| (no subject) |
[Sep. 19th, 2006|03:46 pm] |
wooo!!
i know i aint been updating much on here but not got the internet sorted in my flat yet - will involve calling up people and probably shouting in russian and all sorts of stuff - god knows why everything here is so complicated!!
anyways, moscow is bloody brilliant! am really enjoying myself now that the first week is over! the first few days was just a forest full of paperwork and several hours spent queueing (including in the bank where we were queueing and the woman behind the desk was sat playing solitaire on teh computer!) but now that is over its all good!
all of us from leeds are in the same "halls" and even though we didnt know each other really before we came out here, we're all getting along really well for a group of so very different people, which is cool. getting to know lots of other people as well. i'm sharing a flat with a chinese girl who has lived in our obshejitye (halls) for about 6 years - too long! but at least my kitchen is fully equiped with kettle and toaster and microwave and pots and pans and plates etc so didnt need to buy any which was good.
not done much sightseeing since ive been here but i suppose ive seen most of it before. on sunday me and a couple of the girls went out to izmailovsky park (which i think is the metro where mum and dad are staying near but not sure) to the big touristy market there which was fab!! immense! had a really good day and it was nice and sunny and lovely! after that on sunday evening 5 of us girls went to the banya which was soooooooo good! the women were all taking us under their wings showing us what to do which was cool all though a little scary with ols naked women everywhere shaving their legs and other places ( :S ) in front of everyone! the sauna and plunge pool were cool in there and once we'd got over the shock of being told to bend down in at least 100 degree heat and be beaten with birch twigs we all had a great time and are going back again soon!!
this week my plans are, apart from going to uni, are to go and find out if there is a gym at the university (we are in a different place a metro stop away for the foreign students who learn russian) and join it if poss and then go and getr my certificate to say i can go swimming and then find a pool! (more paperwork!!)
anyways, i'd better go as i'm paying for the internet at the moment in the cafe, and i need to go to the supermarket and get some stuff so need to negotiate the trams and the minibuses to do that.
hope everyone is ok and drop me a line to say hello! just press "post comment" on the bottom right (i think!!) and i should get it!!
missing everyone at home and will see you all soo |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 26th, 2006|12:30 pm] |
Got distracted again this time by the train! So...
We walked into the centre which was closed to traffic because it was the town day – the festival to celebrate the founding of Novosibirsk which was 113 years old yesterday/ we went towards the opera house which has a big statue of Lenin in front of it. We walked about seeing what was happening in the town. There was a lot if different stalls with flags and balloons, different stages for music concerts and lots of ice cream. It was about 34 oC yesterday in Novosibirsk and I caught the sun a bit. We met up with Eugene’s friend Ivan and we walked down by the river towards one of the longest bridges in the world which is about 2km long. After this we walked back into the town again. It was cool to see the city with no traffic – the only day of the year, with people everywhere enjoying everything that was going on. By this time it was about 15.30 so we headed back towards the train station so we could get my bags and find the train. Once at the station we had to walk across the tracks to my platform and down to the front of the train as I was in the first carriage. Eugene and Ivan helped me with my bags and we got on board. As I was going to be spending the night on the train there were no seats as we have them. There are different sections which have a dividing wall but which are not closed off and each can have 6 sleeping people. I was on the bottom bunk. To start with 4 of us sat on the bottom bunks (ivan and Eugene had gone by this point). I read for a while and then wrote yesterdays entry but it was difficult on the train to write. After about an hour I decided to go and find out where things were on the train. When I was back in my place the woman came round for the tickets and asked if we were wanting sheets which she then brought to us, but we didn’t make our beds right away. A couple of hours later when my bum was numb from sitting on the hard seat and when the man next to me had gone to the loo I decided to make my bed, I had been watching how it was done!!
By this time it was getting quite late and people were going to sleep but I couldn’t so I decided to read. As it got darker and darker they turned most of the lights off inside as well so I couldn’t see to read either from the window or the lights! It took me so long to even get to sleep and it must have been about 3am before I drifted off, and not until about 4am until I was asleep properly. I slept until about 6.30am when I had to get up otherwise they would lock the toilet as we would be nearing Krasnoyarsk. I got up and put my bed away and gave the sheets to the woman and finished getting my things together ready to get of the train. The train arrived at 7.30am Krasnoyarsk time, another 3 hours ahead so by now I’m 7 hours ahead! My body clock is ruined! I have not had chance to aclimatise to one time zone and I am off to another!
