Venäjä! Russia!

Wow so last Thursday we shipped off from the bus station in Turku about 7AM to go to Helsinki, pick up more kids, then go to Russia. And let me tell you, it already feels like it was ages ago. Not only did we already have 2/3 tours this year, but it is now April and I leave in June. Time really does fly when you live a dream.
       Anyways, Russia! Here was our schedule there:

Preliminary Program in St. Petersburg
31.03.
-buses start in the morning
-lunch before crossing the border (restaurant Rajahovi in Vaalimaa)
-crossing the border
-money exchange soon after the border (in city Viborg)
-arrival to the Hotel Azimut (around 8.30 PM local time)
-dinner in the hotel
01.04.
-breakfast
-Hermitage Museum (http://www.hermitagemuseum.org)
-lunch in a downtown restaurant
-city tour and purchase of souvenirs
-dinner in the hotel.
-classical ballet in the evening
02.04.
-breakfast
-Kunstkamera, Peter the Great’s Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (http://www.kunstkamera.ru/en/)
-free time in Nevski Prospekt (main shopping street of St. Petersburg). You can have a lunch in a place of your own choice and own cost. Shopping and sightseeing.
-folklore show in the Anitskov Palace (in downtown). Folklore = traditional Russian songs and dances, very entertaining
-buses back to the hotel in the evening.
-dinner in the hotel
03.04.
-breakfast
-departure for Finland
-visit the market place of city Viborg (more souvenirs)
-lunch in Rajahovi
-farewells and bus trip to home

Everything was so absolutely amazing! Honestly, it is quite hard to describe because everywhere you went, there was history. We saw the cannon where in the early 1800's, had fired a shot to signal the Bolshevik's to send their ships in. We also saw a building and door where a man named Romanov (I was half listening to the tour guide lady) was shot, fought back, escaped, but was then taken by his attackers in the trunk of their car to one of the many rivers in St. Petersburg and was dumped. The autopsy showed water in his lungs which meant that he was still alive as all that was happening. It was so incredibly interesting, really, although I can't remember it all, but when we learned it as we were looking at it, it was crazy to imagine. The buildings we walked past had history back to the Nazis. For example, we went to a part of Peter the Great's Winter Castle (the Hermitage Museum part). The building was made in the 1730's and was attacked by Nazis in 1917- we even saw a bullethole in a mirror that was shot at- astonishing. We saw things that people only dream of seeing. Ceilings were painted with intricate artworks, columns were covered in gold, sculptures were everywhere. And get this- we saw paintings done by Van Gogh, da Vinci, and a sculpture by Michaelangelo himself. Talk about once in a lifetime stuff. Looking at that history really makes you feel lucky. We also went to an incredibly old anthropology museum (circa 1715)  where we walked through and saw, well, to put it bluntly, dead babies and body parts in jars. In order to show the rest of the world how Russia was progressing, Peter the Great chose doctor Robert Areskin to bring a collection of marvels into what we walked through. So among these were babies preserved in chemicals, two-headed animals, arms, legs, skin, heads, etc. all dating from the 1700-1800's. Absolutely phenmonenal and breathtaking. Peter the Great wanted to show the world how accepting he was of other cultures, so he got artifacts and learned about people from all over the world and put the information and artifacts in glass cases that we were able to view. But this was not a museum to begin with, it was the autopsy room including an observatory. So years ago when they opened the bodies, we stood where other observers stood watching a body get cut open. Crazy!!! There was also (on the highest floor) a room where astronomers watched the stars. In the middle of the room there was a huge globe with paintings on the inside. It was very cool, and very hot being that high up!
         We also went to this incredibly awesome folkshow! Lots of traditional dancing, singing, and more. At first, we were quite Finnish as we sat quietly and watched, but afterwards we thought to ourselves, "Hey wait, we can be loud and show emotions with Russians, we aren't in Finland anymore!" :P So after a while, it was just  like a party, and they even pulled up two exchange students on stage! Absolutely hilarious!
        We also went to Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" the ballet in an amazing theatre whose name I can't remember, but it was an old theatre and the play has been running for hundreds of years. It was really quite beautiful, but I didn't havea program so afterwards, once someone explained something to me, it made much much more sense! But it was still beautiful to watch. Their bodies were breathtaking (says the overweight exchange student).
       We were not allowed to drink any water-showering was quite frightening. Ever had to conciously keep your mouth closed while showering? Proved to be quite difficult. The bus trip in total was about 8 or 9 hours with stops. Our hotel was...okay. Had 18 floors and we were on the 12th with completely open windows. It was such an amazing view, though!! I stayed with my friend from Turku, Megan, from South Africa. The food was quite delicious and free soda! You were allowed to smoke anywhere inside, so at nighttime everyone gathered in the lobby and smoked up the place. You can imagine how the contents of my suitcase smelled upon unpacking.
       The city itself was supposed to relic "New York" as Peter the Great wanted it to. He brought in people from all over the world to construct buildings and roads, he even brought in sphinxes to adorn the rivers from Egypt that are still in place today. There is also a kissing river where just married couples go and attach a lock to a metal stand thing-how precious. One thing that was frightening was having RUssians find out that I am American. We put up our American flag in the window and this group of army guys stared at us as we passed. Quite frightening, actually...always had to have my purse right next to me. The Russian dollars were something like 70 euros (about 80 dollars) was 2,700 roubles. I felt so rich ! (for once). My friends also bought the Russian hat with the emblem on the front and were literally saluted by men in the army who passed them. Quite a surreal feeling as they are still so dedicated to their country and army, etc.
       OH! And I have to tell this story beause it was so absolutely scarring. The first night we were there, I was trying to sleep and I heard this car rev it's engine outside on the main street (we heard cars all night the walls were paper), and then I heard this noise and I thought "Oh that's a strange car alarm" Then I realized it was a dog yelping. And just as soon as I figured that out, I heard the car rev its engine again and the crying stopped....welcome to Russia, I suppose. The place is quite different I think than any other countries surrounding it. I felt like I was on edge almost the whole time, but it wasn't exactly bad. So unlike I thought, I absolutely loved the country. Although it was dirty, it was just so interesting and it felt different to Finland. Of course, I love Finland, but there were many differences between the two both good and bad.
    The last stop we made was to eat lunch at the border (which was quite frightening going through the border control), but it was so sad. I met many new Australians who just got here in January and now, as I am not going on Eurotour in June, I will never see them again. And a lot of the people I left behind live in Europe and I will probably never see again...I bauled my eyes out, I was leaving behind so many friendships. The weather here is okay right now, but is turning grey. No more ice or snow on the roads and we still have snow in the yards...come on spring!!! Anyways, I will post pictures in the next blog! Now there is 20 days until my birthday and near 80-something until I leave! Wow! Wow! Wow!!!!!!! God bless!

