Laba Diena!!

For those of you that are not fluent in Lithuanian like I am the title means "Good Day" (Truth is I'm not really fluent I just wish that I was) I really will start posting more regularly! So much life has happened since my last post! I guess I can begin with what I promised to include from last time! But first...

I am doing great!! I am really loving it and am back to Chrissy 100%. (Thanks for the concern and encouragement)

FOOD. We all eat it but as we all know the different types of food can vary greatly even in our own country, never mind on the other side of the ocean. As most of you also know up until almost a year ago I was one of the pickiest people that you could imagine. Anything that looked, smelt or felt different or funny to me I would not go near. I was basically like a 5 year old in the food world, but no worries I have grown up a lot in the last year! I decided that I would follow the model that I told my groups this summer, "Ok friends, you really should try a little bit of everything even if it looks funny. You don't have to like it but just taste a bit." So far it has done me well! The food adventure started on the plane when I got a cheese sandwich that was covered on top with different seeds and such and then inside had some type of sauceish ordeal that was white with pieces of something in it. Needless to say, my challenge started even before I landed. So as I took a bite into the bread I realized that it was actually very good! From there I was ready to take on anything! The first night I had a more traditional potato pancake dish which was a little heavy, but actually really good! My roomies made buck wheat that is kind of like rice but it opens up as you cook it and it was really good! Then today one of my roomies brought back a home cooked meal of meat wrapped in cabbage in a sauce with small potatoes on the side! That was probably one of my favorites! I have really enjoyed all the traditional food so far! For the most part we all cook our own food so really I can eat whatever I want most days, but I'm trying to be open to all types of food!

LANGUAGE. As I mentioned before I am not exactly fluent in Lithuanian yet, but I am taking the Intro to Lithuanian course! I am learning, a little slower than I would like but I'm getting there! Spanish is the only other language that I mildly know so sometimes I try to say things to waiters or cashier's and realize they will still have no idea what I am saying! The word I say most is Acui which sounds like achoo (as in a sneeze) and means thank you! So not only am I really polite but I have tons of fun saying it! All the students at the school do speak English so I can still communicate well with them which is great! But I can't wait until I can hold even a mini conversation in Lithuanian.

BLACKOUTS. I live in a dorm that is only a few years old, but there are a few things that are just funny about it! One of them being the semi-regular occurrence of blackouts. One night within six hours there were about 8 blackouts each last about ten minutes! Now we have grown to just chuckle at them but the first time I thought it was just my apartment and I assumed I had broke something until my RA came by and asked if I was doing ok and all. The blackouts are most fun when you are in a kitchen with about 10 other people all attempting to cook dinner and you're wicked hungry because you realized that you actually had to cook in order to eat. The whole stove going on and off ordeal is not exactly the best situation when attempting to boil water, saute veggies, or make chicken!

CLASSES. So I'm not sure exactly who thought it was a good idea, but apparently some thought it would be cute to make students actually study, go to class, read books and write papers while studying abroad. While this may come across as common sense to some it is a little difficult to grasp when you are in a fun new country and think you should be able to run around, travel and explore everyday! To be honest I did not even think to bring my planner (for those of you that don't know I pretty much love my planner and would not be able to make it at Gordon w/o it), notebooks, folders or any other school basics. Needless to say I had to make a few purchases before Monday. I am currently taking Intro to Lith, Cross Cultural Seminar (a course that is just for SA students taught by our SA leaders), Theories of Personality, Social Psychology, Practicum and will be starting an on line human biology course next week. So far they have been interesting. My two psych classes are back to back, same room, same teacher of 1 1/2 hours which makes things a little challenging. I have tried to counter this by sitting in the front right in one class and in the middle left in the other. I'll keep you posted on that and where I am doing my Practicum.

ROOMIES!! Yes, I did finally get roomies! The first week or so was pretty lonely so I was pumped when they came! Two of them moved in on Thursday and one on Friday! They are awesome and tons of fun! They are all soo easy to talk to and get along with which is really nice!! Their names are Ruta (who actually lives on my side of the apt), Erika and Vicki. Ruta and Erika are both from Lithuania so they are going to help me learn the language. Vicki is from Belarus and she's going to help me learn a little Russian. Pretty much, they're ballin :)

Well I should head to bed so that's all for now, but no worries, more to come soon!

First Weekend
Practicum
and other fun happenings

As tave myliu (I love you!)

~Chrissy