First Week (and then some)

My first week in Moscow feels both incredibly long and short simultaneously. Probably because I was in a combination of class and rehearsals for around 10-12 hours a day, leaving little time to explore beyond the grocery stores. I felt like I spent my first week in Russia going up and down Tverskaya Street, Moscow’s main street two times a day: dorm to school, school to dorm, approx. a 30 minute walk. Maybe a detour to the bank or store for food, just to mix it up a little. Tverskaya Street is not what I pictured Moscow to be like at all. There are flashing signs and billboards everywhere you turn, and it wasn’t until I started exploring side streets and venturing beyond Tverskaya that I was finally able to admire the architecture and get more of a feel for the city.

Despite my exhausting first week, it was interesting. Getting oriented at MXAT meant getting to go on the stage where Stanislavsky performed (pictures will go up soon, but I have limited band width internet in the dorm!). The Red Square is about a five-minute walk from school, and so I finally gazed in awe at St. Basil’s in person. It wasn’t until after Alice vs. Wonderland opened last Sunday night that things finally began to calm down. But I still don’t really feel settled. We had a bus tour of the city (pictures to come soon, I promise!) and so far I really like my classes. I feel so well taken care of here. I realized I also forgot to mention Tanya in my first post, who is amazing and maybe inspired that line about dead-pan faces in my Ode. She should have her own comedy show. But will have to share more on this later as it is almost 1am and I need to leave for school around 10am!

I’m going to try really hard to comment a bit on each show I see here. But I have a lot of other things I’m dying to write about…yet have so little time! However, I just discovered this wonderful feature on blogspot, and can have my blog emailed to up to 10 people whenever I post. I already put my parents on there (since I know they are probably the only ones who read this thing religiously), but if you’re interested there are 8 spots left!

Paka!