Lithuania

Im in Lithuania. Good start. I left my house at 2 on Monday, got into London at 9 am on Tuesday, caught my 5 pm flight to Lithuania, got delayed, and got in at 11 pm. Betty Morgan picked me up and we took a taxi to our apartments. We're living in Barbacon Palace. Its pretty sweet. Im living with Brandon Gautier and its fine so far although I've only seen him for mayyybe 10 min since hes already at his placement. I got in the first night, talked with Brandon, then Dave Hannegraff, Keenan Benjamin, and Nick something (football player) are all also here and came down. Betty made Keenan and Nick take me out for a beer since my plane was delayed. Apparently these people dont know me haha but we did that anyways and watched Brazil win. Then we came back at like 2 am and went to bed. I woke up at 9 today, showered, and couldnt do anything because the power was out. I could not figure it out til I was walking outside into the courtyard and saw a thing next to the door that was like a slot and said Hotel Key, so I go back, put my key in it, and hear something click. So I go try and the powers back on. So I straighten my hair and unpack and at 1 I have a meeting with BMorg and everyone except Brandon whose out on his internship with Heifer International in the country. Or the "Lithuanian Outback" as Betty calls it. After the catch up meeting we went to lunch and I had a chicken crepe with a white mushroom sauce. Cost me 2 dollars. So good. Then we walked over to the Human Rights Monetary Institute. I dont think I want to work there.. but we'll see. The guy was so cool and intelligent. Lithuanian is a hard ass language to learn, so I'm assuming its the same going from Lithuanian to English because theyre so different. But this guy got his law degree in English at UPENN. The Lithuanian government was dissolved on the 5th so theres a lot for us to be doing and we actually get to be really influential. I mean, cmon, monitering human rights violations, thats pretty important stuff. So anyways, we met with him then went grocery shopping then back home, and I sat alone in my room cuz I'm an outsider. The thing is, Dave lives way far away, so coming into this I was like oh me and Brandon are gonna be friends cuz we're the only kids there and we'll have to hang out and whatnot. But now that there are two other guys I'm not only set apart because I'm a girl, but I was the last one here too. But I got my internet set up. Then we went to a Spanish concert from the 1400s. Yes, I mean they took skeletons of people from the 1400s and tied instruments to their hands and paraded them around onstage. It was pretty sweet. The guy singer who accompanied them had the highest falsetto voice I have ever heard on a guy. It was kind of creepy. But now we're back again and again I am alone while the others and in the guys room. But whatev. Tomorrow Dave and I are going to the Embassy to figure out if we actually want to work there. With the dissolved government and the switching of officials it might not be worth it. Who knows. Seems hard to turn down working at an Embassy...

Thats all for now, I've only taken two pictures so far so here they are...

the view from my window (an old fort)

the symphony hall we werent allowed to take pictures so i had to sneak this



ok update today (thurs?) i met with the embassy and i start work there on Monday. Last night we went out to that same bar and got home around uhh 1 ish maybe. So not bad. Had a really good calzone today apparently they only got pizza here about 10 years ago so everyone loves it. Walked by a casino and bmorg stopped me and dave and told us how the russian mob owns them all and to never go in there. And then she pointed down and there are lots of little drips of blood in a trail. Dried blood... like stained the concrete. So as were walking down the sidewalk the blood is wavering back and forth like the person was in a lot of pain and stumbling around, then about 20 feet from the casino door, it goes off to the side by a building and just pools into a big blood stain. Betty said it probably was that the person tried to leave and the Russians followed him and took him out. Wierd. And yesterday, I forgot to write this, but they have a lot of older people who are beggars cuz they got left out when Lithuania got independent and whatnot. This reallly old, wrinkled, dressed like a gypsie but not gypsie woman was begging. And I look up and shes standing right in front of a row of stores that included dolce and cabana, versace, etc. How ironic.

Thats all for now, no new pictures, going out tonight so I'll try to get some pictures of the people I'm here with.

Peace out