Kursk and a whole lot of things.

Yes, I'm finally in Kursk now. No.. what I meant was.. I finally got my internet after arriving in Kursk after 3 days. So this update, may be a long post.. the content of it is about personal life so you will see some whining and complaining.

So it all started when my family and I reached KLIA at 10.30pm. We were told to meet at 8th door at the airport at 11.00pm. As we walked towards the end of the airport, (door 8th is at the end of the departure level), we couldn't see anybody.. not literally anybody, but student-like persons, getting ready to fly off with big bags.. All we saw were elderly and middle aged people sitting down.. Well, I was thinking that the rest were arriving soon, maybe they'll arrive at 11pm sharp with the person in charge.. but my mother on the other hand, was about to panic.. Well, true enough, they did arrive.. 15 minutes later.. What to do? We're all Malaysians.. Punctuality rarely exist in some of us.

Anyway, so there were 8 of us going. 6 girls and 2 boys.. Girls dominate.. wooohoo.. whatever. Of course we would be get to know each other and become good friends because these are the person that you are practically going to be with for 6 years!! BUT, my mum decided to make things move fast and start introducing me and herself as a mother infront of them... (what the hell?!) Excuse me, does my face have the labels "anti-social", "go away or I'll bite", "fuck off"," what the fuck are you looking at", "I don't like you, so I won't talk to you", "emo-freak" written all over????

Of course not! I know how to make friends.. but doesn mean you have to make friends the second you meet them.. Even though you want to make friends immediately.. first, you start with the smile right? and see whether the person smile back or not THEN only you make friends.. Well, that's my friend's making concept. You don't just go

" Hi, this is Jasmine and I'm her mother, nice to meet you"

& it gets worst, she started asking me to take pictures with the other student... OUT LOUD.

"Jasmine, go take pictures with your friends lah!"
"No, what for?"
" MAKE FRIENDS MAH.."

Seriously, I think my face have the "what the hell " expression all over.

ok, anyway, the journey to Kursk is split into 3.
1st- KL to Dubai (7 hours)
2nd- Dubai to Moscow (5 hours)
3rd- Moscow to Kursk ( 8 hours)
excluding the 4 hours of transit waiting in Dubai

KL-Dubai
The flight to Dubai was ok.. long and tiring. Initially my goal for the journey to Kursk is to watch all the movies on the plane.. but I didn't know that Emirates entertainment has 900 plus movies.. I managed to watch one and fell asleep all the way to Dubai because I was just too tired. Didn't really slept comfortably because the seat was so upright. I sat till my butt ache.

Dubai
So the 4 hours transiting was painfully and awfully to endure because everyone was tired and hungry. Nothing much in Dubai.. I didn't really take pictures because, all airports are the same... so moving on.

Dubai- Moscow.
Now, this is an interesting one. Who said Russians are cold hard fuckface people?? Well, me and my new found friend, Michelle (more about her later) were sitting between two russian men. I sat beside a man around 50 to 60 years and my new found friend sat beside a younger one, maybe around 30 to 40 years. They were good people. friendly and helpful. The younger one would tell us about Russia. Actually, tell her not me coz I was abit far away. Well, me on the other hand, have to do sign language with the guy beside me beside he couldn't speak english, and I doubt he understand a lot of english. He spoke Russian to me while I just do the pointing.. Oh ya, about this guy.. I bet he's a rich-fuck.. Know why?? He have golden teeth implanted into his god damn mouth! TEETH!!! not tooth.. 3 golden tooth!! I SHIT YOU NOT.. and he was smiling and gesturing at me about his duty-free gifts that he bought in Dubai.. mostly were vodka..
& when we were arriving Russia, I have to fill in the immigration card which was in Russian.. although there were translation, there are some parts that require inquiry.. So that Russian guy tried to explain to me what to write and how to fill in.. Even though I didn't ask for help, he still tried to explain, while I point here and there , nodding here and there.. Smiling here and there.. This is definitely a good start.

Touching down Moscow airport.

This was taken from the screen of the plane (Emirates has camera system installed outside the plane so passengers can see what is outside) Everything was covered in snow.

Moscow-Kursk.
Touched down, and sailed through the immigration with ease... We were picked up by seniors and got into a van which drove us to the hostel which is 8 hours away. Oh, did I mention it was 3 degrees out there? & it wasn't snowing but everywhere was filled with snow... I only can see white and brown through out the journey.. Nothing else. So, we arrived at the hostel around 3am and everyone was EXHAUSTED.. I think it is because of the jet lag. Thank god we have great seniors to help us move in and out the luggage from the van to our room.


Me and 2 new found friends. Aminah and Munga.

Kursk
Well, I've expected the condition of Kursk to be.. not so great.. maybe lower standard. But as I arrived.. I was shocked to see the room because it was smaller than it was expected. The toilets was disgustingly small. Remember my old room in Adelaide?? or my own room in my house.. Yes.. that's the size of the room here.. only that I'm sharing it with 2 other girls, my new found friend and another sarawakian. wow. shockingly small..

I'm not complaining and I don't want to go home. The fact is, I'm quite ok with it already.. On the 2nd day, I've already accepted this place.. It teaches you how to survive with such small spaces.. You'll learn how to organise your clothes and toiletries in a small shower room which consist of 2 nails for hanging purposes, and a dirty floor.. It teaches you how to buy what you need and not what you want. You have to think whether this things fits in your room because you just don't have that kind of space!! Russia is all about surviving. I think if you haven't been here, and came here, you'll definitely cry for home..


View from my window. While two of my roommates got a wall to stick and hang up their stuff, I got this big window beside my bed.


Yes, this is our room.



The spot I'm pointing at is my bed.


My super small study spot.


So, I'm now adapting to this new place and I'm quite happy!

Oh, did I mention that we have to buy our own washing machine, fridge, hangers, dryers, pans,pots, spoon, fork.. everything?

okay, about my new found friend.. Yes, her name is Michelle.. her full name is Michelle Munga Idi. She's a Lunbawang from Sarawak. & she laughs at anything and everything.. With her dry humour, we became fast friends.. I don't know why, I'm very in luck with the name "Michelle" . Last year, I had a "Michelle" as a roomate. This year, I have " Michelle" again as a roomate.. oh, and during the flight from KL- Kursk. She sat beside be. We didn't checked in together, but amazingly got the ticket side by side.. Call it fate.. or may be its just lady luck bestowing more luck on me again!

So classes haven't start yet because we have to sit for another entrance test... nobody told us that would be an entrance test.. Yesterday, we had English test.. it was amazingly easy because everyone started laughing as soon as they saw the questions. Even the seniors told us to prepare to laugh when you see the question. Example of one question:
What is the person who sells vegetables call?

So?? Do you know the answer to this??




VEGETABLE SELLER LAH! what else? or anything closest to the meaning of it.


So that conclude this entry. I think this is quite a life changing experience and you'll learn how to adapt and make use of what you have... so, why not Kursk?

p.s I've finally unpacked everything.. and it doesn't feel like a chicken coop anymore..