10 Maaliskuuta 2011

Terve! So it has been some time since the Vanhojen Tanssit ended, but it was an absolute blast! First, we dressed as babies on Thursday and the day went very quickly. The third years made us do ridiculous things, eat disgusting things, etc. They had a "Black List" and my name was on it, there were only about 30 names. They threw flour at us, drew on our faces, and on top of this all, they were dressed as clowns. Then after the school day, they got loaded up in dump trucks and threw candy for the younger kids from our other school. Then they drove off, along with the rest of the third years (abis) around Finland and drove around the closest larger town (for us, Turku). It was fun to watch because I know how good it feels to let go of high school, but now they have very intense matriculation exams. For Vanhojen Tanssit, I got my dress from Linda and my shoes from America. Then I went (at 7.30AM) to get my hair done. The day was exhausting. First we performed for the schools and then had a 3 hour break in which I forgot to bring clothes and was stuck in my dress for the rest of the day. Then the parents and family all showed up and we performed for them. It felt so good to perform!! After months of practicing, we finally got to show everyone how well we danced. It was so amazing :) Afterwards, we had a Jatkot, or party so I got home around 2.30, but that was very fun! Then the next day, after much rest, we hopped on a boat to Sweden along with about 4 or 5 other schools in Turku. Things have been slowing down a lot, and many people are now getting sick especially at school, and I think I may be a part of that statistic by next week. Uh oh! Anyways, the weather is getting wonderful! It is about 35-40F every day with a SLIGHTLY WARM sun!! It is melting the snow so now when I bike, the slush pulls my tires every which way, but I am professional at biking now, so don't worry ma! But you can definetely tell that everyone is in a better mood. Their spirits are lifted because even though there is still snow, it is promising to see, hear, and smell the snow melting and walking through puddles, and listening to water drip from roofs. Best thing in the world after this awful winter! My language is coming along now I think. I don't speak that much because it is so damn hard, but when I know something I try. I am, however, understanding quite a bit. I still am going to my Finnish classes 2 times a week so that definetely has helped! I am not sure when I move to my next family, but I really love this family I have now! They are so incredibly kind and go out of their way to do things for me all the time, which is a common trait in lots of Finns. Next week my parents are going to the Canary Islands, so I will be staying back with my 1st host family. Then on March 31st I will be going to St. Petersburg, Russia!!!! YAYYY!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to be with my exchange student friends again. In a nutshell, that is all for now :D

My friends and I,,,I decided to be the pouty baby



Some abis and I! Scared baby :D

The "Friiki Sirkus" getting into their trucks

Christina "The American" Guess

After such a long winter, showing the calf is considered offensive to Finns.....haha not really





During the dance. I am on the right

My partner and I

Before the second performance!

........There were no pictures taken at the party and on the cruiser. That is all ;)

Vanhojen Tanssit!

