1. When speaking to people in Russian, more times than not I find myself having to use the phrase “ya ne govoryu mnogo po russki” which means i dont speak much russian. But, the great thing is, even though I’ve only been here 4 days, but each day I already feel significant improvement in what I can understand and say! That’s encouraging!

2. I have found a deep new love and respect for McDonalds. No matter how shady their food has been, is, or will probably always be, I will always be thankful for their free internet!

3. Even the Russians in St. Petersburg think 7 degrees F is cold. Me too.

4. One of the weirdest things for me, is that fact that no one here smiles in passing. It’s just something you absolutely don’t do. Not only do you not smile at random people, but you don’t even really look at other people that you don’t know. If you do, you divert your eyes the other direction pretty quickly. On the metro people look down at the floor or straight ahead, as if trying to bore a hold through something with their eyes… Oh ya, and all the while they have a straight emotionless face… For me, this brings about 1 of 2 emotions… and sometimes both. The first, I don’t know if it’s just part of being American and thinking that the world is ours or if it’s my personality or a mixture of both, but I find it extremely difficult not to look around at everyone. I probably cross the line into what constitutes staring more times than not, but I just love watching people, especially here because it’s a completely different culture. So I always have this huge urge to examine everyone I see with my eyes, but I don’t want them to know that I’m American right off (for several reasons, partly because it makes your chances for getting robbed go up like a thousand percent), so I have to fight the urge. It’s almost impossible for me though. I can’t keep my eyes straight in one spot like that. I’m trying to master the art of watching people without actually watching them. I haven’t quite figured it out yet though.
The second emotion is just one of pure laughter. It’s so unreal sometimes that it’s almost a joke to me. Like, I see a metro car full of people staring motionlessly and emotionlessly in one spot and I just want to bust out laughing at the unrealness of it to me.

I saw a guy on our train get his phone stolen right from his hands and I had to fight everything within me to not stare at him to watch his reaction for the rest of the ride.

5. When you ask for mineral water, you’re actually asking for carbonated water. I learned this the hard way. I was so excited for the taste of smooth pure water, but instead I got many burningish bubbles in my mouth.

6. Russians seem to drink a lot of beer, vodka, and COFFEE. I’m pretty sure, in the 4 days that I’ve been here, I’ve had at least 10 cups of coffee… which for some isn’t much, but that’s pretty much what I drink in a month at home!

7. The majority of people on my floor are American, but I got an awesome German roommate! Whoop!

8. I absolutely LOVE walking everywhere and using the metro!

9. Here, you NEVER pick up your own trash… even at fast food places like McDonalds. It’s unheard of. That’s a little different.

10. Our dorm bathroom has possibly the WORST smell, I’ve ever smelled. You know the smell when your sink drain chopper disposer thing (i cant remember what it’s called) gets clogged up and starts reeking, imagine that smell but multipled by, say, 70. I’m not a gagger, but I’ve gagged several times when the door was left open accidentally and I got to be the one to shut it.

11. I’ve already made some Asian friends… in Russia… and I’ve only been here 4 days. Even in Russia, I end up with Asian friends… maybe I should have gone to Asia! Yessy, Frisca, Adelyne, Alex, I think you’re right, I must be part Asian or something… haha.

(posted from laureninrussia.blogspot.com)

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