It began earlier this week when Miles, Maxime and I went to the Moscow Zoo. It was great to have the opportunity to be outside in the fresh air and see the animals. I'll be honest and say that I'm over this Russian winter. Hearing about all the warm weather at home has made me miss it probably more than any other point on the trip so far. That's why I was especially glad to see horses in the zoo. In my limited international experiences, I'm always blessed because every time I start to get homesick, I always come across horses and it has been like a shot in the arm. A little sense of home away from home.
After the zoo, the three of us roamed around the surrounding city. We went into 2 of the Seven Sisters, identical steel towers erected under the direction of Stalin and famous landmarks of the city. One has been made into the famous Radisson Hotel, one of the grandest and most expensive in Europe. Under Miles' urging, we pretended like we could afford it and strode into the impressive, gold-decorated lobby like we belonged there. We even made it up to the restaurant at the top and got a sunset panoramic view of the city. We probably ticked off a few of the actual paying customers but, as Miles said, "You can't put a price on a view like this." Apparently you can: about 31,500 rubles (about $1,100) a night for the Executive Suite--breakfast included! Good thing I've always loved pretending...
The rest of the week has been filled with little adventures--museums and restaurants and night city treks--and a lot of class. The class we're currently taking (Agriculture Development) has been interesting as it challenges viewpoints and sparks debate--and if you know me at all you know I never shy from a good debate! The class sure has made me appreciate America even more than I did before. That has added to my homesickness and general droopiness lately--well that and yet another cold. We've been told the seven week mark is typically when the rubber hits the road mentally. And it seems to be holding true for our group. We're all settled into semi-routines and have adjusted enough to the Russian way of life to know what we do and do not like about it. I did get to go on a couple of runs this week--my first since I've been here and that was amazing. I've missed running here, normally my time to unwind and de-stress. Though they were by no means far or fast, they, along with the horses at the zoo, were just what the doctor ordered for my spirits. The other American girls have been great cheerleaders, too, offering pep talks and empathy as we all share similar thoughts on our experience.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying Russia immensely. But this week has forced me to take a little step back and acknowledge that I do miss home. I enjoy city life as well but not everything about it and that's OK. As this week draws to a close, though, I can honestly say that I feel rejuvenated for the week ahead. Spring really is in the air (all that blini on Maslenitsa worked!) and with a warm sun out, ice turning to slush, and grass poking through the melting snow, comes for me a renewed sense of excitement for our time here in Moscow. I'm well on my way to getting my adventure on again...and I'm excited to see where that will take me.
пока!
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