Natasha met me at the station and we got a taxi to her flat. We had some breakfast and then a shower and went to sleep as I was so tired. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 25th, 2006|05:00 pm] |
Had to stop writing yesterday as I was on the plane so...
After breakfast checked out of the hostel and got the metro. Tried to find the bus from there but everyone was telling me different things so I got a taxi. It was R600 which is about £12 but it was about 30mins away and was glad I got a taxi. Manages to have a conversation wit the driver most of the way there which was very cool! Got to the airport, got my ticket and checked in without a problem. Found my gate, got a drink and then it was time to go! Got on the plane and didn’t have anyone next to me so I could spread out and sleep! Had lunch on the plane. The flight was 4 hours and 3 hours time difference, 6 hours different from GMT. Got off the plane and met Eugene who I’ve been e-mailing. We got my bag and then a mini-bus into the centre of Novosibirsk. It made me swear that I would never drive in Russia and that I would always wear my seatbelt! Scary! Whilst on the bus a crazy drunk man was trying to chat me up and gave me his number! How embarrassing! Even more so when he was shouting and asking everyone on the bus for a pen! At least he got off son after!
When we got off the bus we got another to the outskirts where Eugene lives with his mother and sister. They live in a flat which was pretty much how I imagined it to be. It was quite late by this time so we had dinner and a cup of tea. They had heard that English people drink their tea with milk but as it was jasmine tea I had to try and explain that only in “English” tea not in herb or fruit tea. I think they are still confused because I forgot to give them some of mine to try! Had conversations with Eugene’s mother and sister but they don’t speak English so in with the dictionary! Went to bed not long after because I was tires and had to get up at 9 ish and I’m still on some weird time between here and England!
Got up at about 10 which wasn’t too bad and I slept well. Got up and dressed and had breakfast, packed my bag...again and gave them all some Kendal mintcake, four down, 6 to go! Said goodbye to Eugene’s mum and sister and I went to get the bus into the center with Eugene. We got off at the station and went to put my bag and the bag I have for Julia in the cloak room as there was still 5 hours till my train |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 24th, 2006|11:15 am] |
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well, left the restaurant yesterday and wandered back to the hostel sushi and all. Got back and met the girls who moved in yesterday morning. 3 girls from Dublin! Went for a shower and then made our way to the bar I was in on wed night. Went for some food and then back for beer but by this point it was about midnight so I decided to go back if I’d stayed for one ore I wouldn’t have left until the others did. Got back and went to bed but it was so hot I couldn’t sleep and there was a lorry turning its engine on and off outside for some reason. Tossed and turned for ages and drifted in and out o sleep, getting annoyed as I knew I had to get up at 7am. One of the girls came in about 4am ish and then the others at 06.45! so glad I went to bed when I did otherwise I would have been with them! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 23rd, 2006|06:00 pm] |
argh! Lots of sushi to take with me! Hope there is someone at the hostel who likes sushi! Think im going to amble back now and then get directions to Domodedovo airport for tomorrow.
Might go for a wander round and stuff. Was a thunder storm earlier on and it has apparently ben raining on and off all day but is hot and as sunny as it can be with all the smog! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 23rd, 2006|05:45 pm] |
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he he! Too much sushi! Have enough for about 3 people! Forgot how filling it is! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 23rd, 2006|05:10 pm] |
went and sat with the guys I met last night and had a cup of tea. Got the metro into town but I’ll start from where I left off last night!
Went back to the hostel via the shop where I got Pepsi, tea (proper tea!!) and some milk. Milk is very confusing here! Got back and had a cup of said tea in the living room of the hostel and got talking to some people in there. One guy, Joe from New York, John and Cain from Aus, Shep from Ireland, Vicky from UK and Zak from UK – who’s parents live in Kirkby Lonsdale, he went to QES and knows loads of people I do! Cool! We wall went to a bar on Strastnoy Bulvar which had a big screen and good beer R65 (£1.20) for ½ litre! Watched 2 games of footie, and went back to the hostel at about 3am! I love all this “open from 11am until the last guest leaves!” stuff! I was official beer orderer which was cool. There was about 10 of us altogether by the end of the night! Walked home (or wobbled) and sat in the kitchen and had some tea and got to bed at about 4am! Managed to get up the two flights of stairs to my floor and by the top had a huge nose bleed so I had to then wait for it to stop and then wash my top and bag. Aargh! Manages to get to bed about 5! Was woken at god knows what time by 3 more people booking into my room but ignored them and went back to sleep!
