2-25-2010; 2:21 AM
Ugh, this is killer timing -- damn my being lazy!!!
Catch Up:
2-22-2010
We were supposed to go [cross-country] skiing today, but there was bad weather!!!
Instead of letting the day go to waste, however, the ever-fantastic Misha brightened my morning with a phone call, and a question:
"Do you want to go shooting today?"
Do I love to dance? Of course I wanted to go!!!!
(Fast Fact: I'm a Pro-Guns girl, and have been around them my entire life. I love shooting!)
Head on over to the "Interesting Experiences" Page to read more about the difference between Russian and US shooting ranges -- but suffice it to say, it was a fun afternoon, just for the experience of going shooting in Russia. … We also had fun grabbing some of the empty ammo boxes/spent brass to take with us as souvenirs… We couldn't help ourselves, really -- there's just something undeniably irresistible (and fascinating!) about a box of ammunition with cyrillic lettering on it!
Quick highlights of the experience for those who don't want to head over to "Interesting Experiences" :
*Hearing Protection is *OPTIONAL*
*Eye Protection was nowhere in sight
*It was *at least* one dollar per bullet. (Ouch!!!)
*There wasn't a huge selection of rifles or pistols to choose from. In all fairness, this could just have been at the particular place we went shooting at -- but it seemed that where we were was one of the bigger clubs, so…
*The Rifle I shot was a Toz 17; I don't remember the Pistol, offhand. (And my target is currently put away, and I don't feel like digging it out… I didn't like the pistol that much, anyway… =^_~= )
We ended the day as any good day at the range should end -- we went to dinner! As an added bonus, we ate at TGI Friday's! Yes, they have them here, too!
Highlights of dinner included:
*My first milkshake in Russia
*Which, while it happened to be the *fastest* milkshake I've ever gotten in a restaurant, was also probably not worth the 6 dollars I paid for it. That's right -- Moscow Pricing -- that milkshake was six dollars. I'm all for splurging, but I don't think I'll be repeating that one anytime soon!!
*Dancing Samba in the aisles
*Is anybody really surprised? I didn't exactly volunteer for this -- but as the songs kept playing, I kept saying what ballroom dance you could do to them -- and after a few, when I said, "Samba" (Shakira, "Hips Don't Lie"), everyone I was with said, "What is "Samba?!" C'mon, show us!!" Our Russian friend added, "It's Russia -- no one is going to care -- go on, show us!" Ha ha ha. Like I need much arm-twisting. I have zero shame in public.**
**This has been proven by the fact that, in high school, I was the kid who'd do the Monty Python "Coconut Horse" gag at least once a semester. Ha ha ha -- even if not everybody in that school knew me by name, about everyone had seen, "The Coconut Girl" at at least one point or another… =^__^=''
We had all talked about going out, later in the evening; but by the time "evening" came about, we were all too tired to want to go out anywhere -- so I spent a quiet evening chatting online with friends at the Coffee House near my house.
**While doing that, I learned that if you order Milk (The cheapest thing on the menu, at 50 rubles (1.50 ish) -- so sue me, I'm a poor student!) -- it will come to you hot. … Ew… I am *not* a hot-milk-on-its-own fan.
"But Moscow Kitty, why didn't you get that Hot Chocolate you loved so much?" You may ask me! -- And the answer to that is, no matter how good it was, I *think* it was at least 180 rubles -- which is a cool 6 dollars. I know it was over 100 rubles ($3) at any rate. I loved it, but not enough to throw money away on it….
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2-23-2010
Today, I went cross-country skiing for the first time!!!!
I actually was trying to sleep in; and almost didn't get the text message (sms) that John sent. I got out a bit late, but still arrived at the park at the "late" time.
As it turns out, we had a very small group! It was only John (our RD), Vika (our assistant RD), a younger girl who came with Vika, another girl from my group, and myself!! (So, only 2 of us from the school group.) I was really surprised! It had seemed like there had been so much interest in going, when Vika told us about going skiing.
I'm rather proud of myself, I only fell one time -- right at the beginning -- and I blame the little, but sharp, hill that I ran into! (It really had nothing to do with the act of "skiing.") Personally, I think the fact that I haven't been anywhere near skis since I was maybe… 13 years old? … should be taken into account! I just got too back-weighted when I was easing down the hill, and went right down on my butt! In fact, it actually really hurt! I was slightly worried I'd really hurt my tailbone for a minute -- but it was all just fine. =^__^= ''
I got the hang of it pretty quickly, thanks to Vika -- who was a little surprised, but happy, I think, that I took to it so quickly! It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!
