Sunday, November 28, 2010
Concert Photos
So last week I was asked to perform in a concert for Russian students --- I sang some Christina Aguilera (not by choice, I remind you) and wore my hot new dress--- see the last photo. I didn't take any of these, but people have been asking to see concert pics, so I'll re-post them. Thanks to Dmitry, the photographer at the concert! More photos, as always, are available in my facebook albums: Russia Part One, Moscow, The Golden Ring, Russia Part Two
Saturday, November 27, 2010
День Благодарения / THANKSGIVING!
Ok, so obviously Thanksgiving is a completely American Holiday, and Russians have no reason to celebrate it.... But I have to say, Thanksgiving in Russia was totally awesome. We didn't have a break from school on Thursday, but we did draw a lovely turkey on the chalk-board in spirit of the holiday. I wasn't expecting anything more than that in terms of holiday recognition, but once again I underestimate the AWESOMENESS of my Russian host mother: She surprised me by bringing home a roast chicken ("I'm sorry it's not a Turkey, but we just don't have turkeys here!"), and wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving! As it turns out, she spent all day at work reading about Thanksgiving, and she just thought it was the best holiday imaginable (she even printed out the wikipedia article and read it to me out loud). She was really curious about it, and we had the following conversation:
"How do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you give gifts?"
"No, we just give thanks!"
"Thanks for what?"
"For anything you want, whatever or whoever you are thankful for in life."
"Wonderful! What else do you do?"
"Well... we just... eat. All day long."
"You mean you have a big meal? Just in the evening, right?"
"....No. I mean ALL DAY."
"But it's just one meal?"
"Well... We just keep eating. We get up early to cook, and while we are cooking we eat. and when we're done cooking we eat again. And then we usually watch a movie and eat some more... Until it's time for dessert."
"UGH, Why can't we have a holiday like this in RUSSIA???"
We had a great time eating and giving thanks, drinking and make toasts (as is the Russian tradition). My mom said over and over how thankful she was to have me for a daughter, and I said over and over how thankful I was to have her as my AMAZING host mother. Seriously, how cool is it that she actually RESEARCHED Thanksgiving? She was so excited about it, it was adorable!! I also explained to her the concept of Black Friday, and how as soon as the Thanksgiving meal is over, we like to set up our Christmas trees and start singing/listening to Christmas music. Fa la la la laaaaaa!
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! All of the Oles in Novgorod (plus our American friend Jim) got together this weekend to celebrate! We made turkey, chicken, stuffing, green bean casserole, beets, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread, sangria, wine, and for dessert: apple crisp. Everyone contributed to the cooking process, we had to use two kitchens simultaneously to get everything done, and I had to leave in the middle for choir rehearsal, but the meal was a total success. Oh yeah, and we gave thanks, too. Anyway, the end result is that I am now incredibly full, tired, and happy!
Missing everyone at home/Olaf (as usual) but loving every minute of Russia! Hope you all have a safe and happy Holiday season!
Love and Thanks to all,
Sarah
"How do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you give gifts?"
"No, we just give thanks!"
"Thanks for what?"
"For anything you want, whatever or whoever you are thankful for in life."
"Wonderful! What else do you do?"
"Well... we just... eat. All day long."
"You mean you have a big meal? Just in the evening, right?"
"....No. I mean ALL DAY."
"But it's just one meal?"
"Well... We just keep eating. We get up early to cook, and while we are cooking we eat. and when we're done cooking we eat again. And then we usually watch a movie and eat some more... Until it's time for dessert."
"UGH, Why can't we have a holiday like this in RUSSIA???"
We had a great time eating and giving thanks, drinking and make toasts (as is the Russian tradition). My mom said over and over how thankful she was to have me for a daughter, and I said over and over how thankful I was to have her as my AMAZING host mother. Seriously, how cool is it that she actually RESEARCHED Thanksgiving? She was so excited about it, it was adorable!! I also explained to her the concept of Black Friday, and how as soon as the Thanksgiving meal is over, we like to set up our Christmas trees and start singing/listening to Christmas music. Fa la la la laaaaaa!
