After three and a half months it was time to come home. At first I was afraid to go over there, but by the end I found it hard to leave. You make friends, and get into a routine that becomes your life. It’s hard to break away from that again. I remember that the night before I left, I went to visit some friends. They bought me chocolates and we sat over them crying until about midnight, I wasn't sure if I’d see them again. But on the other hand it was nice to know that I was coming home.
Traveling was hardest part. The train ride from Volgograd to Moscow was a little over 20 hours. Luckily most of the journey was overnight, but I didn’t sleep a wink in the stuffy, closet sized cabin. We stayed in the city a couple of days. Our flight out of Moscow was at 1 p.m. their time. They are 8 hours later than us. For example, if its 7 p.m. in the states then it would be 3 am over there. Since my internal clock was still on Russia's time I felt like the walking dead. The first pit stop was Burger King. I hadn't had fast food in months, since it is so much harder to find there. There was one McDonald’s in a city with a population of over 1,000, 000 people. Anyway, when I went to order I started in Russian… gotta love the reverse culture shock.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
News Article
When I went to visit Vera's family, I had the opportunity to chat with a relative of hers, who actually happened to be a local journalist. Not many people in the village had met an American, so it was news worthy. The article and its translation are below.
By Natalia Golubeva
Our story began when an American student from Mansfield University paused by a Russian-themed exhibit on her way to class at her home institution. It so happened that nearby, a certain professor was busy recruiting students into an exchange group that was to spend three months at Russian Educational Establishments. Jamie Curtis would later find it hard to comprehend how she ended up amongst these brave souls. In September of 2008, three students and one professor from Mansfield University left for Volgograd State University. From this point on, that most unusual and unpredictable experience – Life in Russia, began for this American student.
One of the initial experiences – travelling by train – was a case of “tough luck” for Jamie. Those who know Russian trains, will attest to the fact that they are not for the weak of heart! “The conductor wasn’t too accommodating, and it was really stuffy,” Jamie says. “Perhaps, in cooler weather, the journey will be more comfortable,” she thought. She had no idea how “warm” our trains are in winter!
Volgograd greeted the travelers wholeheartedly, but Jamie states,
When you don’t know the language, it’s as if you are living on top of a volcano, every day of the week. Someone might address you, and you feel like a total fool for not understanding them. What if he is “jovially” being mean to you? The first days in Volgograd were the most nightmarish. There was no one to talk to. That alone, was depressing. Whenever I met someone who spoke English, I was happy as a child.
My sister, Vera Galuhina, A VOLGU student “assigned” to the American guest, translates all of this for me. Most of our conversation dealt with Jamie’s impressions of Russia and its citizens. I was especially interested in what seemed unusual to her, as a natural-born American.
Curtis feels that,
Russian people are stunning in their warmth and directness. They are very sociable and can invite a stranger to have dinner at their home, and help them, if need be. But the Russians wear their hearts on their sleeves, and, by the same token, won’t “smile” when looking at a foe.
The concept of “time” is very different in Russia. In the States, it, essentially, controls their lives. Americans try to find the quickest solution to any problem. The Russians, on the other hand, live by the rule – “I will finish it later.” How can it take 20 years to build a bridge? Can tea by consumed over the course of two hours?
These Americans are peculiar, indeed! What’s the rush?
I am surprised that the concept of “fast food” doesn’t really exist here. But the Russian cuisine, with its variety and awesome tastes, is a delight. Much is made with their own two hands. Pickled veggies, preserves, and sauces are terrific!
Again, she is right! Who would argue with that?
I was unpleasantly surprised with poor availability of services, -- getting to a Laundromat or renting something, for instance.
Yet, Jamie has found a bright spot even with regard to this matter: she has learned to hand-wash her clothes and prepare her own meals.
There are many advantages to visiting the Russian countryside. First of all, the people here are more genuine. They are calmer, and the paleness and stress-filled nature of City Dwellers suggest an illness of sorts. Secondly, now I know the difference between a Cossack and a Kazakh! Finally, I saw what real, unprocessed food looks like. And, I also traced a goose’s journey from his time in the yard to the dinner table.
By the way, if only you could see Jamie’s look, as she observed this whole “process!”
So, to make a long story short, Jamie is an affable young lady. I am glad I had an opportunity to meet her!
Our story began when an American student from Mansfield University paused by a Russian-themed exhibit on her way to class at her home institution. It so happened that nearby, a certain professor was busy recruiting students into an exchange group that was to spend three months at Russian Educational Establishments. Jamie Curtis would later find it hard to comprehend how she ended up amongst these brave souls. In September of 2008, three students and one professor from Mansfield University left for Volgograd State University. From this point on, that most unusual and unpredictable experience – Life in Russia, began for this American student.
