June 18, 10 pm
Today was kind of eventful. Up for breakfast in a building a 5 minute walk away and s short test — 20 listening comprehenseion and 15 reading comprehension. Then free until noon.
Ended up walking with Cordelia (who’s 1/2 Swiss, just got back from Switzerland and grew up in Little Rock, AR and goes to school at University of Kansas) down to Thayer Street — comparable to State St in Madison — to the CVS store to buy last minute stuff then just walked around, to a bookstore. I picked up abook of Marge Piercy poems. I was in heaven when I found a big shelf full of “Womens Studies” — makes me realize how shitty the bookstores are in good old Green Bay.
Cordelia and I discovered we both know (or know of in her case) Boris Notkin — in fact Cordelia just got his business card through a friend who saw him speak at U. of Kansas, so we’re going to jointly get in touch with him.
Had a bag lunch (courtesy of catering) outside — hot — found out weather in Kalinin (Moscow, etc) is a bit hot this year and good old Russky wether goes in big patterns which usually set for whole seasons according to Leonard (Prof. Babby). Great — and I packed for 60’s to low 70’s weather. Most of us girls have the same style of dress which I have a feeling we’ll just circulate for some kind of variety — wish I’d brought my other one. Oh well. I also want to buy a t-shirt for over there before we leave the states. I already spent $25 — oops!
More walking with Cordelia after lunch. Orienting at 2pm — do’s & don’ts — Cordelia and I decided to room together. Once we get through customs in Moscow it’ll be govoritje tol’ko po russky (speaking only in Russian). Scary thought!
Supper was steak, potatoes, etc. More walking and talking. Organizing my suitcases — we have to be out of our rooms by 7:30 am! So, that’s the day. Getting to know people a bit better. Probably only know who half of the group are by name. (This is going to be hard!) Developing friendships. Missing Michelle very badly and wishing she could be here with me! Hoping she can go to China in the fall after all. Nu, spokoiny nochi! (Well, good night!)
Filed under: Travel, Tver 1989 | Tagged: 1989, Old Journals, Travel, USSR