It was also very cheap -- only $3 to ski for an hour -- with equipment rental and EVERYTHING! The only "catch" is that you have to have a 1000 ruble deposit ($30 USD) when you go -- in case you should decide to abandon your shoes and steal their equipment! I'd like to be going pretty often -- it's really great exercise, and the park was beautiful! (I got some really great pictures!! I also asked John to grab a picture of one of the big billboards in the park -- which had a butterfly shape cut into a mural of flowers -- so I could show it to my Nana, who loves butterflies. =^__^= )
[3-15-2010 Note: Unfortunately, that hasn't happened…. =>_<= And of course, now it's into mid-March. But! There's still plenty of piled up snow, and Winter descended again today, with at least a half inch to an inch of snow today… Go figure… Maybe there's still hope to go again!]
As we were coming back to turn in our skis, I couldn't help but laugh, as I heard the song "Crush" (by Jennifer Paige) playing. This may sound like an odd thing to laugh at -- but it was more of a nostalgia thing. I've danced to that song more times than I can probably count -- and there, in the middle of Russia, I'm hearing that song!
I was also kept laughing by the spectacle of tons of people throwing each other into snow piles!!! Ha ha ha ha! There was one guy, who pushed his girlfriend/wife into the snow, and then offered to help her up -- but when she took his hand, and he started pulling her up, he dropped her in again!!!!!! She waved him off when he held out his hand [to help her] again, needless to say!!!
All in all, it was a fantastic and wonderful morning/afternoon.
(I'm mostly thrilled to discover that I can, at least, do SOME kind of skiing, and that I'm not half bad at it! It's nice to have a winter sport I can do! By extension, it's nice to have another reason to enjoy cold weather -- as I'm normally a, "Anything under 75, in the sun, is cold!!!!" kind of girl! )
I went home for a few hours, and then off to Hustle!
And….
Oh. My. Goodness. …. I'm HOT STUFF!!!!!!
I apparently wound up with 3 Russian boys who were quite fond of me!!!
Boy # 1 = Alexei -- a very nice, and handsome, guy. He's my age (21), and studying engineering technologies. He dances a little bit, although not a whole lot.
Boy # 2 = Alexei's friend, Matvei -- I was not so fond of him, but he was quite fond of me! He was nice enough. Seems it was his birthday (He just turned 20 -- I said, "I'm old!!!!") -- and he was quite persistent in getting my number, and trying to get me to go on a date! He certainly knew how to ask a pointed question! "What? You don't want me?!" = @_@ =
Also, saying, "But I don't know you!" will net you a look of, "Duh -- that's why we go on dates!" Ha ha ha, busted.
So, we apparently are meeting on Saturday, in Red Square?** … I'm not sure how I get myself into these things!
[** 3-15-2010 Note: He never called to make sure we were meeting up -- which I'm really not all that disappointed about! I think he got the message I was more interested in Alexei than him?]
Boy # 3 = Well, I suppose I shouldn't call him a "boy" -- he's one of the door guys at the club, and his name is Timu. He apparently finds me to be quite pretty, and likes my eyes. He also was talking about maybe going on a date sometime, to the movies or something.
[3-14-2010: I also finally realized, eventually, why he looked familiar -- he looks kind of like George Clooney! … Of course, I don't exactly think George Clooney is the best thing since sliced bread… =^__^= '' Ha ha ha, oh man…]
Being a bit overwhelmed by attention from Russian Boys aside, there were also some INCREDIBLE dancers at the party! Chief among them would be Maxim -- who I completely adored dancing with! He's got a very smooth style, and a very confident, clear lead. He also does a *ton* of really fun "drop" moves. =^___^= Which I love. Ask my old partner. Ha ha ha!
Of course, the dynamic of things and people (in dance) is always interesting -- I almost couldn't keep myself from laughing at one point:
Alexei had pulled me onto his lap (as he was sitting on the edge of one of the couches, and I was standing there) --
( -- Yeah, yeah, I know -- I'm a hussy -- please no grief! It was all innocent! -- )
-- and Maxim came up at one point, and just took my hand and pulled me right off of Alexei's lap to go dance.
To me, it was just funny -- when I left for the party, I certainly didn't think that I was going to go be some hit with the boys, and wind up being whisked off to dance by one guy, from another's knee -- I just went to dance!!!!
