Journal 42

2-27-2010; 11:35 PM

More Catching Up!!

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2-25-2010

Another day of class -- although, right now, I don't quite remember what I did with my night… Eek!

....

Oh, yes! I had Russian-American Club! (It's always on Thursdays.) Tonight's topic? Drugs!

(I promise, that has NOTHING to do with the previously mentioned memory lapse!)

It was certainly interesting, that's for sure! (See the "Russian-American Club Notes" Page for details.)

And, Artëm, the Russian guy we went shooting with (from Russian-American Club) -- brought keychain models of the bullets used in AK-47s for all of us who'd gone shooting together! It was so sweet! =^__^= He gave them to me to give to everyone else, because no one else was at the club meeting today.

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2-26-2010

Busy day!!!!!

Today was our excursion to the little kids' school!

The excursion started our with quite the adrenaline burst, as Vika told Juan and I to get on a certain bus -- but then the driver wasn't going to wait for the rest of our group -- and he shut the doors and started to drive off!!!!

-- Here I should mention, Juan and I had NO idea where we were supposed to be going!!!!

-- Also, when we'd tried to ask the bus driver how much the fare was, he basically ignored us, so that left us being unable to sit down, stuck between the turnstile and the closed doors!

After enough yelling at the driver, he did finally stop, a little ways down from where we'd been told to get on the bus, and we got off, and ran back to our group -- all of whom were having quite the laugh at us!! Juan and I just looked at John and Vika and said, "Why did you tell us to get on that bus?!?!?!"

Eventually, we got to the school -- which went from the first grade for kids (6-7 years old) up to 14-ish year olds, if I understood correctly.

This excursion was a little different, as we basically spent 4 hours or so there, actually going to classes with the kids!!!! I went to a Math class (I got to work on FOIL/Algebra, but in Russian!!! =^____^= ); an English class; and a French class.

** Math was fantastic, because I got to work on FOIL/Algebra, but in Russian!!! =^____^= It was pretty nifty. And the kids were quite impressive with how quickly they rattled off the answers! They can do mental math like I can't, it would seem!

** I attended the English class, because I wanted to see how English was taught, as a foreign language. I also figured that, depending on what they were working on that day, I could do a backwards reconstruction, and figure out how to better say certain things in Russian!

-- One of my problems with Russian is that they don't have nearly as many verb constructions as we do in English, and so I always feel as though I can't be as specific as I want to be.

-- On the other hand, when I saw the poster illustrating just HOW MANY declensions we have for our verbs, I came to the realization that, for people learning English as a foreign language, WE'RE HORRENDOUS!!!

-- Today, the kids were learning about the construction we have of doing something, in the present tense:

"to be" + Verb-ing -- e.g. -- I am playing chess; You are singing a song; He is studying; etc.

-- In this class, I learned that here, kids are geniuses at memorization!!! There was a little skit in the book that the teacher asked some of the kids to come up to the front of the room and act out. *Sans* books, these kids, for *either* part, came up to the front, and either flawlessly, or nearly-flawlessly, acted out the skit! I was in shock! It was impressive.

-- I was also slightly distracted by their book… You have to understand that, when English is taught as a foreign language, it's British English that is being taught… Thus, when the book has a fairy tale in it, that it talking about a king who loves cheese -- when they write, "Everyone in the town could smell the cheese," -- they probably aren't thinking that Americans have the phrase, "to cut the cheese," as a euphemism for passing gas….!!!

(You can see the notes I took for the day, and some of the bits I wrote down from the book, on the "School Excursion" Page.)

-- In the same spirit of being impressed by the kids -- I think these kids were around 7-9 years old -- and I already felt as though their English was better than my Russian!!! It REALLY made me wish the US would get its act together and start teaching foreign languages to kids *young,* when they *should* be taught, to maximize learning.

** The French class was with kids who were even younger than those in the English class -- and they were all just adorable!! Their pronunciation wasn't bad, either! The teacher was really fantastic -- but I have to say, she did remind me of Eddie Izzard, somewhat… I say this in the best way possible! Just, something about her reminded me of him!

-- Oh, but the shame!!! --

--After the class, a little girl came up to me, and she asked me, "Comment ça va?" (How are you?)

I responded, "Très bin, comment ça va *c toboi*?" (с тобой) … … …

… For anyone who doesn't realize, "c taboi" is the RUSSIAN way to say "with you"!!!!!!!!!!!

