First Blog Aug. 1 2008

Здравствуйте друзья и семья! I finally posted my first blog. If you are wondering I won't exactly be sending everyone personal e-mails and letters. This will be my way of communicating back to everyone. I will post a new blog about once a month with new photos. You also don't have to have an account with Vox to view my blog.

So here is the latest update on my trip: I leave on August 19 at 9:45 pm to New York and arrive at 5:59 am on the 20th. In NY I go to another orientation, meet the Americans going to Russia (not many kids, maybe 5). I spend the night in NY then wake up and fly to Frankfurt Germany on the 21st. I spend a few hours there and then fly to Moscow and arrive on august 22nd. In Moscow I spend a week for an intensive language and other info camp and meet all the kids from around the globe who are studying in Russia. Finally, after the twenty-some hours of flying, I go to my host city of Nizhny Novgorod. It is about 400 km (280 miles) east of Moscow. It is a huge and beautiful city of about 1.4 million people. Just slightly larger than Sultan and Gold Bar. I won't be back until the end of June 2009. The following links give great info and pictures. I posted some pictures but there are more on these links:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizhny_Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod City Government website

And I actually have a host family. I was amazed to have gotten it this fast. It's not uncommon for people to get one after they have departed. This is only a temporary family but could become my permanent family. Here is the low-down:

Mom-Galina Aslanova-56-English Teacher

Brother- Sergey Aslanov-31-Manager

Sister-Olga Aslanova-25- Associate Director

Cat- name unknown

My Address:

602 142 Nizhny Novgorod, Monchegorskaya str., 32-4 (I am sure it is an apartment).

I get my own bedroom, and I do have internet access at home.

My Family is Russian Orthodox, but only occasionally attend services.

My city is 11 hours ahead of our time.

Their hobbies are traveling, cinema, reading, shopping. There are many theatres, museums, monuments, and student activities in the town.

My school name: MOU School #126

I have a 20 minute walk to school and back everyday.

Galina skipped the whole Host Father Information section so clearly he's not around or at least doesn't live at home. I'm assuming the kids don't live at home either. I told some of you that there was a Dad but there isn't.

So that's all I have for no. I will start posting pictures that I take once I leave. I am so excited to go it's finally starting to hit that I'm leaving. I won't be back until the end of June 2009. Oh and for a going away party we don't have anything final yet but I will keep everyone updated. If you have any ideas let me know. All we know is it won't be at my house. If you have any questions about anything let me know here or on MySpace. I have a Facebook too so you can look for me there if you want.