суббота, 4 июля 2009 г.
понедельник, 25 мая 2009 г.
So last time i wrote in this thing i had a lil bit over 4 weeks left here. now im down to a little bit over two. cassel is leaving in a few hours to go on the trans siberian. weirdddd. we've been talking about this for like ever and now she's actually going. i'm scared for her/excited for her/fml for me. who am i going to hang out with for the next two weeks??? im actually going to have to call people. well i guess its good because i want to hang out with eunice and laura and lafen more. but eunice and laura are going to vladimir on tuesday and i can't go because of stupid Darya's class. which i have been writing a monster paper for. and i havent even started thinking about Vertkin's paper.
ughh... why do i have to leave so soon????? part of me is definitely excited to go home and see everyone but i have a strong feeling that once I get there and am there for like a month ill be like ok now when can i go back to russia? except i won't be able to!!! this is the first time that im going home and expecting to stay there for an extended period of time. ok im just going to repress these feelings until im on the plane. :(.
in other news its been so beautiful out. except of course, for part of the time we were on the boat cruise/final dinner yesterday. it started raining but thats ok. I can't believe all the smolny stuff is over and done with. (well besides the lame academic stuff). i feel like last semester felt so much more final....now i just feel like it has ended and i didnt realize.
so what do I go back to now that my year here is almost up? everything that i have left behind and/or neglected for the last year. family, work, home friends, richmond friends etc etc. im just a lil bit afraid that I've changed too much and i won't have the same connections with those people. I have had a long year full of experiences that none of them have had, and none of them can fully understand. its weirdddd. Althoughhhh im really excited to hang out with my people. and i can't wait to tell all of the bad stories from the past year that i have been saving for a time when they cant ban me from coming back to russia. so that will be fun.
oh st. petersburg...what will i do without you? I was walking with Katie yesterday and we were talking about life etc. just bullshitting pretty much. but one of the main reasons why i love russia so much is because of the ridiculousness of it all. even the hard annoying long lines and stupid uncongeniality is funny and I find myself laughing at it more than getting frustrated with it. I dont know what im goin to do when i go back and everything is so efficient again. For instance, we were on the trolley yesterday and it got stuck on the bridge, which was funny, and then it decided to end its route early because of construction or something making everyone get off at the beginning of nalichnaya. in the US people would so demand their money back. here its just normal, and i was sort of glad we had to get off because it was so nice out.
ps. i love vkontakte. its my new way to listen to music. <333
so much has happened since the last time i wrote here but i dont know how to put it all in a blog post. like i said, we had the end of semester dinner, and we also had the end of semester "awards lunch" at smolny with all the RSL teachers. I'm going to miss them. especially Ludmila Petrovna. she was crazy.
i've also been handing around my survey lately. i still have a bunch more to hand out though unfortunately.
well see you soon NJ (and its people) and almost goodbye to St. P (and its people)
ughh... why do i have to leave so soon????? part of me is definitely excited to go home and see everyone but i have a strong feeling that once I get there and am there for like a month ill be like ok now when can i go back to russia? except i won't be able to!!! this is the first time that im going home and expecting to stay there for an extended period of time. ok im just going to repress these feelings until im on the plane. :(.
in other news its been so beautiful out. except of course, for part of the time we were on the boat cruise/final dinner yesterday. it started raining but thats ok. I can't believe all the smolny stuff is over and done with. (well besides the lame academic stuff). i feel like last semester felt so much more final....now i just feel like it has ended and i didnt realize.
so what do I go back to now that my year here is almost up? everything that i have left behind and/or neglected for the last year. family, work, home friends, richmond friends etc etc. im just a lil bit afraid that I've changed too much and i won't have the same connections with those people. I have had a long year full of experiences that none of them have had, and none of them can fully understand. its weirdddd. Althoughhhh im really excited to hang out with my people. and i can't wait to tell all of the bad stories from the past year that i have been saving for a time when they cant ban me from coming back to russia. so that will be fun.
oh st. petersburg...what will i do without you? I was walking with Katie yesterday and we were talking about life etc. just bullshitting pretty much. but one of the main reasons why i love russia so much is because of the ridiculousness of it all. even the hard annoying long lines and stupid uncongeniality is funny and I find myself laughing at it more than getting frustrated with it. I dont know what im goin to do when i go back and everything is so efficient again. For instance, we were on the trolley yesterday and it got stuck on the bridge, which was funny, and then it decided to end its route early because of construction or something making everyone get off at the beginning of nalichnaya. in the US people would so demand their money back. here its just normal, and i was sort of glad we had to get off because it was so nice out.
ps. i love vkontakte. its my new way to listen to music. <333
so much has happened since the last time i wrote here but i dont know how to put it all in a blog post. like i said, we had the end of semester dinner, and we also had the end of semester "awards lunch" at smolny with all the RSL teachers. I'm going to miss them. especially Ludmila Petrovna. she was crazy.
i've also been handing around my survey lately. i still have a bunch more to hand out though unfortunately.
well see you soon NJ (and its people) and almost goodbye to St. P (and its people)
суббота, 16 мая 2009 г.
so i am so bad at blogging....
today i deleted facebook. and for lack of better things to do (like wasting my life on facebook for instance) im updating my blog! elise, you best be happy.
oh shit! moment of the day: less than 4 weeks left in spb. wow. end of a huge chapter of my life. im kind of scared to go back to the states for an indefinite period of time. but at the same time i am excited as hell. mixed emotions are weird.
so what have i been doing lately? hmmm not much? we went to moscow which was amazing. i love moscow--i was actually impressed. The weather was beautiful, it was semi-clean, and there were pretty parks and things. I've been doing a lot of traveling lately--went to Prague, Moscow, and Estonia and Finland one right after the other. All great places (except maybe helsinki) i had fun though. oh! and i was totally reminded of myself when i bought special k at a grocery store in helsinki carted it around with me all day only to leave it in the bus station when i went to get on the bus. i wasnt even mad about it. it was a reminder that no matter how much ive changed while being here some things will always stay the same (like my absentminded forgetfulness). loves it!
bimini left on tuesday. miss her but the suite is more roomy now and there are less dishes in the sink ahha. ive discovered the lovely music section on vkontakte. im addicted.
