A Glimpse...

Every morning I walk down the smoky stairwell in my dorm and out onto the streets of Moscow. Brisk air refreshes my face and I'm off for the day. Eyes straight ahead, purse on my shoulder and feet steping a mile a minute I begin the walk to the Moscow Art Theater School. Silently and soberly I think about the day ahead of me and take in my new surroundings. Russian eyes see my American awkwardness. New goal: try to look like a local. It becomes a game: stare more, walk faster, no smile, no frown, mumble some form of excuse me when necessary. After about 15 minutes I have to go underground to cross one of the major streets. Once down the stairs the sticky warm air pervades my already warm body. I'm sure in November I will be thankful for this. Shop windows filled with scarves, slippers, jewelry, and nail polish line the path. The pastry and pirozhki shop marks my stairs to go up to the street. Only 10 minutes more and I'm turning onto Tverskaya to go to class. If I keep going I'll hit Red Square in mere minutes. Quick stop at Starbucks for coffee, chat with friends before going to my theater history lecture with Anatoly Smeliansky. He regales stories of Stanislavsky and Chekov explaining the intricacies of the Russian theater system and its uncanny corralation to the country's political history. After an exhileration lecture we have a three hour break (they've been going easy on us since the jet lag is still an issue). Lunch in the cafeteria, where you must have exact change and speak as much Russian as you can. My new favorite- kasha or buckwheat. I quick, efficiant lunch and we're off to Red Square. As we near the entrance, Sam distracts me so that I can look at the perfect time. After much giddy babble and anticipatory giggles Sam says, "Ok, now." My hand nearly squeezes his off as chills run up and down every inch of my body. I'm standing in the middle of Red Square facing St. Basil's Cathedral. Its vibrant minarets and colorful, intracite detail take me back to my four year old self, drawing the last purple card in a game of Candyland to finally reach the magnificant castle of King Candy. Something I could only ever see in pictures is living around me. I'm walking through history. I'm also making my own. Russian brides walk down to the Moscow River and through Red Square congradulating each other as they intersect. Their ornate dresses and white fur stoles only add to the moment. I'm in Russia. It is here in Red Square that my dream becomes a little more real. This place is living around me. No picture I can take, no words I can write will ever capture what I feel in this moment. Now is the time to take in all I can, without hesitation, and come to understand and love one of the most beautiful cultures I have ever seen.

Вся моя любовь
Сара Джейн