Privet!!!!

Hey!!
Since I haven't posted in a really long time, I finally thought it was time I wrote an update. First off things in lab are going really well. My experiments are showing much progress and I am getting results, which is always a plus! I have also talked alot with some of the other students in lab and have learned a lot about the school system in Russia. One thing that shocked me was the amount of corruption in alot of the school systems. The students told me that in a lot of the academic departments it is expected that students pay the department and pretty much buy their grades. Apparently paying off teachers is very common and an expectation in many of the institutions. Glad that this is not the case back in the states. Currently most of the people from lab are on vacation. The only people still working are the PHD students who will be defending their work in the fall. The PHD students work every day of the week and are currently rushing to get results and write thier papers at the same time. I feel bad for them because they seem pretty stressed. Everyone in lab is really nice to me and I enjoy working with them. They are eager to help me and I really appreciate it. Also I am more comfortable with my russian skills and have finally learned the names of the equipment and chemicals in russian.
Socially I have met alot of students at my dorm and I spend my time with them. Since the people in my lab are always working, I was lucky to find another social outlet. One of the things that surprised me was that Moscow had a huge July 4th celebration. When I thought about spending a summer abroad, I accepted the fact that I wouldn't be celebrating Independence Day. However, I could not have been more mistaken. The American Chamber of Commerce put on a huge celebration at one of the parks the saturday following July 4th to celebrate the American holiday. A group of friends and I attended the celebration thinking that we would meet alot of americans who are in Moscow. Instead there were tons of russians who had come together to celebrate the holiday. The celebration lasted from 3pm to midnight and included concerts, raffles, and of course a fireworks show. I have to admit it was one of my most eventful july 4th celebrations.
I have also had alot of fun adventures exploring the city by myself. I have gone to the theatre twice. The theatres here are not only amazing, but they are really affordable. When I went to see the famous Russian opera "Eugene Onegin" I paid eight dollars to sit in the fourth row. Unfortunately, the theatre is one of the only things that are cheaper. The prices in restaurants and stores are ridiculously high. The prices in the coffee shops here make Starbucks prices look much more appealing.
I also got on an overnight train and went to St. Petersburg to visit one of my friends from Emory. Visiting St. Petersburg was incredible. I was born there so I've always wanted to visit the city. Nevertheless, I would not even begin to imagine how beautiful the city was. The architecture was breathtaking. I spent three hours in the Hermitage Museum and barely made it through 1/2 of one of the floors before the museum closed. Even though I felt like I was rushing when I was moving through the museum, I never even made it to the other two floors. The city is built on water and I enjoyed being able to take a river excursion. One thing that I am always amazed by is the amount of history and culture that flourishes in Russia. Practically every part of the city has some historical meaning. One russian the other day told me that while living in america may be better, our country does not have the same historical richness and architectural beauty.
I have really enjoyed my time in Russia and am so grateful to have had this experience. I have met a world of interesting people in Russia and have had some of many meaningful conversations. I will truly never forget this summer. Too bad I have less than 2 weeks left!