Sitting in the common room of the CCS home base in Yaroslavl, while my roommate, Tom Fraser from Australia, practices for his Russian lesson tomorrow. Hmmm, I didn’t realize there would be exams involved. I’m sure he’ll do fine. This is his fourth visit after all. There is a good group here . . . five of us who arrived today, and five who were here already.
What to say about first impressions of Russia? There are a lot of car dealerships in Moscow. I mean a whole lot. They stretch along the highway more ubiquitously than gas stations. Every model seems represented, with some having at least two dealerships in the same general vicinity. Russians must all be ready to drive! And, yet, I saw lines of people trudging through the snow heading to and from a supermarket we passed. Perhaps it’s not unlike America . . . feed yourself, or feed a car. Challenging to budget for both.
Driving out from Moscow, I kept recalling Ian Fraizer’s descriptions of his panel truck that carried him across Russia on his travels through Siberia. Our vehicle seemed of a more recent and reliable vintage, and it did have a Mercedes Benz ornament on its front (though I’m not certain that was original material). Overall, not an uncomfortable four hour ride, with no mechanical problems encountered. Though the back door did have to be coaxed open from the inside, due to some minor body work malfunction that caused the door to stick if one tried to open it more conventionally, while standing outside.
We stopped for lunch at what would have to called a rustic restaurant about half-way to Yaroslavl. There was a life size statue of a wild boar to greet diners upon entering, accompanied by a plethora of stuffed wild boar heads and other assorted local wildlife . . . a bobcat on one wall, and a genuine bear skin rug on the wall nearest our table, with head positioned oddly close to the backs of some of our party. We relied upon Sveta, our CCS guide and greeter, to navigate our menu options, and we all settled on borscht. I had borscht! I am quite proud of myself for trying it, and quite pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed it!
Once we arrived in Yaroslavl, Ludmilla had prepared some tasty chicken, rice, and cabbage for what is the “lighter” meal in the Russian dietary day. Not to worry! I got plenty to eat. And tea to follow. After we got settled a bit, Tom escorted me on a walk about the neighborhood. To be tramping through the snow on a misty, chilly evening (around 16F, according to AccuWeather) in Russia was about all I could ask for to conclude this first day of the mighty Russian adventure.
Tomorrow we get the official tour of the city and an introduction to the volunteer work we will be involved in while here. Oh, and our first Russian lesson. Sure glad I’m through 47 Pimsleur lessons.
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