Yesterday I hopped on the train from Lahti Railway Station at 7:11 pm and headed to Moscow. I had a great company escorting me to the station. Thank you for everyone who showed up! ♥
Right from the beginning, the journey has been full of surprises. For instance, the train cabin could not have been any smaller. The beds were only 55 cm wide, and the suitcases were problematic to get into their lockers. And that was meant for 4 people... Fortunately we shared the cabin with my friend NR only. The trip lasted 12 hours (I woke up several times during the trip but I still got some sleep), and we had time to drink a couple of cups of tea.
The train arrived to Moscow at 8:25 am in the local time. While Finland is still enjoying summer-ish temperatures between +15 and +20°C, here in Moscow it is only +8°C. Like the cool air would not be enough, today it was accompanied by a flooding rain... Even though the weather was not the most welcoming, we had a sympathetic old man picking us and our luggage up from Leningradskiy Railway Station. We experienced the probka, traffic jam instantly when we were going to our university. We had troubles with getting out from the parking lot because it was so stuck. The traffic culture makes no sense at all in Moscow: people walk over the streets when it is suitable for them, and cars just cut in where they fit. With NR:s words: "Russian traffic is a jungle. Only the best will survive." I actually felt really confident with our driver. He was a cool guy. :)
I have not spoken a word in English today. Nobody here speaks English, I would be so lost without NR... I will owe her so much! Though my ears are getting used to Russian and no wonder: I have listened to Russian-speaking people all day long. Now the speech does not sound like mumbling in my ears anymore. I even managed to say something in Russian as well :)
Even though I have been only one day in Russia, I have already needed to face again with Russian sense of time. We still have not received our schedules, even though classes start tomorrow, and actually I still need to do changes to my course selections. Things here take at 3 times more time than in Finland. If a Russian tells you: "it will take 10 minutes", reserving half an hour is not a bad idea at all!
Our apartment is located in a 25-storey soviet-time building. Fortunately we are only in the 9th floor. We do have a common kitchen here but alas, there are no dishes available! NR:s aunt was kind and promised to lend us some dishes. I will take pictures of our room after we have cleaned up here a little bit, but let's wait for the room pictures with some window view photos:
Right from the beginning, the journey has been full of surprises. For instance, the train cabin could not have been any smaller. The beds were only 55 cm wide, and the suitcases were problematic to get into their lockers. And that was meant for 4 people... Fortunately we shared the cabin with my friend NR only. The trip lasted 12 hours (I woke up several times during the trip but I still got some sleep), and we had time to drink a couple of cups of tea.
The train arrived to Moscow at 8:25 am in the local time. While Finland is still enjoying summer-ish temperatures between +15 and +20°C, here in Moscow it is only +8°C. Like the cool air would not be enough, today it was accompanied by a flooding rain... Even though the weather was not the most welcoming, we had a sympathetic old man picking us and our luggage up from Leningradskiy Railway Station. We experienced the probka, traffic jam instantly when we were going to our university. We had troubles with getting out from the parking lot because it was so stuck. The traffic culture makes no sense at all in Moscow: people walk over the streets when it is suitable for them, and cars just cut in where they fit. With NR:s words: "Russian traffic is a jungle. Only the best will survive." I actually felt really confident with our driver. He was a cool guy. :)
Last photo credit: NR
I have not spoken a word in English today. Nobody here speaks English, I would be so lost without NR... I will owe her so much! Though my ears are getting used to Russian and no wonder: I have listened to Russian-speaking people all day long. Now the speech does not sound like mumbling in my ears anymore. I even managed to say something in Russian as well :)
Even though I have been only one day in Russia, I have already needed to face again with Russian sense of time. We still have not received our schedules, even though classes start tomorrow, and actually I still need to do changes to my course selections. Things here take at 3 times more time than in Finland. If a Russian tells you: "it will take 10 minutes", reserving half an hour is not a bad idea at all!
Our apartment is located in a 25-storey soviet-time building. Fortunately we are only in the 9th floor. We do have a common kitchen here but alas, there are no dishes available! NR:s aunt was kind and promised to lend us some dishes. I will take pictures of our room after we have cleaned up here a little bit, but let's wait for the room pictures with some window view photos:
The "Green Chrystal" and our backyard.
I was so tired after this day I took a nap. Perhaps 4-hour sleep does not count as a nap anymore, but yeah. As I said, I took a nap. I am still really tired, so I guess I will sleep really tight soon. ;)
Heippa Minna, kiva lukea sun kuulumisia! Mielenkiintoisia hetkiä sinulle uusissa kuvioissa toivottelee Erbilin tätsky!
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