Update # 2

Alright all, here I am with another update. Sorry to keep you all in suspense. After a few days of really intense culture shock, I have a lot to report on. I started classes last week at the Smonly Institute. It’s pretty sweet. I’m at the Saint Petersburg State University Center for Russian Language and Culture. The center is actually at a different institute, but is part of a different university. It’s sort of confusing, but I’m located in a very pretty building/cathedral. Next door to me is where Lenin started preaching the ideas of the revolution. I actually got yelled at by a babushka for walking on the grass outside that building. I tell you, there is history everywhere you turn here. Just about every building on the street has a placard on it telling you what famous Russian lived there and when.
I feel as though I am getting to know the city better. I live about five minutes from the metro, which is pretty sweet. There are a lot of stores near me, which is pretty cool. I’ve also met up with a few Russians, which is pretty cool. They are really nice about me not speaking so well. Overall, I must say, Russians are some of the nicest people around. They are really willing to help you out. Here are some other interesting observations:
- Russians don’t wear flip-flops. At all. Well, that’s a lie. I saw one Russian on the Metro wearing flip-flops and I almost died of shock. I kinda wanted to take a picture, but didn’t pull my camera out for fear of being mugged/yelled at.
- St. Petersburg is a very quiet city for the amount of people that here. The metro can be crammed-packed, and not a single person is talking. If people are having a conversation, it is very quiet. Same goes if you are walking on the street.
- The cars here are about the same size as they are in America. There are no SmartCars or really tiny cars here. I assumed that because Russia is in Europe that the cars would be small like they are in Italy and France, for example, but they aren’t. I saw a Dodge Dakota the other day, parked on the side of the street.
- Women dress up for EVERYTHING. I swear, just about every woman here wears black, four inch stilettos here and a ton of make-up. It’s as if they are getting ready to go out to the clubs all the time. Also, they are all skinny as sticks. Some of them are unhealthily skinny. I kinda want to feed them a blini or two.
- The men here don’t cat-call or anything. It’s kinda nice.
- A pack of cigarettes costs about $2 here. Don’t worry, I haven’t started smoking and I don’t intend to.
- You walk EVERYWHERE here. I seriously underestimated the amount of band aids that I needed to bring. My feet are covered in mad blisters. I will, however, be in awesome shape by the time I get back to the states.
- Petersburg is full of PDA. Personally, I think Paris is worse (ok – I know that sounds kinda snotty, but it’s true). The thing that I think is interesting about it is that it isn’t just young people that show affection for their partner, but also older couples too. Of course, they aren’t as open about it, but I see a lot more older couples here holding hands than I do in America. I think it’s kind of sweet.
- People here drink bottles of beer on the street, on the metro, wherever. That is totally chill here. I’m not surprised, but it catches me off guard every once in awhile.

I can’t think of other things that have caught me off guard thus far. If I find more, I’ll jot them down and post them next time. Anyway, I’m super tired because I walked around a shopping mall here after doing a full day of classes. So I’m going to go to sleep, but expect a long entry next time because we are going to Novgorod this weekend, which I’m super excited about. Google it. It’s pretty cool. ‘Till next time!