![]() I’m very close to the Hermitage and hence good place for further visits (one of my goals is to get a student id card so as to get reduced discount on admission to museums). The architecture around this city is amazing mixture of baroque and classical. The school sponsored a walking excursion after class and I and ~10 classmates took the subway to Nevsky Ploshad (ÐевÑкии плошаль) and then make a walk from there. I found a laundry, and though haven’t yet figured out whether to ask to use washing machine of the host family or go to laundry. ![]() Other than school, I wanted to (1) take the subway and (2) find a laundry. Tuesday: Making slow baby steps and I start feeling a bit more at home in St Petersburg. After that time to concentrate on my Russian study. I also have a few simple things on the list: (1) get a mobile telephone number – done (2) find bicycle shops – several good candidates including Trial Sport nearby (3) see if I can spot an inexpensive second set of non-bicycling pants – nothing yet in my size and (4) take the subway – will wait to tomorrow. I make a leisurely walk back with stops for lunch, internet and window shopping. However we write things down for later study. Wow, my head hurts trying to remember everything. Four one hour lessons with a short break in between. After an assessment test where I miss most questions and realize how rusty my Russian grammar really is, I am on to my lessons. On other days I will walk (~40 minutes) through the city. My host drives me to school to help me find things and because the assessment test is at 8:45am. Little bits and pieces come back to me such as Russian grammar but I’m also missing a lot of the little connecting words such as “ifâ€, “thenâ€, “onlyâ€, “otherâ€, “that’s all†so conversations are halting at best. Monday: First day of school, wow overwhelming! There is a lot to learn. My bicycle is stored away in the apartment). I don’t know if the host family expected the bicycle, though the school did realize that I was “bicycling to school†(only from Amsterdam and not every day. Quite a few stores are open and I find a nice internet café that allows me to upload photos. Tourist prices also here with a soft drink costing 2.5x as much as in Gatchina. A group of hari krishnas is chanting at the main square. I can spot many tourists with their guide books and maps, though the majority is not tourists. I’m surprised at how many people are out and about on a Sunday afternoon. ![]() Sunday: My home stay location is wonderfully central in the city. It is definitely a different world in this big city where I know just a little (Чуть Чуть) of the language. Following are some quick impressions from my first week study and stay in St Petersburg.
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