One of the initial experiences – travelling by train – was a case of “tough luck” for Jamie. Those who know Russian trains, will attest to the fact that they are not for the weak of heart! “The conductor wasn’t too accommodating, and it was really stuffy,” Jamie says. “Perhaps, in cooler weather, the journey will be more comfortable,” she thought. She had no idea how “warm” our trains are in winter!
Volgograd greeted the travelers wholeheartedly, but Jamie states,
When you don’t know the language, it’s as if you are living on top of a volcano, every day of the week. Someone might address you, and you feel like a total fool for not understanding them. What if he is “jovially” being mean to you? The first days in Volgograd were the most nightmarish. There was no one to talk to. That alone, was depressing. Whenever I met someone who spoke English, I was happy as a child.
My sister, Vera Galuhina, A VOLGU student “assigned” to the American guest, translates all of this for me. Most of our conversation dealt with Jamie’s impressions of Russia and its citizens. I was especially interested in what seemed unusual to her, as a natural-born American.
Curtis feels that,
Russian people are stunning in their warmth and directness. They are very sociable and can invite a stranger to have dinner at their home, and help them, if need be. But the Russians wear their hearts on their sleeves, and, by the same token, won’t “smile” when looking at a foe.
The concept of “time” is very different in Russia. In the States, it, essentially, controls their lives. Americans try to find the quickest solution to any problem. The Russians, on the other hand, live by the rule – “I will finish it later.” How can it take 20 years to build a bridge? Can tea by consumed over the course of two hours?
These Americans are peculiar, indeed! What’s the rush?
I am surprised that the concept of “fast food” doesn’t really exist here. But the Russian cuisine, with its variety and awesome tastes, is a delight. Much is made with their own two hands. Pickled veggies, preserves, and sauces are terrific!
Again, she is right! Who would argue with that?
I was unpleasantly surprised with poor availability of services, -- getting to a Laundromat or renting something, for instance.
Yet, Jamie has found a bright spot even with regard to this matter: she has learned to hand-wash her clothes and prepare her own meals.
There are many advantages to visiting the Russian countryside. First of all, the people here are more genuine. They are calmer, and the paleness and stress-filled nature of City Dwellers suggest an illness of sorts. Secondly, now I know the difference between a Cossack and a Kazakh! Finally, I saw what real, unprocessed food looks like. And, I also traced a goose’s journey from his time in the yard to the dinner table.
By the way, if only you could see Jamie’s look, as she observed this whole “process!”
So, to make a long story short, Jamie is an affable young lady. I am glad I had an opportunity to meet her!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Trip with Vera
In the late Fall, I had the opportunity to visit Alekseyevskaya with Vera. Alekseyevskaya is her hometown, or stanitsa which is a Cossack village. It is about five hours North of Volgograd. Vera is a descendant of the famous Russian Cossacks. The weekend that we went to her village there was a celebration for St. Michael s day. St. Michael is the patron saint of the village. The festival was also to celebrate the harvest. I was able to see men and women dressed in traditional Cossack attire and visited a museum that showcased their rich history.
I also had the opportunity to meet Vera’s mother and grandmother that weekend. They had never met an American before, which seemed odd, but the village is so far off the beaten path that did not surprise me. Americans come into contact with people from all over the world just about every day, so it’s easy to take that for granted.
Of course neither woman spoke English, poor Vera, she spent the entire weekend playing translator. Her grandmother was the inquisitive one. She asked me the question “with all of the conveniences that you have in America what do you do with your time?” What she meant by conveniences ranged from washers and dryers, dishwashers to indoor plumbing, which Vera’s family had only put in a few years before. When she asked me that, I really had no clue as to how to answer.
I mean I go to work and school, but so does the majority of the rest of the planet I suppose it is more about time management. Her cousin also interviewed me for the village newspaper. Being a journalist myself, I decided to compare notes and there were a lot of similarities. I spent about three hours talking to this woman, well with Vera translating, and I had questions of my own. Despite the language barriers I really liked her family.
Vera’s family lived off the land growing, producing and storing most of their own food, they wanted to have goose for dinner and instead of going to the store grandma went to the barn with an ax. Vera asked if I wanted to watch the goose execution and I passed on that opportunity. It was interesting watching the preparation process, which is something we typically don’t see. It included pulling off all of the feathers, which were later cleaned and used as stuffing for pillows. Down pillows are popular in Russia. Anyway, the next processes included cleaning and dissecting the goose, which grossed me out, her grandmother just laughed, and looking back on it I had to also. The parts of the goose to be cooked were later put in the freezer for storage.
