Journal 91 B

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As for Practice and the Lesson itself:

I couldn't practice early -- it was waaay too crowded.

Before I started, I was watching some of the little kids in their lessons, and when Nastëna came to come sit by me for a minute, I confided in her the frustration, "It's like I used to say in the States -- they are half my age, and they have twice my hip action! They don't even have hips!!" -- I laughed, and she laughed, of course, and Nastëna simply said, "[It's because] They aren't afraid of anything." -- This is very true….

*****

Vitaly finally came to get me for my lesson -- "Come on!" -- which was great, but tough!!

We went back to Rumba, just as Vitaly had said we would, and we worked on natural opening outs [a move where the girl "opens" with a step to either side of her lead]. I finally I think I am getting through to Vitaly that I really need help to understand where everything comes from, and that he needs to to really set up my basics.

He was laughing again, but it was while I was getting really discouraged, and I really was feeling like he was laughing "at" me, not "with" me -- he asked what was wrong, and I said, "You are laughing [at me!]!" His face fell, and he looked worried for a moment, then said, "You would rather me look like this --?" and here he made a serious face -- but then puffed his cheeks out! It was so funny.

Somehow or other, I think he asked what was wrong, and I said, "I'm afraid," -- when he asked of what, I teased, "Of you!!!" (When I couldn't figure out how to say, "Of doing it all wrong.") He looked surprised, and turned around for a moment, taking a step away. I took a step after him, thinking he was just wanting to move to a different part of the floor -- but then he spun around, and with his arms thrown up, with clawed hands, jumped at me, and yelled, "Rawr!" -- I "eeped!!" I suppose I asked for that one, huh? *laughs*

The lesson was really good, with lots of good insights, and direction.

Highlight --

"Use me! Use me!" -- "I don't. Know. How." --> Always interesting when an attractive young man is telling you to, "use" him. XD This is where I think he finally understood that I had no clue how to make the action he wanted.

Lowlight --

Unfortunately, at one point, he took a look at me, and saw that I was shaking -- something that appears to happen when I start dancing sometimes, and I have absolutely no control over it -- he asked me why I was shaking, and I had to just try and shrug it off and say I didn't know… Because, well, I don't. I can only assume it was adrenaline or something, being nervous, maybe.

I know it sounds silly to be nervous… I came here to learn, right -- what is there to be nervous about? … But I'm absolutely awful when it comes to giving myself slack, and saying, "It's going to take some time to learn to do it right and look good." I'm absolutely terrified of looking bad and not doing things correctly right away…

*****

Neways -- I had intended to stay for the next hour to practice; but Nastëna wanted to leave early, and together, so I went with her. She was going to come to the John Donne with me -- but then she had to go home. She has some big exams coming up on Monday and Tuesday she needed to study for.

While we were on the Metro, we switched to English for a little bit -- it was fun, and good practice for her, as we'd been chatting all day in Russian for me. We still slipped back into Russian a few times though. Take, for example, when she asked me a question, in English, and when I didn't hear her, I responded, "Chto?" (Russian - "What?") -- and she just about died laughing. I tried to explain to her that it was the same as my responding, "Quoi?" (French) to people in the US. (It comes from one of my favorite comedians -- Eddie Izzard!) -- but she still thought it was funny that I should respond in Russian instead of in my own native language.

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I visited at the John Donne and talked with Tyler on the way home -- it seems that it is Steve's Birthday on Sunday, and so tomorrow, they will have his Party. They invited me out, but i have an Opera to go to tomorrow! So, I told them I would call them afterwards, and see if we can't meet up.

I arrived home, started reading "The Portrait Of Dorian Gray," and then went to bed.

-- Before I did that, however, I got the sweetest Text Message from Nastëna !!! She told me that she was still in awe of my, "ocean of English," (Which I loved!!) as well as that, "With you, even Russian is interesting!" -- I just adore her!!!

Love,

Moscow Kitty

=^__^=