Got up and went and had tea as I said, wandered into town via metro with 2 stops – very easy, I love it! Got to near Red Square but its shut for graduation day I think. Police everywhere! Cant even get near the tomb of the Unknown Soldier!
Am near where I came with Dallam but it is all really different with no snow! All the pavements are full of street furniture and everyone is outside!
Found a Japanese restaurant ad I know I’ve ordered too much (take after my father!) so I hope they let me box it up! At least it came with a free beer! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 23rd, 2006|03:20 pm] |
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Aargh! Too much beer! What happened?! Need not to go to bars! Will fill in later! Need a cup of tea and lunch!! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|08:45 pm] |
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well had a bit of a wander back towards the metro to find some food. Am sat in a nice cafe on the pavement (probably not a great idea with all the pollution in Moscow but never mind.) went in and forgot the verb “to sit” as in may I sit outside. Aargh! I know its just a matter of confidence and not panicking and I’m getting there. Got sat outside and waited for ages for someone to come to take my order. Wondering if I had to go inside to order but then if I did then would I look a berk if I was meant to wait?! Eventually attracted the waiters attention and got a chicken salad and a bottle of beer and shocked her by asking for it in Russian even though she had given me an English menu, he he. Mmm....was very nice. Small but nice and only about £2.50. anyways, sat watching the world go by but think I’ll just finish my beer and wander back. |
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| Moscow time! |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|06:30 pm] |
got off the plane, had a wee and got in the queue for passport control...about ½ an hour later I was at the front being stared at and questioned by a scary russian who couldn’t speak any english! Once we’d established that he wanted to know where I’d flown from and via, I escapes, found my bag, got everything in it (why oh why did I bring a jumper and a raincoat? Its so hot I’m dying – although I seem to be one of a very few amount of red sweaty people walking around and the others in this category are fat middle aged men...hmph) I decided to try and leave the airport. Found a cashpoint which would only give out 1000 rouble notes (and the bus fare was only 15!) adn asked a nice lady where the bus was, all the time being bombarded by taxi drivers who really want to take you into the city for “verrry cheeeep”. After finally shaking off most of them I managed to find the bus stop, however, this is where I realise that:
1) the driver doesn’t speak...at all...to anyone. Apparently you put down the correct money and he gives you your ticket – easy! Erm...no. I’m hot, sweaty, on a bus with a driver who won’t speak ANY language – just shakes his head at my money without even looking at it.
2) There is a queue behind me. There is a driver in front of me. There is a barrier on my left (onto the bus) which I cant get through without a ticket and to top it all off I couldn’t turn round or anything as I had a bloody great 13kg rucksack on my back – aargh! Embaressment!
- However the nice man in the queue behind me who had assured me that this was the right bus and let me on first and prompted me to keep waving my R1000 note at the driver (about £20 for a 30p bus fare) came to my rescue. The nice man let me have his ticket and got another one. What a nice guy. I would have blushed even more in embarrassment of having not many other choices but to accept and through shame of failing at the first hurdle, however I was already too purple from the heat to change colour any further. So, I pushed my way through the barrier (sideways as I still hadn’t fathomed out how to turn round without becoming wedged or knocking the nice mans head off...or worse wedging the nice mans head between the barrier, me, my bag and the Plexiglas of the driver) and found a seat to wallow in self pity at being useless.
However, I realised that I would have to cut the wallowing short if I was ever going to make it to anywhere near the hostel tonight, so I perked up, gave myself a smile to cheer me up (after all I am in Moscow) and looked at the rest of my instructions. So...I knew that I was on the right bus, I knew the name of the stop and there was an automated voice reading out the names of them. Great! However, on listening closer I realised my ears were not tuned into Russian yet and that also, I couldn’t hear most of it anyway. Shit. “well, sit near the door and look at the name of the stop when the bus slows and if its your jump off” I thought to myself “of course!” yet I should have known it would, once again, not be that easy. no names near, or anywhere close to the stops. Bugger. So, gazing out of the window waiting for the woman to speak I got to see the lovely (ahem) sights of the drive into Moscow – the most exciting being IKEA and the IMAX – wow.