After dinner everyone sat down to watch T.V. We watched the news, a show similar to American idol (you can’t escape it…) and figure-skating. My grandmother and I used to watch figure skating when I was little, and to watch it with her brought back pleasant memories, when we thought something was good or bad we would look at each other and nod or say a few words to indicate approval. This was something that was a bit of a universal experience for me. The weekend was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and I am glad I had the opportunity to meet Vera’s family.
I also had the opportunity to meet Vera’s mother and grandmother that weekend. They had never met an American before, which seemed odd, but the village is so far off the beaten path that did not surprise me. Americans come into contact with people from all over the world just about every day, so it’s easy to take that for granted.
Of course neither woman spoke English, poor Vera, she spent the entire weekend playing translator. Her grandmother was the inquisitive one. She asked me the question “with all of the conveniences that you have in America what do you do with your time?” What she meant by conveniences ranged from washers and dryers, dishwashers to indoor plumbing, which Vera’s family had only put in a few years before. When she asked me that, I really had no clue as to how to answer.
I mean I go to work and school, but so does the majority of the rest of the planet I suppose it is more about time management. Her cousin also interviewed me for the village newspaper. Being a journalist myself, I decided to compare notes and there were a lot of similarities. I spent about three hours talking to this woman, well with Vera translating, and I had questions of my own. Despite the language barriers I really liked her family.
Vera’s family lived off the land growing, producing and storing most of their own food, they wanted to have goose for dinner and instead of going to the store grandma went to the barn with an ax. Vera asked if I wanted to watch the goose execution and I passed on that opportunity. It was interesting watching the preparation process, which is something we typically don’t see. It included pulling off all of the feathers, which were later cleaned and used as stuffing for pillows. Down pillows are popular in Russia. Anyway, the next processes included cleaning and dissecting the goose, which grossed me out, her grandmother just laughed, and looking back on it I had to also. The parts of the goose to be cooked were later put in the freezer for storage.
After dinner everyone sat down to watch T.V. We watched the news, a show similar to American idol (you can’t escape it…) and figure-skating. My grandmother and I used to watch figure skating when I was little, and to watch it with her brought back pleasant memories, when we thought something was good or bad we would look at each other and nod or say a few words to indicate approval. This was something that was a bit of a universal experience for me. The weekend was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and I am glad I had the opportunity to meet Vera’s family.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Dorms and what they were like
I am sure many people wonder what the living arrangements are like in the dorms there. Well the building is 16 stories high.
I only went to the 8th floor as that’s where I had friends, and the rooms got worse as you went higher. My friend Elena had cockroaches in her bathroom, quite a contrast to my newly furnished suite, but you learn to deal with it. I was lucky. Anyway the dorms curfew was 11 p.m. if you weren’t back to the building by then you were SOL, and locked out until 6 am the next day. Sometimes you could bribe a guard to let you in if you paid him.
You had this check point where guards sat behind a glass booth, and when you walked in that you had to swipe your card through to get into the dorm. I also got stopped by the guards and questioned about my laundry at 2 a.m. This is when the only available washer in the dorm was free. I had to wait for the key, and no one ever knew where it was. The key was only for students on the international floor. Other things to note were that since curfew was at 11p.m. most of the parties were held in the dorm at night. You could always find one with ease.
There was also a little store where you could buy food, school supplies etc. The clerk Galena, was a sweetheart. I didn’t really understand what she was saying half the time, since she didn’t speak English, but a nice enough woman.
There was also an internet lab in the dorm where you would pay 10 rubles for an hour. 10 rubles equaled about 50 cents. I had to use the computer lab because I didn’t have access in my room, and didn’t until the last week of the semester.
The carpenters tore out all the wiring and didn’t have it fixed until the last week in November. Yeah that was good timing. I left December 11th.
I only went to the 8th floor as that’s where I had friends, and the rooms got worse as you went higher. My friend Elena had cockroaches in her bathroom, quite a contrast to my newly furnished suite, but you learn to deal with it. I was lucky. Anyway the dorms curfew was 11 p.m. if you weren’t back to the building by then you were SOL, and locked out until 6 am the next day. Sometimes you could bribe a guard to let you in if you paid him.
You had this check point where guards sat behind a glass booth, and when you walked in that you had to swipe your card through to get into the dorm. I also got stopped by the guards and questioned about my laundry at 2 a.m. This is when the only available washer in the dorm was free. I had to wait for the key, and no one ever knew where it was. The key was only for students on the international floor. Other things to note were that since curfew was at 11p.m. most of the parties were held in the dorm at night. You could always find one with ease.
There was also a little store where you could buy food, school supplies etc. The clerk Galena, was a sweetheart. I didn’t really understand what she was saying half the time, since she didn’t speak English, but a nice enough woman.
