Tuesday, December 29, 2009

С Новым Годом!

Happy New Year! It'll be 2010 in two days and it's really exciting because New Year celebration is really important here. They go all out for this celebration and so far it has been really interesting. On Saturday, I went to an orphanage with the Vlad-eco Roterat Club. It was alot of fun! They have games and presents for the kids and it was just really nice to be there and spend time with them. On Sunday, I went to the Roteract Clubs' New Years Paty, which was also a good time.

While I have been here I have been thinking alot about my life, my goals, my past, the present, my future.... I am really happy that I took this year off because it has given me an opportunity to step back and look at myself and my life and re-evaluate it. It has made me do alot of something I didn't do at home... think. Think about who I am, what I am, what I want to be and what I have to do to achieve those things. I am looking forward to the next 6 1/2 months and coming back to the U.S. a different person that had a life changing experience.

"A year? What is a year? All time is relative. One day may be a lifetime, a year can be forever. It is not the number of days, but what goes into those days..."

-Louis L'amour


Friday, December 25, 2009

so this is Christmas....

Well...

Today was officially my first Christmas without my family, friends, loved ones, etc. and honestly it was the best way I could have spent it under my circumstances. December 24th, I woke up in a big, warm house, had a nice breakfast, went Christmas shopping, went for an hour long horse ride through the woods, then went to a Rotary Christmas party where we ate, danced, and enjoyed each others company. Spent the night at Olga's (amazing Rotarian) with Margaux and Joao, and had champane and a nice, warm fire. On the official day of Christmas, I went to the American Consular Officers house, where we had great food, great wine, and great company. On my way home I decided to take a walk and it couldn't have been better. Snow was falling, everything was white, and Beethoven's Ave Maria was playing on my ipod. Thought it doesn't feel like Christmas it made me really thankful for everything I have and everything I have been given.

Besides Christmas activities, I went skiing which went ALOT worse than I expected. I have skied all my life and I think I am pretty good at it. Well, the ski lift was a disaster and my first time down I crashed majorly. My ski's popped off, and tumbled down most of the hill. Extremely embarresed, I got up and was told I needed an instructor. So I got one, and it was nice because though after a few times down I was fine and didn't need one, it was someone to talk to. The next day we went horse riding, which was super fun. We went for a long ride and I look forward to coming back.

I haven't been doing much these days besides school occasionally and being with the other exchange students. January 6th, I will leave for China for 20 days. I will go to Harabin and Bejing and I am reallly excited.

I hope everyone had a great holiday where ever they are.
"I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams"

Monday, December 7, 2009

3 month aniversary.

It has officially been three months since I have been here. craaaazy. I spent the whole day thinking about "my plan" when I get back. I am nervous. I have two more months to figure out what I will do in nine months. oh joy!

On a lighter note here are some pictures recent pictures from my life... and some not so recent.


The first week in Russia... somethings are a little different now.

The sunset over the ocean in Vladivostok.

Vladivostok in the summer.

Yes we are as goofy as we look.

5 out of the 10 exchange students.

The four of us being accepted as students in our college.

My new family... minus my host brother.

I FOUND SUBWAY.

Margaux (France), me, and Joao (Brasil)

The coast of Vladivostok in the winter.

Totally not walking out on the ice covered river;)

"I'm building an antenna.
Transmissions will be sent when I am through.
Maybe we could meet again further down the river
and share what we both disocvered then revel in the view."
- Incubus

Saturday, December 5, 2009

What you have been waiting for....

I know, I know. It has been forever since I updated this thing.... So much has been going on, it will take me a long time to write this.

Anyways, right now in Vladivostok it is -12 degrees celcious and there is alot of snow... I mean alot. When I walk my knees are covered in it. At least it isn't that cold.

Christmas is coming around the corner and I feel wierd about not having to buy presents for my family and friends. I will get to celebrate it on the 24th though, so I am really happy about that. January 7th I leave for China and I will be there 20 days; 15 days in Harabin and 5 days in Bejing. I am super excited! It will be lots of fun, I just wish more exchangers were going! In February I am going to a city called Kamchutka. I am so so so so so excited for it. The place is supposed to be absolutly beautiful.

