made it to moscow

Hi there.

So I made it to Moscow, and through our first day. Hurray! It’s been fantastic so far.

Orientation in Connecticut was awesome, if a little overwhelming-meeting the people that I’m going to be living, working, communing with for the next three months. Incredibly talented (we saw each other work for the first time today), nice, social, excited, etc. Mostly, we’re all in our junior year, a few seniors, and one grad student. Ithaca, Vassar, SMU, Western Australian University, NYU Tisch, Skidmore, Carnegie Mellon, Sarah Lawrence, Barnard, Columbia Chicago, Butler, Miami, and more. We were told what to expect, both of the program and of Russian culture by Shawna, who went to the program a few years ago and then went back and got her graduate degree in Russian movement. I didn’t know such a thing existed, but it sounds pretty sweet.

Then a three hour bus ride to JFK from New London, CT. At least an hour to get 30 peoples’ bags checked (most of us with 2, despite the 2nd checked bag fee). Three and a half hours sitting in the airport, waiting for our 9:45 flight. An eight hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany. A half hour spent sprinting through the Frankfurt airport to the gate. A four hour flight to Moscow. An hour and a half trying to get through customs with 30 people (make sure your passport ID number matches the one on your visa AND the one on the declaration form that you get on the plane). Two and a half hours in the bus to the dorms.

Twenty four hours of travel. So proud of myself for not seizing.

Got back to the dorms (the boys carried up all the luggage-women DO NOT do that kind of physical labor because we have to protect our reproductive organs), unpacked in a crazy sort of way. Passed out. Got up this morning, went to school sans breakfast because we didn’t get the chance to pick up breakfast stuff last night, ate at the MXAT cafeteria which is very good but there are a few unspoken culture rules, went to the American studio and met some of our teachers, went to Red Square to look around some (!), then made our way to the Western supermarket next to the dorms to pick up food (!), and then we came home and I made pasta for everyone (!!). And now our kitchen is packed with our group, an NIU student (Northern Illinois-also here for the semester), and one of the Russian students from upstairs. Lots of dishes, lots of leftover pasta, repairing peoples’ Internet, musical theatre kids singing Hair, socializing and fun. A little cheesy, but it’s happening right now.

We performed our monologues for the teachers today in order to be divided into two different groups, 15 and 16. Two different teachers, one for each group. We also met our stage combat teacher and our Russian language teacher today; we won’t see them until later in the week. Performing was fun. Our first time seeing each other work. Our first time meeting our teachers. (Exception: me. When we were all sitting down being “introduced,” Sergei saw me and laughed a little. When I stood up to do my monologue, he asked if I had been there before. I said “yes.” He said he recognized me. I said “...cool.” Couldn’t think of anything else to say.) Like I said, everyone’s incredibly talented.

Schedule for tomorrow: 11 am Theatre Design, Lunch, 2 pm Theatre History, 3:30 Acting, end at 6 pm. Two and a half hours of acting tomorrow! We have about twenty hours of acting class every week. Compare to American theatre programs, even conservatory programs. Reasons why Russian actors are the best in the world:

And that’s all I really want to say tonight. Overwhelmed, excited. Sort of glad that I know what everything’s about this second time around. Considering coming back to Moscow again. Hooray.