So, I arrived in Russia a month ago (yesterday) (that's what the title says).The last few days have gone well. On thursday, I was a little sick, and had my first experience with traditional Russian remedies (which consisted of rasberry jam, pine extract, salty pre-chewed bread, and not being allowed to take a shower). But I felt better on friday, which is also when I went to a concert with my host parents. We went to go see Larisa Dolina, who is a very famous jazz singer in Russia. She sang well, but is more popular with the older crowd... but still it was fun. On saturday, I got my first haircut in Russia. I didnt really know how to tell her what I wanted in Russian, sho she just kind of cut my hair. It honestly is not bad, but the sides she cut just a little too short for my liking. On saturday night, we went to a Chinese restaurant with my host parents' nephew (who is currently in the army) and Nikolai Nikolaiovich, one of the other Rotarians who is a teacher at AMGU and a psychiatrist. The Chinese food here is "the real deal" as china is right across the river. It is so much better than our "American Chinese" food. They also gave us really вкусно (tasty) Israeli chicken. On sunday, I slept in and then at around 13:00 we got dressed up (suits) and went to Church. The orthodox churches here are different than other Christian churches in the US. We drove out into another town to a small wooden, but beautiful church. Inside, there are no pews or seats. You go in and buy some candles (there is a shop with religious icons, books, and candles) and then light them and pray at various icons. It is very beautiful inside with many candles and golden icons. Every person in Russia has their protector saint and has various icons in his home of this saint and of Jesus. Even people who are not "religious" (i.e. go to church often) are very serious about their faith and most people in Russia wear crosses or some sort of religious icon.
Tomorrow, at school, I will be visiting one of the english classes, meeting the students, and speaking to them in English. Next week, the english teacher will be gone, and I will be going to their class and "teaching" them so they don't forget anything. I think it will be fun. It is also very nice to have the language faculty all together at the university, because sometimes if there is a word that I want to know how to say in Russian, it is easier to ask the French or German teachers the corrosponding word in that language than it is to try to translate it from english, because sometimes the other languages have just one word for an idea that is several words in English. For example, the other day, I was flipping through my dictionary and came across the Russian verb "угорать" which in english means "to be poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes." Very descriptive... Also on wednesday, I will be doing a skit with some of the other students in my Russian classes about cheating. It is in Russian (канечно-of course) and in front of the whole school (Я думаю-I think).
A month into my exchange, the language is going well. I am now able to hold short conversations, understand sentences in conversation (words and phrases on TV and on the radio), and I feel mre comfortable speaking to strangers in Russian. I am starting to also learn some of the subtleties in inyonation and pronounciation. For example there are the Russian verbs писать and писать. They are spelled the same, but if you put the stress on the second syllable, it means "to write" and if you put it on the first syllable, it means "to piss." Needless to say, this verb can lead to some interesting conversations. Also, there is the russian letter "л" which is like our "L". If it is "hard" then it is formed jsut like we do in english. However, if it is a "soft" L (ль) then it is formed by making the "L" sound but with your tongue far back on the roof of your mouth, and if you do it the wrong way, you can form two different words. Even though Russian is a difficult language, it is nowhere as hard as Chinese, so I should feel lucky to be studying such an easy language. Or so says my Russian friend who also speaks Chinese.
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