My First Impressions of Moscow

My first few days in Russia were great. I was suprised to find out that I knew more Russian than I thought, but also that I have so much more to learn! I was able to negotiate purchasing cell phones and plans for two of my fellow group members without any assistance! I later bought my own phone and plan (see below for the number). I lived in the dorms for the first three days. The first night was the big quarter final for soccer, Spain versus Russia. I chose to stay in on the first night, away from the large, drunken mobs of potentially unruly Russian football (soccer) fans. The following day, we acclimated more to life in Moscow and were allowed to explore on our own. I visited Детский Мир, an extravagant children's toy story suggested to me by Russian friends online. It was great to imagine what a Russian childhood might have been like.

I now have a Russian cell phone number. If you'd like to call me, incoming calls are free for me: 7.915.179.4828

Я в москве!

Привет!

I've arrived safely to Moscow! I thoroughly enjoyed my time in D.C. Taking advantage of the two hours I had before my orientation, I walked the town, 7 miles in total! I headed straight for the monuments. Arriving at the Washington monument, it was to my dismay to find that you could only ascend if you had gotten a ticket at 6am that morning. Given that I was sitting in an airport in North Carolina at this time, that was not an option. Walking around, I asked a nice Texan couple to snap a few photos of me. Circling the monument, the park ranger whom I previously asked about ascending the monument, inquired as to how many were in my party. I replied just me and guess what, she let me go right in! I took some awesome shots from the top of the monument. I'll be sure to post them as soon as I can get internet access on my laptop. Right now I am using a public computer at an internet cafe. While in D.C., I had the pleasure of meeting up with Laura, a study abroad friend of mine with whom I studied in Spain. We went out to enjoy the sights, catch up and walk the monuments at night. The monuments may be even more amazing to look at, illuminated in the night. The following day, we woke up early and departed for the aiport. First, flying from D.C. to Moscow, we didn't make it out of the U.S. until nearly 4:30pm EST! The flight from New York to Moscow was quicker than expected, only about 10 hours. Arriving in Moscow, I was only more than excited. Getting in the van to go to my temporary dorms, the driver turns on the radio and what do I hear? Techno dance music, my favorite! After a lesson in what Moscow traffic can be like, we made it safely to our dorms and headed out on the town to exchange money and to make it to the very internet cafe I am typing this blog post from right now. I'll be sure to post more as soon as I can!

Пока!

CA (SMF) to NC

Luke is in Sacramento International Airport and departing in just a few moments!  The first leg of my flights heads to North Carolina.

MOSCOW - Prospective Itinerary

The list below is a prospective itinerary of places to visit during my semester abroad in Moscow. Do you have any suggestions to add to the list?

MOSCOW
Prospective Itinerary

1. Trtyakovskaya Gellereya / Tretyakov (3 Votes)
2. Tsaritsino (царицыно) Museum-reserve (2 Votes)
3. The Kremlin (2 Votes)
4. Moscow Museum of Modern Art (2 Votes)
5. Mayakovsky Museum
6. Red Square
7. St. Basil Cathedral
8. Arbat Street
9. Pushkin Museum (with Elena Vishnevskaya)
10. Borodinskaya Bitva Museum
11. Bol`woy Teatr
12. VDNH
13. Vinzavod Gallery
14. Hram Hrista Spasitelya
15. Walk down the river Moskva,
16. Gorkogo Park
17. Pushkin
18. Lev Tolsoy Flat
19. Teremok Restaurant
20. Park Pobedi
21. All the circle line metro stations
22. Statue Park
23. детский мир
24. Chistye Prudy
25. Moscow Zoo
26. Kolomenskoe Museum-reserve
27. Bulgakov museum
28. Central House of Artists (across the road from the gorky park)

Departure

Tomorrow I depart for Washington, DC for my orientation preceding my study abroad summer semester in Moscow. While I may be nervous about my trip to Moscow, I find comfort in my previous study abroad experience, having already spent a week in DC and studied abroad in Seville, Spain, for 5 months previously. Orientation should be relatively painless, just a quick, one-day session and then we fly out of Reagan National to Moscow. For the first few days, I will be staying in the dorms and then I will be staying with a host family. I can't wait to find out what they are like. As for now, I'm wrapping up a few final things at home before I go. My bags are packed. The bank has been informed that I'll be making purchases outside the country. I've said goodbye to friends. Now I just have to wait these last few hours before I can actually depart....

I'm going to Russia!

I will study in Moscow (ACTR: Contemporary Russia) this summer and in Vladimir (ACTR: Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP)) this fall as a John Mohan Study Award Recipient and a Fulbright-Hays scholar.