Stockholm
Love! This place! So I really thought that I was suppose to Skype you when it was your morning not mine... So that's why I didn't Skype you till then! But I love your reasons more! :) so this morning I woke up really loopy,(drugs loopy, good loopy) but I went to the doc again for a check up because when I went yesterday he told me to come back in the morning and he would tell me if I could go out to Sweden or not. But I was feeling really good, and I was only partially pretending because I really wanted to go out! :) (oh ps this morning when I woke up, I was talking with Selina and she made me laugh, but when I laughed something like a lugi came out of my throat. I found it on my arm, it was white a bloody, and I said "guys I just laughed up my tonsil!" and it was kind of funny because then I went into the bathroom, I looked at my tonsils and only one was super swollen! So that was the joke of the day!) moral of that story my tonsils are not nearly as swollen as they were! So the doctor cleared me and I got to go! Also I slept through the whole night last night! :) it was so great!
Um so in Finland all of the girls got their passports stamped, yeah they didn't stamp our passports in Sweden :(. so we left and went toward the temple. It was so easy to find! I didn't get a blessing, because I really am doing just great! And the only reason I would get a blessing is to say I got one in the Sweden temple :) so the reason wasn't a real good one! But still it was so nice to go to the temple! It was lots smaller than I thought! But absolutely beautiful! We took the train there. Before the cruise we took a pic of how we were suppose to get there on my iPad so that I would hopefully be easier to find... (we wrote directions down to, but still just in case!) buttttt I left my iPad on the ship :) so we didn't have the pic. But it worked out because we were able to see if from the train! So once we got off it was basically right up the street! It was way cool! Everything just went to smooth! Also (hehe) as we were on temple grounds there was this guy that was walking to go into the temple and I turned to Selina and said "there is my future husband, should I go to him" hahaha! It was pretty funny! (don't worry I didn't!)
I love Swedish people! Love love love them! I love Sweden! I may have just been deprived of men the past couple of months but the men in Sweden are very very good looking! Very good looking! And they are so smily and happy! :) we met this kid out side the temple who served his mission in Finland (don't worry I wanted to marry him on the spot!) but then he told us about his girlfriend who was from Australia.... Boooo! But he did inform us that the reason that the swedish all know English is because Sweden is such a small country, and Swedish is a small language, so to get by in the world they need to know English. We never put those two together so we thought that was pretty interesting.
Also, everything in Sweden is super expensive! We found this grocery store that was by the temple, which is outside of stockholm so it was a little cheaper, but they wouldn't take my card. But they showed me an ATM, and I still wasn't sure the Krons to dollars ratio (well we did but one crown is 15 cents, so the math isn't so fast) and so I ended up taking out 500 Krones :) which is 75$ :(. And I knew this was the only country I would be able to use them in, so I knew I had to spend all but a few (to keep as a souvenir) so I ended up buying everyones train tickets and a few souvenirs for people and they are just going to pay me back (in rubels, or dollars). So anyway. We got some swedish food and it was good and then we headed back to stockholm.
In stockholm we went to some sweet places! I love that city! I can't tell you everything we went to for two reasons. One, I can't spell them because they are in Swedish. And b, I'm not exactly sure what they are called! :) but we did go to the palace and we went to the church that is in all the Sweden pictures :). Funny story about the palace. Their guards are really cool looking, and have these rockin machine guns! So I wanted to take a picture so I told Selina to stand there so I could pretend to take a pic of her, but really take one of a guard :). And then Chelsea just straight up said to a different guard "I know you can't move or respond, but I'm going to take a pic of you" so I figured since she did it, I could take one to. So as I'm taking it, we are standing there talking to this palace guard that cannot respond. Don't worry we left for a min to look as some other things and when we came back we were all looking at him and he totally smiled! He had to turn his head to try and stop from smiling! It was so funny!
So after we did a little bit of sightseeing we went shopping and I found these key chains that were really cool! They were all 39 kr. And me, being the smarty that I am, was like "whoa that's like a dollar a piece!" thinking of rubels because thats only a dollar in rubels! so I had one picked out for all of the adults in the fam. And then it hit me and I was like wait... That's like 5 dollars.... So no one got anything from Sweden but me :) sorry :). But it was kind of funny!
So after we went in a few more shops, and i may have gotten a swedish soccer jersey :). Which i did put on my credit card because my debit wouldnt work. (i was having such a hard time with it in Sweden :() and then we tried to find some food, because again we were so hungry :(. So we go in a couple places and then we find something in our price range, and we decide to eat there. As we are trying to order we ask the dude what the most authentic Swedish dish is, and he said none of them.... So we ended up getting pizza :), but it tasted like they put a little bit of curry on it, it was interesting.
Also it was dark at 4! Four pm!!! It was crazy! But it wasn't to bad for two reasons. A. Sweden is not scary at night. And 2 we had to catch the bus back to the boat at 5. So we just walked around for a little while, took some pics, fell in love with Sweden, and headed back.
It was such a great day! I am sooooo glad I got to go out!!
Love ya!
-Hailey Dawn
This was an email I sent my fam... so I don't remember everything it says but that pretty much sums it up!
Life Love Laughter
:)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Gettin Hairier!
Just thought I would give you an update- My legs are SO HAIRY!!! BAHAHAHAHAHA :) The end.
What I want to be when I grow up.... wait, what?
Today has been a good day! Of course it started with breakfast, which was delish because it was the rice porridge which is just my absolute favorite! I love it so much! we also had the little pancacks with the sweetend condenced milk which are just soooo great! I love them!
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Usually I teach at 2, but on Fridays we dont teachour basic reading kids so we don't teach untill 4. Which is nice but I really like our basic reading kids! they are so fun! Vova is our favorite. He has been sick for the past week though so we haven't seen a lot of him. He is so funny though! one day he came super early and it was just him and he pretended that we were all on an airplane and he was the pilot. It was so funny! Serogie is my next favorite! That kid is a geniuse! He gets really bored with what we teach him, because he knows almost all of it, so I feel bad for him sometimes. Then there is Boria (Borris) and he is.... well interesting. He can be the cutest kid ever, and I love him somedays. But then they are the other days when I just want to punch him in the face! And the only girl in that class is Marta, she is cute, but she doesn't come very often.
So yes no Teaching untill 4 today when we have to go teach kindergarden. Which quick story about them, yesterday Fedya pushed Mark down to the ground and made Mark cry, so I took Fedya's star away, which is a pretty big deal because Fedya HATES loosing stars, because then he doesn't get store. So any way, I took it away, and he threw a HUGE fit!! it was so bad! The Russian teachers were a little confused but when I told them what happened they didnt do anything about it, they just let him cry it out! BAHAHA!!! So yes, Fedya is having this HUGE fit and wont even come to class for like 5 min, which is really distracting, but I finally get him to sit at the table (he is still crying by the way) and all his little friend keep saying "Teacher Fedya 3 stars, please!" I kept telling them that Fedya had to be good first, and they just kept asking. So I turned to Mark and I said "Mark, do you want Fedya to have 3 stars?" and Mark nodded his head and said "Yes Fedya 3 stars." Basically this little boy is going to heaven! And I think that is what Christ means when he says we need to be child like. We need to be as forgiving as Mark! I loved this!
So, back to today. After breakfast, Selina and I headed down the the library so we could get on the computers, and we started talking to the library Olga. She is way cool and somehow we started talking about mushrooms. Gleeb in Russian. She told us how her Father is a Gleebnik. Which is a person who goes into the forest and collects mushrooms. The Gleebnik knows all the different kinds of mushrooms, and mostly he is looking for the belee gleeb, which used to be very easy to find, but now it is not. This mushroom is used to make this soUp which is supposedly really good, (at first we thought she was saying soap, so we were confused when she said it was delish! but then we got it all cleared up!)
So on Thursdays we have out language lessons, and yesterday we has a party for it! It was so cool! Our teacher and her class took us to the Museum that they have IN THE SCHOOL! Yes thats right, there is a Museum in the school. In the museum they have the "Traditional Russian houses" which are like log cabins, but they have HUGE stoves right in the middle of them. These stoves are so big that the kids, or the Elderly people would sleep on them to stay warm. So yes, in the basement of the school they have one of these houses. So for our party we went down there and our teachers students told us about all the things in the house. It was way funny because one of the kids was pointing at a wooden bench and said "And this is a Traditional Russian comfortable SOFA!" It was so funny!! That kid was a hoot! we called him Justin Bieber, because they could be twins! So yes, and then we all sat around the table and got to each candy's and Palinie (this really good chicken dumpling thing.) It was so fun!
Well I think this is good for today! Someday I will get pictures uploaded! :) Love Ya'll
-Hailey Dawn
ps. I know this is super lazy, but I did not proof read this because I'm cold and I really want to check my email. :) Peace Ya'll
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Usually I teach at 2, but on Fridays we dont teachour basic reading kids so we don't teach untill 4. Which is nice but I really like our basic reading kids! they are so fun! Vova is our favorite. He has been sick for the past week though so we haven't seen a lot of him. He is so funny though! one day he came super early and it was just him and he pretended that we were all on an airplane and he was the pilot. It was so funny! Serogie is my next favorite! That kid is a geniuse! He gets really bored with what we teach him, because he knows almost all of it, so I feel bad for him sometimes. Then there is Boria (Borris) and he is.... well interesting. He can be the cutest kid ever, and I love him somedays. But then they are the other days when I just want to punch him in the face! And the only girl in that class is Marta, she is cute, but she doesn't come very often.
So yes no Teaching untill 4 today when we have to go teach kindergarden. Which quick story about them, yesterday Fedya pushed Mark down to the ground and made Mark cry, so I took Fedya's star away, which is a pretty big deal because Fedya HATES loosing stars, because then he doesn't get store. So any way, I took it away, and he threw a HUGE fit!! it was so bad! The Russian teachers were a little confused but when I told them what happened they didnt do anything about it, they just let him cry it out! BAHAHA!!! So yes, Fedya is having this HUGE fit and wont even come to class for like 5 min, which is really distracting, but I finally get him to sit at the table (he is still crying by the way) and all his little friend keep saying "Teacher Fedya 3 stars, please!" I kept telling them that Fedya had to be good first, and they just kept asking. So I turned to Mark and I said "Mark, do you want Fedya to have 3 stars?" and Mark nodded his head and said "Yes Fedya 3 stars." Basically this little boy is going to heaven! And I think that is what Christ means when he says we need to be child like. We need to be as forgiving as Mark! I loved this!
