Здравствуйте! How is everyone? The temperatures have started to drop again in Voronezh, but to be honest, I still feel like we've been a bit cheated. The lowest we've had so far is -5 degrees, which is definitely cold, but it isn't exactly Russia-cold. I really think that I would be ashamed to go back to England and only be able to boast a low of -5. Hopefully, by the looks of the forecast, we should be getting some snow next week and may even dip into minus double-digits! You may think that I'm crazy for wishing for such low temperatures - but what's the point of coming to Russia if you can't boast about surviving -18 degrees? Below are some pictures from the last week; bright winter mornings, me in my winter get-up and dark mornings (9.20am to be exact!)
On Friday, instead of out normal culture lesson, we got to go to a museum. We all met on Площадь Ленина - shivering and unsure of what laid ahead. After months in Russia, when we were lead a dodgy looking back street and then into a block of Soviet-looking flats, we were't in the slightest big fazed despite not knowing exactly where we were going. Once we reached the top of the staircase, we all (about 20 of us) were ushered into an apartment. Little did we know that we were entering the formet flat of famous singer Мария Николаевна Мордасова which has been preserved and is now also known as the Музей-квартира им. М.Н. Мордасовой (Museum-apartment of Maria Nikolaevna Mordasova). From 1943 to 1972, Maria was a soloist in the Voronezh Russian Folk Choir, then later she was part of the Voronezh Oblast Philharmonic. She was also famous for performing Russian folk music and wearing dresses like the ones below.
Once we'd been told about her life and treated (I say this loosely!) to a performance of a few of her songs, we were told that we going to be taught how to make a Russian doll with an outfit like one of Maria's with just the material provided - no scissors! The pictures below show the transition from material to a fully formed doll - I am actually quite proud of mine as I am absolutely useless at anything crafty or practical! You may be wondering why they don't have face, well there is a reason behind that but lord knows that I can't remember it!!
Meet Anastasia (Анастасия)!
So that's a basic roundup of this week - well of everything interesting that's happened anyway! Yesterday was the 3 week mark until we go home - I'm quite excited! We realistically have only 2 weekends left so hopefully we'll find something somewhat cultural to do :)
Until next time,
Isobel
xx
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