Halfway There!

Today marks officially the halfway point for our study abroad trip to Moscow. I can’t remember any other six weeks that have changed my life so profoundly, and for this I am extremely grateful. I can’t wait to see what happens with the next six weeks! This being said, here are the six most important lessons that I’ve learned in this first half of our trip:

1. Simplicity. Our professors, particularly our fencing teachers, are constantly reminding us that things are always a lot simpler than we make them. Why expend the energy to take three backs back and wave your fencing sword around to block your opponent when you could take one step back and push their sword to the right? Or if your partner isn’t close enough to hit you, why move back at all? We were all super intimidated why the idea of fencing at the beginning, but we are learning it is much simpler to wield a weapon than we thought. Luckily, on stage we will always be working with fencing partners, not enemies. Simple. Release muscles. Listen to your partner. Find the easiest way.

2. Joy. Our movement professor, Vlad, knows about two phrases in English. As we are running around the room at top speed or jumping as high as we possibly can for as long as we possibly can, he is constantly screaming his favorite English word—SMILE. Movement could be a very difficult course for us. We are learning how to stand on our shoulders and balance each other in the air. It takes trusting your own body and your partners constantly. A lot of the positions we were asked to do at the beginning felt impossible, but we are beginning to understand our bodies and fitness in a whole new light. It’s all about finding the joy in the process, not the frustration in not having the product. If you can’t do it, smile. You can do so much more when you are joyful in learning the process.

3. There is not always a correct answer. In our acting classes, we have to present a new etude at the beginning of every class. Every day, we create a story with an event that changes everyone, has high stakes, and can be told more through our bodies than through our words. Then the next day we tell a new story. We never get it quite right, there is always something that could have been more important, something that could have been lessened, etc. But every day we find a new story to tell, and we slowly improve how we tell our stories. We were told a few weeks in that it’s virtually impossible to have a perfect etude—there is always something off, sometimes without a better solution possible. It’s all about the chemistry of the story with the actors and the actor’s chemistry with each other. It will not be right. However, there is always something to learn. We are students. It’s about the process, not the product.

4. Flexibility. Yes, we are learning flexibility in Vlad’s movement class—half of us are now able to get our feet behind our heads! But this isn’t the kind of flexibility I’m talking about. I think a lot of us came on this trip with certain expectations in mind for what we would like and what would be difficult. The people with the most preconceived notions ended up frustrated about how the experience was different than we expected. But no matter how much we talked to classes above us—each group that goes has a very different experience, and we can only tune in to our own experiences. We have to be flexible to what is, as opposed to what we thought it would be. Once we let go of that and began to go with the flow of a very different culture than our own, we began to have a much more positive experience as a collective.

5. It is fun to fail! Russian teachers are very different than American teachers. We are constantly told everything that we need to improve, and then some things we are doing alright as well. But we will very rarely be told there isn’t something to improve. If we do an exercise properly, they add a new element to it to make it more challenging. There hasn’t been a single day here where I haven’t failed miserably at something—and I’ve never improved so much in my life.

6. Conflict is one of the most important factors of life. It is very difficult to live in a place where things are done very differently than we are used to. We are constantly around people used to a very different culture than our own and learning how to adapt to that. We are also all very different from each other. Some of us are constantly wanting to work ourselves silly, and others want to explore more and put less emphasis on the work for classes. We have night owls and early risers and constant noise. We have extroverts that constantly want to hang out, and others that need lots of alone time. Differences make it difficult to coexist. However, without people that operate differently than us, there is less room to grow. I have learned to let go of some of my Type A work habits in a way that has improved my classwork by getting me out of my head, and others have been challenged to put in a little more work. We need to learn these things from each other to grow more. In conflict, there is growth and comprise and harmony. Conflict can be good.

Maslenitsa!

To future Moscovites from NIU – here's a little something to know about Maslenitsa (or the Butter Festival) before you arrive in the Motherland!

The first week you arrive, you will see the evidence of this festival all around! There’s an area on the way to school that has treats to buy and costumed characters everywhere; there’s shops right outside school selling honey and all sorts of knickknacks. The most important area to check out for the Butter Festival is definitely Red Square. My classmates and I stumbled upon it quite haphazardly, but we’re so lucky we did! I think my favorite part was the way the Christmas trees were decorated—orange, yellow, and red ribbons, smiling suns, and big pretzels hanging from the limbs.

Now, since we stumbled upon Maslenitsa in our jet lagged state, we didn’t really understand what it was—or that it would only be there for one week. So be forewarned, enjoy the blinis (pancakes) while they are there! And take plenty of pictures with the gorgeous decorations everywhere. It certainly makes the snowy, harsh winter a little bit warmer, a lot brighter, and very welcoming.

Maslenitsa is most likely the oldest Slavic holiday that is celebrated still; it happens during the second week of February. It began as a Sun-Festival, celebrating the God, Volos, and welcoming the end of winter (or begging for it to end soon—winter lasts a LOT longer here). Once Russia’s official religion was changed to Orthodox Christianity, the holiday changed as well. It lands on the last week before Lent, which at the time meant that it was the last week the people could enjoy eggs, milk, and cheese. Maslenitsa was their way to go all out while they could, and people celebrate with crepes, fancy cheese, and lots and lots of pancakes. It was also their last week to party and dance before Lent season brought upon them a more thoughtful and prayerful time.

