Snow Wars

Well the first week is almost over, and we’re just a little bit more accustomed to what everyone is telling us is the first true Russian winter in more than a decade. Classes have been interesting, I was placed in the highest group after the test on Monday, with students who have been taking Russian for years longer than I have. It was more complicated than last semester to split up the language groups because there are fewer students this semester, so there are only 4 groups as opposed to 6. There are also a couple of students who were born in Russia and immigrated later with their families, so they speak almost perfectly but have never really been taught the grammar or some of the trickier parts of the language. Apart from those issues, apparently it is a weaker group overall than it was last semester, and that is how I am able to be not 100% in over my head in the first group. Its going to definitely be a tough semester, but I think I will come out at the end of it with an even stronger grasp of the knowledge than I thought I would obtain.

It has been interesting settling into the routine again, and while I am glad that there is so much to do and see that is new to me in this city, it is definitely a different experience coming back as opposed to arriving for the first time. The relationship of the year-long students to the new students is not the same as among our group last semester, and its just a little tricky figuring out the balance. They are all trying to establish relationships with their host families and with each other, while we feel absolutely at home with our host families and so don’t talk about the same sorts of issues and aren’t surprised by the same sorts of things. Of course we remember when we were, but experiencing and remembering an experience are two very different things. I have definitely enjoyed getting to know new people and listening to their experiences, but I have also very much enjoyed getting to know all of the year long students much better, since all of us did not necessarily spend a lot of time together last semester. Last night we went to a microbrewery after class and spent hours talking about anything and reminiscing. I’ve also enjoyed catching up with Russian friends, some of them aren’t around yet because they won’t be back in school until next Wednesday, but I’ve been excited to hang out with the ones who are here. Andrey, the boyfriend of one of my best friends from last semester, took me out to dinner at a delicious Chinese restaurant to thank me for bringing him some things from America, and we’re going to try to meet once a week to work on his English and my Russian. My days have been busy and my evenings almost more so, and I can only imaging how fast this semester is going to fly. We are going to Pavlovsk tomorrow, where we are hoping to go sledding, and next weekend is already time for our trip to Novgorod!

It is cold, but this week has been warmer and we have walked to the metro a few days through the beautiful park which will no doubt become one large lake when all of this snow melts. Between trying not to fall on the mountains of snow that the dumptrucks have put in your way and trying to look above you to make sure no icicles are about to fall on your head, any ordinary walk into town becomes quite entertaining. But the Smolny cathedral is beautiful against the snow and the trolleybus ride on Palace Bridge over the Neva is something out of a painting, so you can almost forgive the snow for inconveniencing you. Plus, it gives you a new spectator sport; joining the crowd of Russians watching men on roofs push snow of the tops of buildings onto the sidewalk to prevent the roofs from collapsing. A few overhangs have collapsed, and we’ve seen cars buried in so much snow that they’re probably not coming out anytime soon. But that’s winter in Russia for you, and while I am already looking forward to spring I will take the amusements that winter here provides with as much salt as they throw on the roads to melt the snow and trash your boots.

Hopefully the sun will decide to show its face soon, and I can take some new pictures of Smolny in the snow! Until then, I’ll keep taking Vitamin D and bringing my camera just in case. All my best to you all back home! Much love - b

authors note: we did go sledding today, but i lost my camera in the process, so unfortunately no new pictures will be up anytime soon. sorry!