There was also an internet lab in the dorm where you would pay 10 rubles for an hour. 10 rubles equaled about 50 cents. I had to use the computer lab because I didn’t have access in my room, and didn’t until the last week of the semester.
The carpenters tore out all the wiring and didn’t have it fixed until the last week in November. Yeah that was good timing. I left December 11th.
going to the movies
There is only one cinema in Volgograd that I am aware of. This is also where the only McDonalds in the city is located. Going to the movies there is pretty much the same as here. You buy your ticket, you buy the popcorn except it is Carmel popcorn there -- I don’t think they have the butter kind that we’re accustomed to --and your soda. Beer is also an optional purchase, Russia is way better isn’t it? Anyway I went to see James Bond Quantum of Solace. I was able to understand the movie somewhat based on the what the actors were doing, but basically, I spent the next two hours asking my friends Maria and Vera what was going on.
Lenta
Lenta is the 24 hour grocery store across the street from the dorm. It is similar to a giant Wal-mart, they have everything from a cafe called la cucaracha and a cell phone store where you can buy phone cards. I think I spent most of my money on shoes. This store was a lifesaver.
Uryupinsk
During my stay in fall of 2008, my group and I had the chance to visit Uryupinsk. It is a small agricultural town about 211 Miles Northwest of Volgograd on the Khopyor River. One of their biggest industries is goat farming. The town has a museum dedicated to the goat as well as a statue near the center of town. If you rub its nose and make a wish it is supposed to come true. No lie, it actually worked for me. The trip was a fun one with lots of shenanigans, and beautiful countryside.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Mamayev Kurgan
Mamayev Kurgan/Mamayav Hill is the highest point(which isn't very high) overlooking the city of Volgograd, formerly known as Stalingrad. The battle of Stalingrad served as a major turning point for the allies during WWII. Many died on Mamayev Hill. A memorial complex sits on the site today. .
Cooking in the Dorm Kitchens
Remember how I mentioned that I couldn’t cook too well? Well, while staying in the dorms at Volgu I had to learn. The stolovaya (cafeteria) closed sometime in the early afternoon. So dinner was on me. I knew how to cook pasta, but I got really sick of it so I branched out. I had a few experiments such as macaroni and cheese without milk which turned into macaroni and a cheesy blob of glue, burnt chicken, rotten eggs etc. I don’t think I did too badly. The building is still standing. By the end of my stay and after numerous trial and error experiments I was able to cook chicken soup and able to extract broth from the chicken bone to do this. Thank you Volgu students and Google.
Friday, April 2, 2010
shi with Vera
Vera was an English tutor. The degree she was working toward was one in teaching. Anyway, she sometimes took me along to her lessons with her students. So I had the opportunity to meet them and their families. I told Vera I was curious about Shi, which is cabbage soup. So Vera talked to her student Yana’s mother, Sveta. We wound up making it one afternoon. Vera did all the translating, since the mother did not know English. She knew right away that I couldn’t cook either. So I learned in Russia, pretty quick. We cut up vegetables, the meat etc. An hour later it was ready. Vera also wrote down the recipe for me, I still have it somewhere.
I will update this entry with the recipe once i find it.
I will update this entry with the recipe once i find it.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Ones Who Stay Friends
This blog may come off as a bit controversial, and some may disagree, but the reality is when you go abroad you will end up facing language barriers. No matter how much of a language you have studied in the classroom it will happen. Unless you grew up speaking it or have been learning for years and years, it will happen. It happened to me a lot with my roommates, with professors, and the locals. You still have the potential to become friends with these people, but from my experience I have found that the lasting friendships are the ones with whom you can actually communicate with to me, this meant stringing more than just a sentence or two together. It is stressful when you can only communicate a sentence or two at a time with a dictionary.
For me, my closest friends wound up being the ones who spoke English. In reality that’s how it goes, if you cannot communicate by language, it is much harder to form a solid bond with someone, because you can’t really learn their likes, dislikes interests, etc. While it is possible to form friendships with those that you experience a severe language barrier with, it is not the easiest thing, it takes a great deal more patience, so the majority of my closest friends spoke a decent amount of English.
On the flipside, those that I faced the language barriers with also taught me the most in the way of new words. Those that knew English wanted to speak English with me,which was sometimes frustrating when I was trying to learn Russian. So, those that I faced the language barriers with were some of the better teachers because I had to learn Russian to communicate with them.
I did have one good friend, Elena, who was born in Siberia. She was teaching herself English, and she was pretty good at it. I helped her with English, and in turn she helped me with my Russian. I think I learned the most from her. And as a result of learning languages together we became friends that way, and we still talk. I will try to send her something in Russian and she corrects it, while she sends me something in English to correct.