Life here in Moscow is interesting indeed. *laughs*
**********
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2-24-2010
After the four day weekend, we finally got back to classes!!
At one point in the day, one of our teachers asked us to tell an interesting story about our families -- I told them the story my Nana told me about the day my Granddaddy got struck [indirectly] by lighting, twice!!! (And of course, how she said he said that it was from that point on that his beard turned white…)
After our classes were all over, I taught one of the guys in our group some Salsa (he'd asked me before if I could teach him some) -- and that was pretty fun.
I stayed a little bit longer, after I'd finished the salsa lesson, to practice a little bit myself -- and because of that, I wound up getting roped into watching a little performance by this guy we'd been seeing come into the theatre after our dance classes.
It wasn't a bad little show! He was all dressed up as a clown, and he had some wire acts, juggling (Which he got me involved in, despite my, "No, no, no, not me!!" please!), some physical comedy, and a few other bits.
I appreciated the laughs, although part of me in the end really did want to get home! = O///o= I actually think he would have gone on longer if I hadn't taken advantage of an apparent lull/end in the show, to say, "I'm so sorry -- I really enjoyed it, but I've got to run!"
It turned out that those laughs were quite valuable, because as I was on my way home, I got blindsided by one of those horrible, dark little thoughts that tend to jump out at people out of nowhere, for no reason at all!!! (And tend to ruin a day.)
Given that I'm normally one of the most bright and chipper people anyone could ever meet, that happenstance may come as a bit of a surprise -- but I'm human too, and it does happen, albeit rarely!
So, what happened???
Well, I was walking down the street, and out of nowhere, it just smacked me in the face that I was quite alone in the middle of the whole, big city of Moscow, in the whole big country of Russia.
For Full Disclosure purposes, the actual thought that crossed my mind was:
"There isn't one person in this damn city that actually gives a f$#k about me."
(Sorry about the cursing -- but isn't everybody's pessimistic side a little gritty? Besides, everyone curses at some point or other -- I *know* you do! Even if it's not out loud!)
I know the thought sounds a little Sarah Bernhardt-ish of me -- but if you stop to think about it for a moment -- it's really true:
If something less-than-savory were to happen to me (hit by a car, etc.) -- while it may be something of a shock to the people in my group, or my teachers, or the acquaintances I've made so far -- in the end, there wouldn't be any lasting impact on any of them. It'd probably just turn into a wicked story for most of them when they got back to the States (e.g. "There was this girl in my group who *died!*") -- or one of those, "It could be that your failure will serve as an example to others!" situation.
All of that is just to say, I realized that I had no close friends/family group anywhere even remotely close to me, and I felt it rather acutely for a moment.
I've never been one to have any hesitations about packing up and moving somewhere -- but I *am* a sentimentalist -- and when it is difficult to even call your best friends and loved ones, or you go from knowing you can see them all the time, to being completely and utterly unable to see them, hug them, kiss them, and tell them you love them in person… … Well? Apparently it will sneak up and bite you in the ass! Ha ha ha ha!!!!
Obviously, I'm peachy-keen now, but by the time I got home, I was so disheartened and exhausted by the aforementioned thought, that I just didn't want to do *anything.* To top all of *that* off -- my boots were wet too -- and there's hardly anything worse than wet, cold feet in the wintertime!!!!!!
For some reason or other, however, I collected myself enough to go to the John Donne for a bit, to visit with Pete and check my email… A decision that proved to be what will probably become one of the most fateful decisions of my entire stay here in Russia....!!!!!
I arrived at the John Donne, and found out that Pete is leaving for the States (for a week), due to his needing to get a new Visa, etc. -- so he told me to make a list of things I wanted from the States that he could bring back for me. This led us into a discussion of fantastic things from the US -- such as Banana Runts, and QUADRUPLE STUFFED OREOS! The Oreos are something Pete does -- which is to say, he will buy Double-Stuffed Oreos, split two, and put the cream sides together -- so that they become quadruple stuffed! (Obviously, this discussion did not win us any points with any Heath Department, anywhere…. XD )
In the middle of all the conversing about things in the States that we can't get in Russia, Pete was super awesome and got an order of Napoleons for me to try -- and subsequently enjoyed teasing the heck outta me, when I told him about what had happened at the Hustle party the night before.
