9/23 We've Arrived

As we walked off the plane the only voices we could here were our own. The Russian were silent and spoke in hushed tones. In an American airport you expect lots of noise with lots of people but more then a hundred people stood in line waiting to go through customs. Even whispers broke the silence. As you hand them your passport they speak to you but you have no idea what they are saying and they in turn can’t understand you.
As we walked out of the airport with our MATS (Moscow Art Theater School- MXT) guides, who were warm and welcoming, it began to rain as Shawna our “chaperon” it is a city that at one minute can feel so warm and the next it can push you away. The men had to load our entire luggage- it is custom in Russia so that the women don’t hurt there uterus! And off we went on the bus in the most chaotic traffic I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure there are traffic laws; even the ambulance couldn’t get through the see of cars.
As we drive through Moscow I was a bit disappointed. I imagined it a more beautiful city, and perhaps we haven’t seen that part yet but it was a bizarre combination of old and new. As shiny high rises went up, dilapidated and broken apartments were their neighbors. On our trip into the city most of what we saw was apartment every where. Only when we got closer to our apartments did stores beginning to pop up. One of my fellow actors commented that the city is almost like New York City except all in RUSSIAN.
For all of you that don’t know the Russians have a different alphabet then us so everything looks like Greek but not. Very few people speak English very well of they have decided not to reveal it to us. We went to go get the essentials and it over whelmed me. Pedestrian do not have the right of way EVERYTHING is in Russian and Rubles are 1:30 so everything kind seems expensive but you can never tell because it’s a lot to be trying to figure out where everything goes. In the super market English was none existence.
Despite the frustration of not being able to communicate with the Russians with in each other we have started to become very close. My room mates name is Rachel and she is wonderful. Our room is large and beautiful; and the amenities are excellent and are only split between a few of us. The 29 other MATS students have a wonderful presence about them. They are here to improve their craft and have no judgment of others. It is very comfortable and when the frustration got to me a little- as well as the lack of sleep- they were there to support me. We have been told that the Russian theory of acting centers around the development of an ensemble and I think we are starting to become one. To feel safe with people you’ve only known three days in a country you could’ve never dreamed visiting says a lot about the type of people they are.
In an hour we leave for our first Russian dinner- again no English- so it will be an adventure. Tomorrow we meet our teachers and have a sort of Russian orientations. Class begins Friday or Saturday and Monday we start our full regime. This includes: Ballet, Russian Language, Acting Stage Movement, Stag fighting, Russian History, Russian Costume Design and Russian film. Our cultural activities start next week as well. My unpacking needs to be finished before diner so I can relax after before an early bed time, hopefully to kill any possible jet lag.
I love and miss you all
Kirsten