My friend, Elena
For me, my closest friends wound up being the ones who spoke English. In reality that’s how it goes, if you cannot communicate by language, it is much harder to form a solid bond with someone, because you can’t really learn their likes, dislikes interests, etc. While it is possible to form friendships with those that you experience a severe language barrier with, it is not the easiest thing, it takes a great deal more patience, so the majority of my closest friends spoke a decent amount of English.
On the flipside, those that I faced the language barriers with also taught me the most in the way of new words. Those that knew English wanted to speak English with me,which was sometimes frustrating when I was trying to learn Russian. So, those that I faced the language barriers with were some of the better teachers because I had to learn Russian to communicate with them.
I did have one good friend, Elena, who was born in Siberia. She was teaching herself English, and she was pretty good at it. I helped her with English, and in turn she helped me with my Russian. I think I learned the most from her. And as a result of learning languages together we became friends that way, and we still talk. I will try to send her something in Russian and she corrects it, while she sends me something in English to correct.
My friend, ElenaVera's Roomates
I met Vera’s roommates who also spoke English. Both of their names were Maria. Now keep in mind, that Russians have about 10 names in their vocabulary, so you will meet about 50 people with the same first name. So I called one roommate Masha, which is a nickname for Maria sort of like Patty or Trisha for Patricia. Maria, the other one, was from Azerbaijan and knew how to speak three or four other languages. I had tea with them all. Over the course of the semester, the girls took me all over the place. I got to see a dance festival with people from all over the caucus regions performing native dances; Maria performed one of her own. It was fascinating; there was even a dancer from as far away as India. I think she was an exchange student as well. We went shopping, went to the movies and just hung out and had tea. These three were definitely my closest friends during my stay, especially Vera.
Vera
Friday, March 26, 2010
classes
At Volgu, all classes were in one building. This was quite a change from Mansfield, which has several classroom buildings. There were 4-5 floors in the building, which had classrooms, the stolovaya (cafeteria), library, computer labs, little food shops, and an ATM machine.
There were no elevators and the bathrooms had no soap or toilet paper. I learned quickly to bring tissues and hand sanitizer with me to class every day, or just “hold it” until I got back to the dormitory.
Anyway, Cody Ryan and I had all the same classes. We had 1-2 per day and they were about 90-minutes long. We had some classes with students from Kent State University in Ohio and a couple of girls from Belgium. The majority of our classes were in English, with the exception of phonetics, in which I was completely lost in from day one. This was my least favorite course.
We also took two Language courses, I felt like I was in high school Spanish class all over again, where it took me 2-3 hours a night to study vocabulary, and to this day I do not understand verb conjugations, in any language.
We had a political science course with Professor whose nickname was Misha. I thought that he was British when we first met, because he had a flawless accent. It wasn’t until after I learned his name that I figured out that he wasn’t. Great guy, with a Monty python- esque sense of humor. This was my favorite class.
We also took classes in history multi-cultural literature and geography. Our course load totaled about six or seven classes. The credits actually transferred back to Mansfield, and we got to choose the equivalents to MU classes. I already had my language requirements met before I went over, but as a result of going to Russia, I have double the credits for it. If I would have known that I’d be doing this back in high school, I would have saved myself the misery of taking an AP Spanish class.
main campus building from my dorm room window.
There were no elevators and the bathrooms had no soap or toilet paper. I learned quickly to bring tissues and hand sanitizer with me to class every day, or just “hold it” until I got back to the dormitory.
Anyway, Cody Ryan and I had all the same classes. We had 1-2 per day and they were about 90-minutes long. We had some classes with students from Kent State University in Ohio and a couple of girls from Belgium. The majority of our classes were in English, with the exception of phonetics, in which I was completely lost in from day one. This was my least favorite course.
We also took two Language courses, I felt like I was in high school Spanish class all over again, where it took me 2-3 hours a night to study vocabulary, and to this day I do not understand verb conjugations, in any language.
We had a political science course with Professor whose nickname was Misha. I thought that he was British when we first met, because he had a flawless accent. It wasn’t until after I learned his name that I figured out that he wasn’t. Great guy, with a Monty python- esque sense of humor. This was my favorite class.
We also took classes in history multi-cultural literature and geography. Our course load totaled about six or seven classes. The credits actually transferred back to Mansfield, and we got to choose the equivalents to MU classes. I already had my language requirements met before I went over, but as a result of going to Russia, I have double the credits for it. If I would have known that I’d be doing this back in high school, I would have saved myself the misery of taking an AP Spanish class.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Arriving at Volgograd State University,
The group reached Volgograd a week after leaving New York. Our dorm was this massive structure that stood 14 stories high. Quite a change from the Mansfield dorms.
