It’s been another amazing week here in Moscow! I’m feeling settled in, and have started to work out my daily routine with class, homework, and exploring the city. It’s been super busy, in no small part due to the long commutes in Moscow. Most students in our program have a 20-30 minute ride on the metro to the university each day. Including walking time, it takes me about an hour to get to class! Having always lived a 10-minute walk from campus, the commute has definitely been an adjustment for me. However, it has given me a great appreciation for the Moscow subway. It’s perhaps even bigger than the NYC metro, and trains come reliably every minute or two. It’s also super easy to navigate.
Last weekend, my host family and I went to their dacha to take a break from the Moscow commute. It was such a lovely time! My host mom’s mother lives at the dacha, and she had a beautiful garden. I think every dish she prepared was at least 50% produce that she grew herself, including strawberries, tomatoes, garlic, beans, potatoes, cucumbers, and dill. I learned that married folks usually refer to their parents-in-law not as “mom” or “dad” like I’m used to, but rather by their first name and pastronymic (the traditional polite form of address in Russia).
This week, I also really enjoyed going on a cruise on the Moscow River with my program. The views of the city were unbeatable, and the weather was perfect. I sat next to a couple of our resident director’s previous students (native Russian speakers), and I had the chance to practice my conversation skills. I was proud of myself because they thought I was one of the language tutors for the program at first!
But, as I’ve quickly learned, such is the nature of studying language immersively. One minute, I feel very confident and comfortable with Russian and can hold a solid conversation. The next minute, I can barely eek out a sentence! I’m learning to be patient with myself during these more frustrating moments, and take a moment to think before trying to speak.
I’ve also noticed (moreso than when I interact in English) how every person talks differently: some people talk very quickly and articulately, while others talk slower or quieter. Immersing myself in the language will really help my listening comprehension, because I am exposing myself to people with many different speaking styles.
After classes, I’ve been volunteering at the Museum of Cosmonautics, translating articles and exhibition descriptions into English. This is the museum that started it all! I first came to Russia and a Moscow when I was in high school for a “Space Olympiad,” and I remember being so inspired by the museum. It’s truly mind boggling to now be working behind the scenes to help other international enthusiasts enjoy the museum and experience the awe of space exploration. The office where I work is cozy and humble – an un-air conditioned room with nice windows, four or five desks, and equally many kind and passionate people! The walls are covered with space posters, books, memorabilia, and mementos. It reminds me a bit of my room at school…
One evening, I went to a swing dance social in a park. I’ve been swing dancing for the past year in Ann Arbor, so I thought it’d be a great way to meet some Russian folks. I had a blast! Swing dancing (and dancing in general) seems to be pretty popular in Russia with people of all ages. I especially liked the social for several reasons. First, there’s no pressure to hold a conversation for very long (maybe 3-4 minutes), and it’s easy to find conversation topics (How long have you been dancing for? What’s your favorite style of dance? What type of music do you like?). Secondly, because I’ve been dancing in the states, a social dance is a place where I feel comfortable meeting new people. I typically feel very shy and like I have two left feet, but I know the basic “cultural steps” of a social dance, so I was able to meet and talk with folks successfully. Finally, dancing in Russia was a great language exercise. I had to think about what my feet were doing, while at the same time actually concentrating on what I was saying. My brain really had to multitask. I’m excited to keep dancing in the weeks to come!
A view of Saint Basil’s from the Moscow River 
A monument to Peter I, who founded Saint Petersburg. 
One of the Stalinsky Skyscrapers. This one is a hotel for celebrities and diplomats. 
Driving through the Russian countryside. 
A slow-moving river in the heart of the village. 
Moo! Cows and sheep being herded in the village. 
Another peaceful tree-lined drive in the village. 
The dacha is a literal log cabin! 
A very small portion of the garden at the dacha…a view 
A beautiful park in the northern part of Moscow, VDNKh. You can see the spire of the Museum of Cosmonautics in the background. 
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the iconic rocket launch spire of the Museum of Cosmonautics! 
Swing dancing in the park. Taken during a lull in the dancing… the floor was packed most of the evening!
RLASP in Moscow 