btw theres a rapist stalking around the outside of the dorm late at night/early in the morning raping girls at knife point coming back from being out. scary? i think so. but im trying not to think about it too much. being raped is probably my worst fear in the world. (my boggart would take the form of a rapist?).
and WHAT THE FUCK greys anatomy!!! seriously.
and me and eunzie have again been spending time at idealnaya chashka. i love it there. its my place. <3
too much work, too little time. everything is ending. fml.
oh shit! moment of the day: less than 4 weeks left in spb. wow. end of a huge chapter of my life. im kind of scared to go back to the states for an indefinite period of time. but at the same time i am excited as hell. mixed emotions are weird.
so what have i been doing lately? hmmm not much? we went to moscow which was amazing. i love moscow--i was actually impressed. The weather was beautiful, it was semi-clean, and there were pretty parks and things. I've been doing a lot of traveling lately--went to Prague, Moscow, and Estonia and Finland one right after the other. All great places (except maybe helsinki) i had fun though. oh! and i was totally reminded of myself when i bought special k at a grocery store in helsinki carted it around with me all day only to leave it in the bus station when i went to get on the bus. i wasnt even mad about it. it was a reminder that no matter how much ive changed while being here some things will always stay the same (like my absentminded forgetfulness). loves it!
bimini left on tuesday. miss her but the suite is more roomy now and there are less dishes in the sink ahha. ive discovered the lovely music section on vkontakte. im addicted.
btw theres a rapist stalking around the outside of the dorm late at night/early in the morning raping girls at knife point coming back from being out. scary? i think so. but im trying not to think about it too much. being raped is probably my worst fear in the world. (my boggart would take the form of a rapist?).
and WHAT THE FUCK greys anatomy!!! seriously.
and me and eunzie have again been spending time at idealnaya chashka. i love it there. its my place. <3
too much work, too little time. everything is ending. fml.
воскресенье, 19 апреля 2009 г.
пятница, 3 апреля 2009 г.
if you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain...
....then petersburg is partially the ideal place for you. as in the getting caught in the rain part. soooo its (kinda) stopped snowing. except for this morning. and now its nothing but gray skies. this city messes with your head. it will be beautiful for like one day and then then next five will be dark and gray and gross. just so you know exactly what you are missing. freaking weather tease.
anyway, midterms are mostly over, april has begun, and i am wondering why im sitting in my dorm room lounging about in my pjs. and then i remember when i look out the window. petersburg makes it really hard sometimes to find the willpower to go out into its depressing weather and do city things. today i was going to go to the souvenir market to pick up some scarves at my mom's request but it was just not happening when i woke up this morning for 2 rsl classes in a row and almost felt like chewing off my own arm rather than going into school. the russians have a perfect phrase for feelings like this; basically, мне лень. and that is all my friends.
in analytical reading today we started working on part of a story called Oblomov about this guy that just lays around in his kvartira thats getting dusty and is all out of place all day every day. When it came to the question and answers part of our discussion we each had to ask someone else a question relating to what we read. So EB asks me "dana, do you know anyone that is like Oblomov? maybe you? (in a joking manner)" deny, deny, deny, was my answer. although, secretly to myself i was thinking that today I kinda feel like Oblomov. lazy, tired, and lacking the determination to put on real pants. i'm justifying this feeling to myself by saying that im going to gatchina tomorrow with the katies and eunice and laura. however, knowing us, and knowing this weather it may not come to pass. but if it doesnt as god as my witness, i will not sit in the dorm by myself in the dark again. if we dont go ill probably go for those scarves tomorrow. and maybe stop by anglia (the english book store). PLUS we are having a party in our room tomorrow night. that is, if people actually show up.
and im not actually doing nothing and being a robed recluse Oblomov style today because im most likely going to watch a movie with elise later...just "most likely" because my computer disk drive is broken and my dvd player is also broken. technology hates me.
so now im going to turn my attention to ranting about a particularly annoying as hell russian who terrorizes all the english tutoring sessions. GAHHH. he makes me mad. and then he makes me think i am a bad person because i want to get him banned from tutoring sessions (my conscience makes me think that english tutoring is probably one of the only good things going for Oleg). damn you conscience. so i talked to Bryan about it briefly today. and i dont think i was the first. but like honestly i doubt whether oleg is even a student 'for christ's sake'(quoting vertkin). he definitely doesnt go to class because that would be humanly impossible due to the fact that he attends every freaking session of tutoring. and im really mad that my plan failed this semester. i purposefully sacrificed my tuesday afternoons and signed up for tutoring in the bobriinsky just so that i could avoid oleg coming to my sessions. but no. he found me. so now im thinking that i just might not be cut out for this whole tutoring people and tolerating everyone. i dread tuesdays and what for? maybe i should just quit. that would be a blissful day.
my soul is so gray.
til next time,
<3 d
anyway, midterms are mostly over, april has begun, and i am wondering why im sitting in my dorm room lounging about in my pjs. and then i remember when i look out the window. petersburg makes it really hard sometimes to find the willpower to go out into its depressing weather and do city things. today i was going to go to the souvenir market to pick up some scarves at my mom's request but it was just not happening when i woke up this morning for 2 rsl classes in a row and almost felt like chewing off my own arm rather than going into school. the russians have a perfect phrase for feelings like this; basically, мне лень. and that is all my friends.
in analytical reading today we started working on part of a story called Oblomov about this guy that just lays around in his kvartira thats getting dusty and is all out of place all day every day. When it came to the question and answers part of our discussion we each had to ask someone else a question relating to what we read. So EB asks me "dana, do you know anyone that is like Oblomov? maybe you? (in a joking manner)" deny, deny, deny, was my answer. although, secretly to myself i was thinking that today I kinda feel like Oblomov. lazy, tired, and lacking the determination to put on real pants. i'm justifying this feeling to myself by saying that im going to gatchina tomorrow with the katies and eunice and laura. however, knowing us, and knowing this weather it may not come to pass. but if it doesnt as god as my witness, i will not sit in the dorm by myself in the dark again. if we dont go ill probably go for those scarves tomorrow. and maybe stop by anglia (the english book store). PLUS we are having a party in our room tomorrow night. that is, if people actually show up.
and im not actually doing nothing and being a robed recluse Oblomov style today because im most likely going to watch a movie with elise later...just "most likely" because my computer disk drive is broken and my dvd player is also broken. technology hates me.
