Leaving for Moscow

So much has happened since my last entry, and yet so little. Well, I found out two weeks ago that there were not enough homestays so I am still in the apartment building. It’s nice though, having everyone around and whatnot. Saturday the 27^th of February we went on a Siege of Leningrad tour. We went to a cemetery, two museums, and three monuments. Everything is well-designed and the information provided is thorough and fascinating. The cemetery was a most sobering experience.

            Saturday night when we went out my keys and 1500 roubles were stolen L. Это Россия. Keys were easily enough replaced I received my new keys upon my return from the hospital! Oh yes, the hospital. Tuesday March 2^nd, I had the wonderful surprise of a 3 days stay in Medem Clinic. I went in hoping that a bump I found on my skin would be looked at, fixed, in, out, done. How wrong I was. I go in and from the time I enter the building it took merely two hours to have my blood tested, me on the surgical table, and be bandaged up and in bed for the night. The three day stay was somewhat agonizing. I wasn’t allowed to walk and, once I finished my book, my options for entertainment consisted of watching television I did not understand or studying. Not that I am opposed to studying, but for 48 hours? Oy. I discovered Winnie the Pooh Russian style, interesting cartoon. I found out that Russians watch the same trashy television Americans do (Paris Hilton’s Best Friend Search?!?) and that BBC only broadcasts a radio in Russia. After my hospital stay I had to come back for two more days and this past Tuesday was informed that I am almost completely mended. I am allowed to frolic once more.

it took merely two hours to have my blood tested, me on the surgical table, and be bandaged up and in bed for the night.

            I ended up missing the hockey game and the trip to Pavlovsk because of my injury, but I already have plans to go to Pavlovsk in the spring with another girl from the program. This weekend my roommates and I desperately wanted to see Alice in Wonderland, so we went to the theatre in search of tickets. Sunday they were sold out so we saw Shutter Island instead (all in Russian). Monday, which we had off for Women’s Day, we tried to see it again, only to discover all shows were sold out except the 12:50am showing. Oh yes, and it was also in Russian. If Alice is mind-blowing in English, it is even more so in Russian. However, I can proudly say I understood a decent amount of both movies we watched. Not to mention I will forever remember the March Hare staring at the spoon and screaming “ЛОШКА!!!!” Excellent.

            Anyway, yesterday was laundry day and today I will be going to trade in my train ticket as I am flying back into St. Petersburg at the end of spring break. Afterwards we are all going out to celebrate Christian and I’s birthday! (And because we usually go out Thursdays) Furthermore, we had a mid-term today, so everyone is ready to let loose. Tomorrow we leave for Moscow on the night train and then Monday we leave for Istanbul!!!! There will be so much to write about.

            This is one of the greatest experiences I have ever had!