Today is the first day that I have been home that I actually feel better. I think I owe that to day 3 of taking my super antibiotics! I am finally getting my laundry done and unpacking my things from the Russia trip. I sorted through my photos from the trip and will, hopefully, print my favorites and start my Russia Scrapbook this weekend! I already miss my friends that I made and hope they will continue to email or leave me messages on Facebook! I didn't think I would miss the food, but I have been craving kiwi yogurt every day since we left! I enjoyed the ballet we attended at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow last Saturday evening. The dancers were amazing and the costumes were beautiful, even if the story was difficult to follow! The market in Moscow was also very interesting. The vendors sold almost everything you could have wanted to buy while in Russia. If I had more money while there I would've bought the entire market! I was a little disappointed that I could not get a 50 ruble St. George coin though, it was the only item anyone actually requested I bring back. :( I have lived a sheltered life and am happy to say that I had many firsts while in Russia: first cab ride, public bus ride, trolley ride, subway experience, and first time to ever go to a Hard Rock Cafe (in Moscow!). Oh, not to mention I had my very first experience with staying the night at a complete strangers home! No worries though, Ksusha was such a friendly and welcoming person!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Pictures!!!
THE BEST tour guide in the world, Sergei!
Cathedral in Vladimir
Beautiful Elena! 
Lenin!
Vladimir at night
Vladimir
My friend Tasha gave bracelets to Dr. V and me and this is our bracelets with Tasha's! She is such a creative and artistic person. I think she is the coolest person I have met in Russia...she has her own band!
My gorgeous friend Svetlana and Dr. Pope!
Oh, how beautiful Vladimir is. Amazing time in Murom!!!
We arrived in a small town in Russia, maybe 100,000 people, named Murom. This town was so beautiful. We were given a small tour of this town and learned about the town hero, Ilya Muromets! We also took a tour of their portrait museum, saw their courthouse, visited the university, and met some wonderful people. I am proud to say that I have met many amazing people while in Russia, but in Murom I stayed with one of the nicest, kindest, most generous people I have every met, Ksusha. She opened her home and her life to me and was very excited to do so. She was very hospitable and made sure that my stay in her home was a pleasant one. I met her boyfriend, Artom, whose name I probably misspelled. He too was very kind to me. They took me for dinner at a cafe which was originally a prison that was built in the 1800s. We also saw a 5D film which was very fun and funny because my cute little Ksusha screamed at the scary creatures that popped out of the screen! They took me to the town's new bridge and I was able to see the bridge, the town, and the river at night. This was one of the most beautiful things that I have seen. They also took me to the train station which was also very nice. We finished the night by sharing some drinks at Ksusha's apartment and a very nice conversation. Artom decided he wanted to learn English so that my husband and I could come back and visit them together. Ksusha even offered to share her home with us again. I am sad that I did not have more time to spend with this wonderful woman! Oh, I also ate a cabbage soup called schi. I actually enjoyed this soup very much, eventhough I do not like cabbage! AND, mom you will be SOOO proud, I ate salad two days in a row. I ate a salad with red bell peppers, radish, and cucumber and liked it! I have REALLY stepped outside of my box and tried many foods here. I have had and am having such a wonderful time, but I am also ready to come home. I will require a long hot bath, a lot of time with my husband, and possibly a three day nap!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Last day in Vladimir
Today is our last day in Vladimir. :( We watched a cultural concert at the University and visited the orphanage today. The trip to the orphanage made me sad. Of course, I wanted to adopt half of the children and bring them home with me. The orphanage contained children ages 3-7 and has a relatively high adoption rate. We also visited a health and well being school which is comparable to our social workers in America. This organization is the only one of its kind and is located here in Vladimir. It is a "grassroots" organization and the Government had suggested such a program not knowing that this one exists in Vladimir! We will have free time later and I think I will go have coffee with one of my new Russian friends! I have also decided that I will continue to write blog entries about the trip when I return home and have reliable internet.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
So...I promised pictures...
Drive from Moscow to Vladimir! 
The American Home, our host agency!
Students at our favorite restaurant Oblomov
All of the girls with the Cadets and Svetlana
The American Home!
Our fearless leaders, Dr. Vandiver & Dr. Pope (<3 them)
Borscht (not my favorite)
Assumption Cathedral at night!Thursday, May 19, 2011
Such a fun day...
I posted my last entry very quickly today as I thought I would not have internet now. However, I have managed to pick up the hotel's wifi connection while sitting in my bedroom! I have had an awesome day today, accept for missing my wonderful husband's phone call. :( He called today while we were in the Vladimir Court House learning about their court process from a very high ranking judge! The tour of the court house was nice and learning about their court process was interesting. They have a panel of 3 judges or a jury that decides the outcome of criminal trials. Defendants choose between trial by jury or judges. Here the defendants choose trial by judge more often. The defendants also sit in a type of jail cell that is built into the court room. In Vladimir they have modernized these cells to a type of class room rather than the old style of a jail cell with steel bars! After this tour we had dinner at a popular restaurant in Vladimir called Shesh Besh. The food was delicious, but the dish that Renna and I ordered took forever to cook. Everyone else had already received and eaten their food! When we finally finished eating the other students went back to the hotel and did other things, I guess anyway, and Dr. Vandiver, Kim, and I went shopping! We stopped at this adorable little shop where I got my mom, grandma, and best friend some really cute swag! Then we went to the mall (YAY!) where I bought an awesome new pair of purple flats (of course I had to buy a new pair of shoes in Russia!). I found out that a carton of Marlboro cigarettes is only $18 American here. I guess it is because it is still very popular here. I also bought some really cute hair bows, a very popular style of bow that we do not wear in America, for my neice...I hope she likes them! I also found out that I cannot fit their clothes. I tried on a shirt that was entirely too big in the shoulders, bust, and stomach but not big enough in the hips! (lol) Anyway, I had a wonder ful day today. I will stay awake until my husband gets off of work. It is currently 11:30pm here and only 2:30pm there :( Hopefully I will have some wifi here at the hotel tomorrow! I enjoy writing the blog...hope you guys are enjoying reading it!
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