Smells have always had the power to transport me to past experiences and memories. I love smelling pumpkin pie and associating it with the comfort of my kitchen at home and being warm and cozy next to the fireplace. I hate the smell of rooms that are empty and clean and cold, because they remind […]
I first read about nerpas in the book “Sacred Sea: A Journey to Lake Baikal” by Peter Thomson. It was a book we read for class in preparation for traveling to Baikal, about Peter’s own travels through Siberia and around Baikal. He described the seals, with their big eyes and soft fur coats, zooming around […]
Something that was important for me to do at least a few times while I’m in Russia is to go swimming. I’ve been swimming since I was six years old, and I absolutely love it. It’s great because at Carleton, even when our swim team is out of season, there are two pools on campus […]
We (Marly and Camille) decided to explore Chistiye Prudy (Clean Ponds), a neighborhood northwest of the center of Moscow. This exploration was completed for a class project, the purpose of which was to delve into specific regions of the city and become acquainted with people who spend time there. We chose this neighborhood because of […]
While walking around the enormous gardens behind the Peterhof Palace, I was cold, hungry, probably dehydrated, and damp from the slight rain that had begun to fall in the early afternoon. It had been a long day, and my legs were becoming sore from walking. And yet, the beauty of the gardens at Peterhof made […]
To and from Suzdal, our group took a public bus. As a person from a small town who goes to college in Northfield, Minnesota, my experience with public transportation has been quite limited up until this this trip. The bus itself was normal, and seated around twenty people comfortably. Our group alone had fifteen people, […]
Walking to my dorm from class at Moscow State University: A Photo Guide One of the first things I notice when I walk out of our class building is the large monument right outside. It is very tall and noticeable, and I have yet to see the fire inside go out. I like how “in […]