I'm back!

 Saturday was such a busy day, but I had so much fun! I hope that you all are doing well and that you are having a good week. I can't believe that I have been gone for five days already!

I didn't do too much until after two more girls from our group arrived in Moscow we all took a trip to the Kremlin. There was some government event going on, however, and half of it was close. We were able to see the three cathedrals (One of them contained the remains of Ivan the Terrible and his family). The Armory, an approximately 25 foot bell made by Ivan the Terrible's son, and a very large cannon from which the remains of a defeated tsar, The False Dmitri, were fired.

 After the Kremlin, I met up with Valya and we went to a coffee shop and had supper. When we were finished with supper we met up with a mutual friend, Toma. Valya took me back to the university. I totally embarrassed myself by leaving my passport/ID in my room, and I had to be escorted to my room by a guard! That's the thing here. There was an attempted bombing of the university in the past, and, because of this, students must first go through a guard station in order to enter the university. Once one has made it through the first station, in order to access the dormitories, one must go through another guard station. We also have two doors in our rooms that have to be locked with a key, which is kind of scarey.  



I finally made it back to my room, picked up my friend, Chelsea, and then we went and met Alex, another friend of mine that I know from Northwest State Community College. He took us to the mall to have a look around and then we went back to his parents' apartment for some of his mom's good home cooking! We made it back to the university and collapsed into bed. What a day!

Hello!

Russian guide and professor

I hope everyone is doing well! So much has happened! I tried to post yesterday, but I got so frustrated with the spotty internet that I gave up. I am doing well, pretty tired, though, from all of the walking and the time change. Friday we slept in until 9, had breakfast, and then left on an excursion with our professor and Russian tour guide.We toured Red Square, and saw the Bolshoi Theater. There is so much more I want to tell you all, but it is time to leave! So, paka! I will talk to you later!

Finally!

Flying over Scandinavia

After a hour delay on the tarmac in Chicago, missing the plane in New York, getting re-booked and waiting another two hours, I finally got on the plane to Moscow--only to have to wait another two hours on the tarmac!!! I made it to Moscow about six hours late, and on top of it all I had to wait in the Moscow airport for three hours for another girl to arrive! It took an additional hour drive to make it to the university. So, after more than 30 hours of travel, I am here, in one piece and still alive. Missing everyone already!

Moscow State University, where I am staying.