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! All of the Oles in Novgorod (plus our American friend Jim) got together this weekend to celebrate! We made turkey, chicken, stuffing, green bean casserole, beets, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread, sangria, wine, and for dessert: apple crisp. Everyone contributed to the cooking process, we had to use two kitchens simultaneously to get everything done, and I had to leave in the middle for choir rehearsal, but the meal was a total success. Oh yeah, and we gave thanks, too. Anyway, the end result is that I am now incredibly full, tired, and happy!
Missing everyone at home/Olaf (as usual) but loving every minute of Russia! Hope you all have a safe and happy Holiday season!
Love and Thanks to all,
Sarah
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Untitled Update
This weekend = St. Petersburg Combined-Birthday Extraordinaire! I had a blast, even though I was only there for about 12 hours, and never saw the sun. We took the bus after class (a 3-hour ride) and arrived in Piter (The colloquial name for St. Petersburg) at 7pm. On the way to the hostel, we saw some noteworthy attempts at English. Here's one:
We made it to the Hostel, went out for Asian food across the street, and then met up with some other American friends who were studying in Piter/Moscow. They took us to some local clubs, and we had a great time dancing and singing along obnoxiously to all of the American music they played (i.e., almost every song).
The nightlife in Piter is so great, I almost didn't notice that it was already 6am! I took the 7:30am bus back to Novgorod with a few friends, but not before picking up some pirozhki for breakfast at a nearby 24-hour cafe. As soon as I got home, I collapsed on my bed and slept the day away. When I woke up, of course, I realized how much I smelled like cigarettes from being in the club, and immediately took a shower/did my laundry... Good idea.
Today I went shopping with my friend Ira, who was extremely helpful and patient with me as I struggled to find clothes in Russian sizes. We had particular trouble with jeans --- what a mess... American legs are much larger than Russian legs. I did ended up finding a dress for the rest of my Russian Show-Choir performances (because I just look shabby next to all of the Russian girls in my ensemble... Not any more!) I have three concerts left, but it's possible that my director will add more. I am singing Christina Aguilera on Wednesday: a personal request from the concert organizer. I'm okay with that, as she originally had me singing Blink 182 while two Russian cheerleaders danced around behind me (the cheerleaders had to drop out of the concert, which is why I'm now singing alone. How unfortunate...)
In other news, I have exactly 4 weeks left to enjoy Russia. I have NOT seen Harry Potter yet, but I may go with Ira and her friend to see it in Russian before I leave. I may also (hopefully) go back to St. Petersburg with Ira and Dima (who are perhaps the GREATEST Russian friends an American girl could ever have, by the way). AND I still have to figure out how to make this apple pie for our Thanksgiving potluck this weekend... wish me luck!
Miss you all, love you lots, thanks for reading!
Sarah
We made it to the Hostel, went out for Asian food across the street, and then met up with some other American friends who were studying in Piter/Moscow. They took us to some local clubs, and we had a great time dancing and singing along obnoxiously to all of the American music they played (i.e., almost every song).
The nightlife in Piter is so great, I almost didn't notice that it was already 6am! I took the 7:30am bus back to Novgorod with a few friends, but not before picking up some pirozhki for breakfast at a nearby 24-hour cafe. As soon as I got home, I collapsed on my bed and slept the day away. When I woke up, of course, I realized how much I smelled like cigarettes from being in the club, and immediately took a shower/did my laundry... Good idea.
Today I went shopping with my friend Ira, who was extremely helpful and patient with me as I struggled to find clothes in Russian sizes. We had particular trouble with jeans --- what a mess... American legs are much larger than Russian legs. I did ended up finding a dress for the rest of my Russian Show-Choir performances (because I just look shabby next to all of the Russian girls in my ensemble... Not any more!) I have three concerts left, but it's possible that my director will add more. I am singing Christina Aguilera on Wednesday: a personal request from the concert organizer. I'm okay with that, as she originally had me singing Blink 182 while two Russian cheerleaders danced around behind me (the cheerleaders had to drop out of the concert, which is why I'm now singing alone. How unfortunate...)