The festival now includes all the religions and pagan traditions all in one. We saw several performances in the streets with performers calling for the end of winter (one such performance was done on stilts on icy Arbat Street—which was terrifying to watch!!). People gave us free candy, we enjoyed the wonderful blinis and hot chocolate from the street vendors, and we celebrated Maslenitsa as a sort of welcoming into the traditions of beautiful Russia. 

So for anyone ready to take part of this program next Spring—eat a blini or two for me and celebrate the warmth of Maslenitsa! Though this holiday celebrates the end of Winter and the coming of Spring, it’s been several weeks since and it snowed today. We’re still calling for Winter to leave and Spring to join us here in icy Russia!

Top Ten Things to Know Before Going Abroad!

So, I have now been in Russia for a bit of time, and I have already learned so many ways to make the trip a little easier! Preparation for a trip abroad is NEVER easy. It can be pretty stressful, and hearing advice from others that have studied abroad will never fully make you feel prepared for the adventure ahead.

Three months away from home is intimidating. I doubt it’s something anyone really knows how to prepare for completely. The only thing I can say for certain is that you will not be certain of everything before you leave. But it is WORTH taking that jump!

That being said, here’s the top ten things I’d say are the most important to know before going off on a journey like this! Everyone has an incredibly different experience, so take what you will from what I’ve learned, throw out the rest, and find your own way through!

1. Get your passport early! There’s no reason to wait, so as soon as you know you are traveling, get that passport! It will make the visa process much less stressful to already have your passport on hand.

2. Think carefully about weather. Today is March 6^th in Russia and it was 15 degrees today, which was the warmest day so far. Bring lots of layered clothing! I wear two layers of pants and long socks on my thirty-minute walk to and from class each day. Keep weather in mind when you’re packing.

3. Bring something to decorate your room! Homesickness WILL come, no matter how boring you think your hometown is. Having simple pictures or decorations from your own room will help make your new place feel more like yours. Which is important when everything around can feel so foreign. Bring a part of YOU with you!

4. If you have a favorite food or snack, bring it! You’ll want to have your comfort food while you’re figuring out which grocery stores have what. My best friend LOVES hot Cheetos, and Russia doesn’t really have spicy foods. She brought a 20 pack of hot Cheetos, and she’s thriving because of it. Having your favorite foods can be a great way to bring a little home with you!

5. Get as much rest as you can on the plane ride over! Y’all, jet lag is for real. My first week I’d fall asleep as soon as classes were over and then I’d be up at four or five in the morning. It’s rough. Try and make is as smooth as possible for yourself. I know it’s not easy to sleep on planes, but that’s not the only way to rest! If you stay still and close your eyes, your body gets close to the amount of rest you would if you were able to sleep. So sit back, relax, and do what you can to control the jet lag!

6. Find the ways to operate the way you need to. My first week, all of my classmates and I were together a TON. We have class six days a week from ten in the morning to six at night, and sometimes we go see shows after. As an introvert, this was exhausting!!! Our post-lunch acting class felt so unproductive because I was just exhausted, especially by the end of the week. But I found that if I had lunch by myself/in a quieter room, I would have the energy for that class. It’s all about finding the ways that you need to operate. Pay attention to when you get exhausted, need to hang out with others more or less, and LISTEN TO YOURSELF! You know what you need. You just gotta learn how to listen.

7. Think ahead about money. Every traveler is different, especially with finances. My classmates and I took a range of $1,000 to $6,000 to spend. A three-month trip in Moscow can be done on $1,000, but if you know you like eating out and treating yourself, make sure you bring the funds to do that! It’s a little hard to plan completely ahead not knowing how much groceries/meals are going to cost, but I’d recommend bring more than you think you’ll need, then creating a more specific budget for groceries/restaurants/souvenirs about two weeks in when you have a better idea of how much things cost for you! Also, if you want a ball park for what you’d spend, track yourself for three months before you go to see how much you typically spend, then add about 20% more for souvenirs/other adventures you wouldn’t be able to have at home.

8. Learn at least the alphabet of the place that you are going! Russia uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Several words in Russian that are very important (bank, restaurant, toilet, etc.) are very similar to the English translation. However, it’s written in a different alphabet so it won’t be as clear. If you come in knowing at least how to pronounce the alphabet, there will be a little less language fatigue to deal with. Learning the alphabet at least is a good first step before you go! Also, some basic phrases like “Hello, Thank You, and Sorry” can go a long way at the beginning.

9. Remember that this is still school, and find a good balance with adventure! It’s the constant struggle here—do I read another play or go try out a new restaurant? Find a way to stay dedicated to your studies while also letting go and having fun! You’re only abroad for so long—take advantage of that! But also keep in mind the education you’re there to get.

10. Have FUN! This can be one of the most positive experiences of your life. Studying abroad can give you such an expansive view not only of the world, but of yourself as well. Embrace the fear, be brave, and focus on what goes well. These are going to be some of the best memories of your life, and treasure making them!!!