The dorm rooms were laid out like apartments. There were two bedrooms, one with three beds the other with two. I had one roommate in the room with me, her name was Olga, she was a nice person, but didn't speak a lot of English, and my neighbor Zhenya who lived in the room over from me alone. We had a little foyer for our shoes and whatnot and a shower room. The show was separate from the room with the toilet. Apparently Europeans find it disgusting to take a shower in the same room that you take a dump. Really, who can blame them?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Train ride from St Petersburg to Volgograd
Up until this point, I hadn’t experienced much in the way of culture shock. I had my first experience with language barriers on the train. The traveling time was a little over 30 hours. It was the end of august, so it was hot and there was no air conditioning in our cabins. The cabins in my section of the train or “cheap seats” were about the size of a walk in closet. There were four cushioned platforms that served as benches and our beds. Anyway the cabin was full. There was me, Ryan and two Russian guys, neither spoke English. This is where things become awkward. I was in a hot tiny room with three other guys. Ryan and I didn’t speak Russian and our cabin mates didn’t speak English. Here I was face to face with an old man, I had my little phrase book out and I was trying to figure out what to say to him. I left the room for dinner and came back a couple of hours later for bed. The next morning he offered Ryan and I coffee. I learned quickly that there are ways around language barriers. For one thing there is body language, things such as pointing and making gestures was reminiscent of a game of charades. I felt dumb communicating like this, but it was effective. The old man’s name was Yuri, that afternoon into evening though the charades- like conversation and the help of my phrasebook I learned that he was on a fishing trip and was heading to the Volgograd region.The last night on the train was probably the most fun, a large group of other guests and staff congreagated into our room. It is one expirience i won't forget.
Some of the group in our cabin. Yuri is the Man in front of me with the white tank top.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A few of my favorite things(Russian Dishes)
1. Blini ( Blee- nee) is a very thin pancake similar to the French crepe. Popular ways to eat them are with condensed milk, jam, sour cream or honey.
(Blini with condensed milk)
2. Pelmeni – (pee-yell- mee- nee) (Pee-yell- men, plural) This was similar to ravioli or dumpling. They’re usually made from flour, water, egg and some kind of filling, usually meat or vegetable. The most common way to eat them, at least what I ate, had a beef filling and a side of either mayonnaise or sour cream.
(Pelmeni)photo courtesy of google images
3. Borsch(more ukrainian origin) and Schi (shee). These two soups are similar. The main difference would be that Borsch has beetroot added to the recipe. “Borsch” simply means beet soup. Shi on the other hand is cabbage soup, and there are no beets in it. Ingredients for both soups usually include a pork or beef broth, cabbage, onions, carrots, and potatoes.
Borsch ^ courtesy of google images
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
St Petersburg
St. Petersburg aka “Venice of the North” is in Northern Russia along the Baltic Sea. The city is a collage of old palaces and other historic buildings. Our group took a boat ride down the Neva River and visited the hermitage (winter palace), which is now an art gallery and museum. We also walked around the city all day. I was on the hunt for the typical Russian nesting dolls or Matryoshka. They were extremely expensive so I decided to wait.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The day of the trip, the flight, and arrival
I got up at 5 in the morning to drive with my father down to Mansfield, so I could meet up with the rest of the group that was traveling with me. The drive from Mansfield to JFK was four hours, along the way the professor who drove us down, Dr. Bosworth, was giving all sorts of warnings and information as to what to expect. He told us to avoid Banya’s. To this day I’m still unsure as to what a Banya is. He also explained some of the differences between the cultures. For instance, women don’t wear sneakers, and go to much greater lengths for their appearance and that they get dressed up to go to the supermarket. Little did we know that the adventure had just begun.
Our flight was from JFK to Helsinki Finland, the flight itself was interesting in that you experience a full 24 hours in about eight. We left New York at about 6 p.m. and flew over the ocean. Watching the sunset from 30,000 feet is equivalent to a rainbow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful. Than another hour passed and it was dark. Then we reached daylight again a few hours later. Imagine what this does your biological clock.
Sitting for 8 hours straight is about the equivalent of being stuck in a car all day. You’re tired, crampy etc. I learned something the hard way, it is important to get up every couple of hours while at 30,000 feet just to walk around. It keeps the circulation in your legs going. I didn’t do this and then wound up with crippling muscle spasms in my calves. We arrived in Helsinki about 11a.m. their time, my clock was set to 2-3 a.m. US time. The exhaustion that settles in is jet lag. By the time we got to St. Petersburg all I wanted to do was sleep and I did- for 13 hours.