And thus it went, EVERY other thing I tried to say, all of my prepositions, or linking words ALL came out in RUSSIAN!!!! I could have cried, I was so upset with myself. I have NEVER mixed up foreign-languages before! Not even when I was studying FOUR at once! It was hard to see my grip on French loosened so much…

** We had a few presentations in between the classes, and at the end of the excursion, we got to have a tea and pastries lunch -- and boy, did we *clean* *up!!!!* (I'm pretty sure everyone had at least 4 pastries each, they were *incredible!*)

-- They also gave us these really cool, Rooster-shaped lollipops! Awesome!

After we left, some of us from our group went shopping at one of the big shopping centers in the north part of Moscow. I was trying to find (closed-toed) pumps for my dress I was going to wear to the Bolshoi show -- but no luck… The closest I came to finding a cheap pair of black, closed-toed pumps was a perfect pair … … Except for the gawd-awful plaid flower glued to the toe…. =-_-= Ugh!

I met up with my "tutor" / "conversation partner" after the shopping trip, and she and I had a nice little chat in a coffee shop. Afterwards, I met up with Anita (a girl from our school group, and my group itself), and she and I went to the club where the DJs -- who do the music at my Tuesday Hustle Parties -- work. Sergei (one of the DJs) came to get Anita and I from the Metro, and brought us to the club.

It wasn't quite as fun as I'd hoped -- at that club, they played mostly slower songs, and I didn't get asked to dance very much. I felt bad for Anita -- who doesn't dance ballroom/hustle at all -- but she said she was enjoying watching. I did spot some people who looked like they definitely had some ballroom training towards the end of the night. One of them had a pretty interesting personal style -- very hip-hop fusion. The other one -- ha! Well, at one point, I'd asked him to dance, and I didn't quite understand why he'd said no, but he had. Yuri (the other DJ) came over at one point, and he told this same guy to ask me to dance!!! I could have just crawled under the table I was sitting at!!!

We did actually wind up dancing, one of the last songs -- but I felt awful about it! We were dancing to an Enya song (I *HATE* Enya -- and it was probably their most well-known song, which just gets UNDER MY SKIN.) -- and it was slower, and I wasn't quite used to his lead, and I was already nervous because he hadn't wanted to dance earlier… Suffice it to say, I didn't think it was so great -- but when we'd finished, he was apparently pleased with me. Told me he thought I was good, I just needed to learn more steps. (Here, the style is different, as I've mentioned.) He said he hoped to see me around again -- and I asked if he ever came to Hustle on Tuesdays. He said he'd like to, but that it didn't normally work with his schedule. Shame!

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2-27-2010 !!!!!!!

Class -- Yes, I know this was a Saturday -- but because we had the four day weekend, we had to make up for it this week, by Saturday being a work/school day -- with Monday's schedule!

(Even the TV stations did this!)

Although, all day, I was thinking more about how I couldn't wait for my first Theatre Show!!!! =^__^= ''

Lovely Bit of Randomness --

I can't even say how it came up, but while we were at Lunch, somehow or other, Misha and I wound up discussing what Mortal Combat's, "Finish Him!" would have been in Russian… What I think happened was that I heard them tossing around the word "to finish," and in the imperative, and I said, "Wow, that sounds like Mortal Combat…"

We were well satisfied with the effect of, "Zakonchite!!!" [Закончите!] ("Finish it!!")

To the Theatre!!!!

As it turns out, my very first, Russian, theatre experience in Russia was A RUSSIAN ROCK OPERA!!!!

We went to go see, "Юнона и Авось" ("Yunona and Avos" -- also, "Winona and Avos") at the Lenkom Theatre; and we were sitting in the Artistic Director's seats! (I said it before -- Sasha knows EVERYONE, I'm convinced!!)

It was, needless to say, pretty darn fantastic!

Trying to get there/into the theatre was a bit interesting, however! I did not arrive with Sasha, but made my way there under his directions. On the Metro, naturally, I was just fine -- but when I got above ground, I got into a little bit of a problem! I had heard Sasha say that the Lenkom was along Tverskaya Street -- so I started walking along Tverskaya, looking for this theatre… When I realized that I had probably not headed in the correct direction, I popped into a Marriott hotel that I ran across, and got directions from the concierge. (Those people are fantastic!!)

I came across the theatre shortly thereafter, and made my way into the "other" entrance -- the one for the performers and theatre workers. (Even my first entrance was unique!) Sasha told me to go downstairs to the coat check (again, the one for the actors and theatre workers), get my things put up, and then wait for him.