So, back to today. After breakfast, Selina and I headed down the the library so we could get on the computers, and we started talking to the library Olga. She is way cool and somehow we started talking about mushrooms. Gleeb in Russian. She told us how her Father is a Gleebnik. Which is a person who goes into the forest and collects mushrooms. The Gleebnik knows all the different kinds of mushrooms, and mostly he is looking for the belee gleeb, which used to be very easy to find, but now it is not. This mushroom is used to make this soUp which is supposedly really good, (at first we thought she was saying soap, so we were confused when she said it was delish! but then we got it all cleared up!)
So on Thursdays we have out language lessons, and yesterday we has a party for it! It was so cool! Our teacher and her class took us to the Museum that they have IN THE SCHOOL! Yes thats right, there is a Museum in the school. In the museum they have the "Traditional Russian houses" which are like log cabins, but they have HUGE stoves right in the middle of them. These stoves are so big that the kids, or the Elderly people would sleep on them to stay warm. So yes, in the basement of the school they have one of these houses. So for our party we went down there and our teachers students told us about all the things in the house. It was way funny because one of the kids was pointing at a wooden bench and said "And this is a Traditional Russian comfortable SOFA!" It was so funny!! That kid was a hoot! we called him Justin Bieber, because they could be twins! So yes, and then we all sat around the table and got to each candy's and Palinie (this really good chicken dumpling thing.) It was so fun!
Well I think this is good for today! Someday I will get pictures uploaded! :) Love Ya'll
-Hailey Dawn
ps. I know this is super lazy, but I did not proof read this because I'm cold and I really want to check my email. :) Peace Ya'll
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Da Russian Ballet!
Da Russian Ballet! We NEVER miss it!
That's right... I went to the Russian ballet! Oh don't worry it was the nutcracker which was written by a Russian, also it was in the "Former Hall of Congress of the Communist Party." Was it amazing? Need you ask? Yes yes it was!
Lets start at the beginning! So we got on the bus to head to the metro. As we were on the bus this guy starts talking to me. It is him, his daughter Masha, and his wife. We talked almost the entire bus ride! It was way cool! He asked if we were tourist so we got to tell him what we were doing. We found out that he works at the hospital with kids! And it was his daughters birthday!! Ironically enough, they were going to the nutcracker to!!! So we rode the bus with them, and the metro with them! And while we were on the metro they we're trying to explain to me about this instrument called a гусли (gusley). I didn't really understand what they were saying about it (their English was very limited, and we all know how much Russian I speak so it was like a game of charades and pictures!) (more on the гусли later!) yes so I didn't really understand. But when we got to the kremlin we took pictures with them and then went into the Hall with them, we were sitting in different section so we had to say goodbye, but we all decided to meet up again after the performance!
So I took my backpack because we were going to the YSA dance after the ballet, but we had like a four hour time slot with not a lot to do, so I brought my backpack with things I might need. But they won't let you take your backpack into the kremlin so I checked it for 60 r. Which is two dollars. But when I checked it I forgot to get my glasses out!!! And our seats were in the balcony. But they had those binoculars that you could rent for 100 r. So I got a pair of those! They were amazing! I felt stupid for leaving my glasses, but I'm over it! The binoculars rocked! :)
The ballet was good! Not gonna lie though, I don't think ballets are my favorite. They put you in these comfortable seats, turn the lights off, and play classical music for you, all while expecting you to stay awake! Don't worry I did, but it was a struggle! But it was an amazing experience to go to the "Former Hall of Congress of the Communist Party"!
After the ballet we met up with Маша, Саша and Олга (Masha, Sasha, and Olga). They wanted us to go to lunch with them, but they were going to the food court in the ГУМ, which is this super ritzy mall right by red square, and we like to each cheap! So we exchanged emails, said goodbye, and went and got out delish 100 r. Pita things! Mmm tasty!
After that we found this food court that has tables, so we played cards for a little while. Then we realized this food court as connected to a mall!! Super random! And it was underground! We may have done a little bit of shopping though because it wasn't super expensive, and my birthdays coming up!! And I still needed black flats for teaching, because I hate teaching in my heels and I didn't really have any other nice shoes! (they are super cute! They actually kinda look like witches shoes!)
At about 6 we headed to the metro. We were meeting Brother and Sister Packard at the metro stop where the dance was at 6:30. It was at the central building and we didn't know where that was, and they are over the YSA so they met us and showed us were the party was at! It was a way fun dance! It was so cool meeting all the Russians there! They are all so nice!
We only stayed for about an hour and a half because we don't really like traveling at night! So we left at about 8:30, and we still didn't get home until 10!!!
All in all it was such a great day! And I met one of the nicest families I have ever met! Ps I emailed her and she is sick right now but they want us to visit them as soon as she is better! And she sent me some pics of her playing the гусли!! It super cool and she looks like she is way good at it!
Also I think you should know that I have officially finished the book of Mormon! Read it all the way through! :) I'm so excited! It's been such an amazing testimony in my life! And I have absolutely loved reading it! I have learned so much and become so much closer to my Heavenly Father and his son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I am so grateful for it! And I have loved the testimony it has given me! Now I'm excited to go back and study all the things I didn't understand! I truly am growing spiritually as I have been here and I have loved every minute of it! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Hailey Dawn
That's right... I went to the Russian ballet! Oh don't worry it was the nutcracker which was written by a Russian, also it was in the "Former Hall of Congress of the Communist Party." Was it amazing? Need you ask? Yes yes it was!
Lets start at the beginning! So we got on the bus to head to the metro. As we were on the bus this guy starts talking to me. It is him, his daughter Masha, and his wife. We talked almost the entire bus ride! It was way cool! He asked if we were tourist so we got to tell him what we were doing. We found out that he works at the hospital with kids! And it was his daughters birthday!! Ironically enough, they were going to the nutcracker to!!! So we rode the bus with them, and the metro with them! And while we were on the metro they we're trying to explain to me about this instrument called a гусли (gusley). I didn't really understand what they were saying about it (their English was very limited, and we all know how much Russian I speak so it was like a game of charades and pictures!) (more on the гусли later!) yes so I didn't really understand. But when we got to the kremlin we took pictures with them and then went into the Hall with them, we were sitting in different section so we had to say goodbye, but we all decided to meet up again after the performance!
So I took my backpack because we were going to the YSA dance after the ballet, but we had like a four hour time slot with not a lot to do, so I brought my backpack with things I might need. But they won't let you take your backpack into the kremlin so I checked it for 60 r. Which is two dollars. But when I checked it I forgot to get my glasses out!!! And our seats were in the balcony. But they had those binoculars that you could rent for 100 r. So I got a pair of those! They were amazing! I felt stupid for leaving my glasses, but I'm over it! The binoculars rocked! :)
The ballet was good! Not gonna lie though, I don't think ballets are my favorite. They put you in these comfortable seats, turn the lights off, and play classical music for you, all while expecting you to stay awake! Don't worry I did, but it was a struggle! But it was an amazing experience to go to the "Former Hall of Congress of the Communist Party"!
After the ballet we met up with Маша, Саша and Олга (Masha, Sasha, and Olga). They wanted us to go to lunch with them, but they were going to the food court in the ГУМ, which is this super ritzy mall right by red square, and we like to each cheap! So we exchanged emails, said goodbye, and went and got out delish 100 r. Pita things! Mmm tasty!
After that we found this food court that has tables, so we played cards for a little while. Then we realized this food court as connected to a mall!! Super random! And it was underground! We may have done a little bit of shopping though because it wasn't super expensive, and my birthdays coming up!! And I still needed black flats for teaching, because I hate teaching in my heels and I didn't really have any other nice shoes! (they are super cute! They actually kinda look like witches shoes!)
At about 6 we headed to the metro. We were meeting Brother and Sister Packard at the metro stop where the dance was at 6:30. It was at the central building and we didn't know where that was, and they are over the YSA so they met us and showed us were the party was at! It was a way fun dance! It was so cool meeting all the Russians there! They are all so nice!
We only stayed for about an hour and a half because we don't really like traveling at night! So we left at about 8:30, and we still didn't get home until 10!!!
All in all it was such a great day! And I met one of the nicest families I have ever met! Ps I emailed her and she is sick right now but they want us to visit them as soon as she is better! And she sent me some pics of her playing the гусли!! It super cool and she looks like she is way good at it!
Also I think you should know that I have officially finished the book of Mormon! Read it all the way through! :) I'm so excited! It's been such an amazing testimony in my life! And I have absolutely loved reading it! I have learned so much and become so much closer to my Heavenly Father and his son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I am so grateful for it! And I have loved the testimony it has given me! Now I'm excited to go back and study all the things I didn't understand! I truly am growing spiritually as I have been here and I have loved every minute of it! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Hailey Dawn
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Rain
Rain!
Today we had a rain storm. I used to think that it would pour in burley.... I was wrong. Way way wrong! :) today it poured in Russia! It was the most beautiful rain I have ever seen! The drops were huge! I have been complaining about the rain because it has been raining a lot lately. And it makes everything muddy and went, and it's a pain to walk to the kindergarten every day in the rain. But not today. Today it was amazing! Today it rained more than it has been raining. The streets are flooding, this is pouring! I decided to not use my umbrella on my walk back from to the school today. It was a great idea! My hair was soaked and I didn't care one bit!
This rain has been amazing for another reason as well. It has brought me hope! Lots of hope. Hope that I will be able to live my live to it's fullest even though I have had some rough times. Hope that I will get married in the temple to my eternal companion. Hope that I will and can be whole again. This rain made me feel clean. Feel as though my life has been renewed.
