Recap of Russia

We had our Russia reunion yesterday and it was so fun seeing my fellow travelers again.  I apologize to Bess for stealing her post but I thought it was so awesome that I could share it with all of you as well.

Check out this photo/video montage of my trip to Russia.  Our group leader created this and it was so great to reminisce.  You should be able to notice a few shots of me with my traveling companions enjoying the Russian experience.  Enjoy!

Traveling with friends!

Hey people!!!  I know you have been DYING for a story from Russia and I am just now ready to appease that request.  I have been home for just over a week now and have not done much more than upload all 800+ of my pictures to Facebook.  If you have the chance to check them out, do so under the warning that the only requests from people before I left included (1) Be safe. (2) Have fun. (3) Take lots of pictures.  So I did all 3 with an emphasis on #3!

Prior to the trip I didn't really know anyone else going.  I mean we had our 2 day workshop in March with a half hour "get-to-know-you, here are more details, did we scare you yet?" lunch but really I didn't know anyone.  Insert a 4 hour plane delay at RDU and problem is solved!

I met Tammy in the first line of the day - checking in at the "self check-in" computers.  We were both at the end of the line and struck up conversation about who knows what.  Probably a lot of "wow how long does it take to check in at the computer?" "why is this going so slow?" "oh, don't get that computer it seems to be giving people lots of fits." and so on.  After checking in, we got transferred to another line the "check in your luggage, get passport inspected, get actual ticket" line.  Joyful!  We also ended up next to each other on the plane to DC...score!  YAY friend #1!!!

Now that I am exhausted already and have yet to go through security, I sit down and strike up a conversation with Bess.  (I know look at me branching out and striking up conversations.  Such a big girl!)  Anyway, we dealt with the whole "my name is... I teach...in..." junk to be repeated at least 25 more times to the other travelers.  She has a very interesting story - she taught the new American Idol in English!  I had to text my mom right away because I knew she would want to know.  So anyway, we got past my little bit of star-struckness and had a unspoken plan to stick together - at least for the day.

After security and knowing that we would be at the airport for a while we decided to go on an adventure to find food; what may possibly be some of the last edible food of our trip (in my mind at least).  As we were wandering we came across Andi and invited her to join us on our quest.  Come to find out through the "my name is... I teach...in..." junk that she teaches at one of my feeder elementary schools.  SMALL WORLD!

From this point on the 4 of us verbally decided that we are going to stick together for this trip.  Short of one small incident, we never left a WOman behind!

Andi, Tammy, Bess, and me in Suzdal, Russia

I am not really sure how my trip would have gone without these girls, but I am really glad I had them!  We had a blast learning new things, being a sounding board when something or more likely someone was driving us crazy, or just to laugh and chat together.  We have plans to meet up at our post-travel workshop and get dinner and reminisce about our adventures.

Traveling 101: If you don't know anyone, meet them!  Some of them may actually turn out to be pretty darn cool!

Russia

I don't have time or the desire right now to tell you all about my trip so far to Russia.  I did want to give you a quick update.  I arrived in Moscow last Sunday and stayed there for 2 days and then we traveled 3ish hours to the northeast to the Golden Ring.  We stopped shortly in Vladimir and then continued on to Suzdal - a former capital of Kievan Rus/Russia although most people back home, including me, have never heard of it.  Our time in Suzdal and surrounding areas has been great and tomorrow we prepare for our overnight train ride to St. Petersburg!  I am very excited for the next few days.

More updates and pictures are to come once I get home and have stable internet and lots of rest!

До свидания!
 [dah svee-dah-nee-yah]
Goodbye!

Summer trip

Ok ok I know my posts are getting further and further apart but really the 3 people that read this on a regular basis already know whatever it is that I am posting.  But, for those of you that don't know, I am going to Russia in 36 days!

Russia?  Yep!  Why?  Because how many people do I know that can say they have been to Russia?  Like 1 - and it was the Soviet Union when she was there.  Also, I am teaching 6th grade social studies this year which includes Russia in the curriculum.  But really I just love the idea of going somewhere far away - for a visit - and learning about the history and see how other people live.

In order to get ready for this trip I have been teaching my students some Russian to help me learn some Russian. I can now hold a conversation that goes something like this:
"Hello.  Good morning (or afternoon).  My name is Brandi.  What is your name?  Pleased to meet you.  Goodbye."  I can also say "please" and "thank you".

Yep.  That's about all I've got at the moment.  Not going to get me very far but like I told my students, if you can be polite, it can get you some help.  Plus I don't really think that I will be able to hide my American-ness while I am there anyway so whatever I learn will be a miracle.

I have stocked up on travel size necessities, space-safer bag things so I can pack for stuff, luggage locks that are TSA approved so they don't have to cut them off should they need to make sure I don't have a bomb, and a wall outlet adapter.  I am still waiting on my visa to come back from DC.  I had to send my passport to the Russian Embassy in DC to get the visa.  This is super scary because should something happen to that passport during transport or whatever, there is no way I will get another in time for the trip.  YIKES!!!  And the embassy has been closed for at least 6 weekdays in the last 2 weeks due to different holidays for Russia.

I also was flipping through the channels tonight and found out that I have a Russian Television channel that comes straight from Moscow but is in English.  I have been watching for about an hour and they are replaying the same exact footage that I saw when I first tuned in.  I think if I watch it a few times a week, I will know more info about the ins and outs of Russia.  Like did you know that every year they open up all of the museums all night, for one night for free to anyone that wants to come?  Or that Volgograd is powered by a hydroelectric dam on the Volga River that although provides enough power to run the town plus send extra over to Moscow is also cutting down on the sturgeon population responsible for the famous Russia caviar?  Or that there are only 1000 days until Sochi hosts the 2014 Winter Olympics?  Well, now you do!

I hope to learn more about the wonderful place I will travel to in a few short weeks.  Maybe you can learn something too!  I will keep you updated on the process of packing, etc and of course supply you with lots of stories and pictures when I get back.  Stay tuned.