so now im going to turn my attention to ranting about a particularly annoying as hell russian who terrorizes all the english tutoring sessions. GAHHH. he makes me mad. and then he makes me think i am a bad person because i want to get him banned from tutoring sessions (my conscience makes me think that english tutoring is probably one of the only good things going for Oleg). damn you conscience. so i talked to Bryan about it briefly today. and i dont think i was the first. but like honestly i doubt whether oleg is even a student 'for christ's sake'(quoting vertkin). he definitely doesnt go to class because that would be humanly impossible due to the fact that he attends every freaking session of tutoring. and im really mad that my plan failed this semester. i purposefully sacrificed my tuesday afternoons and signed up for tutoring in the bobriinsky just so that i could avoid oleg coming to my sessions. but no. he found me. so now im thinking that i just might not be cut out for this whole tutoring people and tolerating everyone. i dread tuesdays and what for? maybe i should just quit. that would be a blissful day.
my soul is so gray.
til next time,
<3 d
понедельник, 30 марта 2009 г.
sooooo i am effectively over the whole gayness of my last blog post (i dont mean to offend any homosexuals by using the word "gayness" in a derogatory way).
but anyway. we went to vyborg on sunday. aka yesterday and it was interesting. the tour guide was hilarious. loved him. totally inappropriate too. we climbed a bunch of stairs. and i prayed to god i wouldn't fall down any of them---success! it was very snowy/melty there and cold. those are my impressions. i think i was half asleep the entire time. i noticed it looked a whole lot more scandinavian though. those were the pretty parts. the russian/soviet buildings were same old falling down pieces of architectural brilliance (note the sarcasm). what else did we do. i ate a bag of m&ms on the bus. listened to music with eunice. fell asleep on the way back and im pretty sure i was snoring. but i couldnt exactly tell because my ipod was blasting. so it was either the music or my potential snoring that kept waking me up.
...
yep everything else is just a blur of grey and melting. oh except there was a mini tank. people climbed up on top of it. photo-moment. i didnt take a picture. hot damn. missed out.
...
so today i went to my internship, contemplated life on my walk to the metro in the gray warmishness of a st. petersburg thaw, and decided i need to get my shit together. i translated some sociological journals and then found myself on the metro back to primorskaya. still gray, not so warmish.
...
started working on vertkin's paper, realized how bad my english is now and my complete lack of correct grammatical usage. im an epic fail at my native language. i blame russia. damn you people and your completely different grammar structures. maybe by the time i go home my english and my russian will be on the same level. and not in a good way.
....
what else? im freaking tired. and i have a new addiction--some tvorog-like hybrid of a cottage double (the thingy with cottage cheese and jam in the same package. say goodbye instant breakfast kasha and hello cottage cheese tvorog jam things.
i had a pretty awesome convo via fbchat today with colin, my long lost high school friend. it was almost as amusing as those bus ride conversations we shared back in junior year. wow. except it was a little more existential and future inspiring. i cant believe i havent actually seen him in like 3 years. i had an oh shit moment that blew my mind. ive talked to him, and we've had legit conversations but i havent actually seen him or made personal face to face contact in almost 3 years. oh how the world has changed. it made me really understand bryan's point about how weird/surreal communications technologies make relationships. вот это да!
well im spacing and my eyes are about to close in on my head.
til next time
<3 d
but anyway. we went to vyborg on sunday. aka yesterday and it was interesting. the tour guide was hilarious. loved him. totally inappropriate too. we climbed a bunch of stairs. and i prayed to god i wouldn't fall down any of them---success! it was very snowy/melty there and cold. those are my impressions. i think i was half asleep the entire time. i noticed it looked a whole lot more scandinavian though. those were the pretty parts. the russian/soviet buildings were same old falling down pieces of architectural brilliance (note the sarcasm). what else did we do. i ate a bag of m&ms on the bus. listened to music with eunice. fell asleep on the way back and im pretty sure i was snoring. but i couldnt exactly tell because my ipod was blasting. so it was either the music or my potential snoring that kept waking me up.
...
yep everything else is just a blur of grey and melting. oh except there was a mini tank. people climbed up on top of it. photo-moment. i didnt take a picture. hot damn. missed out.
...
so today i went to my internship, contemplated life on my walk to the metro in the gray warmishness of a st. petersburg thaw, and decided i need to get my shit together. i translated some sociological journals and then found myself on the metro back to primorskaya. still gray, not so warmish.
...
started working on vertkin's paper, realized how bad my english is now and my complete lack of correct grammatical usage. im an epic fail at my native language. i blame russia. damn you people and your completely different grammar structures. maybe by the time i go home my english and my russian will be on the same level. and not in a good way.
....
what else? im freaking tired. and i have a new addiction--some tvorog-like hybrid of a cottage double (the thingy with cottage cheese and jam in the same package. say goodbye instant breakfast kasha and hello cottage cheese tvorog jam things.
i had a pretty awesome convo via fbchat today with colin, my long lost high school friend. it was almost as amusing as those bus ride conversations we shared back in junior year. wow. except it was a little more existential and future inspiring. i cant believe i havent actually seen him in like 3 years. i had an oh shit moment that blew my mind. ive talked to him, and we've had legit conversations but i havent actually seen him or made personal face to face contact in almost 3 years. oh how the world has changed. it made me really understand bryan's point about how weird/surreal communications technologies make relationships. вот это да!
well im spacing and my eyes are about to close in on my head.
til next time
<3 d
четверг, 26 марта 2009 г.
random acts of OMG that was so nice.
lately i have been noticing more and more often the merit of humanity. the best thing in life is when people go out of their way to do something nice for other people. especially cross-culturally. im being very optimistic and idealistic in this blog post but just because im so filled with idealism right now.