In other news, I have exactly 4 weeks left to enjoy Russia. I have NOT seen Harry Potter yet, but I may go with Ira and her friend to see it in Russian before I leave. I may also (hopefully) go back to St. Petersburg with Ira and Dima (who are perhaps the GREATEST Russian friends an American girl could ever have, by the way). AND I still have to figure out how to make this apple pie for our Thanksgiving potluck this weekend... wish me luck!
Miss you all, love you lots, thanks for reading!
Sarah
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
News from the Motherland:
First of all, as usual, I LOVE Russia. Just thought I would remind you all.
Secondly, I am SOOOOO excited for this weekend!! On Friday we are going as a gaggle of Americans to St. Petersburg in order to celebrate ALL of our birthdays in style! I haven't made it to Peter yet on this trip, so I am reeeally psyched to be there in a month other than January. On Saturday I am coming back early for an entire day of rehearsal. I am performing in two concerts before I leave Russia, in which I will song two songs with my Russian ensemble and two solos in English (one of them will be with two girls who are dancing while I sing? I am not sure yet how that will work)... Anyway, the part of me that is pining for my AWESOME band (Sober Peter, shout-out) will finally be appeased with some vocal-performance therapy.
Third: The weekend after next we are celebrating Thanksgiving potluck-style at the boy's apartments. I am in charge of Apple pie/crumble/dessert of some sort. We are going all out with stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, Mmmmmmm... aw yeah. Also, our professor from St. Olaf will be visiting Novgorod that weekend. Let me tell you, she is the definition of Russian Diva. This lady's got class and attitude like you've never seen. LOVE her.
Lastly, I only have 4 1/2 weeks left in this BEAUTIFUL place, but it STILL hasn't SNOWED!!! Come on, Russia, I have a big beautiful coat that I will wear everyday for the next month if you will just give me some snoooow! Although, I guess it's still really awesome that I can get away with wearing a cute little leather jacket, instead of the 40-lb wool ball-gown that is my winter coat. Still, I do love showing it off.
Stay tuned for more updates on my life in Russkiy-Land --- Просто Любовь!
Sarah
Secondly, I am SOOOOO excited for this weekend!! On Friday we are going as a gaggle of Americans to St. Petersburg in order to celebrate ALL of our birthdays in style! I haven't made it to Peter yet on this trip, so I am reeeally psyched to be there in a month other than January. On Saturday I am coming back early for an entire day of rehearsal. I am performing in two concerts before I leave Russia, in which I will song two songs with my Russian ensemble and two solos in English (one of them will be with two girls who are dancing while I sing? I am not sure yet how that will work)... Anyway, the part of me that is pining for my AWESOME band (Sober Peter, shout-out) will finally be appeased with some vocal-performance therapy.
Third: The weekend after next we are celebrating Thanksgiving potluck-style at the boy's apartments. I am in charge of Apple pie/crumble/dessert of some sort. We are going all out with stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, Mmmmmmm... aw yeah. Also, our professor from St. Olaf will be visiting Novgorod that weekend. Let me tell you, she is the definition of Russian Diva. This lady's got class and attitude like you've never seen. LOVE her.
Lastly, I only have 4 1/2 weeks left in this BEAUTIFUL place, but it STILL hasn't SNOWED!!! Come on, Russia, I have a big beautiful coat that I will wear everyday for the next month if you will just give me some snoooow! Although, I guess it's still really awesome that I can get away with wearing a cute little leather jacket, instead of the 40-lb wool ball-gown that is my winter coat. Still, I do love showing it off.
Stay tuned for more updates on my life in Russkiy-Land --- Просто Любовь!
Sarah
Sunday, November 7, 2010
An Ode to Russian Cuisine
Here is a list of some of the AMAZING food items that I have experienced so far in Russia. I couldn't help myself, they needed their own blog post.
1. Blini --- Like french crepes, these are thin pancakes that you can fill with anything you like. My favorites are cabbage and egg, or sour cream and jam. They can also be made smaller and thicker, in which case my Mother calls them Blinchiki.
