A cucumber by any other name...

Today was a pretty calm day. We read about "power" in Russian, therefore going back to strange abstract ideas that are kind of hard to understand in a foreign language. Our teacher is also having more trouble translating the new vocabulary...which sort of makes it hard to learn. But Joe and I are pushing forward and trying not to break down into hysterics (me somewhat less successfully). We talked about Russian economics in the afternoon and it was interesting for a subject that I'm really not interested in.

But the highlight of the day was after that. We went as a group to buy tickets for Suzdal, a city about 100 km outside the city. It's in the "golden ring" which is this circle of small towns around Moscow, called golden because of the domes of the churches. To get there you take a train for 2.5 hours (without a bathroom!!!) and then a bus for an hour or so. I think. Everything is very unclear. Anyway, Ben knows someone who knows someone who rents a place there so we've got the place pretty cheap, which is good because we are going for....

THE CUCUMBER FESTIVAL!!!!!!!

Seriously. This exists. http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/the-suzdal-cucumber-festival.html. It is too good to be true. We can't stop laughing about it because it's such a crazy experience we can't believe we'll actually have. Don't worry, I'll make sure my camera is well charged and bring back cucumber shaped souvenirs for everyone. We leave two weeks from tomorrow.

Then Dad and I went skiing and we both did less than stellar, but maybe it was just an off day. I did get some great coaching from a really cool Russian dude who didn't speak any English, but this other guy helped out with translating and he spoke really good English. Except he didn't know the words for hips so he kept saying you lift this part here this part I don't know what it is, lift this! It was kind of amusing. We came home early and I did my homework, talked to a friend, and now blogging! All in all an average day.

Tomorrow...THE KREMLIN. I'm probably not going to be able to sleep tomorrow, I'm so excited. I can't contain myself. I think I might scare the group with my enthusiasm. But I can always count on Miriam to be excited :). This weekend is pretty free. Dad and I might go to a party at his coworker's on Sunday afternoon when Dad gets back from his dacha trip (that's a traditional Russian summer home). Maybe I'll go window shopping with Miriam at GUM (the expensive, fancy mall) or walk around the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (I have to get a head scarf first) or hit a market. Or all of the above. I think I'll also stock the fridge with some traditional Russian snack/light meal foods - cheese we have and bread but I might branch out into колбаса, Russian sausages.

One last thought before I leave - I can do a lot here with the Russian I have. Especially when people learn that Russian is not my first language and they speak clearly and don't mutter. In a lot of situations I can make myself understood...even if I have to call ice cream by color and indicate "to go" by asking for a bag. I can order food decently well and ask for the check. I can navigate the metro, read a map, and buy metro tickets. Every day life is pretty much in my grasp. But things like buying tickets for the train are totally beyond my capacity to understand. I like to listen when Ben talks to waitresses/cashiers/whatever the most recent Russian person is and see if I can understand. Sometimes yes, occasionally I'm pretty certain I could have that same conversation. But today my ears almost fell off my head trying to comprehend. I think I would have just looked at her like a deer in headlights - my general facial expression when I can't keep up with the Russian. It's days like today that make me wonder if I really ever could feel comfortable doing this completely on my own. Food for thought.