No More Down Coat

Tags

Down coat, postaday, Russia, Spring, St. Petersburg, Study Abroad, Winter

Two or three days ago, I changed coats. Yes, that sounds rather odd saying but let me explain. Before, I was wearing my down coat which hits right above my knee. I was getting hot wearing that so I stopped zipping it up. Then I was still hot so I decided to just switch to a lighter coat. I’m much happier with a lighter coat now but I feel like I have a shape again. When I would wear my down coat, I always felt like my body was just swallowed up in it and I felt like a grandma whenever I wore it. It’s hard to feel pretty when you are being dominated by a down coat but it did keep me warm.

Now I don’t think I will ever wear it again. I have no need for it when I go back home because I live in Los Angeles, California. I’ll keep my down coat because I grow attached to things. It’ll be a nice reminder of Russia and the bitter cold that I experienced.

Spring is coming but Winter is not going to let go without a fight. The days are more sunny now but now and then they are gloomy. Today it started snowing but still spring is coming.  Come on, Spring, you can do it!

Bye! Пока!

I quickly fail

Tags

Adventure Time, McDonalds, Russia, Sleep, Spring, St. Petersburg, Study Abroad, Teaching English, weather, Winter

Since I forgot to post yesterday, I already failed postaday for this year but I will continue to post. Yesterday after my classes, I went to this teaching English meeting. I was not aware that we were going to stay and teach that same night. Well I didn’t have to stay but I would have felt rude if I said no. The class is from 7PM to 10Pm but I explained that I couldn’t stay the whole time because my host mom would be waiting for me.

It was a small class and there were 5 students and I’m pretty sure that they are all older than I am. Most of them have already graduated from college and are working.  The teacher speaks english very well and one of the students does as well. It makes me feel bad about my russian because I’m just not good at it.

After class, I quickly walked home and started watching cartoons. I’ve been watching a lot of Adventure Time lately. My host mom had a student over so she gave my McDonalds for dinner and I had dinner in my room. I wasn’t really hungry but I ate it all so quickly because I just wanted to lay down. Then I started watching cartoons again and I fell asleep.

Later when I woke up, I was so confused as to what time it was and then I fell asleep again. I slept a lot and I think I am turning sleep into a hobby. After counting the hours, I realized that I slept 14 hours last night. I still want more but I know I shouldn’t.

It’s raining outside and I know Spring is coming. Lately, it has been getting warmer and warmer. I can walk around without wool socks and my down coat open now. It’s a nice feeling but it is not a pretty transition. The streets are full of slush and it’s muddy everywhere. I forgot to take a picture yesterday but if I can I will take one today or tomorrow. Maybe I will be able to not wear my down coat soon because I get really hot with it on in the metro. Spring will be gorgeous here and I can’t wait.

Novgorod, again.

Tags

Novgorod, postaday, Russia, Study Abroad, Travel, weather, Winter

I am off to Novgorod for the weekend and it should be fun. Let me rephrase that; it will be fun unless I freeze. Last time I checked the weather for this weekend it is suppose to be -24 F with windchill. That’s not fun but if I can keep my poor little feet and my face from freezing, then everything will be okay.

If I do not report back on Sunday night, then please send someone to come find me. Please and thank you.

Why won’t you speak?

Tags

classes, Cold, language, Long Distance Relationships, Russia, school, Skype, St. Petersburg, Study Abroad, Test, weather, Winter

Today I had a placement test that would determine what language classes I would be placed in and well…I didn’t do so well. I need more practice and I need to get over my shyness to speak in Russian. Honestly, I’m ashamed at how bad my Russian is after spending 3.5 months here last semester. It’s silly and I beat myself up for it. That’s why I must change my ways.

I must study more and I must talk! Talk! TALK! It’s easier said than done. (sigh)

Tomorrow I will post up my schedule of classes.

Also it’s so cold! I hope that things start to warm up but that probably won’t happen very soon. It’s suppose to be warmer tomorrow which is very nice. Walking to the metro stop from school was somewhat unpleasant because my nose was very cold. However, it wasn’t horrible. It could have been worse and I am thankful that it was not.

On a more personal note, I am missing my boyfriend like crazy! We have a skype date so that will be the bee’s knees. It will be so nice to hear his voice. Если только он здесь… (If only he was here…)

Covered in Snow

Tags

Russia, school, Snow, Study Abroad, weather, Winter

So I am sitting at my desk and eating yogurt. I keep looking out the window and I wonder to myself if I want to venture out into this cold Russian winter. The whole time that I’ve been looking out the window, I have only seen one person wondering outside and that discourages me even further from going out.

Well at least everything looks pretty because it is covered with snow. I like walking on the snow and leaving my footprints when no one has walked on it yet.

Anyway…

How am I going to deal with this weather? Just a day ago or two I was in warm weather and now I’m dealing with this…

Screen shot from Weather.com

Yea, this isn’t cool but it definitely is freezing. Also I’m hoping that the sun comes out but it probably won’t. I can feel the cold coming in through the window. This is going to be a challenge.

On a different note, school officially starts on Tuesday and I don’t know what classes I’m taking. Surprise, Esmi! However, I do have to go to school on Monday because we have a placement test to take and I have to go to Smolny tomorrow to register that I am back in the country. Why can’t things and people come to me?