Considering I don’t have a lot of time these days, you’ll have to do with only a short update. Please accept my sincere apologies!
In the past week I’ve been:
- working my a*s off for school as my English professor thinks it necessary to make me write essays (only about 10 pages…) each week;
- working my a*s off for my Master Thesis as me and my big mouth promised to already hand in a interim plan of work on Sunday and I thus had to spend the entire weekend in bookshops, libraries and the internet cafe;
- happy, seeing my proposal regarding the equivalents was approved;
- spending time with a few Russians: going to the cinema – next week real Russian theatre –, wandering around, having a drink and practicing my (their, actually) Russian;
- visiting a few markets
- cold – next week minus 5 and snow;
- over the moon as Danny has found a job!!!! Congratulations again krullebol! ;
- jealous of Yves because his family (parents, sister, girlfriend) arrived on Saturday and will stay here for an entire week;
- getting enraged at the whole money-situation as all of the sudden they’ve decided that 4 students will come to Belgium in the second semester. Our professor told us Moscow University insisting on that and Moscow University told us our professor did. Once more, it gets one to thinking… However, they told us they are not sure they’ll find students and we’ll thus have to wait for another few weeks. Considering I don’t have a few more weeks as I need to decide whether or not I’ll terminate the tenancy for my student’s room in Antwerp, I am getting extremely annoyed and fed up with the whole situation;
- cursing at the Russian workers – when I came back from class and good-tempered entered my room all was covered in white dust and dirt. Apparently they had been installing new smoke detectors and did not find it necessary to cover anything while drilling wholes into the ceiling. They were even too lazy to clean up their mess, so I grabbed a pile of wires and pipes and threw it out into the hallway. Everything was covered in dust: the entire floor, my bed, closets, table, seats, towels, books, food, cutlery, plates, glasses, mugs, cooking utensils, my notebook (which was btw open), my clothes that were hanging over the chair, my laundry that was drying on the thread, … Yep, I spent almost two hours cleaning everything from top to bottom, then had to do the laundry once more and then I went to do the exact same thing at Cedric’s room as Yves and his family were arriving within an hour for a true Pelmeni feast ;
- making a very hard decision – last week Petra told me she was about to buy another ticket seeing she had decided to return home in December as well (Yves already bought his ticket a month ago). To be honest, I think that is a rather wise decision – class ends in December and we’ll thus have nothing more to do for another month, I can’t properly work on my thesis here as I don’t have internet nor the right environment, a new ticket is much cheaper than staying here another month, I could arrange things for the 4 Russian students that are said to be coming to Antwerp, I could start getting used to my natural biotope again and getting settle before the second semester officially starts, I could start working again, most importantly I would see my family and friends and finally have a bowl of granny’s delicious soup, … – and so I was considering to follow suite. On Monday I surfed on the internet for a while and found a ticket for only €98 which is close to nothing. I filled in all required data and only had to press “enter” to make it official… But I couldn’t do it. Don’t ask me why, probably just pride as I decided to come here and I don’t want to give up just like that. Anyway, something held me back from pushing that button and I’m glad it did. I have no regrets whatsoever and am pleased with my final decision: I’m staying until the 3rd of February and thus expect some visitors (Lotte, go and get those visas for the English gang – Marie, Moscow is waiting for you). I am also thinking of jumping on the train in January and travel to Siberia, Lake Baikal. Anyone interested???.
That’s all for now; a few translations, an essay and a thesis are waiting for me…
До следующей недели, друзья!
Tuesday 30 October 2007
Sunday 21 October 2007
Sarah aka cash machine
Right, I suppose I owe you an explanation… Last week I finished by saying I’d soon get back to you with more important news. Two reasons why saying sorry would be in place: 1. I shouldn’t have written this in the first place, seeing many of you thought the news would be very exciting and positive, which it certainly isn’t. 2. I didn’t get back to you earlier, as I couldn’t yet sort it all out myself.
