Some Air, Please?

Yesterday was probably the most interesting day I have had in a long time. It was just another learning experience about the culture here.

To pay for university, you must pay at the bank. So Rachel, Kelly, and I went to pay. Since it was the day before classes started, everyone was paying then. And of course, we chose the bank that everyone else chose. We waited probably 30 minutes outside the bank before we finally made it inside. There was no such thing as a line. It was just a group of people, lots of people. If you wanted to make it to the window to pay, you had to push your way forward. If you didnt, well, you weren't going to pay. The room was jammed. It was hot and hard to breath. Here's an example of how hot it was- My hair doesn't really frizz much because there's not a whole lot of humidity. Well, in that room, it was probably worse than being at home. Eventually though, the bank employees decdided that it was getting too hot and they weren't going to let anyone else in for a while. So the room started clearing out. People were leaving, but no one was coming in. But it stayed one big mob. Half of the room was empty, but people were just as close as if it were still full. Eventually we paid and made it to some fresh air.

After that we had to take the receipts to the university so they had proof that we paid. Before we left the university Kelly asked what time our classes were. They didn't know. Apparently there's not a classroom for us yet. So while everyone started school today, we don't start until sometime next week. Day and time still unknown.

Interesting experience to say the least, but the day ended well.

After all of the bank and university stuff was over, I got to relax and then went to Kelly's apartment to watch 10 Things I Hate about You in Russian with some of our friends. And when the movie was over, we walked around town for a while with them.

I'm so thankful that God has allowed me to make so many friends already. :)