As it turned out, Sasha (and his friend who was coming with him) were late in getting there, so they seated me in the end, so that I wouldn't miss any of the show. They also left someone to help me "babysit" the seats, because apparently, in Russia, people will stand about right until the show starts, and they will try to take any empty seats that are closer to the stage!

As for the show itself….

"Yunona and Avos" is a Russian Rock-Opera about the expedition that the Tsar sent to Spanish-Controlled California, in . The ship that the expedition sailed on was named, "Avos," which can alternately mean either "Perhaps" or "Fate"/"Chance." Upon arriving in California, Count falls in love with the Spanish Governor's Daughter (The Conchita) -- and so the story centers around them, and the ensuing scandal.

During the intermission, Sasha told me a few very interesting facts about the show, as well as the theatre itself:

1. The musicians who were playing at our show had been with the show for TWENTY-FIVE years! They were the very same musicians who'd played from the very first show!

Over the years, as he's seen the show, Sasha told me how he's seen them get older. It's interesting. "When they started, his hair wasn't white!!"

2. The Lenkom Theatre is the ONLY dramatic theatre that has shows with LIVE music.

3. The lead actor for the show had been the same for TWENTY-TWO years! He would never even allow for an understudy, and never missed a show!

Unfortunately, Sasha said he got into drinking, and basically self-destructed. Additionally, it seems he was involved in a horrible car crash, and is in something of a vegetative state now. (But I don't know that the former caused the latter.)

4. The girl who plays the Conchita is changed every 5-6 years or so, because, "She has to be young and beautiful."

5. If I understood correctly, this was also the first performance (on the Soviet stage) to show nudity of any kind -- and caused quite a stir when it opened.

A few of my impressions from the show:

1. "Why is the conductor always getting shot?" -- The conductor for the choir and some of the musicians is on stage for a good part of the show -- and he gets shot by another character at least twice. I never did quite figure out why he kept getting shot… Poor conductor!

2. Some of the lighting was just *incredible!* There was a scene, that as best as I understood, appeared to be a bit of a Heavenly apparition (Complete with a *gorgeous* song!!) -- and the lighting, I just couldn't believe it, it was wonderful! Just beautiful.

3. There were some AMAZING songs!!!! Sasha said that there had been a very famous song-writer brought in to compose my very favorite song of the show, titled, "Я Тебя Никогда Незабуду." ("Ya Tebya Nikogda Hezabudu" -- "I Will Never Forget you")

The song that first made it's appearance during the "Heavenly apparition" scene was hauntingly beautiful, and the final song of the show was a rousing song titled, "Аллилуия Любви" ("Alliluia Lyubvi" -- "Hallelujah to Love" ) -- just look at that title! How could you not love a song dedicated to Love?? The music was fantastic!

*****

After the show, Sasha, his friend, and I all walked to Red Square -- his friend had never been in Moscow before, and she had asked him to show her around some. It was so cool, because the whole time while we were walking, Sasha was pointing out so many of the different buildings and hotels, and saying what famous people lived where, and telling me bits and pieces about what life was like during Soviet Times! It was just incredible!

We also stopped in at a newly constructed hotel, the "Hotel Louvre," -- which was *swanky,* let me tell you. (To the tune of over 10,000 a night, at *least*…)

In the lobby/lounge area, there was a man playing a beautiful Steinway -- and his music was also just beautiful! I was so happy!

*****

Once in Red Square, we lost his friend for a little bit (as she was off taking pictures) -- so Sasha was telling me a little bit about Lenin's Mausoleum, and how it used to have tons of guards around it, with automatic rifles, and everything!

He also pointed out the irony of the seat of the Communist Government, and Lenin's Mausoleum being located right next to a Church....

On a happier note, when we stopped in at the Skating Rink that they'd put up in the Square, I heard the Bears song from "Captive of the Caucuses" again! Such a happy song!!!

******

We all split ways after maybe a half hour or so in the Square -- it was very chilly out!!!!

I headed home for a quick dinner, and have to steel myself for tomorrow!

* I have to try and shop for shoes in the morning

* My first show at the Bolshoi -- Giselle -- is tomorrow!!!

*After that, I've promised to attend the USA-Canada Olympic Hockey, Gold-Medal match at the John Donne!

*And in the middle of ALL of that, I've got to find time to do my homework!!! My goodness!!!

Much love,

Moscow Kitty; 12:06 AM - 2-28-2010

=^__^=

PS - Tomorrow, it will be ONE MONTH that we have been here!!!!