How do you say?…
- Posted by under Travel
- Friday August 31st, 2007
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First Week Finished
Yes, the first week here in Russia is finally finished. I feel a little bad saying “finally” but it’s been hard. I was expecting to come and freak out at everything, instead I just realized how hard it was going to be. Now as the week comes to a close I’m finally starting to feel like I know at least a little what I can do.
I’d really like to go see some places, but we’re supposed to have a Russian go places with us so since we haven’t made any close friends yet it’s hard to ask them to go somewhere with us. But just today we were invited to go out with people tonight. We are going to see the city at night, which I guess is really beautiful. St. Petersburg is full of canals and bridges (kind of like Venice) and the bridges come up at night.
Joe the American
The most exciting part of my week was meeting another American. The only American Matt and I get to talk to is Janyne (who is very like Russians) so when we met Joe by complete random chance it was thrilling. On Wednesday our art teacher Elena took us to Nevskee Prospect to show us where we would meet her for our field trips (yeah every class is a field trip, how cool!). She showed us many things about the architecture and sculptures of the city. She also showed us the Russian National Library.
She took us to another library that was temporally closed, but had the “American Council” there. She seemed to think we should go there so Matt and I just followed, not knowing what that meant. Turns out it wasn’t what we wanted at all. They help nationals get into American colleges. But we met Joe.
No Russian Accent
It was so exciting to meet someone who didn’t speak with an accent and spoke at normal speed. I hadn’t realized how much I had simplified my vocabulary and slowed down my rate of speech for Russians. When he met us he said “Yeah sure, I can show you ’round” Haha, Russians never say “Yeah” they always say “Yes” Joe also maintained eye contact (something not many Russains do on first meetings) and smiled the whole time. It gave me this feeling of euphoria. I wanted to stay there and talk all evening. But of course we couldn’t. Joe gave us his number and said that if we ever were bored, or needed to speak Russian with someone, or someone to go places with, that we should give him a call. He also said he was having a house warming party where they were going to have Mac ‘N Cheese and that we were invited. 
It was a great time, but it made coming back to the school where no one understands us difficult.
I’ll update you about the bridges and the weekend fun soon!
“Why Russia?”
So I finally made it to Russia. After 2 years of planning I am here for a semester. It has been such a weird, overwhelming experience so far. I’ve been wanting to go overseas since middle school and finally decided to do it this last year. Everyone asks me “Why Russia” and to be completely honest I’m not exactly sure why. When I heard the semester abroad director at Bethel talking about it, something just clicked inside my head and I said “Yes that’s where I want to go.”
Matt (the other Bethel Student) and I got here on Thursday afternoon. The plane trips went well, without complications, except for the fact that I couldn’t really sleep very well on the plane.
Our First Few Days
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we went around town with Janyne. Janyne is a missionary here and works with the St. Petersburg Christian University that we go to. So, she’s our den mother/guide/history teacher while we are here. She’s great. All three days we bought groceries(a lot), rode the metro (it kinda smells funny), changed money (1$=25 rubels), got our pictures taken for more visas, ate food, watched videos, etc. All sorts of stuff.
Saturday we went to a museum about the Russian Blockade during WWII which was very moving. Although, I must admit, museums are more fun when you can read the language. Saturday was a hard day for me. I was very tierd and thinking “I’ll never be able to live here for 4 months!” I had to fight back tears as we were coming out of the museum. But then the day improved when we made it to Nevskee Prospect. We saw beautiful cathedrals and shops. These are the most spectacualar ones we saw. Kazan Cathedral and Cathedral of the Spilt Blood.
Sunday I went to a Russian church, which was wonderful. And today I started classes. I like classes because I feel more comfortable. I know what to do. Unlike everything else here in Russia.
“My Grand Adventure”
So here’s my grand adventure. I bought a lemon in Russian!!!! I was so proud of me! Of course I only needed 3 words. But still! I did it! yeah. My vocabulary has expanded from 2 words. To 10 or something. Yeah. I will make it! That’s all for now!
Resident Assistants Arrive!
Our resident assistants have arrived! I have an amazing group of ladies working with me this year, I have really been impressed with their efforts. We started out the week with community service at the Center for the Homeless in downtown South Bend. Our 2 days spend there left an impression; as we did our debriefing a guest of the Center shared her story and what she has been able to overcome thanks to the Center. My RAs are looking forward to returning with other Shupe residents!
“My sides hurt from laughing”
The highlight of the week for me, not including outings with my group, was our RAs responding to residential life scenarios. What a creative group we have-my sides hurt from laughing-and yes a snort or two did pop out! Thank goodness we were able to get back on track and process the scenes, but it took a lot of self-control.
Overall it was an exhausing, but positive time of training. A few decorations left to put up and we will be ready for these freshmen to pour into the building!
It is hard to believe that after an amazing whirlwind summer, I am back home.
Highlights of the last two weeks of project:
Promised Land Week
* Promised Land week was amazing. I had some sweet times of prayer with the Lord, saw Him do amazing things in my coworkers (one of the girls, prayed to receive Christ during our final week there), and was overjoyed to see other people on project seeking after the Lord wholeheartedly. It was sweet!
“Don’t date chumps!”