So, in our International Sec and Crime class the other day Seth was regaling us with tales of his trip to Kazan. he mentioned how the people he was staying with had bought him a big bottle of coke (because he's american). It's a funny stereotype but moreover its just nice. Just the idea that the people seemed to try to make him feel comfortable/went out of the way to get something he liked so redeems the idea of human nature in my book.
spurred on by this story Dmitri told us how he had the Americans to his house last semester for thanksgiving and how the first thing he thought of was to go get a bottle of diet coke and regular coke for his american guests. again the stereotype but again its just the thought that counts. Just the idea that he went out of his way to buy something for his american guests that they would like (not necessarily that he would like) is so freaking nice. Why can't everyone back home be so thoughtful??? seriously.
and then tonight the kicker was that our new korean suitemate Su Jin (sp?) made us all a korean dinner---totally spontaneous. It was just so nice. its made me think that i should start doing more nice things for people in my life. am i turning over a new leaf? i hope so.
til next time,
idealistically yours,
-D
So, in our International Sec and Crime class the other day Seth was regaling us with tales of his trip to Kazan. he mentioned how the people he was staying with had bought him a big bottle of coke (because he's american). It's a funny stereotype but moreover its just nice. Just the idea that the people seemed to try to make him feel comfortable/went out of the way to get something he liked so redeems the idea of human nature in my book.
spurred on by this story Dmitri told us how he had the Americans to his house last semester for thanksgiving and how the first thing he thought of was to go get a bottle of diet coke and regular coke for his american guests. again the stereotype but again its just the thought that counts. Just the idea that he went out of his way to buy something for his american guests that they would like (not necessarily that he would like) is so freaking nice. Why can't everyone back home be so thoughtful??? seriously.
and then tonight the kicker was that our new korean suitemate Su Jin (sp?) made us all a korean dinner---totally spontaneous. It was just so nice. its made me think that i should start doing more nice things for people in my life. am i turning over a new leaf? i hope so.
til next time,
idealistically yours,
-D
понедельник, 16 марта 2009 г.
failing at life, or more likely just blogging
epic fail on my resolution to write often in this thing. oh well. i kinda just forgot/have been less emo lately i guess. SO wanna hear some recap? welllllll for the past two weeks i have gone to a ballet each saturday, and both were fantastic. the first was Selfida which was set in Scotland and about some kind of fairy that lures the affections of a betrothed man and ends in double death. sort of like romeo and juliet except--not. that ballet was fun. afterwards me eunice katie and laura went to carl's jr. for some good ole american heart disease promoting fast food. and let me tell you it was goood. the most recent ballet that i have seen was called the humpback horse. it was one interesting flashy colorful truly russian ballet. I liked it alot. there were crazy wardrobes, horses, merpeople, a humpback horse and a gorgeous but somewhat dimwitted main character who spent most of the first act with his shirt off displaying his rock hard abs and very defined arms. *sigh* if he wasnt wearing lipstick i might have come away from that ballet with a crush. the music was amaazing. and everyone (mostly) from our group was dressed to the t's. it was cool seeing everyone in theyre ballet-wear.
soooo apart from the ballets i also went out for a bit on friday night with eunzie and liza. I met them at some art exhibition opening near m. Chernishevskaya. It was interesting modern contemporary stuff that you have to be able to "see" to understand. Needless to say my favorite piece was one that featured a dock with two trees to the side. it was preeeetty.
And so that brings us to yesterday, or as I like to call it Sunday. It was a usual sunday with unusual weather. (thank you god) it was SUNNNY. get it. SUNday. ok so that was lame. so sue me. buttt it really was gorgeous weather out. keep your fingers crossed for spring. so i didnt feel like keeping myself holed up indoors envying the sun so i went outside and joined it. I took a walk to the metro which was nice and EVERYONE was outside walking. the sun is liberating here in Russia. if winter is the evil villain of the comic book then sun is the superhero that comes unexpectedly to rapidly save the day. So besides walking to the metro i also did some "research" for my senior russian project. By "research" i mean hunting down reklama's that have pictures of children on it or some kind of demographically oriented subliminal message. I was victorious! thank you gazprom for your strategically located reklama-things that say gazprom children on it. so after finding what i needed i decided to go to the superawesomegrocerystore on vladimirskaya ulitsa--LEND. its the best. i bought some goodies that you can not find on the whole of vasilevsky island--hummus, iced lemon green tea, pita chips, peanut butter for a decent price, and a few things from the PREPARED FOODS section. amazing. then later i went grocery shopping for the staples with bimini which was fun. i like hanging out with her. i talked to my rents and fam as per usual and my sister was home. apparently my parents are planning a family trip to CANCUN again for next year and they were going to see if me and my sister have the same spring break but we dont so we are both excluded now. ON the bright side they have a banked time share week that expires in 2010 that my mom said my sister and i could use over christmas break! so me jill and cath are probably going to go to CANCUN then. i feel like such a spoiled brat. but at least im an appreciative spoiled brat right?
so another story. the epic chicken salad. yep i decided to make chicken salad and it was gooood. it has apples and other stuff in it and its the first thing i have made from scratch that actually tastes amazing and not just mediocre. i even poached the chicken myself. do i have a future in the culinary arts? i just might.
until next time,
Love,
--D
soooo apart from the ballets i also went out for a bit on friday night with eunzie and liza. I met them at some art exhibition opening near m. Chernishevskaya. It was interesting modern contemporary stuff that you have to be able to "see" to understand. Needless to say my favorite piece was one that featured a dock with two trees to the side. it was preeeetty.
And so that brings us to yesterday, or as I like to call it Sunday. It was a usual sunday with unusual weather. (thank you god) it was SUNNNY. get it. SUNday. ok so that was lame. so sue me. buttt it really was gorgeous weather out. keep your fingers crossed for spring. so i didnt feel like keeping myself holed up indoors envying the sun so i went outside and joined it. I took a walk to the metro which was nice and EVERYONE was outside walking. the sun is liberating here in Russia. if winter is the evil villain of the comic book then sun is the superhero that comes unexpectedly to rapidly save the day. So besides walking to the metro i also did some "research" for my senior russian project. By "research" i mean hunting down reklama's that have pictures of children on it or some kind of demographically oriented subliminal message. I was victorious! thank you gazprom for your strategically located reklama-things that say gazprom children on it. so after finding what i needed i decided to go to the superawesomegrocerystore on vladimirskaya ulitsa--LEND. its the best. i bought some goodies that you can not find on the whole of vasilevsky island--hummus, iced lemon green tea, pita chips, peanut butter for a decent price, and a few things from the PREPARED FOODS section. amazing. then later i went grocery shopping for the staples with bimini which was fun. i like hanging out with her. i talked to my rents and fam as per usual and my sister was home. apparently my parents are planning a family trip to CANCUN again for next year and they were going to see if me and my sister have the same spring break but we dont so we are both excluded now. ON the bright side they have a banked time share week that expires in 2010 that my mom said my sister and i could use over christmas break! so me jill and cath are probably going to go to CANCUN then. i feel like such a spoiled brat. but at least im an appreciative spoiled brat right?
so another story. the epic chicken salad. yep i decided to make chicken salad and it was gooood. it has apples and other stuff in it and its the first thing i have made from scratch that actually tastes amazing and not just mediocre. i even poached the chicken myself. do i have a future in the culinary arts? i just might.
until next time,
Love,
--D
пятница, 6 марта 2009 г.