Please allow me to update you on the story. I’ll try and keep it as short as possible, though…
It all began almost 2 weeks ago. We received an email from our Belgian professor (the one we had met here in Moscow a few days earlier). She was kind enough to inform us on the fact that she’ll have to claim a “small” amount of money from us. That she had been talking to the people in charge here in Moscow, and that, seeing Moscow can’t find any counterparts to go to Belgium, they had mutually agreed that we have only 2 possibilities: 1. paying the University of Moscow €260 a month for this 8m² room ; 2. transfer €1000 to our teacher’s bank account in order to ‘buy ourselves free from obligations’. Now, do I perhaps look like a walking cash machine that gladly hands out money to everyone who wants some? If I do, please let me know, because then I might seriously consider changing my looks. So, after a few sleepless nights we went to talk to those so-called people in charge. And well what do you know, it was the first they heard about any possible problems. They had never talked with our teacher about students not going to Belgium or about us paying anything. It gets one to thinking, doesn’t it… Anyway, we asked to have a look at our contract again and it was clear we had signed a bilateral agreement – exchange programme – and that we therefore didn’t have to pay anything for our stay here. What a relief! So me and my mum (you can’t believe how awful it was for me to phone her up with such a news, leaving her to worry over there, not being able to do anything) were granted 1 night’s sleep. Next day was decided to change our contract so that we would pay for our stay here in stead of having to provide a place to stay for future Russian students. After I’ve heard that it would only be €95 a month (again, it gets one to thinking), I agreed with that plan. So we went back to uni to explain our situation again. After a whole while of communication problems (why does everyone in this country has to speak such a difficult language???), they finally understood and got very angry with our school for putting us, as well as the university and their students in such a position. So they decided to talk to our professor first. Next day they filled us in on the latest developments: we can’t change the contract as we’d need permission from “higher authorities” (which means we just need a signature from our principal, if you ask me) and somehow our teacher succeeded in convincing them paying her would be the best solution. But they agreed with us that under no circumstances we should pay as much as €1000. So at the moment the situation is as follows: there is no situation, really, we'll just have to wait...
So that’s all I know at this very moment. Why I wanted to inform you on this asap? Because it could well be I’ll come home earlier, seeing that a new plane ticket would probably be much cheaper than having to pay one month more for the room and my living here. So for all of you who are planning a trip to Moscow (or Siberia, sorry L.), please wait until I’ve decided myself on what’s best. But for the ones who already start worrying about being stuck with me again that soon, I can put your minds at ease for now since I’m afraid nothing will be definite for quite a while.
Other things that happened to me this week: On Monday I went to the market and bought a whole backpack full of fruit and vegetables for as much as €2. Yes, after almost 2 months I finally know where to buy these things in order not to pay €5 for 2 plums. In the night of Tuesday to Wednesday we had another birthday party, this time C. from Brussels turned 20.
On Thursday I tried a new course (Translation science), only attended by Russian students. I felt a bit like a piranha being put together with a whole lot of goldfishes. But at the end of the course they came to talk to me, what really surprised me as Russians aren’t usually that sociable towards strangers. But they turned out to be very nice and especially curious (they were even interested in Belgium, imagine…). So they asked me to go with them to the cinema on Friday and, seeing I really wanted to get to know real Russians but had given up all hope by now, I gladly accepted that invitation. It turned out to be great fun, they were really friendly and interested in all I had to say. I also learned a lot about them and the way things are done here in Russia. For example: they have 35 hours of class a week, including Saturdays??? I know, I couldn’t help my mouth falling open either... But most importantly: I understood them and was able to talk to them while feeling rather comfortable. I was really worried about that as real Russians tend to talk very fast and often forget to articulate. Thus, considering I decided that I’d want to attend those courses in future, I have finally found all the equivalents I wanted. Jieha! It only took me 2 months… So I’ll send out my proposal today and if they accept it, I’ll only have 5 hours of class a week next semester. What a luxury! I’ll need that time to write my master thesis, though… On Saturday I first went to class and when I arrived back at the student's residence security were searching all the rooms again. This time they were in search of water boilers. I know, I too had difficulties not to laugh when the guy asked me how I can make my coffee if I wouldn't have one. But then he filled me in on the latest news and told us that he just came to warn us that in case we would have one, we need to hide it by Monday. Apparently, after that fire two weeks ago, Moscow finally got the message: they need to make their public buildings much safer. So at the dormitory they already started installing brand-new fire detectors, because apparently next week Russian authorities will start checking all University buildings in Moscow. And that’s why the boiler has to go (=be hidden for 2 days, as I couldn’t possibly survive without coffee in the morning). In the evening some evil students convinced me to go and explore Moscow’s nightlife. I think it’s best not to provide you with too many details but I can, however, assure you that everything they say about it is more than true; except for the rumour that it’s dangerous, you just need to know where to go as is the case even in Belgium, if you ask me. In other words: WOW! It was amazing, I couldn’t believe what I good time I had. Consequence: I came home at 10.45 today… Sorry mum, just this once, I promise I’ll go back to being the well-behaved daughter as off now!