Just a little fill in on why I have been so incredibly busy! We have been practicing 2 months now for a little(big)...(huge)...thing called Vanhojen Tanssit which literally translates to "Old Dances". People are paired up from the second years and practice about 12 different dances from the end of November to February. The purpose is that it is a "send off" because the third years, after this weekend will be done with school. So in honor of them, we will do dances such as the waltz, tango, dance squares, and many others. We perform once during the day in front of the rest of the school and once at nighttime for parents and teachers. The girls wear very VERY nice dresses- similar to those of a quincinera and the guys in tuxedos. So since we are still the "babies" of the school, we will dress up as babies for "Vauva Paiva"...baby day- tomorrow. We will have the dances on Friday. Which means a full schedule from 7 in the morning when I get my hair done to 3AM for the afterparty...Then the next day around 7PM we are going aboard on a Silja Line cruise ship to Sweden and back with a few different other high schools who are celebrating like us. Garaunteed to be a crazy crazy CRAZY ship ride! I borrowed a dress from a good friend Linda, my counselor's daughter and made it a little bit bigger to fit just right. Mom sent shoes from home and painted my nails tonight and I am ready to go! Wish us luck! (pictures later)

Just a quick note

Living in a different country definetely makes you appreciate things you didn't even realize you should've been grateful for before. It also brings out your patriotism like crazy! Oh, and it also makes your English dwindle to phrases and very simple and small descriptive words!

Crazy!

A few weeks ago, my Brazilian friend Erick visited me. While walking home at night from the bus to my house, it was about -22C and I looked up and saw the most amazing thing. The moon had a halo around it. Erick told me that it was due to the coldness, the ice/water particles in the air reflect from the moons' light. A picture really can't do justice, but here is one I pulled from Google:

It is really beautiful, felt like the world stood completely still

Also, whenever I am walking home from a night out in Turku, I always get the pants scared off of me by these little guys, who happen to appear in completely darkness across the road. I always think it's a cat...but then I see the ears..

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Now is the time

So I have been informed that it has been quite some time since I have last written in my blog and now I realize how much I have done in between that time and how much I want to write down every detail, but I have a pounding headache and a gurgly stomach that is being magnetically attracted to my bed.

So I will make this short and sweet.

I have moved into a new family. There is two floors. My host parents run an ambulance company with our neighbors (who happen to be family as well). So they work quite often, but it is sort of interesting to watch. I have a 17 year old host sister who goes to school in Turku (Enppu), whom I have mentioned before on here- memory check for you old farts! And a 30 year old sister who lives close with her fiance. Christmas was wonderful. And I was shocked to find that this host family has gotten me a new camera!! I was like, "What?! I don't deserve this!!" And they said they found out that my camera was waterlogged after riding my bike in the rain. So kind! Here are some other things I got; Kalevala Jewlery (traditional Finnish Jewelry-very fine), Guess bracelet, Finnish glassware, spectacular earrings, and LOTS of chocolate, which I have already eaten...they had a lot of traditional Finnish Christmas casseroles which I enjoyed, but many said they don't like. On Christmas night, we went to a memorial and put a candle for my host parent's deceased parents. It was quite beautiful, a graveyard with numbers of candles in the snow.

Tuesday, my Aussie friend Jenny decided to visit. Well, a big reason for that (next to me) was because a friend on exchange (Tom) who left this past July was coming back for a visit. So Jenny arrived in January and leaves tomorrow and Tom left in July. So they know each other. Ya feel me? Also another friend, Jon, from New Zealand, who is also leaving in January came to see Tom. So we went out for those 2 nights she was here and it was quite memorable (from what I remember).

Then on New Year's, I went to my friend Lotta's grandmother's place for a little get-together and around 12ish we hopped on a bus to Turku and stood on the bridge and watched fireworks. Then we mozied over to the center and shot our own fireworks (very illegal) but the police had other drunken people to take care of.

I am now back at school and we are cracking down on learning the 12 dances for Vanhat Tanssi (Old Dance). I have now learned the tango and the waltz, although my waltz is absolutely awful. While Finns get taught the waltz in elementary school, we are getting taught the chicken dance...talk about a culture difference?  I have yet to find a dress because the dresses they wear for Vanhat Tanssi can be compared to a Quincinera dress...since this is their "special" dance (unlike the proms we have) they dress up SUPER nice- white gloves and all. So we'll see how that plays out! This past weekend I went to my friend Georgia's going away party. We began at her house then went to the city later on. Then the next day I hopped on a train to Salo (after many complications which I don't want to talk about) for my Aussie friend Madlen's going away party. It was quite the eventful weekend to end my three-week Christmas vacation!

Now I am getting e-mails about my return date...but I just got here!!!! The 8th was my 5 month anniversary...
Whew! Okay I think I am good until Easter now ;D


If you have any questions about whatever, I would love to answer them! E-mail me @ cguess6@gmail.com :)



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a small christmas party at lotta's about a week before xmas



Georgia's going away party



Us singing karaoke at Madlen's going away party (Me, Georgia, Madlen)

when Tom and Jenny came to visit :)



Us in the center on New Year's Eve :)