A musical weekend

It's been a while since I last posted! To be honest, I've kind of been in a slump. A couple of weeks ago I had 3 exams in one week. I was sick at the time, and once that week was over I was rewarded with an ear infection. I had to go to the doctor a couple of times and miss most of my classes the following week. So for a while I wasn't able to go out or really do anything fun.

Hence, the slump.

But finally after lots of rest and medication, my virus faded away! And as of yesterday (Saturday) my ear finally stopped hurting, although my hearing still isn't fully restored... Regardless, I thought I deserved to do something fun.

I ended up going to a free concert for a band called Pompeya with a British girl that I had been meaning to meet for a while, and two other girls. It turned out to be a great time! Before the band performed, a bunch of people recited poetry on stage, including a precious little girl announced by a funny woman that I assume was her mother. The girl must have been shy, because she had a coat that zipped over her face as she recited this really long poem that I think Russians must learn in school because people in the audience joined her. The venue was outdoors and therefore, pretty cold, but they served what I think might have been the best tea I've ever had and the band was really entertaining. Seriously, check them out. They're an indie rock group from Moscow but they sing in English!

Afterwards the four of us, joined by another British student went to a McDonald's to warm up and then I left because I figured I needed my rest for the sake of my ear and to prevent falling asleep at the opera the next day.

Obligatory phone pictures to prove that this really happened

This morning, I went with a group of students to the Mariinsky Theatre to see the opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila." It's based on a poem written by the most prized Russian poet, Pushkin, and takes place during Kievan Rus. Essentially it is about a princess, Lyudmilla who gets kidnapped by a sorcerer and the quests her 3 suitors go on to rescue her in hopes of getting her hand in marriage. I liked it because it was like watching a fairy tale with princes and magic and romance. It even had a happy ending, which if you ask me is rare in Russian folklore. It was also kind of cool because in my Russian Culture class we learned about Kievan Rus, so I felt particularly cultured.

Inside the Mariinsky Theatre

Next time, I'll bring a real camera instead of using my sub-par phone camera.

I came home from the 4 hour-long opera to find my host mom making blini (Russian pancakes). Life is good.

In nine days, we will be leaving for Kiev and Moscow and after that I'll be spending my vacation week in Odessa, where my family is from!