It is finished....

The time: 6.45 a.m. I walk into my flat after a crazy evening of celebrating my completing my first semester in Moscow (i.e. drinking, LOL) and clubbing (yes, I said clubbing). I wake up at about 11:00. Yes, I got about only 4 hours of sleep, but man, were these hours good.

Backtrack to last Sunday. I sang in three church services and had a solo in two of them. The other service was devoted to the St. Andrew Nativity Play, which was awesome and caroltastic. By that I mean in addition to the evening service, we sang about 5 or 6 carols during the Nativity Play, all of which had about 4-10000 verses, hahaha. In the afternoon with the Protestant Chaplaincy I sang a beautiful solo to the music of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, which I adore. "Come to me and find rest for your soul. Don't worry, simply trust me, my love can make you whole." What comforting words to hear on the eve of exams. What a perfect way to just let go and let God, and trust in Him. And last but not least, the Carol service. We processed into the chapel, singing "Once in Royal David's City", which set the mood beautifully for a wonderful hour of reading and carols, during which I sang my Three Ships solo and Ding-Donged with the semi-chorus (on a side note, some of us choir members have way too many inside jokes with ding dongs, LOL). I was really happy to see my classmates and Nana come to, and they even gave me a beautiful white flower. Awwww. SPACIBA!!!

And now for exams: we didn't have one in history (surprise surprise, hee hee), but I did have exams in EVERY SINGLE OTHER CLASS I TOOK THIS SEMESTER. The fairy tale exam wasn't anything serious, just choose and discuss my favorite fairy tale from the course of the semester. My music history final was an oral exam, so I definitely was freaking out on Thursday, all the more so since my Stylistics and Skazki finals were both that day, back to back to back. Luckily however, my question was on Romanticism so I rejoiced and was able to discuss the characteristics and different Romantic compoers fluently enough, perhaps not in amazing Russian, but well enough to answer the questions asked of me. My translation final was definitely difficult, but I think I translated the article and sentences without too much trouble, and I got most of the vocabulary right (Vocabulary has always been one of my weaker aspects of Russian, something I will continue to work on as I become more and more of a geeky striving to be erudite academic. My Stylistics final was fine, but with translation, we spent the entire 90 minute period writing. I had to outline thesis for and write a referat of two articles which I hope to use in my MA thesis, which I am determined to start during the break, even if only just a couple of pages.

So right now I am elated that I passed all my exams with flying colors, and I do believe that, unless I'm mistaken, I'm heading for straight A's again. Dating back to Russian 101, the good ol' days of Daria Germanovna, the beginnings of my hero worship of Cheburashka and proposing to computers (you really had to be there), I have never had a grade below A- in any class taught partially or entirely in Russian. I've had a few B's in some Russian lit in translation classes, but somehow I seem to get Russian grammar. People tell me I know it "blestyashi" and that's a fabulous compliment, I daresay. I mean, I don't know, I really do seem to have an ear for languages. I get the idea of cases and verbal goverment and have accepted participles as an academic's friend (and my personal friend, hee hee) while denouncing the need to decline numbers, in particular the absolute koshmar that are fractions and decimals.

I have yet to start packing, but will do so prob Monday. What awaits me this last week: a long-awaited excursion as a sort of informal history class (not that any of our history classes have been "formal" in the strict sense of the word, haha, a final trip to the Diner, reading some interesting uchebnye pocobiye po grammatike, printing up my boarding passes and just trying to relax and not freak out about my CHRISTMAS EVE FLIGHT!! AAAAAA! OMG!!!! I can't wait to see my friends and family on Thursday night, just in time for the best holiday ever, CHRISTMAS!!!! FYI: calling all HC friends, former TEFL and MCA teachers, anyone who is awesome and will be in Boston from Dec. 26-Jan 27, I'd love to plan a get-toghether or to, be it at Doyle's or Cheesecake Factory, my house, wherever. In addition to all the comforts that being at home provide, it will be absolutely fantastic to reconnect with one and all! Will talk soon and see many of you even sooner!!! Love you guys! God bless you this Advent season and may you all have a blessed, merry Christmas, filled with great food and unforgettable memories with loving friends and family. C nastupaiyushchim Pozhdestvom i novym godom!!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!! Peace out! :)))))