* I think in my last update, I mentioned that guys’ rooms were planning creative dates for girls’ rooms on project. The men that planned our creative date took us on a pirate-themed treasure hunt on the beach. In order to earn pieces of the treasure map, we did some sword-fighting, walked the “plank,” swabbed the deck (which meant licking redi-whip and a little bit of sand from the beach), and discovered encouraging messages in a bottle with a metal detector in the “treasure pit.” In the end, the treasure chest had a mirror in it with a note explaining that although we had been searching for the treasure the entire time, it had been with us the entire time – because we are treasures! We ended the creative date with banana splits back in the room and the admonition to make sure we “don’t date chumps” when we get back to school. After experiencing what it is like to be treated with such honor this summer, I don’t think any of us could even be tempted to “date chumps.”
New friends
* Earlier this summer, my friend John and I went out sharing on the boardwalk one evening. We met a high school couple and had the opportunity to share with them. The girl prayed to receive Christ that evening and I had several opportunities to continue meeting with her this summer. A few weeks later, her boyfriend prayed to receive Christ with one of our guys on project who connected with him through their interest in baseball. Throughout the summer, it was sweet to be able to connect with them and help them grow in their faith. Both of them are going to be freshmen at different schools this fall. Please pray that they continue to grow closer to the Lord and get connected with other believers on campus.
Other highlights
* A few other highlights: going to play Bingo with one of my friends’ coworkers, going to Busch Gardens with my coworkers (my boss paid for us to go), going to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with the exec team (and getting an intense sunburn - I looked like a tomato for the rest of the week), debriefing time, our Final Banquet, watching the sunrise at the beach one last time, and having amazing memories/conversations with amazing friends.
“Shine like a star”
* For our last women’s conference, I was asked to speak on what it means to “shine like a star” when living in the midst of a Christian community. My roommate, Rachael spoke on what it means to shine when surrounded by not-yet-believers. In preparation for the talk, I was challenged to think about what it will look like for me to apply the things I’ve learned this summer back on campus. I am eager to “break out of the Bubble” and join the Lord in His work! Please pray that I will “put into practice” (Phil. 4:9) what I have learned! Classes begin August 30th.
Lessons learned
This summer has been an incredible summer of growth for me. I truly want my life to be all about knowing Christ and making Him known. The joy of knowing Christ and being consumed by Him is like no other. It is this joy that makes me eager to share in His work. I am excited to see how He uses this summer as a launching point for the future.
All praise, honor, and glory belongs to Him!
~Holly
Philippians 3:7-11
Breathtaking hikes
Well, we are into our 4th week of school, and I seriously can’t believe it. I don’t know where Monday starts and Sunday ends. Everyday runs together and time just flies by. Of course, I have been on the go since I got here, but have managed a few get-away hikes! The pictures don’t really do justice, but you can get an idea of how breathtaking it was yesterday. I felt like I was in a book!
Blessings in a bike
Anyway … I have the best news in the world! Last Saturday my friend Anna called me, and she and her family are going back to Ireland until January. They let me have their exercise bike until they get back and until my mom brings my one over Christmas!!! It has been such a huge blessing to have it in my house to ride whenever I want. It just doesn’t get any better. So you better believe I have been on that thing everyday since I got it. I’m praying that this will really help my knee, because I am sure jumping rocks and ravines on these hikes isn’t doing the trick:) Well, it’s late and my early morning will be coming soon, so I hope you enjoy the pics. To make the pics bigger, you just keep clicking on them and they will become full-screen!!:) Thanks again for all your prayers … lots of love!
P.S. You know what I really miss? … seedless watermelon!!!
Well, well, well, I know it is impossible to write down everything that has happened this first week of school, but I will try! We started school on Wednesday and the moment the bell rang and the kids lined up before coming inside was such a thrill and then to walk in and have them all staring at you like, “Okay, lady what are we going to do??!!??” They kind of have the deer in headlights look, because they are so excited to be in 1st grade, but not really sure how to take in all the newness … new classmates, new room, new rules, NEW TEACHER!!! Haha, so yeah it rained all day on Wednesday, so at least they know the rainy day cupboard really well now! The first week is so much rules and procedures, and getting them into their routine, and figuring out how strict to be yet giving them some slack, so I have resulted to spanking. It’s the only real way to get them in shape!! Okay, not really. I have great kids, and they are soooo cute but I can already tell which ones will be moving a number of cards the first couple weeks. Anyway by Friday I was ready for the weekend after short nights and long days. Monday we start a unit on toys, trains and bears … so I am going to break out Corduroy of course! I have been playing my guitar and singing all kinds of silly songs with them each day, which has been a blast … music is the best way to help kids remember things, especially phonics!! So I tried to post some pics of the classroom, but they are a little dark. Still, you will get the idea! It’s really here. I never thought the day would come when I would be it. Finally, I am not observing, student teaching, subbing, they are all mine and I love it! Until next time … XOXOXO!
Here goes my first attempt at blogging-very exciting!
As I am writing, I realize that my summer has come to a rapid end! Spending extra time with family and friends was so refreshing. The highlight was our family’s week at the lake; we played a lot of games and caught a lot of tiny fish, that were promptly thrown back into the gray water (eww).
Throughout the summer I have been able to meet some of my 2007 incoming freshmen at registrations. Planning for housing and getting supplies for this fall makes me anxious for the year to begin. Last year marked my first year as a Resident Director in Shupe Hall-how nice it will be to have a year under my belt. I posted a few pictures from last year - my resident assistants (RAs) were amazing and so patient with me. I am so pleased to have another amazing group of women to work with this year. Crazy pictures with them will be coming your way when they arrive on August 16th for RA training.
2006-2007 was fabulous-bring on the next year!
