Victory is Always at Hand

On the 15th, I went to the FC Zenit St. Petersburg vs. SL Benfica UEFA Champions League match.  It was my first ever professional soccer game, and I still cannot even believe that I had the opportunity to go to such a huge game.  It was the first time that Zenit has ever advanced to the Round of 16 in UEFA.  After two pat downs, we were about to enter into the stadium and another pat down.  The first two went off without a hitch and were kinda of the lackluster sort, but the third discovered something that the other two did not, my camera inside of my coat.  The cop said something in Russian which caused me to look confused right back at him.  He then proceeded to grab the area of my coat in question which I was still confused and thought he wanted me to zip up a pocket, but I was wrong.  Finally, I realized that he was questioning my camera, but as I pulled my camera out, I also pulled out 3,000 rubles which were in the pocket too.  Upon realizing this, I wondered if there was going to be a "picture taking fee" or if I would be "fined", but the cop just motioned me into the stadium.

Zenit during Warm-up

Part of the UEFA Entrance

Now onto the game.  There were a few early chances for Zenit, but they were unable to capitalize.  However, in the 20th minute, Benfica got a free kick just outside the 18 yard box.  The ensuing kick seemed like it should have been a routine save if the Zenit goalkeeper could have held onto the ball, but he parried it right to a Benfica player who found the back of the net to put Zenit down early.  Only seven minutes later, Zenit struck back with an awesome volley which found the left side panel of the goal (perfect placement).  The stadium blew up in an explosion of cheers.  The game went back and forth with each side having opportunities to go ahead, but none were successful until the 68th minute.  Zenit would again find the back of the net to take a 2-1 advantage going into the waning minutes of the match.  As the 80th minute rolled around, the desire for the game to end could be felt throughout the stadium, but in the 84th minute, Benfica buried the equalizer.  At this point in the match, all seemed lost and that the game would end in a tie.  However, two short minutes later, Zenit would find the game winner.  Everyone around us were yelling and cheering and we were high fiving the Russians behind us and in front of us.  There was almost no doubt that that goal was the game winner.  After about four minutes of added time, the ref finally signaled the end and that Zenit had won the first leg of their round of 16 match-up!

The Final Stats

Also, I have started volunteering at the State Hermitage Museum (the Winter Palace).  My first day was last Tuesday.  It was an uneventful day of entering quantities of artifacts into a computer for the archaeology department.  However, the other three days that I have went, I have been writing identification numbers on artifacts for the archaeology department.   The Hermitage requires a minimum of five hours a week and twenty hours a month.  Also, if we complete sixty hours of service, we get a certificate from the Hermitage stating that we in fact did volunteer for sixty hours.  The staff seems to be very task oriented.  When we go to the Hermitage, we sign in and get the department that we are going to go to and then once we get to the department, we get our task for the day.  We will be given the opportunity to teach English to Russians soon, so I am hoping that that is a more relationship focused environment and less task driven.

I have also tried caviar.  Let's just say that I am not a fan.  As someone else in the program put it, "You know how dead fish smell, yeah, it tastes like that."  That statement is pretty accurate, but I guess it is an acquired taste because several other people were enjoying it.  It leaves a salty, fishy after taste which was the deal breaker on my end.

Last Saturday, we got to go to Yusupov's Palace which is where Rasputin was murdered.  It was an interesting trip.  We got to walk through the palace and see where the conspirators waited for Rasputin.  Also, we got to enter the room where Rasputin was ultimately shot which was pretty cool.  All of the conspirators of Rasputin came from royalty.  Their initial plan was to poison him with cyanide (which was in the food/drinks) failed which led to the shooting of Rasputin.

Rasputin and his killer.

I feel like I am forgetting stuff that has happened, but when/if I remember I will make a post but for now enjoy this picture...

LENIN

Russia's Presidential Election Day is March 4.  Should be interesting.

Going to Istanbul, Turkey for spring break.  I am planning a post about my time there.  Hopefully, it will be a compare and contrast post between the two countries, but that's a hope.

I am getting to the point in Russian to where I can form basic sentences.  Russian grammar has so many cases and rules, and I have only began to scratch the surface of all of these rules.  Hopefully, I will be able to speak before my time here runs out.  I am hoping to start a Russian Club upon returning to Marietta, so if anyone might be interested, keep an eye out for it next semester.