The above photo was my room in the international Hostel. There were 6 beds and it was located right in the heart of St Peters burg.
Our flight was from JFK to Helsinki Finland, the flight itself was interesting in that you experience a full 24 hours in about eight. We left New York at about 6 p.m. and flew over the ocean. Watching the sunset from 30,000 feet is equivalent to a rainbow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful. Than another hour passed and it was dark. Then we reached daylight again a few hours later. Imagine what this does your biological clock.
Sitting for 8 hours straight is about the equivalent of being stuck in a car all day. You’re tired, crampy etc. I learned something the hard way, it is important to get up every couple of hours while at 30,000 feet just to walk around. It keeps the circulation in your legs going. I didn’t do this and then wound up with crippling muscle spasms in my calves. We arrived in Helsinki about 11a.m. their time, my clock was set to 2-3 a.m. US time. The exhaustion that settles in is jet lag. By the time we got to St. Petersburg all I wanted to do was sleep and I did- for 13 hours.
Friday, February 26, 2010
The group
Left Ryan Detwiler, Front-center me, Back center Cody Baker, Right- Dr. Razran
packing oh what fun
When you plan a trip here’s some advice on what to bring, and the stuff to leave home. It’s important to keep in mind that you’ll be charged an extra fee if you go over the airports baggage/baggage weight limit.
The carry-on bag.
Shampoo, soap other toiletries no more than 3oz size containers either, and make sure to put them into a quart sized sandwich bag. If the liquid/toiletry doesn’t fit into the bag it will probably be confiscated.
• Batteries
• Electronics
• Book
• Medications
• Valuables such as money, and your passport
• One change of clothes in case luggage is delayed.
Suitcase
Pack light if possible, a lot of places in Europe don’t always have the luxuries that we’re used to, i.e. elevators, ramps etc. If you want lift it, lighten the load.
• What to bring:
• Tank tops (layering)
• Underwear
• Clothes
• One dressy outfit
• Pair of walking shoes.
• Electrical transformer and adapter. Most outlets in Europe are 240 volts; your hairdryer will melt like an ice-cream cone if you don’t pick one up. You can get them at radio shack or Wal-Mart. Also get matching outlet adapter too. Different places have different outlet shapes.
Stuff to avoid
• Laptops- unless it’s a business trip you probably won’t need this. There are internet cafes everywhere, and it’s less weight to lug around. (Research your destination first before adhering to this suggestion)
• The 10,000 pairs of shoes
• Fluffy- leave the pets at home if possible.
• Anything that is valuable, such as wedding rings, heirlooms etc
• Anything flammable, corrosive, or something that can be considered a weapon
The carry-on bag.
Shampoo, soap other toiletries no more than 3oz size containers either, and make sure to put them into a quart sized sandwich bag. If the liquid/toiletry doesn’t fit into the bag it will probably be confiscated.
• Batteries
• Electronics
• Book
• Medications
• Valuables such as money, and your passport
• One change of clothes in case luggage is delayed.
Suitcase
Pack light if possible, a lot of places in Europe don’t always have the luxuries that we’re used to, i.e. elevators, ramps etc. If you want lift it, lighten the load.
• What to bring:
• Tank tops (layering)
• Underwear
• Clothes
• One dressy outfit
• Pair of walking shoes.
• Electrical transformer and adapter. Most outlets in Europe are 240 volts; your hairdryer will melt like an ice-cream cone if you don’t pick one up. You can get them at radio shack or Wal-Mart. Also get matching outlet adapter too. Different places have different outlet shapes.
Stuff to avoid
• Laptops- unless it’s a business trip you probably won’t need this. There are internet cafes everywhere, and it’s less weight to lug around. (Research your destination first before adhering to this suggestion)
• The 10,000 pairs of shoes
• Fluffy- leave the pets at home if possible.
• Anything that is valuable, such as wedding rings, heirlooms etc
• Anything flammable, corrosive, or something that can be considered a weapon
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Reactions from family and friends.
I spent the next eight months planning for my trip. One thing I found interesting were the mixed messages that I received from family and friends. The messages ranged anywhere from the simple question of “why Russia?” and “you’re crazy,” to “you’re crazy not to go.” My father was supportive, as were my boyfriend who I got back with in May of 2008, and a small number of friends and relatives.
The rest of the bunch? Well, they had a lot of misconceptions about the country, such as that it was still communist, that Russians hate Americans, that the Russian mafia was going to kill me, all they drink is vodka, its cold etc. Russia hasn’t been communist since the 1990’s, and someone with half a brain will know that most of the misconceptions that the world has of our country are mostly painted by politicians and the media.