So, crazy thing! I have been here for almost exactly three months. It is crazy because it feels like three years. I miss everyone alot, and my cat, and McDonalds. It is really wierd to see pictures of my family and see how much they have changed in these months. My brother is tall, that is the first time I have ever said that. My sister can wear my clothes, like really wear them not drown in them. It's really strange.

My Russian is... coming. It is really difficult! I can understand people if they speak slowly and clearly and I can speak sometimes... but I am really self concious about my accent. I find it sounds really funny when Americans speak Russian. Sometimes here I read about what's going on in the USA, but it kind of makes me upset when I hear things like 30,000 American men and women are being deployed to Iraq when the war was supposed to be coming to an end. It is sad, but I have been able to hear people's opinion on the US and it is really interesting.

Well September 23rd was my last entry and since then I have been pretty busy. Somethings haven't changed though, like me being sick constantly. It is like I have had the flu for the past three months! Ehh, I don't care because it's bearable. I have visited a bunch of places in the past two -ish months! I am really happy about that because it makes the time pass really quickly and every city is different and has it's own feeling and life to it.

First I will start with my trip to Irkutsk. No words can explain that city. It is located in Sibereia by Lake Baikal. It was my favorite trip so far. While we were there we visited a University, a few museums, a childrens center, a hypo-therepy center/ranch, and the best of all Lake Baikal. The childrens center and the horse center were located in a village outside of Irkutsk. The Village was beautiful and amazing. There is something about the Siberian air that gives you such energy and life. Now, the most amazing thing I have seen yet would have to be Lake Baikal. When you go there you can feel how old it is and feel that is a very mysterious and magical place. It is the deepest lake in the world and huge. You cannot see the other side of the lake. There we saw a show with animals that look like seals but aren't, they can only be found in Baikal and they look like aliens. Then we went hiking and it was amazing. I would have liked to hike more, but time didn't allow it. I would really like to visit Baikal again.

The sunrise over Irkutsk.

The village in Siberia.


At the Children's Center.


Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal

We really wanted to stay.

Next we went to Khabarovsk, Russia. It was a very beautiful, clean city. We spent Halloween there and were with members of Roteract. It was a fun trip, but so so so cold; it was -25 once. The most interesting part of our trip to Khabarovsk was the way we traveled. We went by train and it took 10-ish hours. Now the trains here are meant to sleep on so they have "beds" and not alot of sitting room. Over all it was a very interesting trip lots of fun!


Sunset over the Amour River in Khabarovsk.

So our next adventure was to a village outside of Partisanks called Tigrovy. It is a little village of 300 people and is comprised mostly of artists, musicians, and painters. Just really creative minds who come and live in the same area. They said that alot of creative people go there because the area inspires them. It was really intersting to meet them. We stayed in a house called a Dacha, it was basically a cabin. Which means it has no running water or plumbing. It was really ruoghing it, but I enjoyed it alot. We got to hike and use a banya (sauna) and have fun. I really like villages alot more because you get the feeling that you are actually in Russia and the people and the landscape are breathtaking. Tigrovy got its name because there are actually tigers in the woods. It made hiking alot more fun! Also, Tigrovy was extremely muddy because the snow was melting. Not that fun when you only have mesh sneakers. I hope I get to go back there sometime soon.

When I think of a picnic in America I think of sandwiches, hiking, and bugs. Here in Russia it is a little different. Picnics here are alot of fun! They involve food, family and friends, alcohol, and lots of laughter. My first picnic experience was with my first host family and some of their friends. This picnic happened to be on a WWII bunker though... very fun! We went exlporing and ate food and just had a great time.

WWII Bunker


Where we had our picnic.


Really scared...
On the WWII Bunker

Russian Tradition!

The next picnic I went on was with the Rotary and involved paintball and killing a sheep. It was alot of fun and very intersting. It was on the coast of Vladivostok and really beautiful.

Paintball fun.

Time to kill the sheep...

It was a really good day.

The coast.

It is funny how things change and your way of thinking and ideals become altered. The things I miss are the things I took for granted. I used to think Central Pa was the worst place to live in the whole world and I couldn't wait to leave. Now I can't wait to come back. I will miss the sea though, I really like the sea. I have eight more months before my real life starts and I am looking forward to spending my time here and then coming home to beautiful Pennsylvania.

I will post more pictures soon and hopefully I will write another blog entry before another two months pass.