And then, Fate stepped in…
As I was working on my computer, Pete came up to me and said, "Caitlan, I want you to meet Sasha!"
I looked up, and saw a middle-aged man, wearing a US Navy ball-cap -- but of course, with the name Sasha, I assumed that he was one of Pete's Russian friends/regulars -- so I automatically responded in Russian, "Ochen' priyatno." (Nice to meet you.)
As I learned later, this almost ended my meeting with Sasha!
You see, Sasha is in fact, Russian, but has lived in the US for a very long time -- and Pete told him, "Hey, come here, I want you to meet Caitlan -- she speaks English!"
Well, when I responded automatically in Russian, and just off of my general look, Sasha thought that Pete was putting him on, and that I was in fact, a Russian girl, and didn't speak any English at all!!!!!
Luckily for me, when I responded in Russian, and Sasha looked at Pete and said, "You're pulling my leg??" and Pete said, "No, she really does speak English!" -- I took the cue and said, "He's not lying -- I do speak English! I'm from America!"
Thus, I met Sasha. Rather, as I was to find out, Aleksandr Minchin (Александр Минчин) -- writer, director, producer, photographer; and apparently, friend of EVERYONE!!!!
As we spoke, and got to know each other, Sasha was quite thrilled at how "innocent" (as he put it) I seem in a place such as Moscow -- to the point that he said he almost couldn't believe that someone like me could possible be in Moscow (Let alone surviving here!)!! He told me he wanted to put me in a suit** like the Cosmonauts (or Old-Time divers) used, and not let me out into the city outside of it!! (The Russian word for this, by the way, is "skafandr" [скафандр] -- how neat is that? Ha ha ha!) It would seem that, no matter where I go, I'm always going to be a, "little ray of sunshine!"
Our conversation continued, and I mentioned how I was here to dance as well as to study, and how I was hoping to get to the Bolshoi, eventually… … And he mentions how he is friends with the Director, himself, of the Bolshoi Theatre!!!!! Without even a second thought, he tells me to pull up the Bolshoi's schedule on my computer, and begins asking me which shows I would like to go see, telling me that he could arrange for us to go see some shows together!!! Not only that, but he also started telling me about other shows/theatres in the area as well!!!!
There are NO words for how BLESSED I am…. BOLSHOI!!!!!!!!!!! LOTS OF BOLSHOI!!!! I cannot even believe it all right now… We are supposed to be going to our first Bolshoi show on Sunday -- "Giselle" -- and another show at a different Theatre on Saturday!!!!
On top of even all of that, he lives in NYC -- and he invited me to come visit in the summer when I am home!!!
I am BEYOND thrilled right now -- I just can't believe how fortunate I am, to have had our paths be crossed like this! I'm not sure I'm ever going to be able to thank my lucky stars properly enough!
Even better, I think, is just that Sasha is a very kind, funny, man -- so, even all the connections aside, I was really happy to meet him, and get to chat with him! I love meeting good people!
In the middle of all of the conversations about theatre, and getting to know each other, we were watching a football (soccer) match between Chelsea and one of the Italian Clubs (AC Milan, I believe). Sasha was telling me about the intricacies of the match -- Chelsea is owned by one of the big, rich Russian businessmen, and he had originally hired a certain coach to make Chelsea one of the best teams in the league/world, but then… He paid an obscene amount of money for a Ukrainian player, Viktor Shevchenko -- and started trying to make the coach use Shevchenko/make him be the focus -- when this coach had already crafted his team, and had a good, working dynamic. In the end, the coach quit, and went to work for the AC Milan team! So, Chelsea was now playing against a team coached by the very man who had made them the team they were, and knew them inside and out!
Sasha also pointed out to me how all the Chelsea supporters in the bar (who were Russian) knew all of the team songs, but didn't speak a word of English! It was pretty funny. =^__^= ''
Sahsa and Pete both wanted me to stay to watch the Olympic Hockey Canada vs. Russia match, but I couldn't stay out that late! Not with school in the morning!! I told them I wished I could (I did!) -- but that I would have to call it a night before the Metro closed.
Sasha walked me to the Metro -- and now, I'm here at home, doing this journal, and reliving an amazing night!!!
Unfortunately, I still need to do my write ups for school, and my homework -- and I am exhausted!! I couldn't sleep last night…
... But what FORTUNE!!!! Many, many, many prayers of thanks… Wow....
Love,
Moscow Kitty; 2:32 AM
=^__^=
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