Russia so far

I can’t believe that it hasn’t quite been a week since my arrival in Moscow. It seems like so much has happened. I’m growing more and more used to being a complete foreigner. It no longer bothers me to approach strangers and say in broken and horrible Russian, “Please, where ____?” Of course, I’ve only done this once or twice, but still, it is progress. I like to begin conversations first, before anyone can start prattling off in Russian, by saying “Hello. I do not understand Russian.” Then following up in English “Do you speak English?”

Yesterday, when purchasing a couple Soviet-era prints, a Russian man thought I was French. When I told him I was from Idaho, he asked if I was Mormon. I laughed audibly, as I was very surprised that he had heard of Idaho and even knew there were a lot of Mormons there. I told him no but that there are indeed many Mormons in Idaho. He nodded and said, “They come up from Utah, no?” “Yes, some of them,” I answered. “No good,” he said, “Mormons no good for us.” I just smiled and nodded, a little confused. Perhaps he is annoyed that LDS members don’t support Russian vodka companies…? Hard to say but definitely very funny.

Anyway, I’m still sort of overwhelmed (in a good way) by everything, but it’s starting to sink in. The Tretyakov Gallery was breathtaking and Swan Lake at the Bolshoi was beautiful. I didn’t know I liked ballets so much, but I guess when you go to the best it makes a difference. Also, we toured the inside of St. Basil’s and the Kremlin and I’ve now seen Lenin twice. We keep passing casually through Red Square on the way to other places and it’s become kind of a joke. I’ll poke a fellow RSP student and say, “Hey, wanna pop by and see Comrade Lenin again today? Wonder how he’s doing…” I’m getting used to the metro system here too. A group of us got separated once, but today when I wandered off with Laura (who is a fellow English major) we were successful in navigating our way back. (Don’t worry Mom and Dad. We were careful.)

Okay, okay. I’ll now post a few pictures. Today we will be touring Christ the Savior Cathedral and tomorrow Tolstoy's house. Then Thursday it's off to Nizhni Novgorod.

Asymmetrical building. Architects were unsure as to which plan Stalin pointed to but were too scared to ask so they combined them!

Inside of one of the many beautiful metro stops. Stalin was striving to have the best, most beautiful metro system...

Guest entrance to the Kremlin. We had to stay on the right paths or there would be a quick warning whistle be fore we were shot!

Christ the Savior Cathedral.

St. Basil's.

Moscow Skyline.

Classic babushkas inside Kremlin. (Babushkas are grandmothers, basically. They rule Russia.)