One week down... Kinda

Sorry these posts are getting longer, I seemed to have gotten here without my journal, so this is were a slightly edited version of my thought are going to go:) I have tried to separate paragraphs so if your skimming it's easier, I also don't have as many photos this time!

 It totally feels like I have been here for a week but it has only been 4 days... geez. If you read my last blog post you will know the trip over here was far from fun, I think that may be a big part in why the transition has been hard. It was made a ton easier when I got to go to the school where I will be teaching on Friday. We got to walk around, see the supplies they have, and meet the owners of the school. It was relieving to finally see the school, and feel like my 5 months will finally have started. We received our assignments for our grades and I am teaching along side the girl I traveled with (yeah). Luckily I am assigned a very fun age of kids 4-8, or "Kindergarten" as the school groups it.We have to plan lessons for each day, there are 6 different categories of lessons. We are short teachers so when we would usually only have to teach, plan, and make props for 2 categories, we now both are teaching 3, okay sure I can do that. BUT.. then I was informed that I am going to have to to teach another 2 groups of kids. It is going to be a little crazy here in Russia till we can get some more teachers over here.


For the past couple of days I have had Jane taking me to and from the school every day, but yesterday I called her informing her I could come home by myself. After completing this task, I finally felt a little independence yay! The only issue is that to ride the bus I need to have 11 Robles, which are about the size of a quarter and a nickel, I don't buy a lot of things so I don't have the change. I also don't speak Russian or as I like to tell the locals " mu-y Roo-ski ploe-ha" ( my Russian is bad) so it's not like I could just ask for change, and the Russians seem very stingy about giving people large amounts of change.
Yesterday while we were in the supermarket I needed to get change so I could ride the bus, I bought a water and some chocolate (the essentials) and headed to the cash register with my 500 bill (which is only about $15) with around 100 Robles worth of merchandise. Luckily my head teacher who speaks more Russian was there when the lady at the counter started talking fast at me and pointing to her register, my head teacher informed me she would pay for my stuff because the lady did not have change for a 500 bill GEEZ! I was told before I came that Russians were aggressive people, but they keep just seeming quite angry (maybe because they NEVER smile).
 It hasn't snowed while I have been here but the whole ground is about 8 inches of packed dirty snow it is weird to see cement:)
I also called the Elders yesterday, and they are sending a sister to come pick us up for church tomorrow at one of the bus stops. This is totally great, and I am sure ill be able to figure out which bus stop (because we are meeting by the McDonalds) but I don't have any CHANGE!! So I am going to have to go attempt to buy something this morning to find change. I am hoping my host family may have a better Idea for me to get more change.
Speaking of my Host family, they are really great. The youngest one follows me around, and begs to play on my phone (which just makes me feel at home). The older one is very great as well, it is interesting seeing that she plays the role of mother a lot because her mom works everyday. She cleans, takes the younger one to gymnastics, and makes the food.

We went to church, meeting up with the sister went great, church was interesting to say the least. We arrived and were greeted by the branch president who knew exactly who I was because my father had contacted him before I left, the other girls were very surprised that he knew who I was (go dad)! We followed the Senior couple up the grand stairs to the meeting, it was very small maybe 100 people but there were many faces that were not Russian. There were 5 elders, and 4 sisters there and they all came over and talked with us. Elder Taylor (I think was his name) was going to translate for us, and he did a very good job, well it was entertaining. One lady made her way up and I could hear him sigh into the microphone, then she started to speak and he tried very hard to translate, but then informed us that she speaks really fast and he couldn't understand. As one man was walking up our translator said " okay so this guy is Armenian, he has a strong accent ill try my best". Despite his doubt the translator did great with the Armenian.

(This is the church, gorgeous right?) Next a little girl came up and he told us how cute she was, that she was his favorite little girl in the ward. He was an awesome translator, it was nice to have someone who was easy to understand. We had an interesting testimony that was born (I don;t think that is the right spelling of born.)  from one of the girls that was with us, that thankfully was over looked after the guy after her got up and sang a song for his testimony.  The Elder also translated for me in Sunday school (you think I would remember his name) and was really good at trying to get the meaning across not just the words.  We headed to relief society, which had many babushkas (or grandmas) who were very feisty, and fun to listen to.

I then I had to meet some girls in my group for some planning, I knew the direction of where I was supposed to go, and we were meeting at the golden arches (mcdonalds) so instead of taking the bus I walked. It was so great!

 I found a really cool park, and this vedor that had delicious food. I also just felt as though I was a local (this need for local feel must come from my father). I knew where I was going, I was starting to figure out the city (or just the 2 mile straight stretch to my school from my house). It was a really good weekend.


I also got to Face-Time some of my favorite people tonight! I hope to face time my family later tonight because they are still at church!

 I can never catch them staying still!:)

these pictures are for Gav, he gave me a Flat Stanely before I left. Here is stanely sleeping in my bed, with my silk pillow case. And then stanely is playing Badminton which we play a rough version of in the living room:) 

p.s. Super sad about missing the Super Bowl, the family I am with does not get the channel for it, and the Fox streaming website won't stream to Russia. I am hoping to get some what of live score updates, but we will see. But of course my team knows Ill be cheering all the way over here. Visualizing the win, that's what it takes right? Go Broncos!

I love you all! Thanks for the Love and support in being in Russia!