Meeting my Babushka and Moscow

Well, I've made it through a week of school already (yes it's Friday for me, but I don't have school on Friday), and it's going pretty well so far. BUT, I think I need to back-peddle a little bit, to the first few days...

Day One, Sunday: I got picked up from the train station by a nice Turkish man who spoke good English. His wife is a teacher at the school, so he was helping out by driving and picking some of us up at different times. From the Train station we drove through Moscow for about 30 minutes until we got to my apartment. We found it, he helped me with my luggage, and took off. There I was, all un-shaven, un-showered, blond, 6'5" of me, standing in the doorway with my 5'nothing", big smiling, 55-yr old, petite Babushka. She invited me in, I unpacked a little bit, and she made me some tea. The rest of the day, I was just in and out, in and out of sleeping, and reading mostly. She made me some hot cereal and tea (she knew I didn't drink black or green tea or coffee, which was great), and I've had that same hot cereal at least once a day for breakfast, and the tea almost without fail, twice a day so far.

Day Two: My Babushka took me to school today, so I would know how to walk there. I'm the only one that can walk to school, and not have to take the bus and/or metro. As we crossed one of the streets, she grabbed my arm so that I wouldn't...wander?...get hit by a car?...or just out of her loving Babushka heart maybe, but it was really nice of her, and it made me laugh inside...and of course, everyone else laughed when I told them as well. We met with out teachers and some of the staff. We met a few of the native students that help out with the program and everything went pretty smoothly. My Babushka, oh yeah, her name is Galina, she makes me breakfast and dinner everyday. It's part of the room and board that I'm paying her.

Day Three and Four and Five: Things mesh together when you don't write them down right away. But so far, everything is still good. For dinner, Galina made me mashed potatoes and a green salad (she eats them together, so I followed suite, and it was pretty dang good-of course, not as good as dad's mashed potatoes), and then I told her that I like juice (she asked me what I wanted the other day, and I told her that I'm not picky at all really, 'cause I really do like just about everything, save pickles) and so today I told her that I like juice and so she said she'd go buy some the next day, which she did. She's VERY accomodating. And at night we might eat dinner as late as 10 or even 11, and then after that, as much as I can really, we'll talk for up to maybe 45 minutes or even longer maybe. She's talkative, and I think it excites her when I can actually carry on pretty good conversations. In my room, and it's pretty big, I have a bed (and the "mattress" is something more like what I slept on in Provo this last year, the thick brown pad...only maybe not as thick?) and a BIG feather pillow, to go along with the one I brought-both make me VERY happy), and a dresser with a mirror that reaches my sternum and a lamp on the night stand, and a desk w/a chair and another lamp. The room is pretty bare as far as decorations, although I do have a big window with curtains, there's nothing else on the walls though. The only thing it's missing is a fan. It is SO hot sometimes at night. And I haven't worn long pants, except for church pants, since I've been here. And short sleeves. Although, It did rain once, and it POURED! It was so awesome and crazy and I got soaked, even with my umbrella. I know this is long (and I'm sure you're all loving it too), and it's jumping around, but I'm just trying to cover my basis, if for nothing else, for the memories, and for my mother-oh, and yes mom, I know that you gave birth to me, but ever since I was in Jr. High probably, I can remember telling people that I'm 51% Finnish, ALL because I remember some Finnish Flag magnets we used to have on the fridge that said 51% and the background was the Finnish flag. I PROMISE I'm not diss-ing you or your side of the family or anything :) Well...oh, and for lunch yesterday, I had these meat wrap things from a little side of the street store-there's lots of them, and the natives eat there-we've been, how should I put it...warned?...or at least it's been suggested not to eat there, but come on. How am I supposed to follow that...let's say...guideline, when all the Russians do it, and I think it's an important part of the whole experience. Mom, don't worry, I'll be fine :)