ST PETERSBURG!!!

Priviet!!!

So what would a day in the life of Dena Reay be like if there wasn't:

A happy mom

Hearing the song "Imagine"

Someone talking with an accent

Brothers

and...

Someone asking me if i'm Mexican???

Well don't worry, all of this happened within my first 2 hours of being in Russia! I love it here! My host family really makes me feel welcome and they are willing to do anything for me! I have gained two more brothers: Sasha and Valera, who are darling even with their little Russian mullets! They can sorta pull it off! But they are a little out of control, I get bitten and spit at on a regular basis!

So people weren't kidding when they said that Russia is freezing!! But it doesn't seem so bad when you are all bundled up and sweating to death in all your layers! The only problem is how slick it is!! I already fell on my butt this morning! Don't worry only 26 people saw me!

We spent a few hours down town before we were off to church, but didn't see much: We still had fun, but it wasn't even cold at all! Perfect day, but for sure now I know why everyone thinks Russians are so mean and why they never smile!! Its because it is soooo dreary there and grey!! Its pretty hard to make yourself smile!

We take the metro to get anywhere and that is the nicest place in St. Petersburg pretty much! It is really nice down there, actually at one of the stops the walls are made of gold (I doubt its real, but it looks soooo cool!) The Metro is really quiet to so taking any pictures is sorta out of character down there but whatever we did it anyway!! We took some pictures on the platform and one with the Russian guards! ha, from the side, they would die if they knew what we were doing, they are the angriest looking of all the Russians! But actually taking pictures on the trains is pretty much forbidden so sarah and I had to be pretty discreet in taking our close up! ha!

About the food...it pretty much sucks!! I had to pretend I was sick for a couple days to get out of eating what my host family tried to feed me!!! They LOVE fish and the fish here is just plain gross! The worst thing I had was apparently supposed to be a salad and it was made up of shredded beets, potatoes, and carrots with a mayonnaise dressing oh yeah and salted fish in it!! It was all layered and tasted just disgusting!! She tried to feed it to me for 3 meals!! Breakfast included!!! EWWWWWW McDonalds and this Pizza place have been the BEST!!!! They actually have drinks so its good!!! I think that I have been dehydrated since I got here!!!!!! Well I have to go plan my lessons!! I will post soon about my students and school! Love you all and hope all is well, thanks for the support and love!!!

p.s. That isn't really my house!!! I promise!!! I live on the 4th floor in an apartment building!! It was just a funny picture and a joke!!! That ugly thing was just out in the river by our university where we take classes!! haha sorry if I worried anyone!