Russian chick flicks?
so my friends, today starts the crazy intense celebration of national women's day in Russia. My lord it is intense. Everywhere i went today about 90% of the women around me were carrying a bouquet of flowers or multiple bouquets of flowers. i was not in the overwhelming majority today. Although despite my envy I could still appreciate the beauty of this holiday. Zach was so cute today---he gave LP a large bouquet of flowers and she was overwhelmed. It was funny watching it because he had that "oh yea im so glad you like it this isnt awkward at all oh ok let's hug" face on. priceless.
AND FINALLY the office was, indeed, a student lounge today. banjo playing included. way too many people in way to small of a space. fun though.
tonight me sarah katie and grace went down to nevsky to see a movie. Katie Grace and I got there early at about 7ish for a 830 movie because we wanted to buy good seats (after the horrible 1st row experience) and also because we wanted to walk around Nevsky a bit. So Grace wanted to get a relatively inexpensive diet coke (aka NOT the ones the street vendors sell) and i kind of know my way around the m. Mayakovskaya area so i revisited my first ever homestay in russia. I actually passed by the door i used to go through everyday. I wanted to go to the infamous 24 hour часа that we all so dearly loved over the summer. It was great--it still had the mini ice cream parlor type thing in it and it had tons of variety--unlike the grocery stores out by primorskaya. It made me really miss living on the main island and it made me realize what a freakin awesome location I had been in. I kinda wish i was still living there to be honest. so we got dc's and then we still had about 40 minutes to kill so we walked back to nevsky. I got to take the short cut that i remembered that brings you right out across the street from the movie theater. i felt so cool (not really). oh and we saw blood and a tissue on the ground while on the shortcut (awesome). so THEN to continue our tour of grocery stores I decided to show them the most amazing grocery store in st. petersburg. no im not talking about lenta. im talking about the one thats in the mall on Vladimirskaya ulitsa. Its like the best place ever. I would like to hang out in there. for real. im thinking about going back there tomorrow. partially because there were a ton of really awesome shoestores on the way. and i want to buy boots. and they are all on skidka. saweeeet.
oh and we ran into e.b. louis and lauren on the way back from the grocery store. that was fun.
so the movie. wow. what can i say about that piece of cinematic brilliance. well the plot began with a group of three guys--one of which was married--and they were all sleeping around and being manwhores and then one day all of a sudden they couldn't get it up. therefore they had to find love in order to get their manly parts to work. oh russian chick flicks. americans can definitely learn from you. in between their were great hilarious parts (man watching sexy tv eating donuts and crying because over his limp manly bits) and sweet romantic parts and crazy ridiculous russian parts (police chasing a tour bus that ran a red light and then needing to go to the supreme court?). nuff said.
oh and the entire thing took place in NYC. weird.
till next time
Love,
-D
AND FINALLY the office was, indeed, a student lounge today. banjo playing included. way too many people in way to small of a space. fun though.
tonight me sarah katie and grace went down to nevsky to see a movie. Katie Grace and I got there early at about 7ish for a 830 movie because we wanted to buy good seats (after the horrible 1st row experience) and also because we wanted to walk around Nevsky a bit. So Grace wanted to get a relatively inexpensive diet coke (aka NOT the ones the street vendors sell) and i kind of know my way around the m. Mayakovskaya area so i revisited my first ever homestay in russia. I actually passed by the door i used to go through everyday. I wanted to go to the infamous 24 hour часа that we all so dearly loved over the summer. It was great--it still had the mini ice cream parlor type thing in it and it had tons of variety--unlike the grocery stores out by primorskaya. It made me really miss living on the main island and it made me realize what a freakin awesome location I had been in. I kinda wish i was still living there to be honest. so we got dc's and then we still had about 40 minutes to kill so we walked back to nevsky. I got to take the short cut that i remembered that brings you right out across the street from the movie theater. i felt so cool (not really). oh and we saw blood and a tissue on the ground while on the shortcut (awesome). so THEN to continue our tour of grocery stores I decided to show them the most amazing grocery store in st. petersburg. no im not talking about lenta. im talking about the one thats in the mall on Vladimirskaya ulitsa. Its like the best place ever. I would like to hang out in there. for real. im thinking about going back there tomorrow. partially because there were a ton of really awesome shoestores on the way. and i want to buy boots. and they are all on skidka. saweeeet.
oh and we ran into e.b. louis and lauren on the way back from the grocery store. that was fun.
so the movie. wow. what can i say about that piece of cinematic brilliance. well the plot began with a group of three guys--one of which was married--and they were all sleeping around and being manwhores and then one day all of a sudden they couldn't get it up. therefore they had to find love in order to get their manly parts to work. oh russian chick flicks. americans can definitely learn from you. in between their were great hilarious parts (man watching sexy tv eating donuts and crying because over his limp manly bits) and sweet romantic parts and crazy ridiculous russian parts (police chasing a tour bus that ran a red light and then needing to go to the supreme court?). nuff said.
oh and the entire thing took place in NYC. weird.
till next time
Love,
-D
суббота, 28 февраля 2009 г.
untitled
soooo last night we went out to achtung baby after the beginning of the semester dinner(which was awesome by the way). and i learned from seth that german people say that(achtung +something i dont remember) during sex for some reason that is lost in my memories clouded with vodka shots and morcberry. it was a fun night. although looking back i can't help but feel a little hollow about the ways of socializing. im not really a going out person id much rather go to a coffee shop than a club. all in all though it was a good time.
ive also decided that im giving up alcohol for lent. and i bet my lil brother on it so its going to be lasting thing. i hate to lose.