That’s all folks!
Please allow me to update you on the story. I’ll try and keep it as short as possible, though…
It all began almost 2 weeks ago. We received an email from our Belgian professor (the one we had met here in Moscow a few days earlier). She was kind enough to inform us on the fact that she’ll have to claim a “small” amount of money from us. That she had been talking to the people in charge here in Moscow, and that, seeing Moscow can’t find any counterparts to go to Belgium, they had mutually agreed that we have only 2 possibilities: 1. paying the University of Moscow €260 a month for this 8m² room ; 2. transfer €1000 to our teacher’s bank account in order to ‘buy ourselves free from obligations’. Now, do I perhaps look like a walking cash machine that gladly hands out money to everyone who wants some? If I do, please let me know, because then I might seriously consider changing my looks. So, after a few sleepless nights we went to talk to those so-called people in charge. And well what do you know, it was the first they heard about any possible problems. They had never talked with our teacher about students not going to Belgium or about us paying anything. It gets one to thinking, doesn’t it… Anyway, we asked to have a look at our contract again and it was clear we had signed a bilateral agreement – exchange programme – and that we therefore didn’t have to pay anything for our stay here. What a relief! So me and my mum (you can’t believe how awful it was for me to phone her up with such a news, leaving her to worry over there, not being able to do anything) were granted 1 night’s sleep. Next day was decided to change our contract so that we would pay for our stay here in stead of having to provide a place to stay for future Russian students. After I’ve heard that it would only be €95 a month (again, it gets one to thinking), I agreed with that plan. So we went back to uni to explain our situation again. After a whole while of communication problems (why does everyone in this country has to speak such a difficult language???), they finally understood and got very angry with our school for putting us, as well as the university and their students in such a position. So they decided to talk to our professor first. Next day they filled us in on the latest developments: we can’t change the contract as we’d need permission from “higher authorities” (which means we just need a signature from our principal, if you ask me) and somehow our teacher succeeded in convincing them paying her would be the best solution. But they agreed with us that under no circumstances we should pay as much as €1000. So at the moment the situation is as follows: there is no situation, really, we'll just have to wait...
So that’s all I know at this very moment. Why I wanted to inform you on this asap? Because it could well be I’ll come home earlier, seeing that a new plane ticket would probably be much cheaper than having to pay one month more for the room and my living here. So for all of you who are planning a trip to Moscow (or Siberia, sorry L.), please wait until I’ve decided myself on what’s best. But for the ones who already start worrying about being stuck with me again that soon, I can put your minds at ease for now since I’m afraid nothing will be definite for quite a while.
Other things that happened to me this week: On Monday I went to the market and bought a whole backpack full of fruit and vegetables for as much as €2. Yes, after almost 2 months I finally know where to buy these things in order not to pay €5 for 2 plums. In the night of Tuesday to Wednesday we had another birthday party, this time C. from Brussels turned 20.