"The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and ocasioanally the chance to feel strong. Now I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that thats way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarirly to be strong, but feel strong. To measure yourself at least once..." - Into the Wild

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

to clear things up...

I love Russia and everything about it and in no way did I want to make it sound terrible. I just miss American food... alot.. but I am going to eat fast food today! SCORE!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

It's bad when my dreams are about cheesburgers.

Okay seriously, all I want is a good cheesburger, but it is impossible here. I have been trapped in my apartment for three and a half days now... they are saying I'm being quarantined. great. I have been sick ever since I got to Russia. I think it's just the change in surroundings... different air, more pollution, not alot of regular water to drink. Regardless of what I think is wrong with me, my host mom knows best... she is a doctor. So I have been on two different kinds of ear drops, two nose sprays, a throat spray, cough syrup, cough pills, cold pills, tylenol, vitamins, etc. I am feeling alot better now though! I don't have any appetite and I have a constant headache, but at least I can breath and I'm not nausous all the time. I have found that while you are anywhere you're not fimilair with you have to look for the positives. So for the past basically four days, I have been sleeping alot and practicing Russian alot... but at least I'm not that sick anymore! I think I will go back to school tomorrow... hopefully.

Since my last post I have started school. School in Russia is very... interesting, to say the least. Sometimes I go to school at 8:30, other times 10:30. Each class is one hour and twenty-five minutes long and somedays we have two classes, otherdays we have four. It just depends. It reminds me of a college schedual. So far I have had a literature class, a Russian language class, two English language classes, a physics class, a math class, a biology class, a psychology class, a social class, and a class they call "oh-bee-jay". I have no idea what it is and they don't know how to describe it in English... so I will just have to wait until I know more and figue out what it is. I don't understand anything in my classes... excpet the English classes. I was deemed a fluent speaker by the teacher haha.

I will be 18 soon and am sooo stoked! I don't know why, it doesn't really matter here, but I really want to turn 18.

The first week of October the other exchange studets and I will fly to Irkusk in Siberia for four days. I am really excited, because I would like to spend a month or two there... if I am nice to the right people maybe they will let me come back and stay for awhile.

I really miss everyone alot... especailly my mom, my kitten and McDonalds. It sucks not having American food here... like pizza and hotdogs and cheeseburgers. I mean they have them, but they aren't the same. I am getting really sick of having soup, chicken, and potatoes for every meal. I want some beef!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

First post on Russan soil

First off I MISS EVERYONE SO MUCH and second I'm sorry it took so long to get a post up.
These past 5 days have been so so busy for me! I have barely any down time, but it's been so much fun.... I have seen alot of things so far. When I arrived in Vladivostok my host family took me to a summer camp in the woods where my school was having orientation. I stayed there for two days before going to Nakhodka.
When my family dropped me off at the camp called Shmar, I was told I had to only take enough clothes that would fit into my carry on. Well if you know me you know I like to overpack and always have lots of clothes with me. My carry on is small though and only fit two pairs of jeans, four or five t-shirts, a long-sleeve shirt, two sweaters, a pair of boots, a scarf, and two pairs of shorts. I later realized I forgot pajamas, underwear, and socks along with other basic toiletries like razors. Some of the kids at the camp spoke english and others didn't, but they all were really nice. I had the worst case of jetlag though and they thought that I was bored with them, but really I was so tired I could barely move. On the third day I was there they told us in a half an hour we were leaving to go to Nakhodka... a city about 4 hours away. We took a taxi and then a bus with a Russian women who spoke no english... it was terrible. I found out the hard way that men in Russia smell because they do not wear deoderant and the ride was super bumpy. The roads here are terrible and everyone drives like maniacs. When we got to Nakhodka we ate at a chinese restureant where we met Tatiana... the most amazing women I have ever met (besides my mom). Tatiana can make anyhing happen at anytime, she has so many connections and is liked by alot of people. So while we were in Nakhodka we were fed often and always were doing something.