I know that my Savior loves me. I know that he suffered so I didn't have to. I know that he did this because he loves me. I know that the reason I have hope in this rainstorm is because of him! I believe in Christ. I know that he lives. I know that he is the light that has given me this hope. And I am so grateful for it!
-Hailey Dawn
Today we had a rain storm. I used to think that it would pour in burley.... I was wrong. Way way wrong! :) today it poured in Russia! It was the most beautiful rain I have ever seen! The drops were huge! I have been complaining about the rain because it has been raining a lot lately. And it makes everything muddy and went, and it's a pain to walk to the kindergarten every day in the rain. But not today. Today it was amazing! Today it rained more than it has been raining. The streets are flooding, this is pouring! I decided to not use my umbrella on my walk back from to the school today. It was a great idea! My hair was soaked and I didn't care one bit!
This rain has been amazing for another reason as well. It has brought me hope! Lots of hope. Hope that I will be able to live my live to it's fullest even though I have had some rough times. Hope that I will get married in the temple to my eternal companion. Hope that I will and can be whole again. This rain made me feel clean. Feel as though my life has been renewed.
I know that my Savior loves me. I know that he suffered so I didn't have to. I know that he did this because he loves me. I know that the reason I have hope in this rainstorm is because of him! I believe in Christ. I know that he lives. I know that he is the light that has given me this hope. And I am so grateful for it!
-Hailey Dawn
Sunday, October 9, 2011
World traveler!
9/29
So this weekend is our first vacation from school. We don't teach on Friday so I'm dang excited! We are going to this city that is a 3 hour bus ride away from moscow. It is one of the ring cities and it's known as the pearl of the ring cities. I'm way excited! It's just me and Lara that are going.
10/1
So yesterday we went for our bus ride. Which was awesome because we were on a double decker bus and Chanea Pancaheri (from Moscow 1) and I sat in the very front on the top deck! It was so cool! We were super tired because it was like 6:30 so we may have slept for a while but, it was still way fun! Also the night before Lara and I went to the store and we found nutti, which is an off brand of netulla, its sooo good! So when we finally woke up on the bus we ate some bread and nutti! Mmmmm!
So we arrived in владимир (vladmer), ate some lunch we got these palinie things which are like pot stickers, but so so much better! Then we caught a bus to Суздаль (suzdal). It was about a forty min bus ride so not to bad! It was kind if funny because our coordinator told us that when we get on the bus to act like we are asleep because the old people will buy tickets but will not by seats, so they would expect you to give up your seat, but if you are asleep they wont bother you! when we got there we went and dropped our stuff off at the monastery we were staying at. Um yes you read that right we stayed at a monastery... Complete with monks. It was so cool! It was 450 r. For the night so about 13 dollars. And yes, as we were sitting in our room we had the door open and a monk just walked by... Hmm... So we settle in and Then we went to this outdoor museum which was awesome! It was like a remake of Russia 250 years ago... So like the late eighteenth century! It was so cool! There were windmills, and teeter totters and these really old swings! It was all made of wood, and they didn't use any nails. The windmills had supports, which is not a shock cause they are kind of old! Also the church that was there had been redone, but the roof was original so it was very very old! It was way cool to see how the people lived back then! They used every part of their house! They even made beds behind the stove for the elderly or the young. They are a very Christ oriented people and had Icons all over their house. After that we went to the kremlin, but to get there we had to cross a bridge and on the bridge they are these chains with locks on them, and I guess that it another tradition for when you get married! You get a giant heart shaped red lock, write or carve your names into it and love it on a chain on a bridge!! Super cool! I can't lie, but the kremlin wasn't that cool because I thought we were going to go back to it the next day so i didn't pay a lot of attention to it, and we actually didn't go in the actual fortress. Which was ok because it was still cool!
So then we went to dinner at this super nice place, that was actully super cheap! But it was so tasty! I love it!
We went back to the monastery and got ready for bed..... With the monks... And then went to bed!
The next day we got some breakfast just at the little магизин (small store) that was right by the monastery. They had such tasty bread! After that we caught a bus back to Владимир, and we were suppose to spend the day there.... Butttttttt all that is there is pretty much monasteries, which are cool and all..... But there are a lot of monasteries in Russia. So we decided to just catch a bus back to Moscow.
We got back to Moscow at about three and Lara, Chanea and I decided to go the the market in Moscow!!! Soooooo cool!! It was so much fun! I just love bargaining with the Vendors and talking with them! Mostly they know pretty good English, and those that only know a little well they are just funny! Funny story about this. In Russia everyone wears these tracksuits that say Russia on the back of them and every time I see them I think that I want one really bad! So at the market they had one and I decided to get one! So we were at this shop and I was looking at them and the vender was trying so hard to get me to buy one. He out the jacket on for me and was just so funny about it. I wanted to get pants to but I didn't really want to try them on, but the guy was just like "over your jeans" and I decided I didn't really want to get pants that were to small, cause that would just make me upset, so I decided to do it. And the guy decided to help me, yes help me put e pants on... Can I get an awkward? Oh but don't worry, it get better. As he is helping me put them on he whispers in my ear "sex good". A little scary yes, but more funny! I couldn't help but laugh. So we were like "no sex bad!" also he waned 4000 rubles for the full suit (about 120 dollars) and I said "2500 rubles" and he said "bulshiya problem" (big problem) and I said "universitet, studyenka! Rubels bulshiya problem". And we kept going at this for a while. We finally talked him down to 2700 rubels for two pairs of track suits! It was pretty legit! And so we finally got away from them and continued on our way. On our way back we decided to go the other way so we wouldn't have to see those guys again. We stopped to look at some shoes and those same guys worked that shop too!!! We were like oh crap! Don't worry, we got away. So that was that weekend... It was amazing!
Ps this blog is super long and I don't feel like proof reading it.... So there might be a few mistakes! :)
So this weekend is our first vacation from school. We don't teach on Friday so I'm dang excited! We are going to this city that is a 3 hour bus ride away from moscow. It is one of the ring cities and it's known as the pearl of the ring cities. I'm way excited! It's just me and Lara that are going.
10/1
So yesterday we went for our bus ride. Which was awesome because we were on a double decker bus and Chanea Pancaheri (from Moscow 1) and I sat in the very front on the top deck! It was so cool! We were super tired because it was like 6:30 so we may have slept for a while but, it was still way fun! Also the night before Lara and I went to the store and we found nutti, which is an off brand of netulla, its sooo good! So when we finally woke up on the bus we ate some bread and nutti! Mmmmm!
So we arrived in владимир (vladmer), ate some lunch we got these palinie things which are like pot stickers, but so so much better! Then we caught a bus to Суздаль (suzdal). It was about a forty min bus ride so not to bad! It was kind if funny because our coordinator told us that when we get on the bus to act like we are asleep because the old people will buy tickets but will not by seats, so they would expect you to give up your seat, but if you are asleep they wont bother you! when we got there we went and dropped our stuff off at the monastery we were staying at. Um yes you read that right we stayed at a monastery... Complete with monks. It was so cool! It was 450 r. For the night so about 13 dollars. And yes, as we were sitting in our room we had the door open and a monk just walked by... Hmm... So we settle in and Then we went to this outdoor museum which was awesome! It was like a remake of Russia 250 years ago... So like the late eighteenth century! It was so cool! There were windmills, and teeter totters and these really old swings! It was all made of wood, and they didn't use any nails. The windmills had supports, which is not a shock cause they are kind of old! Also the church that was there had been redone, but the roof was original so it was very very old! It was way cool to see how the people lived back then! They used every part of their house! They even made beds behind the stove for the elderly or the young. They are a very Christ oriented people and had Icons all over their house. After that we went to the kremlin, but to get there we had to cross a bridge and on the bridge they are these chains with locks on them, and I guess that it another tradition for when you get married! You get a giant heart shaped red lock, write or carve your names into it and love it on a chain on a bridge!! Super cool! I can't lie, but the kremlin wasn't that cool because I thought we were going to go back to it the next day so i didn't pay a lot of attention to it, and we actually didn't go in the actual fortress. Which was ok because it was still cool!
So then we went to dinner at this super nice place, that was actully super cheap! But it was so tasty! I love it!
We went back to the monastery and got ready for bed..... With the monks... And then went to bed!
The next day we got some breakfast just at the little магизин (small store) that was right by the monastery. They had such tasty bread! After that we caught a bus back to Владимир, and we were suppose to spend the day there.... Butttttttt all that is there is pretty much monasteries, which are cool and all..... But there are a lot of monasteries in Russia. So we decided to just catch a bus back to Moscow.
We got back to Moscow at about three and Lara, Chanea and I decided to go the the market in Moscow!!! Soooooo cool!! It was so much fun! I just love bargaining with the Vendors and talking with them! Mostly they know pretty good English, and those that only know a little well they are just funny! Funny story about this. In Russia everyone wears these tracksuits that say Russia on the back of them and every time I see them I think that I want one really bad! So at the market they had one and I decided to get one! So we were at this shop and I was looking at them and the vender was trying so hard to get me to buy one. He out the jacket on for me and was just so funny about it. I wanted to get pants to but I didn't really want to try them on, but the guy was just like "over your jeans" and I decided I didn't really want to get pants that were to small, cause that would just make me upset, so I decided to do it. And the guy decided to help me, yes help me put e pants on... Can I get an awkward? Oh but don't worry, it get better. As he is helping me put them on he whispers in my ear "sex good". A little scary yes, but more funny! I couldn't help but laugh. So we were like "no sex bad!" also he waned 4000 rubles for the full suit (about 120 dollars) and I said "2500 rubles" and he said "bulshiya problem" (big problem) and I said "universitet, studyenka! Rubels bulshiya problem". And we kept going at this for a while. We finally talked him down to 2700 rubels for two pairs of track suits! It was pretty legit! And so we finally got away from them and continued on our way. On our way back we decided to go the other way so we wouldn't have to see those guys again. We stopped to look at some shoes and those same guys worked that shop too!!! We were like oh crap! Don't worry, we got away. So that was that weekend... It was amazing!
