vooow!!!

I'm living the next six weeks in a crumbling Soviet-era communal apartment! I sort of expected that, but it only became real when I saw it. It looks like no one lives there, but it's a huge busy apartment with plenty of people in it. The inside is much nicer than the exterior suggests, and we actually have a fully stocked, completely working full kitchen. Amazing.

Spending today exploring our neighborhood and wandering into the city, looking for basic necessities such as internet, mobile sim cards, food, etc. I'm immediately realizing that classroom Russian does nothing for real-life interactions. It's going to take baby steps, but I'm so excited to learn more and get better at this. I haven't gotten to the main center streets yet (our neighborhood is right on the Gulf of Finland, which is somewhat far from the busy part of the city) but we're on our way this afternoon.

Pictures to come when I find a spot with wi-fi, and not just a computer lab...

in transit...

People watching never fails to amuse me. After circling the terminal a few times to kill a bit of my 4 hour layover at o'hare, I chose a prime location to sketch, eavesdrop, and watch. Two young business professionals are sitting about two feet from me, consistently getting and placing calls, checking the laptops, and figuring out where their company is sending them next week (ring a bell, corey?). The next hour should bring plenty of crying kids, impractically dressed women, and men in suits.

pre-dreaming

this may not be the best map to use to get around the city these days... but I love these colors! cannot wait to get there and explore these islands, streets, parks, canals, twists, nooks, sights and smells.