ive been thinking about a bunch of random shit lately. like for example my scar---not the one on my toe or the one under my chin but THE scar. Its really funny actually. because i never really think about it usually. although now that i am meeting so many new people i wonder if my scar is part of the first impression i make on them. Are they like "whoa look at that" and all awkward about it. do they notice it at first? does it stand out or blend in. Its funny because its not something i am self conscious about at all and its not a sore subject. but people never really ask me about it so i think it must produce some effect on people. if not they would just ask right? well people. just ask.
so dont get offended if you are reading this newbies--im going to have a gossip girl moment. last night at the club there were some interesting pairs. like for instance one male member of the program being very close to a certain female on the program when i thought he had something else going on with an oldie. осторожно. thats all i have to say. this semesters group is very interesting. and also very different from last semester's group. i definitely am nostalgic for last semesters group. oh well.
oh i also fell for the first time the other day and almost took out a babushka with my foot. its very icy now that everythings melting and then freezing all over again. its getting to be that time of the year thats very dangerous for me. its almost march. for some reason every march i have a streak of bad luck and the universe is out to get me. i think a sign was when i fell the other day. its starting. i hope i dont get maimed by a falling icicle or something.
tomorrow is maslenitsa and i am very excited. we are planning on going to yelagin island for some festivities. i will bring my camera and hopefully post up some pictures. then we are making blini in our dorm and some friends might come over. all in all should be a good day.
til next time
Love,
--D
ive also decided that im giving up alcohol for lent. and i bet my lil brother on it so its going to be lasting thing. i hate to lose.
ive been thinking about a bunch of random shit lately. like for example my scar---not the one on my toe or the one under my chin but THE scar. Its really funny actually. because i never really think about it usually. although now that i am meeting so many new people i wonder if my scar is part of the first impression i make on them. Are they like "whoa look at that" and all awkward about it. do they notice it at first? does it stand out or blend in. Its funny because its not something i am self conscious about at all and its not a sore subject. but people never really ask me about it so i think it must produce some effect on people. if not they would just ask right? well people. just ask.
so dont get offended if you are reading this newbies--im going to have a gossip girl moment. last night at the club there were some interesting pairs. like for instance one male member of the program being very close to a certain female on the program when i thought he had something else going on with an oldie. осторожно. thats all i have to say. this semesters group is very interesting. and also very different from last semester's group. i definitely am nostalgic for last semesters group. oh well.
oh i also fell for the first time the other day and almost took out a babushka with my foot. its very icy now that everythings melting and then freezing all over again. its getting to be that time of the year thats very dangerous for me. its almost march. for some reason every march i have a streak of bad luck and the universe is out to get me. i think a sign was when i fell the other day. its starting. i hope i dont get maimed by a falling icicle or something.
tomorrow is maslenitsa and i am very excited. we are planning on going to yelagin island for some festivities. i will bring my camera and hopefully post up some pictures. then we are making blini in our dorm and some friends might come over. all in all should be a good day.
til next time
Love,
--D
четверг, 26 февраля 2009 г.
finally happy?
things are definitely looking up. i think my shitty mood is finally subsiding. im not really intimidated by the new people anymore. which is a good thing. and katy lafen is back. and she's always one to put you in a good mood. there have just been little things lately that have been so very good. for example feeling actually competent in class discussion, finally getting participles, and sunny mornings. im excited for this weekend. tomorrow there is a beginning of semester dinner at the lebanese restaurant. we are going out after and im looking forward to it. AND my computer stopped freaking out with blinking spasms. so now im no longer scared of my lifeline crashing.
til next time
love,
--D
til next time
love,
--D
воскресенье, 22 февраля 2009 г.
who said sunday was the day of rest?
sooooo today started off badly. I felt sick this morning and so kept sleeping until i felt better. it worked. I have basically been working on getting an internship/ doing my various homework assignments today. and of course hanging out with katy, since she just got back. cassel has been gone for a while--she went to pushkin or something today.
GUESS WHAT--i think i actually landed an internship which is awesome and seems like it will be interesting. its also flexible which really works for me. im pretty psyched.
tomorrow we are having a welcome back party for katy in our suite. that should be fun. im pretty excited. i need to be more active. i think ive been in a depression lately. i need more russian experiences. its weird only having class weds-friday. i need to find myself an internship for this semester to fill up some time.
i just looked out my window and its snowing pretty hard---not much motivation to go outside today. plus i have to skype with my parents in half an hour.
we'll see what happens..
til next time
love,
--D
GUESS WHAT--i think i actually landed an internship which is awesome and seems like it will be interesting. its also flexible which really works for me. im pretty psyched.
tomorrow we are having a welcome back party for katy in our suite. that should be fun. im pretty excited. i need to be more active. i think ive been in a depression lately. i need more russian experiences. its weird only having class weds-friday. i need to find myself an internship for this semester to fill up some time.
i just looked out my window and its snowing pretty hard---not much motivation to go outside today. plus i have to skype with my parents in half an hour.
we'll see what happens..
til next time
love,
--D
суббота, 21 февраля 2009 г.
lazy saturdays and the return of katy
soooo today was saturday and i woke up way too late for my own good. but in my defense i was tired as hell for all of yesterday so i deserved some added sleep. today Katie and I decided to go to nevsky to see a movie and then go to our fave coffee place for god's gift to russians: aka idealnaya chashka's hot chocolate. its literally like heaven in a cup. we saw shopoholic at the hydojestvenni movie theater by metro mayakovskaya. it was a pretty funny movie. we were stuck in the first row which is REALLLLLLLy close to the screen. like super close. the lady working at the ticket window thought i was crazy for actually buying those tickets (movie seats are assigned in russia). I love movies, mostly because for that 1.5-2 hours i find myself in another life feeling all the feelings of the heroine. If she finds love i feel that love and then once the movie has ended i feel that sinking its over and not real kind of thing. except with horror movies. i always have at least a little bit of paranoia about the paranormal after seeing one of those. i remember when i went to see the ring when i was in high school I was jittery even walking out of the darkened movie theater. I have a tendency to feel things to the extreme. Even with other people i tend to sense their emotions and take them onto myself sometimes--its weird and hard to explain. I can almost always tell what someone is feeling when i am with them--especially if i know them well. I think its because im so empathetic. quickfact: empathy was the top one of my five traits in that personality test i had to take for RA orientation. bleh i dont really feel like writing anymore. im going to go watch from justin to kelly: awesomely bad movie and therefore i cannot resist.