If you get past all of that, it’s easy to realize that people are just people and that no matter where you live life is the same as it would be anywhere else. And where I was located in southern Russia was about the same temperature that it was here in August, only drier. It did turn colder in October, but ironically I didn’t see a single flake of snow.
Another issue that my family was concerned with at the time was the conflict in Georgia one month before I was scheduled to leave. Since our government is an ally of Georgia, my family was afraid that as an American I would face hostilities. This is a more legitimate concern, but again that didn’t happen. I was asked on my thoughts but that was about it.
Besides the stereotypes, I also experienced friction with family members on my decision to go abroad for a semester. Such things as “It’s not practical,” “It’s a waste of money” to “You won’t graduate/graduate on time.” Au contraire, I am graduating, and I am still graduating in May 2010 as originally scheduled. I didn’t know if that would be the case at the time, but I was still willing to take the risk.
Seek advice from those who are older and wiser, but be sure it is advice that will be useful. Don’t let people tell you that you’re foolish or cannot do something. Most of the time when they tell you this, it’s based on envy or fear of the unknown. I faced a lot of adversity on my decision, but despite the list of reasons and protests, I pursued my plans.
The rest of the bunch? Well, they had a lot of misconceptions about the country, such as that it was still communist, that Russians hate Americans, that the Russian mafia was going to kill me, all they drink is vodka, its cold etc. Russia hasn’t been communist since the 1990’s, and someone with half a brain will know that most of the misconceptions that the world has of our country are mostly painted by politicians and the media.
If you get past all of that, it’s easy to realize that people are just people and that no matter where you live life is the same as it would be anywhere else. And where I was located in southern Russia was about the same temperature that it was here in August, only drier. It did turn colder in October, but ironically I didn’t see a single flake of snow.
Another issue that my family was concerned with at the time was the conflict in Georgia one month before I was scheduled to leave. Since our government is an ally of Georgia, my family was afraid that as an American I would face hostilities. This is a more legitimate concern, but again that didn’t happen. I was asked on my thoughts but that was about it.
Besides the stereotypes, I also experienced friction with family members on my decision to go abroad for a semester. Such things as “It’s not practical,” “It’s a waste of money” to “You won’t graduate/graduate on time.” Au contraire, I am graduating, and I am still graduating in May 2010 as originally scheduled. I didn’t know if that would be the case at the time, but I was still willing to take the risk.
Seek advice from those who are older and wiser, but be sure it is advice that will be useful. Don’t let people tell you that you’re foolish or cannot do something. Most of the time when they tell you this, it’s based on envy or fear of the unknown. I faced a lot of adversity on my decision, but despite the list of reasons and protests, I pursued my plans.
ahh the preparations
One month after I signed up for the trip to Russia for that fall I began the necessary and tedious preparation process. This included getting my passport, which basically meant going to the post office and getting a photo taken that was attached to the paper work. I also had to get a physical, check the online for travel advisories and stuff on recommended immunizations, the immunizations I got were typhoid, Hepatitis A and tetanus. Needless to say my insurance didn’t cover the procedure, and I wound up with two sore, swollen arms and $200 poorer. For the visa, a physical and HIV test were also required, which sucked because I’m not a fan of needles or blood. The visa paper work cost around $100. I was able to get a scholarship through the university to cover the difference.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Introduction
If you had asked me in my freshman year at Mansfield University what my plans were for my college career, going to Russia wouldn’t have been in the equation. It is almost serendipitous as to how the initial idea was planted. It all started with communications professor, Dr. Chuck Hoy. He came into the multi-media room where I work in January of 2008 because he needed some help with faulty video links. The video clips and photos sparked my interest, so I went to his informational meeting and signed up.
I think that the underlying causes that drove me to do this once the initial seed was planted were that I wanted change. I had been going through a rough time with breakup with my boyfriend in December of 2007, and the death of a close friend the previous year. I was at a point in my life where the timing was right for something big. I had never been off the Eastern seaboard, let alone out of the country. I also had no knowledge of the Russian language, culture, or anything else. I’m usually one who is very cautious and well-informed when making choices. This was the first time in my life that I was taking a “ride by the seat of my pants” approach, and the adventure turned out to be much more than I had anticipated.
I think that the underlying causes that drove me to do this once the initial seed was planted were that I wanted change. I had been going through a rough time with breakup with my boyfriend in December of 2007, and the death of a close friend the previous year. I was at a point in my life where the timing was right for something big. I had never been off the Eastern seaboard, let alone out of the country. I also had no knowledge of the Russian language, culture, or anything else. I’m usually one who is very cautious and well-informed when making choices. This was the first time in my life that I was taking a “ride by the seat of my pants” approach, and the adventure turned out to be much more than I had anticipated.
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