Journal 42
10-7-10
Class with Russians - "take a decision" -- should be "make" a decision. Interesting.
American Club
Tolerance, Racism
"Mosque at Ground Zero" Debate
"We get a lot of latent racism, that's taught to us through actions, that we then connect the dots with. Not because anyone is saying it."
"What do you feel when you see a black person?"
"Cultural Imperialism?" -- You want them to talk like a White person?
"This whole conversation, and the examples we've used, would be different, if there were even one person not "white"ish here.
'You can't say Jew?' -- "Oh, God, no!"
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Off to dance -- ran into Liza and Zhenya/Vova?? (Crap, I still don't know the boys' names!!!) Had a fun time going to the studio with them. Liza said she wished she could speak in English, like I can in Russia. I always feel like that is such a compliment. Told her I would practice with her, if she wanted.
"What time is it?" "What did you do with your coach in your last lesson?" -- Synonym for "to do" -- need to ask about it again.
*****
Practice --
Nobody found my jacket. And it wasn't there. :( Masha wasn't there though, so maybe Vitaly texted her, or she picked it up on her own. If Vitaly did text her, he certainly didn't tell me about it.
A little frustrating at first -- felt better yesterday; trying to discover how my body needs to work during spins; where to counter itself, how to come *out* of the spins properly; find balance, etc. And to *relax!* Artem did once tell me, if I couldn't figure out how to do that (relax in my body, and quit fighting myself/being tense/heavy) I'd never get any better than I was then. It's coming along -- but it's still a problem.
Eventually, I got to the point where I was so tired, and a bit frustrated, I just, "let go." I basically went to do an exercise, but "half-assed," which is to say, instead of trying to think about every little thing I should have been doing, I relaxed through my body, and went about it, as if I didn't care. What a difference!!! I finally understood what Larissa meant, when I once overheard her say to a pair, "You dance better when you are tired -- you finally relax, and you aren't fighting yourself!" -- That crazy "fast foot work/turns" exercise that Vitaly gave me -- I finally felt like I was doing it right! Namely, I had that crazy kind of rotation and speed in my spins, that hadn't been there before. It basically made my night.
*****
Caught Larissa -- asked about partner -- hadn't thought much about it yet -- asked Oleg Olega (sp?) if he had any idea -- "Hadn't thought about it yet." "Well, think about it! -- How old are you?" "21 -- about to be 22." "21." (with one of those knowing smiles)
*****
Walked back to the Metro with Katya (and Anton?); Yana, and I don't know his name… It's such a problem! I know the boys' faces, but not their names!! And Yana is dancing with someone new, I think because age dictated her partner move up, and she is not allowed to yet.
Neways, it's tough sometimes, hanging in the group, because I don't always understand everything that is said. It's weird, because on a day-to-day basis, I do understand most things nowadays, so long as it's not über technical, or something -- but it appears that either there's more slang, more words I don't' know, or less enunciation, or *something* going on -- and I can't always figure it out. Which makes me not want to talk. Eek.
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Up until 4:30. Goodness Gracious...
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