2. Pirog --- This word translates as "pie," but that's hardly accurate. Imagine a cookie-sheet covered in inch-thick pie pastry. Now imagine the center of this pastry mass being filled with meat, potatoes, vegetables, cheese, eggs, etc. Now melt an entire stick of butter (or two) over the top of the whole thing. Amazing. They make small versions of this dish called Pirozhki, which can be baked or fried. Both variants are extremely tasty.
3. Soup --- Borsch, Schii, Rassolnik, or whatever. Russian soup is an ART FORM. I had to explain to my Russian mother that although we have soup in the US, it's not anything like the soup here. She was also shocked that people didn't eat soup on a regular basis! We always have a pot of soup at my house, and it's a beautiful thing.
4. Tea --- I mean, the tea here isn't necessarily better than anywhere else, but the fact that we sit down to have tea 3-5 times a day is perhaps the greatest incorporation I've made to my routine here in Russia. Tea doesn't just mean tea... it means you sit down, you talk or watch TV while you wait for kettle to boil, then you make your tea and eat something sweet. We have a sweet dish that sits on our kitchen table, which we constantly replenish with our stock of cookies, candy, cakes, and what have you. Tea is also the perfect way to take a break from homework, or an excuse to meet up with my Russian friends.
5. Dairy --- I'll make this one category, because otherwise my whole post would be full of different dairy products. First of all, our milk is 3.5% milkfat, which makes my LIFE. We also put sour cream on everything, because the sour cream here is so much BETTER than in the states! I can't explain it, it's a whole different thing. My mother also introduced me to Ryazhenka (A plain yogurt-type of thick, creamy drink), Tvorog (A sweet creamy cheese, often used as a filling for blini), and Sirok (like a brick of sweet tvorog, that I eat mixed with sour cream).
6. Fried Anything --- My mother is the queen of all foods fried. Mozarella cheese: Fry it in oil til the outside is nice and crisp. Squash: Bread it in flour, fry it in the pan, and cover it with slices of fresh garlic and our cream. Eggs: Fry sunny-side up with peppers, onions, and kielbasa. This morning my mom made me sweet squash pancakes from shredded squash, eggs, milk, sugar, and flour. I've eaten about a million of them today, I can't stop myself.
7. Barni --- This is a brand of little-debbie type pre-packaged snack. It's a little bear-shaped cake filled with milk chocolate cream. So cute, and so delicious --- I think I'll have one right now.
8. Shaverma --- The Russian (Georgian?) version of a Gyro. These have so much filling, that they are wrapped in TWO pitas instead of one. Cheap, Messy, and delicious.
9. Kompot --- Juice made from stewed fruit, which sink to the bottom of your glass so you can eat them when you're done. Another similar variant is Kisel --- A fruit drink made from stewed berries and thickened with starch. Mmmmm...
That's all for now, I'll probably make another food post later on. In the meantime, Priyatnovo Appetita!
Sarah
1. Blini --- Like french crepes, these are thin pancakes that you can fill with anything you like. My favorites are cabbage and egg, or sour cream and jam. They can also be made smaller and thicker, in which case my Mother calls them Blinchiki.
2. Pirog --- This word translates as "pie," but that's hardly accurate. Imagine a cookie-sheet covered in inch-thick pie pastry. Now imagine the center of this pastry mass being filled with meat, potatoes, vegetables, cheese, eggs, etc. Now melt an entire stick of butter (or two) over the top of the whole thing. Amazing. They make small versions of this dish called Pirozhki, which can be baked or fried. Both variants are extremely tasty.
3. Soup --- Borsch, Schii, Rassolnik, or whatever. Russian soup is an ART FORM. I had to explain to my Russian mother that although we have soup in the US, it's not anything like the soup here. She was also shocked that people didn't eat soup on a regular basis! We always have a pot of soup at my house, and it's a beautiful thing.
4. Tea --- I mean, the tea here isn't necessarily better than anywhere else, but the fact that we sit down to have tea 3-5 times a day is perhaps the greatest incorporation I've made to my routine here in Russia. Tea doesn't just mean tea... it means you sit down, you talk or watch TV while you wait for kettle to boil, then you make your tea and eat something sweet. We have a sweet dish that sits on our kitchen table, which we constantly replenish with our stock of cookies, candy, cakes, and what have you. Tea is also the perfect way to take a break from homework, or an excuse to meet up with my Russian friends.