Ps this blog is super long and I don't feel like proof reading it.... So there might be a few mistakes! :)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
A hairy experience!
I got to Russia on the 23 of august. On the 25 I arrived in St Petersburg. On the Tuesday the 30th I came back to Moscow. That day I took a shower. That day I shaved my legs. That was the Last day I shaved my legs since I have been in Russia :). It has been almost a month, and Yes I do plan not to shave until I arrive in America again. Don't judge, be grateful I'm just trying to fit in the best I can with the Russians ;)
My religion
Being Mormon
So we were suppose to teach catch up kids at the elementary school. So for about three weeks the kids had a trial period to see if they liked the class and wanted to stay in it or not. During that time there was a parents meeting with our Russian coordinator for ILP. In that meeting, Gulya (the coordinator) told the parents of a website they could go on to learn more about the program. The website is a Russian site about ILP where parents can leave comments and and such about the program. On the website it says that we follow LDS standards. Because of that all of our students dropped on the same day. We went down to teach them last Monday and we waited, and waited, and waited, and when no one showed up we went and asked and we found out that because of us being Mormom they gave the children the choice of going outside to play or going to English class? What? What first grader is going to choose English class?
This is the first time I have ever truly been discriminated against for being LDS. My thoughts? I'm not sure yet. At first I was angry. It's not like we were brain washing their kids or anything like that, we were only teaching them English. I didn't understand. But as time has gone on all I want to do is "love the crap out of the Russians". I love these people and I love this culture. I love being here. I don't think this will be the last time either. So I am glad it happen here.
So yea, I love being LDS! I love the blessings that I get from it, I love my heavenly father and his son, I love the book of mormon, I love the great spirit that I have because I am LDS. So think what you want, discriminate if you must, and judge if you may, but I will always LOVE you and I will always have FAITH!!
So we were suppose to teach catch up kids at the elementary school. So for about three weeks the kids had a trial period to see if they liked the class and wanted to stay in it or not. During that time there was a parents meeting with our Russian coordinator for ILP. In that meeting, Gulya (the coordinator) told the parents of a website they could go on to learn more about the program. The website is a Russian site about ILP where parents can leave comments and and such about the program. On the website it says that we follow LDS standards. Because of that all of our students dropped on the same day. We went down to teach them last Monday and we waited, and waited, and waited, and when no one showed up we went and asked and we found out that because of us being Mormom they gave the children the choice of going outside to play or going to English class? What? What first grader is going to choose English class?
This is the first time I have ever truly been discriminated against for being LDS. My thoughts? I'm not sure yet. At first I was angry. It's not like we were brain washing their kids or anything like that, we were only teaching them English. I didn't understand. But as time has gone on all I want to do is "love the crap out of the Russians". I love these people and I love this culture. I love being here. I don't think this will be the last time either. So I am glad it happen here.
So yea, I love being LDS! I love the blessings that I get from it, I love my heavenly father and his son, I love the book of mormon, I love the great spirit that I have because I am LDS. So think what you want, discriminate if you must, and judge if you may, but I will always LOVE you and I will always have FAITH!!
The good life!
Russia
So even though I am not preachin the gospel to others, this experience has been so much like a mission. My roommates and other teachers are like my companions and my examples. I am reading and studying the scriptures so much every day and I am reading The Miracle Of Forgiveness. I also listen to a lot more church music here to. That's almost all I listen to. But I'm realizing it's because I want to. It's the kind of music I feel like listening to! It's amazing. So I have basically been caught up in religious things and focusing on those thing so much that I haven't really thought about other thing. Which is not a bad thing but I think I need to focus on other things along with the religious things so that I can fully experience that fact that I'm in Russia!!!! Although I will say this, I do believe I am here to grow as much as possible in this gospel so that I can be strong when I do go home!
But also I do need to write about life here in the mother land! About teaching everyday, about the kids that I now love with all my heart. About the guards that we have become friends with. About wondering around Moscow, a city of 10.5 million people (which by the way there are less people in the whole state of Idaho) and not knowing exactly where to go and how its slightly more difficult because all the street signs and the metro signs are in Russian. Also about all the laughs we have been having.
So let's talk about the "reason" why I am here. The chillins'!!!! So we have a total of 24 kids in big kindergarten, which is what I teach (I also sometimes tach advanced reading and little k., more on them later) big k. Is pretty much the best!!! I love all of things kids so much! I have 9 kids in my home room. And yes I am going to talk about each one! Ok maybe not individually but yes. Sofa (Sonya) is my absolute favorite!!! She is so cute! Blond hair blue eyes, super super funny and just so fun! Whenever I have her talk it's like she puts all her effort into it and squints her eyes shut... You kind of have to be there! Yesterday after class she was like "teacher Hailey, play!" and I had a lot to do because we end at 5:45 and we have to be cleaned up and back at the school by six and it's a ten min. Walk. So I got out my iPad and let her play angry birds while I cleaned up. She loves it!! And I love her, I might have to bring her back to America with me!!!
Then there is yana and yulya, they are kind of my trouble makers. But at the same time so cute! And then Valya, who by the way wears Dior and Armani everyday. No big deal, she is only 5. And don't judge me but I wanted to make sure they were real brand names so I may have checked the tags real discreet like, and yeah they are legit!!! She is crazy! And then Maria, she is just a doll. She talks so well and is just adorable! And then I have my two boys, Rodion and Dima. Rodion doesn't always come, and he is kinda of weird, but I love Dima! He is kind of a cry baby, but when he is happy he is super happy! And I like talking to his mom because she speaks English and she is just a great lady!! And then there is Stesha. And she is super cute and sweet she is just super quite.
Those are my big k kids! Whom I love so much! I have been teaching gym for the past 4 weeks, so basically I play games with my kids all day. And it is awesome. But next week I switch to teaching shop and we will be making some pretty cool stuff!! :)
So we spend a lot of time in the school right? Because all our meals are here, teaching is here, we live here, and to go any where we have at least a 20 min bus ride and then however long on the metro. So basically we have made friends with the people around us. There is this guy that works at the school, he doesn't teach, and we are not sure what he does, but he is pretty cool! He might do like maintenance because he brought us our fridge. And the fridge came in a box right? A big one cuz its a small fridge, but it's a big small fridge. So any way! Funny story about this guy, I got in the box to scare Selina and he saw me get in it because his room is right next to ours. So right as I was about to pop my head out (which Selina saw by the way) he came out and scared the poopy out of me!!! I may have fallen over... In the box... It was pretty funny!!! Not going to lie. Also, he found out that we were Mormon and now we don't see him as much and we think that might be why...
And we are also friends with the guards!!! They are quite fun! We are good friends with Peter because he guards our part of the school, he also speaks the most English out of all of them. So he wants us to teach him english right? So one night we decided to give him a lesson, do an SPE with him just like we do with the kids! So we did! And it was so funny! Because peter is older and we were teaching him just like we teach the 5 year olds! And then we ended up watching YouTube videos with him! Clearly laughter is the same in all languages. Mostly we just laugh with all the guards because we try to communicate with them and we fail miserably at it :).
Also we love the cooks. Two reasons, one they cook food for us, and two they are simply just amazing!! We have had some great laughs with them to! And they love us so much! So so much! They laugh at us when we try to speak Russian, ok it's more laughing with us! :)
So this is a day in the life of being an ILP teacher:
Wake up at 7:30 ish
Get ready for the day
Go to breakfast at 9
Come back up to the rooms, brush our teeth
Head to the supply room and stay there for as long as we need, which is usually about an hour but sometimes we are there till lunch!
When we are only there for an hour we come back and take a nap or read
Lunch is at 1
Then back to the room, brush our teeth
At about 1:45 on the weeks that we teach basic advanced ready we head down to those rooms
Teach reading from 2-3:45
Head over to the kindergarten (a 10 min walk)
Opening for k. Is at 4 and then we have 3 twenty min rotations and then closing and store at 5:30
We come back to the school for dinner at six
On Tuesday's we have training right after dinner
On Monday's we have fhe at 8
On wednesday we have lessons for the next week due at 8
On Thursday's we go to the sports complex and go swimming
And on Friday we usually watch a movie as a goup!
Also, on Wednesday we have culture days where we learn about Russian culture and learn to make Russian food from 10-11:30 in the morning
On Thursday we have Russian language lessons from 10-11:30
And on Monday's we will go to the university and talk with the students taking English classes.
I think that's about it for school! Well and this post is super long! So if more comes up I will def keep you updates!
So even though I am not preachin the gospel to others, this experience has been so much like a mission. My roommates and other teachers are like my companions and my examples. I am reading and studying the scriptures so much every day and I am reading The Miracle Of Forgiveness. I also listen to a lot more church music here to. That's almost all I listen to. But I'm realizing it's because I want to. It's the kind of music I feel like listening to! It's amazing. So I have basically been caught up in religious things and focusing on those thing so much that I haven't really thought about other thing. Which is not a bad thing but I think I need to focus on other things along with the religious things so that I can fully experience that fact that I'm in Russia!!!! Although I will say this, I do believe I am here to grow as much as possible in this gospel so that I can be strong when I do go home!
But also I do need to write about life here in the mother land! About teaching everyday, about the kids that I now love with all my heart. About the guards that we have become friends with. About wondering around Moscow, a city of 10.5 million people (which by the way there are less people in the whole state of Idaho) and not knowing exactly where to go and how its slightly more difficult because all the street signs and the metro signs are in Russian. Also about all the laughs we have been having.
So let's talk about the "reason" why I am here. The chillins'!!!! So we have a total of 24 kids in big kindergarten, which is what I teach (I also sometimes tach advanced reading and little k., more on them later) big k. Is pretty much the best!!! I love all of things kids so much! I have 9 kids in my home room. And yes I am going to talk about each one! Ok maybe not individually but yes. Sofa (Sonya) is my absolute favorite!!! She is so cute! Blond hair blue eyes, super super funny and just so fun! Whenever I have her talk it's like she puts all her effort into it and squints her eyes shut... You kind of have to be there! Yesterday after class she was like "teacher Hailey, play!" and I had a lot to do because we end at 5:45 and we have to be cleaned up and back at the school by six and it's a ten min. Walk. So I got out my iPad and let her play angry birds while I cleaned up. She loves it!! And I love her, I might have to bring her back to America with me!!!