originally the above is all i posted but i feel like being more open and honest. thats just the mood i seem to be in right now. sooo i still love russia and everything i just think i didnt realize how different it would be this semester. i still don't really know anyone in the new group besides the select few people from last semester that i hung out with. i kind of feel out of place now. its weird. i feel less confident in my english social skills and surprisingly i feel more secure in my russian this semester.
its kind of lonely/annoying/disheartening that all of the newbies had all of the bonding time of orientation and the first two weeks and i wasnt a part of that. now its kind of just like im implanted here without the same connections as everyone else. and plus it doesnt really help that im shy and very not prone to opening up to people in large groups--its very intimidating for me-- which is the only socializing that happens here outside of classes. im so much better at one on one conversation. im listening to james blunt right now doing my musical therapy :p and i guess i kind of feel a little hollow right now (stealing his lyrics). i just dont know how to approach making new friends here. thats always kind of been a problem for me--i usually need a buffer and therefore meet alot of my friends through other friends. im not a very go out there and be proactive and meet people kind of person. except when im drinking. then i become more social with the liquid courage. but i dont like drinking--not really. i always feel bad about myself/my actions the morning after even when i dont get actually drunk. i feel like i dont act like myself when i drink and i somehow betray the person i really am. i have huge issues about alcohol. i think its evil. that comes from different experiences from my personal life that i dont really want to get into right now. the only good thing about alcohol is that it makes people more honest and open with each other.
last semester in the first or second class of Platt's dostoyevsky and shakespeare we read a philosopher's work about how people will not be completely comfortable and open with other people because of the constant fear that others are objectifying them. and i do believe in this theory. i know that i myself am never actually comfortable in opening up to people. i dont like giving parts of myself away to people. even to some of my closer friends or even sometimes family. sharing myself and my deep dark secrets (maybe not so dark) is a scary concept.
im very introspective and philosophical tonight. i blame it on the petersburg air. it brings out the 19th century artist/writer/poet in me. oh the romanticism...
until tomorrow
with love,
--D
mood: introspective with a hint of green tea
guess these lyrics:
i was having a sweet fix of a daydream of a boy whose reality i knew was too hopeless to be had.
originally the above is all i posted but i feel like being more open and honest. thats just the mood i seem to be in right now. sooo i still love russia and everything i just think i didnt realize how different it would be this semester. i still don't really know anyone in the new group besides the select few people from last semester that i hung out with. i kind of feel out of place now. its weird. i feel less confident in my english social skills and surprisingly i feel more secure in my russian this semester.
its kind of lonely/annoying/disheartening that all of the newbies had all of the bonding time of orientation and the first two weeks and i wasnt a part of that. now its kind of just like im implanted here without the same connections as everyone else. and plus it doesnt really help that im shy and very not prone to opening up to people in large groups--its very intimidating for me-- which is the only socializing that happens here outside of classes. im so much better at one on one conversation. im listening to james blunt right now doing my musical therapy :p and i guess i kind of feel a little hollow right now (stealing his lyrics). i just dont know how to approach making new friends here. thats always kind of been a problem for me--i usually need a buffer and therefore meet alot of my friends through other friends. im not a very go out there and be proactive and meet people kind of person. except when im drinking. then i become more social with the liquid courage. but i dont like drinking--not really. i always feel bad about myself/my actions the morning after even when i dont get actually drunk. i feel like i dont act like myself when i drink and i somehow betray the person i really am. i have huge issues about alcohol. i think its evil. that comes from different experiences from my personal life that i dont really want to get into right now. the only good thing about alcohol is that it makes people more honest and open with each other.
last semester in the first or second class of Platt's dostoyevsky and shakespeare we read a philosopher's work about how people will not be completely comfortable and open with other people because of the constant fear that others are objectifying them. and i do believe in this theory. i know that i myself am never actually comfortable in opening up to people. i dont like giving parts of myself away to people. even to some of my closer friends or even sometimes family. sharing myself and my deep dark secrets (maybe not so dark) is a scary concept.
im very introspective and philosophical tonight. i blame it on the petersburg air. it brings out the 19th century artist/writer/poet in me. oh the romanticism...
until tomorrow
with love,
--D
mood: introspective with a hint of green tea
guess these lyrics:
i was having a sweet fix of a daydream of a boy whose reality i knew was too hopeless to be had.
четверг, 19 февраля 2009 г.
Sooooo ladies and gentlemen. today my class was canceled---Shakespeare and Film--because the professor was sick. AND it was sunny out for once so Katie and I decided to go for a walk--not just any walk but a walk on frozen water. It was amazing and breathtaking and luckily i had my camera. A few of the pictures i took are up on this but then the rest are on my facebook page.We saw the cooooooolest things on our walk. It was sunset and veryyyy pretty and there were what i can only describe as "kite boarders/kite skiiers all over the place. It was sweet to watch. I wish i could do it. well these are my photos and more updates later!
среда, 18 февраля 2009 г.
so i'm starting another one...
hey there friends. so ive been back in st. petersburg for nearly two weeks and this time im making it a goal to actually keep a blog. because the last two times i failed miserably. but i blame that on lack of internet.
sooo updates. now that i am in the dorm, and have a constant access to internet i have no excuse not to recollect my russian memories in this electronic public diary. For those of you that don't know, this is my 3rd time coming back to this awesomely romantic 19th century city. So far so good--kinda sorta maybe. Its different this time around for sure. People are missing, there are too many new american students to count on my hands and its been kind of overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. But its an adventure.
I'm living in 1802 in my best friend's old bed and it's like i have taken her place. i miss her presence. you know who you are. some things are and feel the same but other things feel entirely different. These walls have the same peeling paint but now i am not seeing this room as a sanctuary from the host family like i did last semester. its just like any old place. i need to find a new saferoom i guess. Otherwise i actually like living here and fending for myself cooking my own food etc.
One thing i have found about being abroad--and reveled in-- has been the sense of independence i get from holding my own in a freaking large city with new people. This also makes me really appreciate all my people back home and all the friends i may/may not have lost touch with since high school. I wonder what they are all doing now? i wonder what their abroad experiences were like? are they having the same kinds of monumental experiences as i am? i hope so.
everyone always asks me "how's russia" or "how was it" depending on if i am home or here. I honestly don't know what to tell them. I could tell them what i think but it wouldn't really be the answer they are looking for. It's like life. Here and there I feel like the same thing. Its just life in different environments. There are still people I like and dislike, good days and bad days, and kindness of strangers that make me smile every so often. yes even in russia people can be unexpectedly nice. I still live and breathe by my ipod. I still like to have time to myself.
