School days and Nights

So this past week has been quite an active venture. Although it's not quite finished yet (oh and by the way the Russian week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday -- I think they may have it right because Sunday always feels like the last day of the week for me especially when dreading the wake up alarm at 7am so I can make it to my 9:30 class).


Monday evening I went to my first Ice Hockey match. Yes, I have not yet been to a Cornell Hockey game yet....tsk tsk. But I had a great time watching St. Petersburg and Moscow "puck it out". I think I amused my friends when I winced every time a player looked like he was going to get hurt (which apparently happens quite often), or when I'd get excited about a move. Maybe I can get into sports! But it was a great game -- too bad it had to be a dry stadium that night because of the rivalry otherwise it could have been more interesting :)


On Tuesday Courtney, Denisa, Tracey and I decided to spend an evening at a Russian Banya. For a few extra rubles we upgraded to the luxury version which included a Russian sauna, Finnish sauna, Turkish steam room, salt bath, hot stone slab, and cold tub. But we didn't realize that you could purchase the branches upstairs -- so we missed out on the tradition of beating yourself with birch branches -- we'll make sure for next time to get them! We spent the most time in the sauna and when it became too hot we'd run out and jump into the cold bath (for me that happened a maximum of two times -- I couldn't handle the ice cold water, others were more adventurous). I think one of my favorites was the salt bath. It was a reasonable temperature and even though it tended to smell like a dirty fish tank at first, it did have a soothing effect.

www.orlandorussians.com/culture.htm

Wednesday was another adventure. I had heard that students were going to visit an orphanage on my island that day and I decided this could be something I would be interested in doing. Seeing all the little Russian boys and girls has made me more maternal lately. Also with all the stories I've heard about orphans in Russia I was thinking this was someway I could help. We didn't arrive at the orphanage until almost 17:00 because it is about a twenty-five minute walk from the Metro. It actually appeared to be well run and clean and organized and apparently the directors are very strict. We would only be allowed to speak to the children in Russian because they are very impressionable at this age. I actually didn't take part in the main meeting (two Russian women explaining the situation) because it was in Russian and I didn't really understand at all, but I had Steve recap it for me later. Also since to really work or officially volunteer there you have to fill out quite a bit of paperwork and have a physical done, they really only want us to come when we can play with the children outside. Anyways, we met a few of the older kids (around 3 or 4 years) and they were quite adorable. I couldn't stay long because I had yet another engagement for that evening. One of the event coordinators, Jarlath, set up a type of "speed-date" meeting between Russian students desiring to practice their English and my group who wants to practice Russian. It was a very "interesting" two hours and a half, spending five minutes with each person and trying to gather the details that would help you figure out if you'd really be interested in spending any time whatsoever with these people. There were a few who, if I wasn't drinking my free beers and eating my nachos I would have wished it was only a 30 second meeting. But I did meet some really nice Russians and hope to spend some time with them again. Now they just have to really turn it in to speed dating. I thought maybe if I weren't in America it would be a little easier....maybe it's just me?!

Ha ha. So tomorrow my friend Maggie and I are going to a Goran Bregović concert - I'm very excited. My sister Maria suggested I go see him, because I really love gypsy music and the concert should be a ton of fun considering he is also going to be backed up by a 38 piece ensemble.

That's all for now!

Do svedania