Then there is yana and yulya, they are kind of my trouble makers. But at the same time so cute! And then Valya, who by the way wears Dior and Armani everyday. No big deal, she is only 5. And don't judge me but I wanted to make sure they were real brand names so I may have checked the tags real discreet like, and yeah they are legit!!! She is crazy! And then Maria, she is just a doll. She talks so well and is just adorable! And then I have my two boys, Rodion and Dima. Rodion doesn't always come, and he is kinda of weird, but I love Dima! He is kind of a cry baby, but when he is happy he is super happy! And I like talking to his mom because she speaks English and she is just a great lady!! And then there is Stesha. And she is super cute and sweet she is just super quite.
Those are my big k kids! Whom I love so much! I have been teaching gym for the past 4 weeks, so basically I play games with my kids all day. And it is awesome. But next week I switch to teaching shop and we will be making some pretty cool stuff!! :)
So we spend a lot of time in the school right? Because all our meals are here, teaching is here, we live here, and to go any where we have at least a 20 min bus ride and then however long on the metro. So basically we have made friends with the people around us. There is this guy that works at the school, he doesn't teach, and we are not sure what he does, but he is pretty cool! He might do like maintenance because he brought us our fridge. And the fridge came in a box right? A big one cuz its a small fridge, but it's a big small fridge. So any way! Funny story about this guy, I got in the box to scare Selina and he saw me get in it because his room is right next to ours. So right as I was about to pop my head out (which Selina saw by the way) he came out and scared the poopy out of me!!! I may have fallen over... In the box... It was pretty funny!!! Not going to lie. Also, he found out that we were Mormon and now we don't see him as much and we think that might be why...
And we are also friends with the guards!!! They are quite fun! We are good friends with Peter because he guards our part of the school, he also speaks the most English out of all of them. So he wants us to teach him english right? So one night we decided to give him a lesson, do an SPE with him just like we do with the kids! So we did! And it was so funny! Because peter is older and we were teaching him just like we teach the 5 year olds! And then we ended up watching YouTube videos with him! Clearly laughter is the same in all languages. Mostly we just laugh with all the guards because we try to communicate with them and we fail miserably at it :).
Also we love the cooks. Two reasons, one they cook food for us, and two they are simply just amazing!! We have had some great laughs with them to! And they love us so much! So so much! They laugh at us when we try to speak Russian, ok it's more laughing with us! :)
So this is a day in the life of being an ILP teacher:
Wake up at 7:30 ish
Get ready for the day
Go to breakfast at 9
Come back up to the rooms, brush our teeth
Head to the supply room and stay there for as long as we need, which is usually about an hour but sometimes we are there till lunch!
When we are only there for an hour we come back and take a nap or read
Lunch is at 1
Then back to the room, brush our teeth
At about 1:45 on the weeks that we teach basic advanced ready we head down to those rooms
Teach reading from 2-3:45
Head over to the kindergarten (a 10 min walk)
Opening for k. Is at 4 and then we have 3 twenty min rotations and then closing and store at 5:30
We come back to the school for dinner at six
On Tuesday's we have training right after dinner
On Monday's we have fhe at 8
On wednesday we have lessons for the next week due at 8
On Thursday's we go to the sports complex and go swimming
And on Friday we usually watch a movie as a goup!
Also, on Wednesday we have culture days where we learn about Russian culture and learn to make Russian food from 10-11:30 in the morning
On Thursday we have Russian language lessons from 10-11:30
And on Monday's we will go to the university and talk with the students taking English classes.
I think that's about it for school! Well and this post is super long! So if more comes up I will def keep you updates!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
My time in the motherland!
Dear blog,
This is the part of my life that I call change.
First off I need to clear some things up. I have never read the book of Mormon all the way through in my whole life. I haven't been able to take the sacrament for almost two years now. When I was in Logan I basically went inactive because I didn't like my ward all that much. I have always struggled with saying my prayers. And I have also been one of those "some of the smaller sins just don't matter, coffee wont kill me" kind of people. I have had the hardest time deciding weather I wanted to be part of the church or not. It's been a huge battle for me especially the last year. I did not understand so many things. Especially the fact that I got kicked out of byui which was the one place that I felt safe, the one place that It was easy for me to make good decisions. I didn't understand why I couldn't take the sacrament, why I couldn't have that blessing in my life. I have been telling people that getting kicked out was the best thing that ever happened because I was making myself stronger. But I wasn't really. And I absolutely hated it! It wasn't the best thing that ever happened but the worst. I have struggled more in the last year than I ever want to in my whole life again, even though I know that's not completely possible.
Then I came to Russian. And while getting kicked out of byui was the worst thing that ever happened, coming to Russia was the best (not just because it's freaking awesome!) While here I have been surrounded by a bubble that was way smaller than the one I was in at byui. A bubble of 5 girls who are all completely different, but who have been amazing examples to me! I live more with these girls than any one I have ever lived with, including my family. I am with them 24/7 so we basically have to get along, because four months is a long time to have drama. And it has just been "so great!" as Chelsea would say. If I could write all my thoughts about every girl I would, but some of the things we talk about or extremely personal. We didn't really have a choice but to become best friends from day one. But if I was given the choice, I wouldn't want it any other way. Between that and the amount of free time that we have, I have finally been able to become who I wanted to be. We teach from 2-6 everyday, with about an hour of prep time each day, the rest is free time. So, yes, a lot of free time!
I don't want to jinx it so i might wait to post this but, I have been reading the book of Mormon. I read 3rd nephi in about a week. I'm reading like a beast! For several reasons. One I'm making the time to do it. It something I have wanted to do for a really really really long time now. I do not feel like I can really accept my religion and say I am apart of my religion if I do not read the book of Mormon. It's something I need to do for myself to feel complete. Just in the time I have been reading it, I have gotten so many answers to prayers. I know I need that testimony of the book for myself so that I can be stronger when I go back to America, and have to be in the "real" world again.
In the short time that I have been reading I have seen so many blessings come into my life. I have been able to accomplish a lot more. I have been able to understand love a lot more. I have been able to understand my savior a lot more. There are so many good things that have come from it.
Yes, while here in Russian, not only am I here for a great experience, I have decided to take a spiritual journey. And I know the end result will be truly amazing.
I love the book of Mormon. I love my family, and am so grateful for them. I know that my lord and savior Jesus Christ did atone for my sins and because of him I can repent and be forgiven of my sins. I am so grateful for the small testimony that has started growing inside of me and I pray that it will continue to grow and that one day I will be strong enough to enter the house of the lord again. I would like to say these things in the name of my lord and savior Jesus christ, amen.
This is the part of my life that I call change.
First off I need to clear some things up. I have never read the book of Mormon all the way through in my whole life. I haven't been able to take the sacrament for almost two years now. When I was in Logan I basically went inactive because I didn't like my ward all that much. I have always struggled with saying my prayers. And I have also been one of those "some of the smaller sins just don't matter, coffee wont kill me" kind of people. I have had the hardest time deciding weather I wanted to be part of the church or not. It's been a huge battle for me especially the last year. I did not understand so many things. Especially the fact that I got kicked out of byui which was the one place that I felt safe, the one place that It was easy for me to make good decisions. I didn't understand why I couldn't take the sacrament, why I couldn't have that blessing in my life. I have been telling people that getting kicked out was the best thing that ever happened because I was making myself stronger. But I wasn't really. And I absolutely hated it! It wasn't the best thing that ever happened but the worst. I have struggled more in the last year than I ever want to in my whole life again, even though I know that's not completely possible.
Then I came to Russian. And while getting kicked out of byui was the worst thing that ever happened, coming to Russia was the best (not just because it's freaking awesome!) While here I have been surrounded by a bubble that was way smaller than the one I was in at byui. A bubble of 5 girls who are all completely different, but who have been amazing examples to me! I live more with these girls than any one I have ever lived with, including my family. I am with them 24/7 so we basically have to get along, because four months is a long time to have drama. And it has just been "so great!" as Chelsea would say. If I could write all my thoughts about every girl I would, but some of the things we talk about or extremely personal. We didn't really have a choice but to become best friends from day one. But if I was given the choice, I wouldn't want it any other way. Between that and the amount of free time that we have, I have finally been able to become who I wanted to be. We teach from 2-6 everyday, with about an hour of prep time each day, the rest is free time. So, yes, a lot of free time!
I don't want to jinx it so i might wait to post this but, I have been reading the book of Mormon. I read 3rd nephi in about a week. I'm reading like a beast! For several reasons. One I'm making the time to do it. It something I have wanted to do for a really really really long time now. I do not feel like I can really accept my religion and say I am apart of my religion if I do not read the book of Mormon. It's something I need to do for myself to feel complete. Just in the time I have been reading it, I have gotten so many answers to prayers. I know I need that testimony of the book for myself so that I can be stronger when I go back to America, and have to be in the "real" world again.
In the short time that I have been reading I have seen so many blessings come into my life. I have been able to accomplish a lot more. I have been able to understand love a lot more. I have been able to understand my savior a lot more. There are so many good things that have come from it.
Yes, while here in Russian, not only am I here for a great experience, I have decided to take a spiritual journey. And I know the end result will be truly amazing.
I love the book of Mormon. I love my family, and am so grateful for them. I know that my lord and savior Jesus Christ did atone for my sins and because of him I can repent and be forgiven of my sins. I am so grateful for the small testimony that has started growing inside of me and I pray that it will continue to grow and that one day I will be strong enough to enter the house of the lord again. I would like to say these things in the name of my lord and savior Jesus christ, amen.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Par ruskee!
Email 8/31/11
I just wanted to write a few random facts!
