Towards winter
On pass the days, and time is flying. The past week was uneventful for me. Though not, I am afriad for Slizah; but that's not my story to tell. I did not got to Ulan-Ude as promised - that's this coming week. Actually, ten minutes after writing last week's entry, Colleen called me to say that we had made a mistake, and the break actually starts on the 31st. So we had the interesting linguistic experience of changing dates for our tickets. Fortunately, we dealt with a woman who is, I am convinced, the only remotely pleasant official in Russia, so the process was not as painful as it might have been, not even as bad as buying the tickets in the first place. Although Colleen, who is quite the sketchy Russian magnet, was assailed by a group of men as we were completing the transaction, so we had to juggle the ticket desk and the questioning Russians at the same time, which was fun. In the end, we got away with taking down their cell phone number and hurrying out.
I have begun to make friends here, which makes the knowledge that I leave in January harder. Through choir, and most recently through Tanya, Colleen's host sister, I have met people who are interested in getting to know me, which is nice (although I think that one of Tanya's friends was a little TOO interestd in me, and I had to defensively pull out the pictures of my girlfriend). Russians, particularly women, are an odd mix of stand-offish and friendly. With few exceptions they are, on firsty aquaintence, distant and cautious and a little cold. But in a situation like when I met Tanya's friends - at her house and in a comfortable and informal setting where I already knew some people - they are open and talkative and engaging. Talking with friends after choir is always interesting, and they're pretty patient with my halting Russian. Although there is Kostya, who, when he talks to me, systematically refuses to speak in Russian.
Целую, все!
I have begun to make friends here, which makes the knowledge that I leave in January harder. Through choir, and most recently through Tanya, Colleen's host sister, I have met people who are interested in getting to know me, which is nice (although I think that one of Tanya's friends was a little TOO interestd in me, and I had to defensively pull out the pictures of my girlfriend). Russians, particularly women, are an odd mix of stand-offish and friendly. With few exceptions they are, on firsty aquaintence, distant and cautious and a little cold. But in a situation like when I met Tanya's friends - at her house and in a comfortable and informal setting where I already knew some people - they are open and talkative and engaging. Talking with friends after choir is always interesting, and they're pretty patient with my halting Russian. Although there is Kostya, who, when he talks to me, systematically refuses to speak in Russian.
Целую, все!