Nakhodka is beautiful! It's right on the bay and I just love it there. We got to do so many things because Tatiana is simply amazing. We went to a diferent resturante for every meal and we went sight seeing alot and got a tour of Diamond... which is one of the best clubs in this part of Russia. To go to Diamond we needed "nice clothes", which I didn't have. So we had to go shopping for dresses and heels. The fashion in Russia is very "special".... Everything is super tight, super short, and very shiny and in your face. So shopping was verrry interesting.
Already I feel like I am learning alot of Russian, but not enough. I still don't understand alot, but I can get by for now. The Russian language is a body lanuguage for sure and everyone talks with there hands. It is so complicated though! Everyword get smooshed together when they talk. Russian people are very nice and have lots of "Russian Energy". The kids I have met so far are crazy. They are just so full of energy and always excited and happy and laughing.
The food here is so so so good. I love everything I had tried. They eat alot of cabages and meats and breads, but everything is so tasty... I have a feeling I will gain alot of weight. Russians love tea. They drink tea with every meal and they hardley ever drink water... when they do it's carbonated. You have to search very hard to find regular water in stores.
So today was my first full day at my host family's apartment. It's soo nice! I share a room with my host sister Masha, but she sleeps on the couch. I told her I could sleep there, but she sad no. The have a little dog whose name is "Doo-sa", which is spelled completely wrong but that's how it is prnounced. My host mom used to be a pediatrician but now just helps outher husband in the store they own. Currently I have a terrible cold and Lena is giving me lots of medication and vitamins. I also have internet in my house!!! Which I am so so so happy about. Tomorrow is the firstday of school and I am really nervous.... Eleonora (my principal) is very intimitdaing. I hope everything goes okay. Masha also informed me ater school we were taking a bus to the cinima with her friends from scool for Vikka's birthday. Margaux and I will have a fun time trying to listen to the english in the backround haha.

If you would like to see pictures of my trip go to my facebook www.facebook.com/gabiran and they are under the album "from Russia with love".
Once again so sorry it took so long to update.... I will try to do one every three or four days. Oh and Betz, email me how many push-ups I owe :P Alexa told me you were bugging her for a update haha.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

T-Minus 3 Days

So Yesterday something happen... I FINALLY GOT MY VISA. Which means I can now finally go to Russia:D

My first flight leaves out of Dulles Airport in D.C. at 4:50 pm and takes me alll the way to Moscow. I will be flying overnight, which I think is totally cool, but I am not sure about eating breakfast on the plane. The total time to get from D.C. to Moscow is approx. 9 hours and 55 min. Then I will leave Moscow at 7:15 pm and fly overnight again to Vladivostok. I should get there around 10:50 am.... just hope my luggage doesn't get lost. That flight will be about 8 hours. So the total airtime is 17 hours and 55 min... not tooooo bad. I am just super glad I don't have to transfer planes a bunch of times.... but I am afraid I will have a long layover in Moscow. ehh, oh well, I am just super glad I am going finally... and I'm not going alone, HUGE plus.

Right now I am fully packed and ready to go!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

ugh.

So it's August 30th and I am still in the US. I have been in contact with my host sister and she seems really nice and she speaks some English. I am just getting super impatient and pessimistic. I would really like to go now.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Good News! FINALLY!

My certificate was received by my travel agent and now I am in the process of getting my visa! I will leave th 28th at the earliest... unless there is some sort of miracle and I leave the 25th so I can get to Vladivostok for orientation by the 28th, but it's doubtful. Hopefully I will hear from my host family soon; my ptience is running out quickly.

So I figure I should probably tell you a little bit about where I am going in Russia. My city is called Vladivostok which roughly translates to "rule of the east". It is Russia's largest port city on the Pacific and home to about 850,000 people. It borders China and North Korea and is home port for the Russian Naval Fleet. About 2/3 of the suburbs are so polluted it's considered a health risk and the average annual temperature is 4.3 degrees celsius. I CANNOT WAIT TO GO! It is going to be such a change from Watsontown where the population is a little over 2,000 and there is absolutely nothing to do. The language will be hard for awhile, but it will get easier over time. I am so so SO excited to go and experience everything my city and Russia have to offer.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Soooo....

It's August 15th, I still don't know when I'm leaving. I am supposed to be there the 28th for orientation, but it's highly doubtful that I will be there for it. My Russian contacts are trying to track my Certificate of Invitation in the mail because I need that to get my visa. I haven't had contact with any "Russian" yet, because for some reason all of my emails never get there. I haven't talked to my host family yet, or my yeo. I don't know anything at all and I am freaking out. Hopefully everything will come together soon.

I JUST WANT TO GO.