knife or something. Anyway it really didn't hurt too bad and it could have been much worse so I am thankful for that.
This is after the stitches--I go back on Mon to have them look at them. They want the stitches to stay in for at least a week, which is great cause I leave in exactly a week--man the luck some people have. I hope I can get them out a little earlier. So now I am a quarter Mummy! I've got my hair in a pony tail in the back.

Now on a happier night here are some things I saw on the way back from the clinic today. There are Christmas lights everywhere and it's really pretty. These lights are all actually for New Years since that is Russia's big holiday. They will spend about 3 days partying for New Years. Their Christmas isn't until the 7th of Jan and it's also celebrated, but just not as much. Anyway the whole city looks like this!


I am ok and not in pain, except when something pushes on the cut so other than being careful I am doing just fine. I am excited to get home next Sunday and can't wait to see all of you!

DOES IT COUNT!!!

So today I went to a Birthday dinner for a friend of mine and I was nominated to buy the cake--well they are actually called torts, but resemble our cakes even though not near as good. Anyway, so the one I got was called an Italian Tort. It was really pretty and actually looked good (Russians have a great way of making their torts look to good to eat, but then well lets just say that you really cant judge a book by its cover) so I bought it. Well as I took the first bite I noticed how moist it was and thought it was a little too moist and weird tasting--after another bite I just knew and looked at the ingredients and there it was in tiny tiny writing wine and cognac. So anyway, my question is Does it Count? Ha I just had to laugh. I mean I really should have known--it would be pretty tough to go to Italy and find a cake that didnt have something in it. Oh well what can you do...

So things here are going really well. I am having a great time and am sad and really excited at the same time to go home. Sad cause I have really made some good friends here, but Im really looking forward to seeing friends and family home too. I am so glad that I found skype cause everyone that Ive met from all over seem to be on it and its a really great way to stay in touch. I cant believe that I will be going home in two weeks--it just seems so unreal. Now I am doing the wonderful task of finding a place to live. I have actually found several places that are under 300 am month so am keeping my fingers crossed. I am gonna have to settle for just a room this semester and roommates cause I really want to save money and will only be there for 5 months anyway. I'm glad that Sadie is still around cause it was really sad when Miles and Becky left, but at least I have my sister. Other than that I havent really done anything new and exciting.

Becky and Sadie have already mentioned this, but my Aunt Lenny (Dads side) has just survived a horrible tradegy. She was almost killed by her fiance's son a couple of weeks ago. He actually killed his father and would have killed Lenny had their dog not come in at the last moment. I would like to repeat what everyone is saying and say that I am so grateful that Lenny is alive and is the strong person she is cause I cant imagine going through what she is going through. She will be in the hospital for quite sometime. Everyone that visits her says she is smiling and doing her best to stay strong. I too send my love and look forward to seeing her when I get home. Family is so important--things like this make family sqabbles so unimportant and unnececary (hemhem Mom and aunt Angie and Barbra) And I would have to say my father too. Anyway Lenny is in need of your prayers so please keep her in your hearts!

Well I am gonna sign out for now...until next time!

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Ok so it's not so scary--just when the wind is blowing. We haven't gotten hardly any snow yet,which I hear is happening in the great Ak as well. Believe me I am not complaining. Tonight was really pretty and wasn't too cold cause there was no wind. Anyway last weekend (well just Friday) my roommate, her parents, and I went to Выборг (Viyborg). It's a small , but very old city in Russia and is really close to Finland. It's only about 2 hours from St. Petersburg by bus so it was neat to see it. The structures of many of the buildings is Finnish since a long long time ago Finnish actually ruled and lived here. Still today it's a popular Finnish tourist spot. Anyway, there wasn't a whole lot to see--but thats cause we mostly stayed in the older part of town. Anyway here are a couple of pictures:

This one is of a circular restaurant(upclose) and a big inside market.
This one is of the Viyborg Castle--it's of Finnish design cause they used it first for multiple reasons throughout history. This city was one of the first in Russia.
These pics below are behind my dorm building. The whiteness you see spread out is the ocean. I just thought it was a gorgeous day and thought the pics turned out well.


I especially like the sky in this one--we wanted to try to walk on the ice, but no one was brave enough to try it--the ice just didn't look thick enough.
This one is of the river that actually separated the island that I live on from the rest of the city. In the summer you have to be on one side or the other cause the bridges go up until 5 am. Anyway here they are breaking up the ice for some reason or another. This is taken on the side that I go to school.
Well there you go and the snow you see is still the snow I see when I go outside. There just isn't any snow. But hey Im ok with that. Things here are going well. I only have a couple of weeks left then I am back home. I can't believe that 4 months went so quickly. I really can't believe that 2007 is almost over. Anyway, hope all is well with you guys and hope your all having a great week. Later!