30.8.2007

So I got my first day in Russia off to an interesting start. A Russian man kissed me in the hallway on my way back to my room from breakfast. I didn’t want him to; he was old and fat and all over my face from out of nowhere. I’d seen him in the elevator earlier on the way to breakfast, and in the breakfast hall, but had assumed he was harmless. Clearly not. After he kissed me (YUCK!) he began motioning, and I think he wanted me to take him back to my room. I didn’t know what to do, whether to try to outrun him to my room or get in the elevator by myself, with the possibility of him following me. I managed to wait him out, though, and he went away a little while later. Now I’m hesitant to walk around the hotel by myself.

Other than that, though, I’m here, safe and sound. I have a bit of a cold, which is less than desirable, but I don’t think it will get in the way too much. I think I fell asleep this morning during our tour of the city…but I didn’t realize it until I woke up. Sankt Petersburg is such a Western city; if it weren’t for the Orthodox churches, I’d swear I was somewhere in Europe (not that I’d really now, since I haven’t been there- it does look a bit like London, but more colorful, and I have been there). The city was originally named after its founder, Peter the Great, but then was named Leningrad to honor Lenin after his death. It was named Petrograd (or something like that) during the first World War, and most recently was renamed St. Petersburg, not after Peter the Great but for one of its patron saints, Peter.

My converter just popped while it was plugged in, and smoke is snaking out of it. I think it’s safe to say it’s fried. Which is kind of a bummer since I was planning on using that this whole semester to keep my laptop charged. But oh well. I’m wiped. I’m going to take a nap.

One other thing. We’ve got some southern gentlemen on this trip. They open doors for the ladies (and call us that), and praise one another for their chivalry. And what my dilemma is is this: I feel like I actually need their help. I’m glad there’s someone waiting to make sure all the girls get on the subway. Because I kind of fear what might happen if I’m alone here. How does my feminism work in a world where I feel like I need men’s protection so much? Where I feel like I am the weaker sex?