5. Dairy --- I'll make this one category, because otherwise my whole post would be full of different dairy products. First of all, our milk is 3.5% milkfat, which makes my LIFE. We also put sour cream on everything, because the sour cream here is so much BETTER than in the states! I can't explain it, it's a whole different thing. My mother also introduced me to Ryazhenka (A plain yogurt-type of thick, creamy drink), Tvorog (A sweet creamy cheese, often used as a filling for blini), and Sirok (like a brick of sweet tvorog, that I eat mixed with sour cream).
6. Fried Anything --- My mother is the queen of all foods fried. Mozarella cheese: Fry it in oil til the outside is nice and crisp. Squash: Bread it in flour, fry it in the pan, and cover it with slices of fresh garlic and our cream. Eggs: Fry sunny-side up with peppers, onions, and kielbasa. This morning my mom made me sweet squash pancakes from shredded squash, eggs, milk, sugar, and flour. I've eaten about a million of them today, I can't stop myself.
7. Barni --- This is a brand of little-debbie type pre-packaged snack. It's a little bear-shaped cake filled with milk chocolate cream. So cute, and so delicious --- I think I'll have one right now.
8. Shaverma --- The Russian (Georgian?) version of a Gyro. These have so much filling, that they are wrapped in TWO pitas instead of one. Cheap, Messy, and delicious.
9. Kompot --- Juice made from stewed fruit, which sink to the bottom of your glass so you can eat them when you're done. Another similar variant is Kisel --- A fruit drink made from stewed berries and thickened with starch. Mmmmm...
That's all for now, I'll probably make another food post later on. In the meantime, Priyatnovo Appetita!
Sarah
Saturday, November 6, 2010
My Birthday / День Рождения
What's so excited about turning 21 in Russia? I mean, in Russia I already HAD all of the privileges that I WOULD have received in the US, had I turned 21 while I was still there. So what's the big deal? I'll tell you what the big deal is: My BIRTHDAY, in RUSSIA! BIG DEAL!!!
First of all, because I am in Russia, I am currently 8-hours ahead of Minnesota... So I started my birthday early! That meant that my birthday lasted for a total of 32 hours instead of the normal 24 --- WAY cooler. I stayed up until Midnight and opened my birthday gift from my dear friend Natasha, a beautiful necklace, and said Happy Birthday to myself on facebook before going to bed. I had class the next day, and choir rehearsal immediately after, which meant that I was a busy birthday girl. BUT when I came home, my Russian mother, sister, and 7-month old nephew were waiting for me with a beautiful and DELICIOUS birthday meal, a fancy cake, and red-currant liquor. Russians love making toasts, so each time we filled our stemmed, crystal shot-glasses, my mother would make a long toast to me, wishing me success, happiness, love, and everything else. They also sang a Russian happy birthday song to me, and my mother sang Happy Birthday in English (which was ADORABLE!) And they gave me a lovely painted Russian box. My nephew Dima was the life of the party, and we ended up all being hit by a fit of the giggles when he started dancing along to some music on my sister's cell-phone. Adorable x2. I went to bed very happy, and pretty tipsy as well...
Anyway, the next day was a national holiday, so I had a 4-day weekend ahead of me. I had a concert in the morning, though, so I started my day early. After my choir sang (the first two songs of the concert) they brought me backstage and presented me with a pink rose, wished me a happy (late) birthday, and popped a bottle of Russian champagne! Once again there were toasts to my happiness and future, and we had a great time eating candy whilst commandeering the entire dressing room. After that all of my St. Olaf comrades came to my place. We drank more champagne, ate more cake, and just chillaxed while watching Russian music videos. They gave me an amazing selection of snacks as a birthday gift: Kinder eggs, my favorite Russian butter cookies, and 2 boxes of coveted chocolate-filled teddy-bear cakes. One of the kinder eggs had a blow-up elephant head in it --- Awesome. In the evening I met with a Russian friend, Ira, and she took me to her Raggae and Hip-Hop dance classes. I just sat and watched, but it was AMAZING! The way that people could move their bodies in that class, it was unbelievable (and the music was GLORIOUS omgiloveditsomuch). One of the last songs they played was Birthday Sex, and I laughed out loud because I don't know if they all really knew what the song was about... Fun fact: Ira and I have the SAME birthday! So that was also cool.