So there are about 29 ru. To the dollar. Which may seem like a lot but really it just makes it difficult to do math. But it breaks down to about 1000 ru=34 dollars... And 3000 ru= 100 dollars. In st petes to ride the bus it was 21 ru. In Moscow it's 50.... So thats not much fun... But we have to take a bus anywhere we go because we live forever away from the city.
It takes us two hours to get to church and two hours to get back home :) but seriously.... Church today was amazing! More on that later!
So there is very very little food that i have been served that I haven't liked! The first day, the first meal, we were served what we think was liver...... Ummm I gagged.... It was gross! I could only eat a bite.... Which was ok because sveta... The girl that lives and works at the school that we teach at... Anyway, she only ate like two bites cuz she is skinny as can be, so I felt ok about not eating it :) other than that as of right now, I can't tell you much about the rest of the food, besides the face that it is so good! And also so greasy! They make everything with butter! It's almost sickening! But we don't get the names because we go to the cafeteria and there is food on the tables for us... It's like magic.... We rarely see the cooks and when we do it doesn't matter because they don't speak any English :) so we can't ask them what we Are eating! But we have had these huge sausages. We have porage almost every morning, which is alright because it's so good! And when i say so good, i mean i will miss it more than anything else i think! and tomatoes with lunch and dinner :) also, the juice that they serve us is amazing! I love it! Mostly it has been cranberry and grape... Which normally I'm not a huge fan, but it's tasty here! Today we had this cranberry cider that was absolutely delish!
Ok you all need to know about sveta and the generation of Russians that were born After communism fell. (she is the babe in talked about in my last post) Because it is so obvious! Sveta is 22 which if you were to see her you would not believe it! She is very good looking! And defiantly looks older! And she dresses super fancy all the time. And she tells us how she loves to go clubbing and drinking! And she wears high heels all over then city! Along with all the other girls who were raised after communism. It's like they truly became free. All of the older people are much more conservative! Another note about the people of Russia, I went to macdonalds in st. Petersburg... Please don't judge, we were desperate. But while there I noticed that the people working there (the managers any way, the kids had to be in uniform) but they all wore super nice cloths. One girl was in tights, a skirt, an a button up white shirt. It's like even thought it's the worst job in the world it's still a job....
The other day went to sergeev posad, which is a little town about 44 miles out of Moscow. It was so pretty! We went because they have this awesome monastery that is really old... It started out as a log cabin basically and is now this huge monastery with a spring of holy water, three churches and a bunch of other building. It was way cool to see the Russians practicing their religion! The churches smelled like incense. One of the churches was where sergeev posad, who was a monk, is buried. Which was amazing because outside of that church people line up for ever so that they can kiss his grave and light a candle because they believe that it brings them blessings. The line was so long and our coordinator said it was always that long and sometimes longer! One of the other churches was still in it's original state and it was just absolutely beautiful! It was just amazing to go in and see the paintings and the icons on the wall. And to see people lighting candles. Also there were so many monks and nuns walking around the whole monastery! It was so interesting to see! I loved it!
Also in that town they had an amazing market! It was so funs to bargain and to see all the different Russian trinkets! I may have spent too much money... Shhh!
Well today was the third day of teaching. I have come down with a small cold so I didn't have a lot of energy. So it wasn't the best day, but we are learning all the kids names and faces and we love it! I am getting to attached to some of them! Some of them I could live without, but for the most part they are sooo dang cute! The lessons are fun to! I guess you could say that all in all I'm having a good experience! Much love!
Love,
Hailey Dawn
I just wanted to write a few random facts!
So there are about 29 ru. To the dollar. Which may seem like a lot but really it just makes it difficult to do math. But it breaks down to about 1000 ru=34 dollars... And 3000 ru= 100 dollars. In st petes to ride the bus it was 21 ru. In Moscow it's 50.... So thats not much fun... But we have to take a bus anywhere we go because we live forever away from the city.
It takes us two hours to get to church and two hours to get back home :) but seriously.... Church today was amazing! More on that later!
So there is very very little food that i have been served that I haven't liked! The first day, the first meal, we were served what we think was liver...... Ummm I gagged.... It was gross! I could only eat a bite.... Which was ok because sveta... The girl that lives and works at the school that we teach at... Anyway, she only ate like two bites cuz she is skinny as can be, so I felt ok about not eating it :) other than that as of right now, I can't tell you much about the rest of the food, besides the face that it is so good! And also so greasy! They make everything with butter! It's almost sickening! But we don't get the names because we go to the cafeteria and there is food on the tables for us... It's like magic.... We rarely see the cooks and when we do it doesn't matter because they don't speak any English :) so we can't ask them what we Are eating! But we have had these huge sausages. We have porage almost every morning, which is alright because it's so good! And when i say so good, i mean i will miss it more than anything else i think! and tomatoes with lunch and dinner :) also, the juice that they serve us is amazing! I love it! Mostly it has been cranberry and grape... Which normally I'm not a huge fan, but it's tasty here! Today we had this cranberry cider that was absolutely delish!
Ok you all need to know about sveta and the generation of Russians that were born After communism fell. (she is the babe in talked about in my last post) Because it is so obvious! Sveta is 22 which if you were to see her you would not believe it! She is very good looking! And defiantly looks older! And she dresses super fancy all the time. And she tells us how she loves to go clubbing and drinking! And she wears high heels all over then city! Along with all the other girls who were raised after communism. It's like they truly became free. All of the older people are much more conservative! Another note about the people of Russia, I went to macdonalds in st. Petersburg... Please don't judge, we were desperate. But while there I noticed that the people working there (the managers any way, the kids had to be in uniform) but they all wore super nice cloths. One girl was in tights, a skirt, an a button up white shirt. It's like even thought it's the worst job in the world it's still a job....
The other day went to sergeev posad, which is a little town about 44 miles out of Moscow. It was so pretty! We went because they have this awesome monastery that is really old... It started out as a log cabin basically and is now this huge monastery with a spring of holy water, three churches and a bunch of other building. It was way cool to see the Russians practicing their religion! The churches smelled like incense. One of the churches was where sergeev posad, who was a monk, is buried. Which was amazing because outside of that church people line up for ever so that they can kiss his grave and light a candle because they believe that it brings them blessings. The line was so long and our coordinator said it was always that long and sometimes longer! One of the other churches was still in it's original state and it was just absolutely beautiful! It was just amazing to go in and see the paintings and the icons on the wall. And to see people lighting candles. Also there were so many monks and nuns walking around the whole monastery! It was so interesting to see! I loved it!
Also in that town they had an amazing market! It was so funs to bargain and to see all the different Russian trinkets! I may have spent too much money... Shhh!
Well today was the third day of teaching. I have come down with a small cold so I didn't have a lot of energy. So it wasn't the best day, but we are learning all the kids names and faces and we love it! I am getting to attached to some of them! Some of them I could live without, but for the most part they are sooo dang cute! The lessons are fun to! I guess you could say that all in all I'm having a good experience! Much love!
Love,
Hailey Dawn
Sunday, September 4, 2011
The beginning and st petes!
Email 08/30/2011
So at 5:00 am on Tuesday august 23 my mom and I headed to the airport so I could board a plane to Russia! My plane left at 7:30... And after checking luggage and going through security I was on my way! I went to the gate and the other ilp girls were there. It was pretty fun because I got to meet my head teacher and a bunch of other girls! We got on the plane and we were off to DC. Five ish hours later we were there.... But the captain circled around in the air for like 15 min! We were all pretty much sick by the time we landed! But come to find out we were basically in the air when the earthquake that hit that area hit! So that is why we were just flying around! Which I'm quit alright with! So we landed and had like an hour and a half wait... Which went by pretty fast! Then it was time to go to Russia! When we boarded I was suppose to sit by this Russian kid, but his mom came up to me and asked me to switch her seats... How could I resist! So instead I got to sit next to this guy who works for the government, but he is from india.... I still have mixed feelings about him because he was so nice but slightly creepy at the same time. He told me a lot about his "mormon" girlfriend, although he never gave her a name. So yes interesting! 9 hours later we got to Moscow! 10:35 local time! And i thought we would have to wait and wait for customs... But we basically breezed right on through! Then we got our luggage and went to find our person that would be taking us to were we are living. Which by the way.... She is a hott! Russian! Like super model hot! We basically call her the babe! Dont worry... I took pics! Then we got on the bus.... we were only suppose to have an hour bus ride to the school.... But it turned into a six hour bus ride.... Which was just so much fun! :) Laura, one of the other teachers actually got sick. And we were all so tired and dirty and nasty and yeah... It was just not a Fun bus ride!
So six hours later we got to the school. Had lunch in the bowling alley.... Yes our school has a sweet bowling alley, also a gym and a pool with two water slides :) be jealous! The school I teach in is two years old so pretty much new... Every wall is a different color... And we leave in dorm rooms which are actually pretty nice... And we have hot water.... Most of the time... And the mall that is like five min away has prada, dolce and gobbana?, ferrari, mazzarati.... And many others that I can't even spell :) super ritzy. Which actually has down sides... We aren't really appreciated by the school. More on that later! But yes we live in a super high class part of Russia! The guard to the school was telling us that Audie's are the low end cars in the community.... What! In our dorms there are three girls per room and each room has there own bathroom! We also have lots of space! :)
So during that day we pretty much just walked around the school and then unpacked, had dinner, and went to bed.
The next morning we woke up... Went to red square.... Which was not as cool becaue they were setting up Moscow day so everything was pretty much blocked off. But we did get tickets to go see the nutcracker in the kremlin... So that's exciting. We didn't go in the kremlin though... Don't worry we are going back and I will write a longer post about that when it happens cause its actually a really cool place!
So after red we went back home.... Packed and headed to the train station to go to st. Petersburg! My Mom always told me to ride first class in a sleeper and now I understand why.... Russians that are sleeping don't smell so pretty... Also the mattresses are super sketchy! But I am grateful I was about to go! So we got to st petes at 4:30 in the morning. Super early right?
