It’s already 2016. The time is going by so fast, faster than I expected. I've lived almost 5 months in Russia and here are some facts:
1. I thought that by the 5th month I would be speaking Russian... and I’m not, but that’s more like a personal thing because I saw the other exchange students are actually speaking Russian now, so yeah, I should stop speaking so much English and try to use Russian instead. But I can say I already understand a lot of things I hear and I’m able to say some other things, so people, I know speaking Russian seems impossible but it’s is not. (At least I’m hoping)
2. Never in a million years I imagined I would experience a weather of -25ªC... but I honestly love it, it’s so different from what I’m used and I don’t know, it feels so refreshing.
3. Snow isn’t as lovely as it seems in movies... I mean, it is cool, I love it, it makes me feel like so Christmas vibes and everything looks more romantic, but not when you have to run against the wind and it hits all over your face. I would say that the thing that I only really hate about is when it melts and stays like ice and then the whole city is like an ice rink. You know? I’m not a person with skills so just the other day I had bruise all over my butt... it was funny though.
4. I’ve never drank so much tea in my entire life... Before coming to Russia, I honestly thought the only place where people drinks so much tea was England but now that I am hear I can see they even drink more tea than water! Most of the times they have meals, they accompany it with tea, plus, there is tea time... It’s insane because I used to have tea at home just when I was feeling sick and now I’m not sure if I will be able to stop drinking tea when I go back home. I LOVE IT.
5. There are no bears on the streets... of course, but some part of me is still hoping to see one, you know, it would be a great to story to tell.
6. For Russians all pasta is called “макароны” (macaroni)... and for me it’s okay but the Italian exchanges students get really pissed of with this, which I find really funny. LOL.
7. It seems like chocolate is the only candies they eat... every time I receive a gift, it is chocolate. Actually, on New Year’s Eve, I received lots of candies, like even more than in Halloween, and looking through the whole pack, I could just find chocolate, chocolate and maybe other things that tasted like chocolate. #paraparaPARADISE
8. Dima, Nikita, Sasha, Katya, Nastya, Dasha, MARIA... As for me, those are the most common names in Russia.
9. Men who smells like alcohol... the first time that I was on the bus and a group of man who was smelling like alcohol were standing beside, I got so scared! I thought they would try to steal my money or do something bad but nothing happened, and there’s also the fact that I was the only one who got scared... Now I realized it’s a usual thing, old men love drinking but at least I haven’t had to deal with any problems, on the contrary, when I have had to deal or talk with them... they’re actually kind of friendly. Like once of of them said that my “black eyes” (which are actually dark brown) were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen... aw.
10. Russians are so skilled and artistic and healthy and sporty and... damn, I feel so useless here because everyone here is good at least 3 things, like almost everyone knows how to play piano or another instrument, they dance, they draw, they sing, they act, they play hockey, they do things that we all do but in such a professional way... They are kind of perfect about this. Now I’m learning to play the piano.
11. There are stairs everywhere... I MEAN IT... LOTS OF STAIRS... You know, me myself and everyone who knows me. knows that I’m a lazy girl, but I’ve never realized how big my laziness was until I came to Russia and now I have to deal with a lot of stairs! Most of all Russians live in departments which means they live in buildings, which means they have to go upstairs and downstairs everyday, and no, there are no lifts, it’s actually weird when there are. Let’s stay positive, it is exercise for my legs, yassss.
12. Russians eat a looooot of salad... and when I heard this I thought I was screwed because I’m not a person who loves eating vegetables. BUT, salads in Russia are different! Their salads are not just vegetables, but they can also include things like rice, shrimps, mayonnaise, cream, even chips, and a lot of other things! Yummy.
13. USA isn’t Russian’s favorite thing... Like, I knew about this problem but I also know all around the world there are people who doesn’t like the USA and american stuff, but when it comes to Russians, OMG, they get really annoyed and pissed off! AND I MEAN IT! I have a sweater with the American flag, which one day I decided to wear and go out, and you know, after that day I decided it would be better if it stays in my suitcase, lol.
14. School on Saturdays... yeah, I have nothing to say about this, it isn’t my favorite thing but I can just say T.G.I.F. isn’t a thing here...
15. Russia isn’t snow all day, all night, all year, everywhere... like everyone thinks. It’s is true that right now I’m getting frozen but in summer the weather is hot. AND, it isn’t snowing everywhere in Russia. I have friends in the Krasnodar regions which is situated in the south of Russia. They said they just had snow for 3 days.
16. No, Russians don't drink vodka as if it was water... this is a big stereotype, sometimes I even think that in my country people drinks more than people in here.
17. Cats... Russian loves cats. Almost in every department I have been, the pet is always a cat.
18. There is no Christmas but there is New Year’s Eve... They don’t celebrate on December 25th. New Year’s Eve for Russian is basically Christmas. They have their own version of Santa Claus which is called Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz) and the day where he gives gifts to children is on December 31st. (Russians have an Orthodox Christmas on January 7th but it’s not a really celebrated day.)
19. Russians are really superstitious, REALLY... everything gives good luck or bad luck. It is insane. Like now I’m afraid of whistling while I’m inside a building or afraid that if my knife falls to the floor someone will arrive to the door.
20. It doesn’t matter if the weather is -25ªC... Russians can always enjoy eating ice cream.
I’ve learned so much more things but I will save them for the project I’m making about Russia.
