finally!

What am I doing in Russia? That's a good question. I've been all over the place in the past week. It's been crazy fun and I am loving the culture of the city. I have already made some Russian friends outside of work. We met them at church on Sunday. I am looking forward to being involved in their bible study. The ladies of the church also have a weekly cafe night. Each week we visit a different coffee shop around the city. I am SO looking forward to that. Not only will it be caffeine-filled fun, but it will be a good way to learn my way around the city. Moscow is an amazing place. There is always something going on. It's all so exciting! At least for now. Hopefully that excitement doesn't wear off too soon.
Yesterday was our first official day of work. We boarded the bus at 8 and headed to Zaitevo (where I am teaching). I was really nervous because I had no idea what to expect. The more and more I learn about the Russian way, the more I realize that I should never expect anything. They have been slow with details and slow in processing things. Yesterday was the first work day, and also the first time that the teachers had entered the school since June. I got there and they started right away, getting things organized and ready for then the kids come on Tues. From what I remember from student teaching, teachers prepare during the summer. They also come to school early and stay late. Here, we will arrive when the children are arriving and we leave when the children leave. It's strange and I don't know when I will have time to think and prepare. But, go with the flow and learn to be flexible. This is what I have been learning every day.
So I sat down with the director of the Kindergarten. She told me exactly what my job description was and a little bit about my schedule. She told me that they have never had an American teacher come over with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She was very excited. Because of this excitement and her huge amount of faith in my abilities, she has made me the homeroom teacher. This means that I will be doing most of the teaching throughout the day. This will be shared with another Russian speaking teacher. I have 24 students. These students are split into 2 groups. One day I will teach one group, the next day I will teach the other 12 students. So basically, they want me with the children as much as possible. From what I have heard and what I have seen, English is a very important subject here at the school and the parents want to ensure that their Versace and Prada sporting children are learning the language all day long. I am feeling overwhelmed. I was thinking that I would only be teaching English for a couple lessons a day. Now I feel the work load piling on my shoulders. It probably is not as bad as I am expecting. What am I saying?? No expectations, remember? Oh yeah. Ok...um...I don't know what to expect and I am hoping for the best. God is in control and nothing is too difficult for Him. (that sounds better.)
I have to keep reminding myself that I am here to TEACH. I am not here to impress the other (glaring) Russian teachers. I am not here to make loads and loads of money. I am not here to shop. I came here to teach. I am here for these kids. No matter what language they speak or how much money they have in their future college funds, they are still children who want and need to learn. They will love me if I love them. They will learn if I do my job. They will be impressed if even if my clothes are from Walmart. :)

Here's my room! I have removed the fur blanket praise the Lord. But the bearskin remains. Fred will just have to stay up there and be ugly forever.

ok so it wasn't up to my chin, but who the heck cares! look at this thing!

If you would just tilt your head to left you will see what we like to call, HEAVEN. AAAHHHH!. it's our wonderful shower. You gotta try it. This is how we roll in Russia, people.

and our lovely marble coffeetable with our dead animal skin placed so tastefully underneath.

If you just tilt your head to the left you can see our silky, satiny room. Two chandeliers and very extravagant curtains. Only the best for Hannah and Kelsie.

Our kitchen. I like, but no microwave. boo.

Ah...our table. We have named her Mother Russia.

So, I guess in Russia, if you want a furnished apartment, this is what you might get. A fur covered couch. The landlady said that we can't take it off and she doesn't want us to change anything.

The hallway that you seen when you come into the apt.

oh my, people!

Wow. So sorry that i haven't been updating this so far. It has been SO hectic since we landed. So...I'm in Russia! Who would have thought!
I said my goodbyes to my family on Monday. It was pretty hard, I'm not gunna lie. You would think that I would be used to leaving them all the time but it is still hard. I remember thinking, "What am I doing?" I felt very lonely as I walked through the Minneapolis airport. I kept wondering why I always have to do things on my own. But then I remember that I am not alone at all. God has been with me through this whole process. He was there when I decided that this is what I wanted to do. He was there when I was stressing out about not being able to go. He was there when I walked through the airport alone. He sat by me on the plane! And He is with me now as I sit here in my Russian apartment. :)
The first day is kind of hard to remember. We got off the plane and boarded the MES bus. They took us to the school and we sat down in the teachers' lounge and ate some food. Within 10 minutes we were being told where we were going to live and had to decide who we would live with. I really like all of the girls here and we all get along so it wasn't a really big deal. It was just all so fast! Soon we were signing papers for advances in pay for rent and then we were off to move in to our apartments. I live with 3 other girls at Shmitovsky. I don't know if that is a road or what. Ha. But live here. The apartment was kind of shock when we first walked in. Everything is very...gaudy. The apartment came furnished so this lady went all out! I'm talkin' fur on the couch, a cow skin rug, a marble coffeetable, really ugly curtains. My room has a bear skin hanging on the wall and the bed was covered in a fake, plasticy fur blanket. gag me. It was gross. The other bedroom had frilly satiny curtains and the same on the bed. This room also has 2 chandeliers. It's somethin' else. BUT the amazing part about the apt. is the bathroom! Oh, I wish you could all be here to shower in it's wonderfulness. It bathtub is h-uge and it is marble. i can sit up in it and the rim of the tub would probably come up to my chin... yeah. The entrance to the tub is a marble archway. It looks like a baptismal! Hey, it might come in handy! You never know! Hopefully i can put up pictures soon but they will not to it justice.
The next day we were here, we signed our contracts! I'm officially a Russian teacher! That was about all we did that day. Today we went to McDonald's. oh you should see this McD's. It's so huge and it's really nice. We went to get coffee because some of us were having coffee withdrawls. not me of course...
The first 2 days that I was here, I really didn't like it, I'm not gunna lie. I was SO sad and worried about everything. I didn't want to be here and everything bothered me. But i think that was a result of lack of sleep, shock, and no coffee...I mean.... :) But really, I didn't like it and I kept asking God to fill my heart with contentment and joy. I knew that I should be excited but I really wasn't. Today was a different day though! I made an effort and it paid off! I have just loved every minute that I spend walking around Moscow. Today I rode the Metro which was an experience! It's so much fun learning new things and being around new people. I also started learning the Russian letters and their sounds. I can actually sound out most words now! I am learning new words and I can't wait to communicate with people.
It's such a strange feeling when no one around you can understand you. We were in IKEA today and we couldn't find any sheets!! Everywhere I looked were more Russian words. I could sound them out but not read them! We asked a few people and were ignored or told no. I felt like we were walking in circles. I can definately sympathize with foreigners in America. Oh this reminds me of a verse that I read the other day. Mom, you probably remember! ha. Ok here it is: Leviticus 19:33 -'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' So I would just remind you...if you happen to come across an immigrant or foreigner, help them out. Be sympathetic. You never know...maybe all they need is a good set of sheets.

Last Days in America

So this is it guys. My first official blog. I never thought that I would be a blogger but it seems like a good idea now. I hope if you are reading this, that you will continue to read it for the next 10.5 months. I will do my best to update it as much as possible.
The summer days flew by so fast. Today was my "goodbye" party. I'm so thankful for everyone who came. I started to get a little sad thinking that I will not see everyone for a long time. It's also crazy to think that I will be living in a city with 14 million other people!! Just me, a girl from a small town in Northern Minnesota all the way in Russia! God is good.