I'm in DC right now and we had orientation all day. It was all really good but long...a bunch of different people spoke to us: some from the state department, some alumni of this program, and then the people in charge of the program went over logistics. the director on the russian side did his whole speech in russian which was our first experience with the russian only pledge. by the way, we signed an agreement saying we'll only speak in russian. afterward i went out with some people to see some monuments. we just walked around the mall and saw Congress, Washington Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial. tomorrow afternoon we fly out for Russia!!!!!!! now i'm tired and going to bed. споклоьный ночи!