On Thursday I tried a new course (Translation science), only attended by Russian students. I felt a bit like a piranha being put together with a whole lot of goldfishes. But at the end of the course they came to talk to me, what really surprised me as Russians aren’t usually that sociable towards strangers. But they turned out to be very nice and especially curious (they were even interested in Belgium, imagine…). So they asked me to go with them to the cinema on Friday and, seeing I really wanted to get to know real Russians but had given up all hope by now, I gladly accepted that invitation. It turned out to be great fun, they were really friendly and interested in all I had to say. I also learned a lot about them and the way things are done here in Russia. For example: they have 35 hours of class a week, including Saturdays??? I know, I couldn’t help my mouth falling open either... But most importantly: I understood them and was able to talk to them while feeling rather comfortable. I was really worried about that as real Russians tend to talk very fast and often forget to articulate. Thus, considering I decided that I’d want to attend those courses in future, I have finally found all the equivalents I wanted. Jieha! It only took me 2 months… So I’ll send out my proposal today and if they accept it, I’ll only have 5 hours of class a week next semester. What a luxury! I’ll need that time to write my master thesis, though… On Saturday I first went to class and when I arrived back at the student's residence security were searching all the rooms again. This time they were in search of water boilers. I know, I too had difficulties not to laugh when the guy asked me how I can make my coffee if I wouldn't have one. But then he filled me in on the latest news and told us that he just came to warn us that in case we would have one, we need to hide it by Monday. Apparently, after that fire two weeks ago, Moscow finally got the message: they need to make their public buildings much safer. So at the dormitory they already started installing brand-new fire detectors, because apparently next week Russian authorities will start checking all University buildings in Moscow. And that’s why the boiler has to go (=be hidden for 2 days, as I couldn’t possibly survive without coffee in the morning). In the evening some evil students convinced me to go and explore Moscow’s nightlife. I think it’s best not to provide you with too many details but I can, however, assure you that everything they say about it is more than true; except for the rumour that it’s dangerous, you just need to know where to go as is the case even in Belgium, if you ask me. In other words: WOW! It was amazing, I couldn’t believe what I good time I had. Consequence: I came home at 10.45 today… Sorry mum, just this once, I promise I’ll go back to being the well-behaved daughter as off now!
That’s all folks!
Sunday 14 October 2007
Cultural outburst
What happens when you try to bribe the Russian security? Well, they happily accept the pints and the vodka you offer them but then make their friends search all rooms afterwards… On Monday, whilst I was making my way through a major book- and audio store (I found the required Russian books and DVD – success!), the security team entered all rooms in the student’s residence. Do they have the right to do that? According to Sovjet rules – yes, according to so-called democracy – NO. Anyway, no need in arguing with Russian security services, as they’ll happily slap you in the face. Right, obviously they were in search for alcohol, which implies that that bastard drunk our beer on Saturday and grassed on us the next day! A few students had to go to the dorm’s director and she told them that she thinks they have alcohol problems and that she’ll send photographs of the empty bottles to their schools. What a threat! That much effort for a few photos… Fortunately they didn’t find anything in our room. Well, what did you expect of such a good girls???
This week a conference was held somewhere far away from Moscow. This meant that most of our professors had to sit on a train for 3 days, attend the damn thing and again sit on a train for 3 days. What a laugh! I didn’t mind at all, seeing I only had 6 hours of class this week. So I thought it was about time for a cultural outburst. In total, I visited 4 museums in only 2 days. Over the top? Of course, if I do something I do it more than good! Weird though, seeing I used to avoid all sorts of museums in all possible ways. Amazing how Russia is already changing me and my conception of life… Okay, I’ll cut the sentimental, philosophical crap. Anyhow, I went to the Tolstoy House-Museum, the History of Moscow Museum, the State’s History Museum on Red Square and I went inside of the St Basil’s Cathedral.
This week a conference was held somewhere far away from Moscow. This meant that most of our professors had to sit on a train for 3 days, attend the damn thing and again sit on a train for 3 days. What a laugh! I didn’t mind at all, seeing I only had 6 hours of class this week. So I thought it was about time for a cultural outburst. In total, I visited 4 museums in only 2 days. Over the top? Of course, if I do something I do it more than good! Weird though, seeing I used to avoid all sorts of museums in all possible ways. Amazing how Russia is already changing me and my conception of life… Okay, I’ll cut the sentimental, philosophical crap. Anyhow, I went to the Tolstoy House-Museum, the History of Moscow Museum, the State’s History Museum on Red Square and I went inside of the St Basil’s Cathedral.
I also had time to further explore the city, so I spent my days wandering about in Moscow, going wherever my intuition led me. In short; Moscow is well worth a visit! I also was here last year, but I only now start to fully appreciate the beauty of the city. I guess one just has to look beyond the touristic attractions…
Ooh ooh…I couldn’t believe it myself but on Friday I finally received my metro card. After 1.5 months and 6 visits to the damn office. Long live Russian administration!