By this time it felt like I had been on there for about 20 mins and I was starting to get panicky wondering if mine had been about 15 mins earlier and I was going to be damned to hell, which would be having to stay on that bus for eternity (I get a bit carried away in my own thoughts sometimes!). So, I plucked up the courage and asked if we were anywhere near the station yet – and thank god he said it was further on. Well, maybe only 50% thanks – that I hadn’t missed it, but 50% deducted as I still had longer on the damned bus.
After about another 20 mins of staring out of the window contemplating the smog, and whether I’d died and not realised and was already in hell, when the nice woman in front told me it was the next stop. At last!
Off I get and I’m ready for the next part of my journey – the metro. However, I still has that R1000 note and that would be no good. A bottle of coke...mmmm...however, just as I located the metro and was about to get a drink something caught my eye, slap bang in the middle of the metro entrance and exit was a phone shop! Bingo! “saves going on a treck tomorrow” I though. So, armed with my phrasebook thinking it would be as easy as going in, asking for a pay & go simcard, putting it in my phone and then tootling off – HA. I said my bit and out she comes with her first question. Now, bearing in mind I’m not even sure of the most common word for a mobile (I know the formal) the second she started to speak my brain froze. By the time she’d finished and I’d asked her to repeat what she’s said I realised that it wasn’t just my brain, it was that I had not got a clue what she was saying. In fact, the only reason I knew it was a question was because she raised her voice at the end. So, after about 20mins of a big, red, big backpacked girl making funny hand gestures and using 6 year old’s Russian and bad grammar we got there. We established that I wanted to text the UK but call other phones in Moscow, how much per call and text this would be and paid her the £6 for the simcard with credit.
So, metro time! right, change obtained, time for a ticket. Where’s the machine? Oh no, its a kiosk, a fast moving queue and a scary woman. Right, just ask for a ticket. Easy. So:
Me: (in Russian) can I have a ticket please?
Woman: what?
M: erm...ticket?
W: what ticket? One? Two?
M: erm...one??
Yay! A ticker! R15! It may not have been the right one but it got me there! Right, green line for 8 stops. So, I’m at the top so I can’t go the wrong way...and 8 stops later I’m there! At a triple station where I need to change to the grey line and go one stop “so...um...that signs grey, lets follow it...yay! Bingo!” on the train, in the right direction, off the train, left, left again by pizza hut, along the path, u the steps, left fork, angel on the left and yes! Done it! She’s at the hostel and the most welcome shower I’ve had in a long while.
So what did this all teach me today? That the busses are crap, the place is smelly and full of smog, that its hot and that I wasn’t to give up as I keep getting things wrong? No, its taught me that when you’re stuck in a strange place with no idea of what’s going on, instead of getting grumpy and moaning about it, someone will help you out. Someone will give you their bus ticket. The man who said that stops further on, instead of being annoyed that I’d bothered him kept smiling in a reassuring way, that its bound to be difficult the first time you do anything. That someone will go beyond their way and give you a hand with things.
The anxiety I felt on the plane has not entirely gone but at least some of the butterflies have wrapped themselves back up in their cocoons for the time being.
Tonight I’m going to go eat, have a cold beer and sleep so I can have a good rest before doing battle on the way to the airport on sat. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|03:00 pm] |
Oooh! Free malteasers on the plane! Was just staring out of the window admiring the view when they brought the choc, and then came the “beware of bird flu! Announcement...do they think we wouldn’t notice them saying it because we now have choc?!
So hot on this plane and I need a wee but I cant get up as there are two people to get past and they look a bit scary and aint russian, french or english!
Descending now and there are more houses and things outside now – getting close! Thing I’m about to burst with anticipation! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|02:30 pm] |
how cool – on the plane and have a window seat. Such a clear sunny day I can see down below. Still feel a bit scared and nervous but very happy too. I know that the best way to tackle the nervousness will be to face it head on with confidence because I think it is just caused by dreading I’m going to say something wrong or not know the words I need – but I know also that these things are going to happen more than once over the next month so why dwell on it? I may as well just get on with it, it can only help me to learn!