The next day I met up with our mutual Russian friend, Dima, who is a SUPER sweetie and gave me a lovely bouquet of flowers (plus two kisses on the cheek) for my B-day. We took an evening walk all around town, practicing our Russian and English (respectively). Then I picked up Livi and we had our second sleepover in a row, watched the end of Stilyagi on Russian TV, and in the morning I gave myself a rock-star faux-hawk. I am making a weird face, fyi; My face doesn't look like that on the reg.
It felt like the whole weekend was my Birthday, and it's been an amaaaazing time! I still have plans to celebrate with my friends Tanya and Nadia by making Brownies. I can't wait! I Love Russia!
'Til next time,
Sarah
First of all, because I am in Russia, I am currently 8-hours ahead of Minnesota... So I started my birthday early! That meant that my birthday lasted for a total of 32 hours instead of the normal 24 --- WAY cooler. I stayed up until Midnight and opened my birthday gift from my dear friend Natasha, a beautiful necklace, and said Happy Birthday to myself on facebook before going to bed. I had class the next day, and choir rehearsal immediately after, which meant that I was a busy birthday girl. BUT when I came home, my Russian mother, sister, and 7-month old nephew were waiting for me with a beautiful and DELICIOUS birthday meal, a fancy cake, and red-currant liquor. Russians love making toasts, so each time we filled our stemmed, crystal shot-glasses, my mother would make a long toast to me, wishing me success, happiness, love, and everything else. They also sang a Russian happy birthday song to me, and my mother sang Happy Birthday in English (which was ADORABLE!) And they gave me a lovely painted Russian box. My nephew Dima was the life of the party, and we ended up all being hit by a fit of the giggles when he started dancing along to some music on my sister's cell-phone. Adorable x2. I went to bed very happy, and pretty tipsy as well...
Anyway, the next day was a national holiday, so I had a 4-day weekend ahead of me. I had a concert in the morning, though, so I started my day early. After my choir sang (the first two songs of the concert) they brought me backstage and presented me with a pink rose, wished me a happy (late) birthday, and popped a bottle of Russian champagne! Once again there were toasts to my happiness and future, and we had a great time eating candy whilst commandeering the entire dressing room. After that all of my St. Olaf comrades came to my place. We drank more champagne, ate more cake, and just chillaxed while watching Russian music videos. They gave me an amazing selection of snacks as a birthday gift: Kinder eggs, my favorite Russian butter cookies, and 2 boxes of coveted chocolate-filled teddy-bear cakes. One of the kinder eggs had a blow-up elephant head in it --- Awesome. In the evening I met with a Russian friend, Ira, and she took me to her Raggae and Hip-Hop dance classes. I just sat and watched, but it was AMAZING! The way that people could move their bodies in that class, it was unbelievable (and the music was GLORIOUS omgiloveditsomuch). One of the last songs they played was Birthday Sex, and I laughed out loud because I don't know if they all really knew what the song was about... Fun fact: Ira and I have the SAME birthday! So that was also cool.
The next day I met up with our mutual Russian friend, Dima, who is a SUPER sweetie and gave me a lovely bouquet of flowers (plus two kisses on the cheek) for my B-day. We took an evening walk all around town, practicing our Russian and English (respectively). Then I picked up Livi and we had our second sleepover in a row, watched the end of Stilyagi on Russian TV, and in the morning I gave myself a rock-star faux-hawk. I am making a weird face, fyi; My face doesn't look like that on the reg.
It felt like the whole weekend was my Birthday, and it's been an amaaaazing time! I still have plans to celebrate with my friends Tanya and Nadia by making Brownies. I can't wait! I Love Russia!
'Til next time,
Sarah
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