leaving utah and coming to Russia!

a few days before, i was able to have a good bye party, and that was fun. on facebook, my friends posted a few videos of them talking about me.. it was kinda weird being there while everyone was talking about me. today I met up with my group in the SLC airport. I am so excited, words cant describe. I started to check in and was so stressed that my suit cases would be too heavy, but they were 49.5 lbs... wow, I made it. We boarded the plane and arrived in CO, we didn’t have much time to waste when we got there, so we boarded the next plane. Then we arrived in Washington DC, and it was so humid there. Wow, I felt I couldn’t breath. We saw that we had a 4 hr delay. I got some lunch and I wanted to leave so badly, but I was too scared to leave because I don’t know my way around DC. So I decided to walk around the airport and took pictures. I was able to get some funny ones.

Then we boarded and this flight was going to be long, really only like 6 hrs in the air, but it was a 18 hr flight because of the time change. Moscow is a 10 hrs ahead from Utah. So, that flight was my favorite, first, the plane was huge, the flight crew were great. I was able to watch some movies, sleep and I was fed too. The flight was not bad at all. I really enjoy flying. Well, then we landed in Moscow. We had to pass customs, which was fun... not too bad, but the language was a bit of a problem. The lady said...(билет), but I forgot what that would was. Its funny and you practice and practice a language and when you arrive in the country, you mind goes blank. Anyway. She then said, I need to see your ticket, I said, (да), which means yes. Then I was able to go get my suit cases. I grabbed my two check-ins, then had my two carry-ons. Wow, it was a lot and trying to pull all of them. Not too bad until... ( I will come back to that).... um.. we were met by Olga, who is our language teacher here in Voronezh. We then followed her to the train. It started to rain on us outside. The weather was 40 oF outside, and where I came from was around 80 -90 all week in Orem, so the temp change was huge, but 40 0F felt great at the time, b/c it was so hot walking around and traveling. We catch the train and traveled for an hour on there, then we had to get off and book it to the bus, which was 20 mins in walking distant. Remember, when we are asked to bring 2 suit cases which weigh 49.5 lbs each, its hard, plus having 2 carry-ons. With one suitcase not roll-able We were helping each other with carrying and such. ... so it was hard, but I did it. Two of the other teachers came back to help me, it was nice of him and her. It started to rain again and there were huge, I am huge puddles in the street that we were crossing and the sidewalks too. Then, we made our bus, YAY! Now, we got to sit on the bus for 10ish hours... we got everything loaded... it was hot, very hot and muggy on the bus.. there were fly's and a kinda smelling man that sat next to me.. wow, this bus ride, I thought is going to be great. I slept for a bit, and then we stopped. To use the bathroom, it cost money at this ran down place. Our next stop, we got some good and grabbed some mineral water by accident.... it was gross, but when you are thirty, you drink anything, plus it was all in Russian, so we didn’t know.. haha. When we arrived in Voronezh, I met my host family.. wow, amazing and nice people. They greeted me with hugs and kisses. I pretty much jumped into their car and I was gone. It felt weird at first, I was like, bye to my group, my host family is speaking in Russia to me, I am not sure what is happening.. haha it was funny. I arrive at their apt. they have a house, but its across town and their son lives there, so who is 23 so that would be a issue. (I cant live with boys who are around our ages). Anyway, they told me(mainly the husband , because he spoke to me in English), but the wife speaks well English too. They have a daughter who is 6 and she attends school where I teach. Umm.. they let me shower and then they fed me some yummy Russian food. Now, I found myself talking to you.. well.... so far what I have observed, is that many Russians smoke, you don’t smile at them or they look at you funny if you don’t know them or they might think you want something from them in a bad way. They park and drive on the sidewalks, they drive kinda crazy Umm... Russia people are very helpful and nice. I feel I will enjoy my stay here for the next few months.