Back from Russia

will dish later..must sleep first

Update:
It's hard to remember now everything that I did in Moscow but I'll try.

• Kremlin tour: interesting, beautiful, lots of churches, overall too much information.
• The ballet: over-hyped, prima-ballerinas take away from the beauty of the art.
• Family: Different.  I don't understand how people can try to argue that I (who has lived 16/22 years in a different country) should want to move back to a country I was never from because "everything is different".  It's not true.  My way of life is NOT supported in that country and no matter how much economic and social evolution it goes through, I don't think it will be at all enticing for me to move to in my life time.
• Culture:  Nothing new or exciting to me.  It took a while to get used to everyone speaking both languages I understand.
  

There wasn't anything about it that was shocking or exciting or worth missing.  I have grown up in the US where everyone is accepted or at least tolerated.  There are no metal detectors and security guards in religious establishments and I don't need to pay to use a public restroom here.  I'm sorry but the country is still way behind western culture and though I was born in the region, I have grown up and become accustomed to American ideals and rationale. 

I think it's ok to visit and see some historical relics and understand where my family came from and what life was like then (still is like for some) but it is by no means a place I dream of having any roots in.