Getting Comfortable

These first few days have been crazy, but today is our first day at school and I think things are going to start figuring themselves out. We had a bus tour to start learning the layout of the city, and it was so beautiful to see everything for the first time, especially after hearing so much about the city. On Sunday, we had a quick tour around the Hermitage, which was so out of this world - definitely going to go back multiple times.
Getting ready to go to my homestay was a little nervewracking, we all sat in a ballroom and waited for our names to be called like the Hunger Games. Turns out, it wasn't that scary at all. My host mom, Marina Zenovevna, is a nice little grandma. The house is really small, but my room is cozy and it's nice to not be living out of my suitcase. There are several students who lives in my neighborhood, and one girl named Rachel that lives in my house, right downstairs from me. I'm excited to get to know people better and explore the city!