Ooh ooh…I couldn’t believe it myself but on Friday I finally received my metro card. After 1.5 months and 6 visits to the damn office. Long live Russian administration!
Another ooh ooh...I now officially am the beholder of a subject and promoter for my Master Thesis! I will, however, spare you the boring school stuff. Anyway, lots of thanks to Danny for inspiring me!!!
Another exciting newsflash: the Russian winter has officially started! This week temperature didn’t reach above 5 degrees and today we had our first snow. Well, a snow storm rather... Because of the fierce, freezing wind the snow feels like knifes on your face. And of all days, I decided that today I wanted to go to some charming markets. The first thing I bought: a new umbrella as mine broke in two the minute I walked out the door. After a 4 hour walk in the snow, I realised my feet were wet and thus frozen. Good thing Moscow was kind enough to provide us with some central heating. Another weird thing about Russia: in the beginning of this week we asked the director whether she would maybe consider to start heating the rooms as we were all practically freezing. She told us that it was not up to her, that Moscow had to decide on that matter. Hmmmm??? Apparently only the City of Moscow can activate all central heating. So in every house, office, hostel, shop,…heating is regulated by the city. I mean, really, get over the PostSovjet Depression!
That’s it for today. I’ll probably update you in a few days on a more important matter, after I’ve sorted it out myself…
By the way, someone is missing you!
Another exciting newsflash: the Russian winter has officially started! This week temperature didn’t reach above 5 degrees and today we had our first snow. Well, a snow storm rather... Because of the fierce, freezing wind the snow feels like knifes on your face. And of all days, I decided that today I wanted to go to some charming markets. The first thing I bought: a new umbrella as mine broke in two the minute I walked out the door. After a 4 hour walk in the snow, I realised my feet were wet and thus frozen. Good thing Moscow was kind enough to provide us with some central heating. Another weird thing about Russia: in the beginning of this week we asked the director whether she would maybe consider to start heating the rooms as we were all practically freezing. She told us that it was not up to her, that Moscow had to decide on that matter. Hmmmm??? Apparently only the City of Moscow can activate all central heating. So in every house, office, hostel, shop,…heating is regulated by the city. I mean, really, get over the PostSovjet Depression!
That’s it for today. I’ll probably update you in a few days on a more important matter, after I’ve sorted it out myself…
By the way, someone is missing you!
Sunday 7 October 2007
This week’s definition: failure II
I am very sorry to have to disappoint you all once more, but the past week was as well everything but exciting. The only thing I can do is prove to you that my definition of “failure” is well worth a few pages in the encyclopaedia…
On Saturday me and Yves were relieved, because our week of bad luck had ended. So we decided to go to a big market 2 metro stations away. Coming out of the metro, one can choose between 2 different exits. One leads nowhere, one leads right onto the market place. Please take a wild guess which one these two smartasses chose… Indeed, the wrong one! So Yves made an appeal on his intelligence and came up with a plan; let’s just walk around the metro station to the other exit. And what do you know, we found another entrance. Unfortunately it was a different metro station... We had been walking long enough to reach the next metro station. So we came up with a new plan: we went inside, took the metro again and chose the right exit this time. Happy end??? Not really, considering the market had just closed… Yep, another week of failure was yet to come!
But nearby one kiosk was still open and I found some really nice, relatively cheap shoes. I decided I had to have some new once, seeing the reddies are no longer with us (God bless them, will you?!) and it had been so warm the past few weeks that I couldn’t wear my leather boots. But guess what… on Friday the temperature dropped with more than 10 degrees, yesterday it poured rain the entire day and by next week it will only be around 5 degrees. Well done Sarah!
Then, my trip to Vladimir on Sunday.
Getting up at 6, having to wait almost an hour because Russians like to keep others waiting, finding out the bus ride would take 3 hours, in stead of 1.5…what a nice beginning of the day. However, Vladimir was well worth the struggle. It is a very nice, old, small village. We visited a few museums, churches and cathedrals, walked around a while and saw some amazing buildings. So everyone was pleased and ready for the trip back home. And then, of course, all hell broke loose! Moscow is ever so famous for its long traffic jams and so we noticed. In stead of 3 hours in the bus, it took us almost 6.5 hours. Considering temperature reached almost 25 degrees that day and some youngsters at the back decided to drink vodka, get drunk, break the sound barrier and throw around some underwear in the bus, this was not all that pleasant…
On Tuesday we celebrated the 26th birthday of our dearest German friend.
