Where in the World is Cat?

To celebrate the New Year (following pictures were taken January 2nd and 3rd) I got out of the dorm and did a little sight seeing with friends.



With a couple of girlfriends at a local hotel lobby. The hotels in Russia actually have very good restaurants. Jyun (pictured left), took us to her favorite Korean restaurant that served some very interesting sushi (with ham, cheese, broccoli....I know - strange!). (Pictured: Jyun - China, Asl - Turkey, Rosario - Spain)

The next day I went to one of Moscow's six monasteries. When Prince Yury Dolgoruky founded the city in the 12th century, he had six monasteries building to circle the city. The monasteries, with their large, thick walls, acted as fortresses to protect the city from invasion. Pictured here, the belltower of this monastery is under reconstruction.

An original set of doors to the monastery's main cathedral. As you can see, iconic art was and still is an important part of cathedral architecture in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

So with exams (almost) over, I've been a little more free to take on the Moscow nightlife. And boy is it lively! I will say, in my experiences out this semester, Moscow puts many East Coast cities to shame when it comes to things to do at night. Places of entertainment are usually open 24 hours (bowling alleys, movie theaters, cafes with live music, karaoke bars) and restaurants and clubs are usually open until 6-7am. Transportation around city is very cheap - never more than $15 to take a taxi anywhere in the city. After living in NY, and DC I was surprised to find a city with more life, options and possibilities.

Nightlife in Moscow and Moscow's restaurant scene is an important part of the modernization of Russia. Only six years ago, on my last trip to Russia, I would estimate that half of the restaurants, eateries, clubs and entertainment venues existed in Moscow. Not only is it a sign of the increased amount of expendable cash Muscovites (and on a smaller scale, Russians in general) have now, but it is also a large indicator of the continued Westernization here in Moscow. It's an odd thing to see as a student of politics, as we read about the anti-Western policies the Russian government is adopting at home and in their large-scale economic policies (aka - oil and other energy forms). Though political elite here in Russia are denouncing all things Western, nobody (except for those associated with oil) seems to actually be taking it seriously. In fact - I read last month that Starbucks is coming to Moscow next year (still haven't decided if this is a good or bad thing) and the teenagers and 20-somethings of Moscow take Western fashion, music and pop culture more seriously than even we do! (If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was taught as a subject here in grade school.) English language classes are amongst the hardest at MGIMO University, and they've just opened a Russia-European Studies College this past month. Now tell me, just how much is Russia trying to distance itself from the West?



Shams (Afghanistan), Mihao, Rosario (Spain), Gena (China)

Rosario and Denis (Russia/Ecuador) take a break from Russian and have a side-conversation in Spanish. Oh, how I love international friends!

I know from the looks of my blog lately, I've been enjoying myself immensely. And I have. However, I have been studying a lot as well! The problem with final exams during the winter is twofold. First - it's winter in Russia...cold, hard, bitter and long - no one usually has the motivation to do much after five months of continual studying and miserable weather. Luckily, that hasn't been quite the case this winter. The other obstacle in Russia, however, is the fact that they observe practically EVERY secular and Christian holiday that occurs between November and February. Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Little Christmas, Old New Year's, etc, etc. So, that calculates to a major holiday once every week and a half between November 28th and January 17th. Try and stick three weeks of exams inbetween all of that and things get complicated.

Anyhow, exams are almost over, even though I started taking them about four weeks ago! I take my last exam Wednesday, Thursday I'm on a plane home!



After a long day of studying, Mihao and Koichi try and predict my luck with exams by reading my plam(s).

End of Week #3 of exams - relaxing together in my room. (Check out the view from my room!)
(Left to right: me, David - Austria, Koichi - Japan, Mihao - Poland, Nikolai - France, Miraselle - Germany, Ludya - Russia)

Below is the beginning of our New Year's party in the dorm. New Year's is absolutely crazy in Russia - it's the biggest national holiday, and even those who are "working" are celebrating (the security guards we're enjoying the "party spirits" being offered at dorm parties). The dorm became one big open house...lots of laugher, celebrating and friendship.
Me, Mihao, Danyir (Kazakhstan), Yagoda (P0land), Nikolai, Naooshi (Japan).

Well, here's another attempt to update my blog. Hopefully, you'll be able to see these photos soon!



New Year's Eve. We started with a small party in the dorm, then headed out to Red Square for the fireworks show. It was like Times Square - but in Russia! (Pictured: Mihao - Poland, me - US, Nikolai - France, Yagoda & Monica - Poland)

Two wild and crazy guys!

Hi folks! Well, unfortunately, I've been experiencing more problems with my website...I promise you I've been trying to blog for sometime now, but nothing seems to publish to my page. I'm currently trying to figure it out with Blogspot.com. However, after many attempts, I was able to get this posted just to let you know that my holidays here were shared with great friends and lots of fun. I hope that you all had much of the same! I'll be heading home on January 18th (T-minus 13 days!) and can't wait to see you all. Please keep the emails coming, I love hearing from all of you. As soon as I can get more photos up, I'll be sure to let you know!

Miss you all! Take care!



The Christmas Tree (in Russian "yolka") on Manezhnaya Square outside of Red Square. It was snowing on New Year's Eve. How perfect!