We then took the metro to the place where we were staying and walked around for a while before we found it because none of us had ever been there :). Then we dropped stuff off took a metro to the city and walked around for about an hour and a half looking for food... We finally found some and our group of 17 split up into groups of just the schools you were teaching at. So there we were... Six girls in the middle of st petes not knowing where anything was or how to get there.... So we saw a cathedral in the distance and walked towards it... Which it turned out to be really cool because we could go to the top of the bell tower and then we saw the whole city... The cathedral was actually also a convent it is called "smolny sobor" or just the smolny cathedral. It has an amazing history involving Catherine the Great... But I don't have all day ;) so we will leave that one at that. But it was absolutely amazing! Out side the convent there was an information desk, so we spent some time in there learning about all these places we could go and see! Also while we were taking some pics of the convent we ran into this lady from Moscow who new a little bit of English and had been to st. Petes like every year and she told us to go on a canal boat ride.... Which we ended up doing because we wanted to save other things for other days and we were all super tired and just wanted to sit down, so it was absolutely fabulous!
That was basically all we did that day, and by the end of the day we were so exhausted! So were staying at the st petes ilp school.... Which was just an interesting experience! We were sleeping on these awesome mattresses that smelled of urine and were to small.... But we were so grateful to have a place to sleep :) but we were basically hobos.... There was one shower that all 17 of us could use only at night. Also the school wanted us out of there by 7:30-8 every morning and we couldn't come back till about 9 every night... So we didn't shower a lot cause it got late, but that's all part of the experience right!
The next couple of days were interesting... We didn't know our way around and so we kinda just went random places... We went to peters fortress which is where Anastasia's family is buried.... It has a beach and there was a sand statue contest going on so that was cool! While we were there we saw a place to dress up in the old cloths... Like Catharine the Great clothes! So a few of us did that and it was just awesome!
After that we went to the hermitage.... Which is also the winter palace, little did we know. They are not separate buildings as we may have thought :)Also it was AWESOME!!!! Back ground on the Hermitage. It is Catherine the Greats collection. And while collecting it she didn't get just one painting, but whole collections of paintings! We saw paintings from all the famous artist!!! Da Vince, Rafael, Michelangelo, Giovanni, Picasso, Rembrandt! And also there are 3 million items on display in the hermitage (not just painting but like Egyptian artifacts and such) but the crazy part is that there is 20 times that much in the vaults of the museum... Can I get a CARAZY! We read this in a book so I'm pretty sure it's pretty accurate! It was basically the coolest experience ever! We were there for three hours and there was so much that we didn't see! We didn't even make it to Monet or the Japanese art! It was just truly amazing and I have such a greater appreciation for fine art! I'm becoming more and more like Neal Caffrey every day! Haha kidding! So thus ends the second day.
The third day, which was sunday, we decided to go to the cathedrals. Ok side note on sunday, while we were at peters fortress we actually didn't know at the time that that was were the Romanov family was burried! So we didn't go in that cathedral! So of course on Sunday we had to go back! So that we could see where Anastasia was burried! Also I'm not sure if it was Saturday or Sunday but while walking back from peters fortress we saw a live bear... Like a real live one!!! Just a baby... It was even drinking from a bottle! And monkeys!! I got Pics an will post don't worry!!!
We then went to the cathedral of spilled blood which was sooooo awesome! The walls are all mosaic! All! It is sooo beautiful! That is now the background of my iPad! And in took the photo! It is just such a miraculous place! Butnyou know... Little side note here! Even though the cathedrals an the mosques are absolutely amazing... I just didnt feel the spirit as strong as I do when I go to the temple or even to church. So it was a great testimony builder that our church is the true church! :)
We also went to the Romanov summer palace which was amazing! We didn't go inside we just walked around the grounds but it was so awesome! But the grounds are huge! And it's right on the gulf of Finland so we could even see Finland! But it was so fun! And absolutely amazing!
In Russia, when they get married, they have a small wedding and then go around and take pictures at all the famous places.... So we saw sooooooo Many brides every where we went...especially on Saturday because that is the most popular day to get married! And I mean a ton!
When we got back from st petes we were all so beat that we didn't really want to do anything but take a good shower and sleep in a good bed! So basically that's what we did.... Well an we did some training an went and organized the supply room... After all we are here to teach!
So that was st. Petes... I still need to write about being back in Moscow, the first day of school, and the first day of teaching! So more soon!
Love love,
Hailey Dawn
I'm typing on iPad and so it's a little more complicated so I might have a few mistakes
So at 5:00 am on Tuesday august 23 my mom and I headed to the airport so I could board a plane to Russia! My plane left at 7:30... And after checking luggage and going through security I was on my way! I went to the gate and the other ilp girls were there. It was pretty fun because I got to meet my head teacher and a bunch of other girls! We got on the plane and we were off to DC. Five ish hours later we were there.... But the captain circled around in the air for like 15 min! We were all pretty much sick by the time we landed! But come to find out we were basically in the air when the earthquake that hit that area hit! So that is why we were just flying around! Which I'm quit alright with! So we landed and had like an hour and a half wait... Which went by pretty fast! Then it was time to go to Russia! When we boarded I was suppose to sit by this Russian kid, but his mom came up to me and asked me to switch her seats... How could I resist! So instead I got to sit next to this guy who works for the government, but he is from india.... I still have mixed feelings about him because he was so nice but slightly creepy at the same time. He told me a lot about his "mormon" girlfriend, although he never gave her a name. So yes interesting! 9 hours later we got to Moscow! 10:35 local time! And i thought we would have to wait and wait for customs... But we basically breezed right on through! Then we got our luggage and went to find our person that would be taking us to were we are living. Which by the way.... She is a hott! Russian! Like super model hot! We basically call her the babe! Dont worry... I took pics! Then we got on the bus.... we were only suppose to have an hour bus ride to the school.... But it turned into a six hour bus ride.... Which was just so much fun! :) Laura, one of the other teachers actually got sick. And we were all so tired and dirty and nasty and yeah... It was just not a Fun bus ride!
So six hours later we got to the school. Had lunch in the bowling alley.... Yes our school has a sweet bowling alley, also a gym and a pool with two water slides :) be jealous! The school I teach in is two years old so pretty much new... Every wall is a different color... And we leave in dorm rooms which are actually pretty nice... And we have hot water.... Most of the time... And the mall that is like five min away has prada, dolce and gobbana?, ferrari, mazzarati.... And many others that I can't even spell :) super ritzy. Which actually has down sides... We aren't really appreciated by the school. More on that later! But yes we live in a super high class part of Russia! The guard to the school was telling us that Audie's are the low end cars in the community.... What! In our dorms there are three girls per room and each room has there own bathroom! We also have lots of space! :)
So during that day we pretty much just walked around the school and then unpacked, had dinner, and went to bed.
The next morning we woke up... Went to red square.... Which was not as cool becaue they were setting up Moscow day so everything was pretty much blocked off. But we did get tickets to go see the nutcracker in the kremlin... So that's exciting. We didn't go in the kremlin though... Don't worry we are going back and I will write a longer post about that when it happens cause its actually a really cool place!
So after red we went back home.... Packed and headed to the train station to go to st. Petersburg! My Mom always told me to ride first class in a sleeper and now I understand why.... Russians that are sleeping don't smell so pretty... Also the mattresses are super sketchy! But I am grateful I was about to go! So we got to st petes at 4:30 in the morning. Super early right?
We then took the metro to the place where we were staying and walked around for a while before we found it because none of us had ever been there :). Then we dropped stuff off took a metro to the city and walked around for about an hour and a half looking for food... We finally found some and our group of 17 split up into groups of just the schools you were teaching at. So there we were... Six girls in the middle of st petes not knowing where anything was or how to get there.... So we saw a cathedral in the distance and walked towards it... Which it turned out to be really cool because we could go to the top of the bell tower and then we saw the whole city... The cathedral was actually also a convent it is called "smolny sobor" or just the smolny cathedral. It has an amazing history involving Catherine the Great... But I don't have all day ;) so we will leave that one at that. But it was absolutely amazing! Out side the convent there was an information desk, so we spent some time in there learning about all these places we could go and see! Also while we were taking some pics of the convent we ran into this lady from Moscow who new a little bit of English and had been to st. Petes like every year and she told us to go on a canal boat ride.... Which we ended up doing because we wanted to save other things for other days and we were all super tired and just wanted to sit down, so it was absolutely fabulous!
That was basically all we did that day, and by the end of the day we were so exhausted! So were staying at the st petes ilp school.... Which was just an interesting experience! We were sleeping on these awesome mattresses that smelled of urine and were to small.... But we were so grateful to have a place to sleep :) but we were basically hobos.... There was one shower that all 17 of us could use only at night. Also the school wanted us out of there by 7:30-8 every morning and we couldn't come back till about 9 every night... So we didn't shower a lot cause it got late, but that's all part of the experience right!
The next couple of days were interesting... We didn't know our way around and so we kinda just went random places... We went to peters fortress which is where Anastasia's family is buried.... It has a beach and there was a sand statue contest going on so that was cool! While we were there we saw a place to dress up in the old cloths... Like Catharine the Great clothes! So a few of us did that and it was just awesome!
After that we went to the hermitage.... Which is also the winter palace, little did we know. They are not separate buildings as we may have thought :)Also it was AWESOME!!!! Back ground on the Hermitage. It is Catherine the Greats collection. And while collecting it she didn't get just one painting, but whole collections of paintings! We saw paintings from all the famous artist!!! Da Vince, Rafael, Michelangelo, Giovanni, Picasso, Rembrandt! And also there are 3 million items on display in the hermitage (not just painting but like Egyptian artifacts and such) but the crazy part is that there is 20 times that much in the vaults of the museum... Can I get a CARAZY! We read this in a book so I'm pretty sure it's pretty accurate! It was basically the coolest experience ever! We were there for three hours and there was so much that we didn't see! We didn't even make it to Monet or the Japanese art! It was just truly amazing and I have such a greater appreciation for fine art! I'm becoming more and more like Neal Caffrey every day! Haha kidding! So thus ends the second day.
