"now: we have technology, then: they use brain"

The title of today's post is brought to you by my amazing Russian Film History teacher, Aksenova Galina. She looks like and reminds me of my favorite teacher of all time, my third grade teacher- Mrs. Bryant. She wore a long stylish dress and has a short haircut, like the beautiful women of the 1920s. again, like all of my other Russian teachers, she taught her class with such captivation...I mean, I was so tired this morning, I could barley keep my eyes open making the mile trek to school. I was worried about my eyelids drooping...but with her passion and beautiful accent- there was no way i could not be riveted! we recieved a fascinating history lesson. I know next to nothing when it comes to cinema, or analyzing film...in fact, before today, I could care less. I don't know how she did it, but I am now absolutely intrigued with Russian history and their film, which go hand in hand. I will update my Netflix as soon as I get back to the states and I plan on continuing my research on this country. The greatest thing about Russia is how much they preserve and respect their past. They are proud of their struggle....and my God, they have had such hard times. I don't feel compassion for America like I do Russia. Now I understand why they have a not so great view of us. We are free. And we've been free for a very long time. And what so we do with it? We toss it around like it's expected...if you ask me. Maybe I'm blinded by love right now...or maybe this is the beginning of me starting something new...I feel something rising up in me that I haven't felt before. My passion is compounded with more passion. How can is be?! I made a decision today. I don't care what happens to me in my life, I must be apart of art, somehow, someway- now, always, forever. I don't care what it takes, or what I have to do. I always wanted to be an artist, but want and desire are so different. Desire will keep my soul hungry for more everyday...and if you don't want more, you're a dead duck. I say this because I was kind of getting close to not wanting more and it scared me. Thank God I came here. I also saw my most favorite film to date. And it was an animation of dried bugs made in the 19teens by Vladislav Starewicz, remember the grasshopper and the violin cartoon? It's from this guy! Anyway, if anyone wants to talk about Russian Film...let me know, I'm hooked. And I can't wait to find out more. In other news, I had a beer on the street today after acting class, on the way to the Metro to see our second show, The Demon. Yep. That was very rewarding. Best beer and first beer I've had here. The show we saw tonight is indescribable, well, it's possible, but I don't have the words. It was visual art as performance at perfection. I am sure I will never see anything like that again. It was theatre in the round, and as the actors lept onto the stage, the stage began to slowly lower. We watched the show looking down onto the canvas of a stage as they painted and sculpted a story that left me in aw. Russian performers are art gymnasts. They can do it all. Sing, dance, act, paint, play music...I mean, in.cred.i.ble.
Oh ya, last and least importantly, I blew out my hip. I don't care, it's not going to stop me. Ballet should be interesting tomorrow. But no way will I tell Bernard I can't dance. I have a cute ballet outfit planned and I really love wearing my ballet shoes and dancing in them. A bad hip is not going to stop me. It can try, but they are going to have to haul me out. Wish me luck!