El viaje.

So tomorrow's the big day - I'm all packed and ready to go, and only one more sleep separates me from the big move to España. All has gone smoothly so far, although I did have a bit of a scare earlier when I finally got around to weighing my suitcases (yes - plural!) and the scales read 50. 50kg? How could I have packed that much? Is that even possible? So I called my Mum up because I though I was going to have to unpack and down-scale, but luckily it turns out it was reading 50lb. Dear lord that gave me the fright of my life - I was stressed enough! Anyway - crisis averted and all is fine and dandy. I'm a bit nervous to leave - as I've been home for quite a while and have got used to home comforts - but at least I know that it should be a lot easier to settle in in Madrid compared to Russia. My Spanish is better, I've visited before, and it's just more international and therefore more familiar. They'll be Starbucks all around! Anyway, I'd better get back to triple checking the essentials. Hasta luego x

Aaaaaannnddddd I'm back.

Yes, I know, it's been a while. What can I say? I've been enjoying the comfort at being at home, in a country where people speak the same language as me and where the food is delicious. Actually, it's all been a bit of a whirlwind. I got back from Voronezh on the 14th, spent a rather dark Christmas in Kent (power cut!) and before I knew it, I was on a plane headed for Hong Kong on the 28th. I got to spend a week or two there, catching up and enjoying the (slightly) warmer weather before heading back to England, but this time getting off the plane and heading straight to Bath at 5am... fun times. Then, exactly 2 weeks later I was on my way back to Kent to take care of the final preparations before heading out to Madrid this Sunday. If I'm honest, I feel a bit like a gypsy - living out of a suitcase and not knowing where I am half of the time! Nah, it's been great - enjoying English food and relaxing, all ready for the big move. 

In all this excitement I forgot to upload a few photos that I meant to share from Russia - including our graduation party and our last few days there. I think that I've just been putting it off because I couldn't be bothered to write - so it might just be a photo diary with a few captions here and there. Anyway, it all feels a bit like deja vu in my bedroom - a complete shamble of packing and unpacking - I've basically just accepted that my room will be a complete mess until I leave on Sunday. I'm trying to do the same thing I did before going to Voronezh - packing early, leaving it a few days, taking it all out and going through it again and repacking it. It really is the best way to filter down your luggage and only take what you need. Anyway, I'd better get back to packing and sorting, and sorting and packing. Hopefully I'll update you before I leave the UK, but if not, te veré en Madrid!

Isobel

xx

What the motherland has taught me...

Having been home for nearly a week (sorry for not updating sooner!) I've had time to think about my time in Russia, and realised that I've learnt a lot since September, so I thought I'd share with you all some valuable lessons that I learnt in my time there;

1. Vodka has so many more uses than you could possibly imagine. Used to treat about any illness (by rubbing it all over your body or adding it to tea), to keep you warm, and of course, to clean your jewellery.
2. Saying you ride a матрёшка (matryoshka = Russian doll) instead of a маршрутка (marshrutka = taxi/bus) to class everyday will not get you anywhere.
3. Learning how to open corked wine bottles - no screw tops there!
4. That it is very possible to cross the road without looking - in fact it's usually better to.
5. You don't pay when you get on a bus. Instead you do one of three things; pass your money forward when you find a seat, hand it to a conductor (only some buses), or pay when you get off.
6. That -5 can actually feel quite toasty.
7. That Russian men are just different, and their pick-up techniques are proof of that. Case and point; "Do you have a boyfriend? Yes. Does he live in Russia? No. Cool we can go out then?" Which is then followed by him showing you a picture of his young child. Interesting to say the least.
8. Russian is a very complex language, but they do have a few great shortcuts to balance it out. For example, the English language needs a word like 'можно'. The basic translation of можно is 'possible?' - a question word that can be used in practically any situation.
9. How to traverse a 3 metre wide (and deep!) hole with the help of only a wooden plank.
10. Just not to get upset when people just ignore you, are rude or shout- reminding yourself that the notion of customer services does not exist there.
11. Look, learn and follow. Classic examples being putting any shopping bags you have into a locker every time you enter a new store, or learning to cross the road.

So that's is! However, do not fret, I have a few more Russia related posts to put up before my adventure to Madrid begins!

Until next time,

Isobel

xx