A lot has happened since the last time I posted. We have been attending classes at Novgorod State University to learn all the first grade stuff about Russia. The University building is in massive disrepare but the students don’t know it any other way. 
It is surprising to me how obvious it is that Russia is a country recovering from and economic fall after communism. The buildings are all a mix of beautiful old and and neglected new. 
Now Novgorod is very similar to a smaller American city. The crappy buildings and conditions scared me a bit when I got here… it looked like a third world country but the people are a mix of European and American mentality. Everyone we meet here is eager to test their English on us. Most are very bad but between their English and my small knowledge of Russian, we communicate just fine. Here is a picture of (left to right) Anastasia, Katie, Anna, and Adam. Katie and Adam are from our group and the other two girls we just met. 
Anna is studying to be an English teacher. Even young children realize that we are different than them and are excited to communicate with us. In most ways it is easier to talk to the kids because they are so new to their language anyway. 
We also visit a lot of Russian Orthadox monistaries and churches. They are beautiful but are still ruined after WWII. They havent had much time to fix their country up after all they’ve been through. 
Middle class Americans are extremely rich here. Pennies can buy a lot. 
Tomorrow we leave for St. Petersburg. I’m excited to go to the new city but it will be sad to leave Novgorod. This place has easily become our home.
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