Observations

1.       When you buy something at a market and you want a bag for your goods, you have to buy the plastic bag to put it in.  It’s not like at stores in the United States, where they automatically put your food and stuff in a bag.  I think the other day when I bought shampoo and soap the other day, the bag was something like 1.5 rubles, which is like 5 cents US.  This leads to observation number two.

2.       Everyone carries a bag.  Little kids with backpacks, babushkas with reusable shopping bags, business men with briefcases, women with purses, and even men with purses/small bags (satchels, if you will.  Not quite like Indiana Jones, though. haha  Although, on a side note, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was playing at the cafe we went to last night).

3.       Doors open by pushing them, not pulling them.  Well, I guess it kind of depends on which way you are going.  But I’ve found that most doors to rooms or buildings open in, and I often forget and pull and pull on the door until I remember that I have to push.

4.       When Russians walk down the street or ride on public transportation, they either look straight ahead or down at the ground.  No expressions and no eye contact.  It is hard for me not to have a smile on my face or to look at people when I walk down the street.  I’m a genuinely happy person.  But I must say, my Russian face is coming along nicely.

5.       I’m getting pretty good at being observant while looking down at the ground or straight ahead.  Even when I walk around town at home, my head is on a swivel.  But here, I try not to do that as much because the Russians don’t do that, and luckily, I’m still able to be aware of what’s around me.  My 10+ years of basketball have done wonders for my peripheral vision!!

6.       Cars pretty much park wherever they want.  They pull off to the side of the road and then make it so that they go over the curb and are partly on the sidewalk.  It’s quite hilarious.

7.       I drink tea like it’s my job.  (Not that I didn’t drink tea when I was home, but here I have it a lot. I usually have it for breakfast and after dinner.  And maybe during the day if we go out to a café.)

8.       I eat things here that I didn’t eat at home and, believe it or not, I’m ok with my food touching.  (Bet you never thought you’d hear me say that, did you!)  One thing that I wouldn’t eat: garlic salad.  Tanya shredded Garlic and possibly beets (it was purple like beets) and onions and made a salad out of it.  I couldn’t bring myself to eat it.  But that’s the only thing so far that I haven’t tried.

Blinichki filled with chicken, mushrooms, and cheese (Kind of like ricotta).  Amazing, but I think my favorite part may have been the little plastic sword that held it closed.

9.       Russian grammar taught in English is hard.  Russian grammar taught in Russian is even harder.  The other day I was told by a friend of Tanya’s daughter that even for him, Russian grammar was hard, and he’s Russian!!

10.       On my mobile, I can make a “fake call”.  I don’t know why I found this funny.  Maybe because at first I thought it would make prank calls for you, but I think it just makes your phone light up.  I don’t really want to try, though, because if it really was for prank calls, and I accidentally pranked some Russian mob boss, it might not be good. Haha 

11.      The university reminds me more of high school than college.  There are bells for the start of each class and the building is set up like a high school.  We have classes only in one room, unlike at HWS where I had to go across campus in 10 minutes to make it to my next class.