The third day, which was sunday, we decided to go to the cathedrals. Ok side note on sunday, while we were at peters fortress we actually didn't know at the time that that was were the Romanov family was burried! So we didn't go in that cathedral! So of course on Sunday we had to go back! So that we could see where Anastasia was burried! Also I'm not sure if it was Saturday or Sunday but while walking back from peters fortress we saw a live bear... Like a real live one!!! Just a baby... It was even drinking from a bottle! And monkeys!! I got Pics an will post don't worry!!!
We then went to the cathedral of spilled blood which was sooooo awesome! The walls are all mosaic! All! It is sooo beautiful! That is now the background of my iPad! And in took the photo! It is just such a miraculous place! Butnyou know... Little side note here! Even though the cathedrals an the mosques are absolutely amazing... I just didnt feel the spirit as strong as I do when I go to the temple or even to church. So it was a great testimony builder that our church is the true church! :)
We also went to the Romanov summer palace which was amazing! We didn't go inside we just walked around the grounds but it was so awesome! But the grounds are huge! And it's right on the gulf of Finland so we could even see Finland! But it was so fun! And absolutely amazing!
In Russia, when they get married, they have a small wedding and then go around and take pictures at all the famous places.... So we saw sooooooo Many brides every where we went...especially on Saturday because that is the most popular day to get married! And I mean a ton!
When we got back from st petes we were all so beat that we didn't really want to do anything but take a good shower and sleep in a good bed! So basically that's what we did.... Well an we did some training an went and organized the supply room... After all we are here to teach!
So that was st. Petes... I still need to write about being back in Moscow, the first day of school, and the first day of teaching! So more soon!
Love love,
Hailey Dawn
I'm typing on iPad and so it's a little more complicated so I might have a few mistakes
:) 12 years later!
So I realize it's been like 12 years sense I updated this thing. And I know y'all are waiting to see what have been up to in Russia! So I do apologize for the inconvenience! So here I am just for my fans! :) ok also I'm a horrible friend and I think I'm just going to copy past my emails to my fam and just put those in here.... But dont worry I plan on adding more!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Countdown
1 Day till Susanas bridal shower
3 days till I get to read the letter from Brasilia that is in Burley :)
3 days till Kilys wedding
4 days till Darcy's wedding
5-7 days till I get glasses
8 days left of working at check city
10 days left in Logan Utah
11 days till Susana's and Nicoles weddings
15 days till the Cassia County Fair and Rodeo :)
21 days to pack four months into 1 large suite case and a carry on
22 days till I bored a plan for Russia
I put two wool coats and my snowboarding coat in my suite case today and told me roommate I was all packed for Russia :)
Life is crazy messy right now!!! I have to pack everything that I own either into boxes so it can be stored or into suite cases so that I can fly with it!
Last week was fabulous though!! It was the international dance and music festival in Burley and I was the performance manager.... soooo I ran the show! :) It was so fun!! I got to know all the countries! We had Columbia, Austria, Belgium, India, and Russia!!! I went to all their practices and decided which order they would be dancing in for their performance, set up extra pracitices, worked with the translators and the directors to make sure the music and lights were good and made sure they had everything they needed! It was probably the funnest week of my life! :)
Russia was super cool! they were the russian circuse so they were pretty much their own catagory of flexibility and they had a dancer that danced in the air! super cool! Also I loved India because they were fun and they were super super easy to work with!!! Belgium was also way cool!! I loved them!!! they were so fun!! And I may want to marry their director ;)! Although the Austrian boys were pretty cute! Austria was way funny!! I had one guy come up to me "Whats your name?" "Hailey... whats yours?" "George W. Bush!" and then I had them skip lunch because I needed them at practice so I said to them "I'm sorry you guys had to miss lunch but I needed you" and one of them says to me "What will you give us?" "American Candy?" "320 pounds!!" haha ohhhk! But I did get them swedish fish and they thought that was funny!
Welp! I would upload pics but my computer is pretty much dead... boo so thats what I got right now... I will probably blog alot while I am on the plan because I have like a 32 hour flight ;) Dos vedanya!
3 days till I get to read the letter from Brasilia that is in Burley :)
3 days till Kilys wedding
4 days till Darcy's wedding
5-7 days till I get glasses
8 days left of working at check city
10 days left in Logan Utah
11 days till Susana's and Nicoles weddings
15 days till the Cassia County Fair and Rodeo :)
21 days to pack four months into 1 large suite case and a carry on
22 days till I bored a plan for Russia
I put two wool coats and my snowboarding coat in my suite case today and told me roommate I was all packed for Russia :)
Life is crazy messy right now!!! I have to pack everything that I own either into boxes so it can be stored or into suite cases so that I can fly with it!
Last week was fabulous though!! It was the international dance and music festival in Burley and I was the performance manager.... soooo I ran the show! :) It was so fun!! I got to know all the countries! We had Columbia, Austria, Belgium, India, and Russia!!! I went to all their practices and decided which order they would be dancing in for their performance, set up extra pracitices, worked with the translators and the directors to make sure the music and lights were good and made sure they had everything they needed! It was probably the funnest week of my life! :)
Russia was super cool! they were the russian circuse so they were pretty much their own catagory of flexibility and they had a dancer that danced in the air! super cool! Also I loved India because they were fun and they were super super easy to work with!!! Belgium was also way cool!! I loved them!!! they were so fun!! And I may want to marry their director ;)! Although the Austrian boys were pretty cute! Austria was way funny!! I had one guy come up to me "Whats your name?" "Hailey... whats yours?" "George W. Bush!" and then I had them skip lunch because I needed them at practice so I said to them "I'm sorry you guys had to miss lunch but I needed you" and one of them says to me "What will you give us?" "American Candy?" "320 pounds!!" haha ohhhk! But I did get them swedish fish and they thought that was funny!
Welp! I would upload pics but my computer is pretty much dead... boo so thats what I got right now... I will probably blog alot while I am on the plan because I have like a 32 hour flight ;) Dos vedanya!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
~My Life in PhOtOs~
PrOm
In't SHE just soooooo Purdy!!! Love this Girl!!!
True COLORS!!
AWWEEEE PRESH!!!
B-Hop Handy and the young one!!!
Hi MORGAN!!!! ... oh and Look at us dance!!!
My little brothers!!! :) LOVE LOVE!!!
One of my future husbands! :)
Kinda Blurry but my lil bro and his beautiful date!!!
GrAdUaTiOn
Two of my most favorite people in the world!!!!
MOMMAAAAAAA!!!!
these are our true colors!!! :) :) :)
LOVE HER!!!
Awe!!! what studs!!!
;)
Mug shots of the next generation of inmates!!!!
they aren't very good at mug shots!!!
Hehe.... no comment....
ya just had to be there!
Beautiful!!! dessert prepared by Bethany!!
I just love this pic.... :) Tasty stuff!!!
:) :) :)
Wonderful lunch prepared by Aunt Sherri!!! LOVE HER!!!
Mom, Aunt Julie, Aunt Carla... LOVE THEM!!! :) :) :)
Sister in Laws, and cousins!
Presents!
:) it was such a nice day!!!
AnDrEaS WeDdInG!
Aunty and Andrea... so presh!!!
Um okkkk so I just want you to know that when you get a bride dressed for her wedding.... you should probably get her dressed right... which should be Garter, hoop, lace up back dress, vale... in that order... NOT vale, lace up back dress, hoop, Garter... :) Just sayin it might make things slightly less complicated! :)
again... True colors
ps... I basically have the cutest nephews EVER
WHAT! a Beautiful bride!!!!!
AWE!!!! LOVE my Nephews and my DADDY!!! :) :) :)
Ok this is probably my fav. picture in the whole wide world!!!!
Next to this one of course :) :) :) He so stinkin cute!!!
AWE!!!! She's so lucky!!!!
Bride and groom!!!! LOVE THEM!!!!
its true it was a way fun night!!!
Me and my new CUZ!
Gross but soooo cute at the same time!!!
He is just PRESH!!!
Me and my MARRIED CUZ!!!!
SOOOO PRETTY!!!!
KaIlEyS WeDdInG!!!
She was sooooooo gorgeous!!!!!
Darcy'sBRIDALshower!!!
Kinky!!! BAHAHA LOVE IT!!! LOVE HER!!!
LOVE US!!!!! BEST ROOMMATES EVER!!! we are just missing Hayley and Kayla :(
I look super prego... but she is BEAUTIFULL!!!
AWE!!! Tendl and Darc!!!
Makeshift dunking tank? worked beautifully!!!!
SuMmEr TiMe
He felt threatened by my good looks!!!
Look how black it is!!!!!!
I was so amazed so I took lots of pics!!!
THUPER healthy cookies!!!
My and MaTt!!! Bowling!!!
Why is this not a legit style? lets be honest... these are AWESOME shoes!!!
Everybody loves a Ju JU!!!!
I looooooookkk NaSTY!!! But she is sooo cute!!! LOVE HER AND MISS HER!!!! MY friend from Norway Linda!!!
We love photos!!!
and this is why!!!! cuz this is how they turn out!!!
Ummm yes is is half flat on the floor and half up on the wall... thing? kinda awkward!!! LOVE HIM!!
HEHEHEHE Would you rather????
Sometimes curbs pop out of nowhere... and when you are on a bike its not such a good thing!!! You get a knee the size of a BASEBALL!!!!!
HEHEHE Funnell cake making!!!! We all had Aprons!!!! don't they look so cute!!!
:) Us to!!!!
it was a lengthy process.... but I will have you know that I rode my bike to Susana's with 3 EGGS in my back pack and they made it in one piece!!!! :)
MMMMMM Funnell CAKE!!!! Tasty!!!
AWE THE MARRIED COUPLE!!!
His fav. color is Zebra!!!!
Don't they look good in the kitchen!!!!
He just needs red shorts!!!
you can't really tell but our masks glow!!!!!!!!! stupid flash!!! Fun night though!!!! SOOOOO FUN!!!! :) :) :) I love FIREWORKS!!!!! :) :) :)
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