This week has been really great! On Monday I decided I would attend Family Home evening even though I would be at least 30 minutes late because I teach until 7pm. One of the other girls has been struggling with teaching, she feels as though she is not qualified to teach, as an attempt to brighten her spirits I brought her along. After a long bus ride we made it to the house of the couple missionaries where FHE was being held. We walk in and find 20+ adults, yes! I love ADULTS! I met many people, most of which I needed one of the missionaries there to translate for me. I talked to one of the recent converts who said he would show me the other parts of the city I have not seen, so being my fathers daughter of course I agreed.
The next night this girl was having a rough time again so I invited her along with me and John (the guy from FHE). We walked though what is in the center of my city "Lennon square" It was too dark to get a picture with the statue, but not far from there was this fountain which he said has actual water during the spring not just lights.
It was really fun to get to know someone who was a native, well kinda he's from Congo, but has been here for three years.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday all kinda blend together. The overall feeling from this week has been really great! I finally feel like I know how to teach the kids. It has been so crazy cause we are missing some teachers, but my cousin Tristan will soon join me! YAY!
this is us by some dog statue, that is in the middle of this random quart yard, yeah so obviously we had to take a picture of it:)
I am growing to love being in a new city, and trying to figure out where I am. Friday was really fun I went and saw the college that is here, and met all these foreign kids from khakastain, japan, China, Ukraine, even Moldova. I watched as they played soccer against each other it was really fun to watch, and to see non russians:). Saturday I went and helped clean the church then got some food at this really common sidewalk store. The hamburgers are really delicious! We then went into town and walked through a market that we are defiantly going back to cause it had amazing clothes. We also went to the church after this and played volleyball with the member's, and I found someone who is just as competitive as me.
This is some random girl. I am slightly obsessed with the style of all the girls here, they all (for the most part) always wear black heel boots (my mother would fit it great), and fitted coats. This girls coat has a belt on it, which many of them wear around their coats. As you can see there is a lot of snow, go Russian woman!
this is that dog, really don't remember why he is important, but yes, there is a dog in the courtyard. 
this is such a creepy picture, but I had to put this on, I am in LOVE with the fur coats here, they are so beautiful! Every time we go into a store with them I can't not touch them! I am hoping to get some type of fur, like maybe a scarf, but seriously they are incredible!
this is my school! Yay! 
Lindsay Ashley and I were walking one day and stumbled upon this cafe, it was so great cause these little pizza things were just like the pizza roll things you just zap in the microwave, I was in love! I am still on the hunt for some good french fries, I am in desperate need of some real crispy curly fries, but I will settle for some good regular fries. :)
this magical place is right across the street from my school. It is ran by this little old lady who will fill up my water for only 6 rubles, yeah you could say I am in love considering, It is quite the event to try to explain that I don't want carbonated water. I may say the right words, but it is crazy that someone who not want carbonated water, so I get asked questions I don't know:)
This i don't know if you can tell, but it's my socks, and gloves that are sitting on the heater, it's pretty much as crucial as brushing my teeth.
These kids are so crazy, but I am already in love with them, these two are trouble!
this seriously describes this class perfectly, one kid under the table, the chairs falling over. 
okay seriously this wasn't planned, we saw another random dog and had to get a picture with it!
It's been a really great week, I am so excited to have Trist here. I am also very excited to go to church tomorrow Linds, Ashley and I convinced these boys from Congo to come to church tomorrow, I am almost positive it was because we were american girls but thats okay:)
Miss you all lots, and love you!
Rissa
Sounds like a lot of fun! I never knew Russian people loved dogs so much!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to chat with Artium.
I love the coats, and of course the black boots--I will remember to bring mine!
Thanks for writing and filling us in on the adventure!
Great post, Marissa! I'm so glad that you are doing well and able to see lots of the sights. I can't wait to see what styles you end up bringing home with you. Love you!
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience!! It sounds like you have started to find your niche over there. Great to see so many pictures of what you are doing there. No doubt you are in your element with teaching and playing with all those kids. I assumed the tap water was safe to drink but it sounds like that isn't the case? Is there much hysteria about the Olympics over there? I hear the Russian Hockey team is royalty, practically speaking. They are treated like rockstars.
ReplyDeleteFun to hear from you. We still need a mailing address!
M&K
( I don't know why blogger keeps eating my comments. grrrr!)
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures and hearing your thoughts about the different things! I also think it's so so nice that you went to clean the church. :) You are awesome. Can't wait to see the next post.