The only thing I’m missing already is having someone to talk to! I think this is the first time I have travelled any distance at all on my own, and I cant wait to get to the hostel and just talk to someone!
Just had to fill in my immigration form, home ive done it right! I’d better be let into the country now I’m here! And I’d bettwe kep the other half safe or they won’t let me leave wither! He he...hmmm, I’m sure Russia shouldn’t be this flat... |
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| Excellent! |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|09:46 am] |
lots of people speaking russian and im still in holland! is sooooo hot on the plane - phwor! excited but scared about my first test in moscow - getting to the hostel! a bus to the metro, metro with 2 changes of lines and then a walk - ho hum! and when i get there i need a shower...and sleep! 24 hours since i woke up! argh!
anyways, need to get ready for take off!! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|09:05 am] |
Excellent! Lots of people speaking Russian and I’m still in Holland! Is soooo hot on the plane – phwor! Excited but scared about my first test in Moscow – getting to the hostel! A bus to the metro, metro with 2/3 changes of lines and then a walk – ho hum! And when I get there I need a shower...and sleep! 24 hours since I woke up! Argh!
Anyways, need to get ready for take off!! |
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| Amsterdam time. |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|08:40 am] |
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Yay! Just arrived in Holland! It really is flat! No hills in sight! Wow! And loads of water everywhere! No wonder they like those dams over here! There was even a canal between runways! Anyway, off we go to Moscow!! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 21st, 2006|03:52 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  cheerful | ] |
well i'm all packed now (I hope) and am offski in the morning! woo! went into town to get my phone unlocked so i can get a russian sim card when i get there and then found that it wasnt locked at all so that saved me £10! got my pocket dictionary (my other is too big) and my pocket phrase book (useful) so i'm all set for when I cant remember any russian and i wont have to stand there going "uuummmm.....aaahhhhh....." for too long, just while i look up the right page!! he he
so, setting off from kirkby at about 1.30 so i can be at the airport for about 3 ish to get checked in and find my tickets and stuff and then hopefully if the plane isnt delayed i will be on my way at about 6 ish! wooo!!
still doesnt feel too much like im going in the morning though, but i keep remembering and getting scared and excited again! :D
anyways, off to finish getting ready :)
Miss Bob xx |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 20th, 2006|11:10 pm] |
well I start my jourey to Russia on Thursday morning. my flight leaves manchester at 06.05 going via amsterdam to moscow! then, i am staying at a hostel in Moscow for 2 nights and then flying to Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia and staying for 2 days with a host family. then, i'm getting a train to Abakan at 6am (argh!) for most of the day and then will be getting a bus for an hour to the camp where i will be teaching english for 2 weeks! hope its not too scary!
then after the two weeks teaching I will be leaving from Abakan and getting the trans-siberian railway for 3 days (and nights!!!) back to Moscow where I have 4 nights before coming home!
hopefully I have got almost everything sorted out now, all I need to do is try and get everything I need into my rucksack! argh!! at least I dont need lots of warm clothes as its about 30 degress c in siberia at the moment, meant to be about 32 when i arrive on sat!
am really excited now but scared too! in a good way! am really looking forward to my adventure as its my first on my own and i hope to learn lots to stand me in good stead for next year!
then when i come back i have got to sort out all my visa's and things for september! argh!!! so much to do and all so complicated i dont know if im coming or going!! hee hee
well, I'm off to bed with my pen and paper as i keep remembering things that I need to do!
Will update as and when I can find computers and will keep you up to date with my travels!! yay!!
Miss Bob xx |
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| "we're all going on a summer holiday" |
[May. 27th, 2006|06:36 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | excited | ] |
Well, this is the account I have set up to record my travels over the next year or so! Very excited!
So far the plans for this journal are to:
1) Be about my short break in Devon this june.
2) For me to write about my trip to Russia/Siberia in June/July. Itinerary to follow.
3) Write about my year abroad next year when I will be living and going to uni is Moscow!
So, thats about it. Add this page to your friends page if you want to keep up to date with what's going on! :) |
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