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.