And I love this city. It seems to have two identities--the normal reality of urban life with tons of people and less time to spare, but then also there is this mystical quality about it that blindsides you in the most random instances. Sometimes when I am walking across the bridge to the Palace for classes and its freezing cold and the wind is harsh I will look up and see the most amazing land/sea scape and remember where i am. It hits me all at once that I really am in St. Petersburg and any misgivings I am feeling about the harsh winter weather or how many times i almost slipped in my walk so far fade into the background. And I am temporarily jolted out of the monotony of everyday life. its a good feeling.
less life philosophy and more description of everyday events. well this past friday was Eunice's birthday/Zach and Laura's apartment warming party. It was a fun night. A little crazy but fun anyway. Even bryan showed up for a little while and socialized with us lowly students. I had a good time. I even got to know a few of the newbies. And i am finding that i really like them. They are all so different and so unique it kind of amazes me. These were all perceptions that were kind of blurred by the effects of vodka and pepsi light but hey they were impressions all the same. I actually got to talk to a few of them in kind of detail and it was nice to learn what they are all about. I have a feeling this semester is going to be interesting.
then on sunday? night i went with radhika, louis and ben to alyosha---a sketchy little box of a bar/restaurant right by the metro that i must have passed almost everyday last semester but never went into. It was kind of hilarious. I sat there while they discussed the beats and kerouac and keats and I realized i didn't really have much to say on that subject--which made me think i need to become more well read when i get home. in all the spare time i have. they (louis ben and radhika) have some interesting opinions. i like it. it was a good time though because there were drunken russian oldies that were dancing all over the place and one older guy who insisted on coming over to us multiple times when he heard us speaking english. He said some crazy comments that I am not going to repeat here--partially because i didnt understand all of them due to the serious slurring--and partially due to the fact that what he said was kind of offensive haah.
but getting to know all the newbies is making me seriously miss some people from last semester. like emily of course because she was like my other half and sofie and eric in rsl--they made it interesting. I also miss randoms like matt and his crazy dance moves and lovely singing voice on the bus back from pskov. and pinski of course because we had shared experiences from summer and because his comments were priceless. i like puzzles and all of them were puzzles. i miss my puzzles.
enough for now. i think thats a long enough post to bore you all (if there is anyone reading this) to tears.
love you
--D
sooo updates. now that i am in the dorm, and have a constant access to internet i have no excuse not to recollect my russian memories in this electronic public diary. For those of you that don't know, this is my 3rd time coming back to this awesomely romantic 19th century city. So far so good--kinda sorta maybe. Its different this time around for sure. People are missing, there are too many new american students to count on my hands and its been kind of overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. But its an adventure.
I'm living in 1802 in my best friend's old bed and it's like i have taken her place. i miss her presence. you know who you are. some things are and feel the same but other things feel entirely different. These walls have the same peeling paint but now i am not seeing this room as a sanctuary from the host family like i did last semester. its just like any old place. i need to find a new saferoom i guess. Otherwise i actually like living here and fending for myself cooking my own food etc.
One thing i have found about being abroad--and reveled in-- has been the sense of independence i get from holding my own in a freaking large city with new people. This also makes me really appreciate all my people back home and all the friends i may/may not have lost touch with since high school. I wonder what they are all doing now? i wonder what their abroad experiences were like? are they having the same kinds of monumental experiences as i am? i hope so.
everyone always asks me "how's russia" or "how was it" depending on if i am home or here. I honestly don't know what to tell them. I could tell them what i think but it wouldn't really be the answer they are looking for. It's like life. Here and there I feel like the same thing. Its just life in different environments. There are still people I like and dislike, good days and bad days, and kindness of strangers that make me smile every so often. yes even in russia people can be unexpectedly nice. I still live and breathe by my ipod. I still like to have time to myself.
And I love this city. It seems to have two identities--the normal reality of urban life with tons of people and less time to spare, but then also there is this mystical quality about it that blindsides you in the most random instances. Sometimes when I am walking across the bridge to the Palace for classes and its freezing cold and the wind is harsh I will look up and see the most amazing land/sea scape and remember where i am. It hits me all at once that I really am in St. Petersburg and any misgivings I am feeling about the harsh winter weather or how many times i almost slipped in my walk so far fade into the background. And I am temporarily jolted out of the monotony of everyday life. its a good feeling.
less life philosophy and more description of everyday events. well this past friday was Eunice's birthday/Zach and Laura's apartment warming party. It was a fun night. A little crazy but fun anyway. Even bryan showed up for a little while and socialized with us lowly students. I had a good time. I even got to know a few of the newbies. And i am finding that i really like them. They are all so different and so unique it kind of amazes me. These were all perceptions that were kind of blurred by the effects of vodka and pepsi light but hey they were impressions all the same. I actually got to talk to a few of them in kind of detail and it was nice to learn what they are all about. I have a feeling this semester is going to be interesting.
then on sunday? night i went with radhika, louis and ben to alyosha---a sketchy little box of a bar/restaurant right by the metro that i must have passed almost everyday last semester but never went into. It was kind of hilarious. I sat there while they discussed the beats and kerouac and keats and I realized i didn't really have much to say on that subject--which made me think i need to become more well read when i get home. in all the spare time i have. they (louis ben and radhika) have some interesting opinions. i like it. it was a good time though because there were drunken russian oldies that were dancing all over the place and one older guy who insisted on coming over to us multiple times when he heard us speaking english. He said some crazy comments that I am not going to repeat here--partially because i didnt understand all of them due to the serious slurring--and partially due to the fact that what he said was kind of offensive haah.
but getting to know all the newbies is making me seriously miss some people from last semester. like emily of course because she was like my other half and sofie and eric in rsl--they made it interesting. I also miss randoms like matt and his crazy dance moves and lovely singing voice on the bus back from pskov. and pinski of course because we had shared experiences from summer and because his comments were priceless. i like puzzles and all of them were puzzles. i miss my puzzles.
enough for now. i think thats a long enough post to bore you all (if there is anyone reading this) to tears.
love you
--D
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