We bought him some presents, cooked a delicious meal and threw a party (if we have to…). 18 people in 1 small room; very cosy, that’s for sure. Unfortunately I had to leave the party rather early, as I wasn’t feeling all that well. No mum, not because of the famous Russian beverage, but it turned out I was starting to get ill. Nothing all that bad; just a soar throat, headache and aching muscles. Yesterday I already started to feel better. It seems, though, the disease is spreading fast, because already 5 other friends of mine caught it. Also, that same night, my mother called in a great panic. She was watching the news and apparently there had been a major fire in one of the universities here in Moscow. They showed images of students jumping out of the windows and dying, but didn’t care to mention which university it was, leaving all parents worried, of course. The next day everyone here in Moscow was talking about this horrible event. It sets one thinking…
This week another one of our teachers from Belgian visited us here in Moscow. It was really nice to hear some of the latest news from our home country and school in Antwerp. Also, I noticed that my Russian is improving more than I thought. So I was very pleased to be able to tell her that I am really glad I came here and have no regrets whatsoever.
Right, so the rest of the week was rather boring. Lots of classes, things to be arranged, tasks, … On Friday, after the translation course, we met the students from the 5th year who are studying Dutch at the university. My first question: “Why the h*ll would you choose to study a language such as Dutch?”. Apparently, it was not their choice at all. Students here in Moscow have to study the language the State has chosen for them. I do pity them! Afterwards, I was told that I would finally receive my metro card. So, full of courage, I jumped on the metro and went to some office to go and get it. But no no, nothing can ever be that easy here in Russia. There I was told: “No, we can’t find it, try again next week”. No problem, only 1 month late... Long live Russian organization!
Yesterday me and 3 German/Russian girls went to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. Or so we thought we were… When we left, it started to pour rain, but determined as we were, we went straight on. Unfortunately, in the wrong direction (I know, it is starting to get funny). No problem, me and my new open shoes love to walk in the pouring rain without a purpose... Eventually we did find it but were then of course unable to get in, as this weekend there was some kind of world famous Channel Exhibition going on and the museum was overcrowded. Conclusion: “Go home and stay home, Sarah!”.
To forget all our Russian sorrows, me and the girls organised a small party @ours.
All went well until around 01.00am someone knocked on our door. And guess who it was; Russia's well-known security. We all turned pale at once, considering alcohol, smoking, noise, ...are all forbidden in the student's residence. We were in HUGE trouble! But, of course, Russians will always just stay Russian and so the guy sat down and had a drink with us. No need for millions, here in Russia one can buy anything and anyone with some fine vodka. In the end we had a wonderful time, but obviously have to pay the price for it today...
On Saturday me and Yves were relieved, because our week of bad luck had ended. So we decided to go to a big market 2 metro stations away. Coming out of the metro, one can choose between 2 different exits. One leads nowhere, one leads right onto the market place. Please take a wild guess which one these two smartasses chose… Indeed, the wrong one! So Yves made an appeal on his intelligence and came up with a plan; let’s just walk around the metro station to the other exit. And what do you know, we found another entrance. Unfortunately it was a different metro station... We had been walking long enough to reach the next metro station. So we came up with a new plan: we went inside, took the metro again and chose the right exit this time. Happy end??? Not really, considering the market had just closed… Yep, another week of failure was yet to come!
But nearby one kiosk was still open and I found some really nice, relatively cheap shoes. I decided I had to have some new once, seeing the reddies are no longer with us (God bless them, will you?!) and it had been so warm the past few weeks that I couldn’t wear my leather boots. But guess what… on Friday the temperature dropped with more than 10 degrees, yesterday it poured rain the entire day and by next week it will only be around 5 degrees. Well done Sarah!
Then, my trip to Vladimir on Sunday.
Getting up at 6, having to wait almost an hour because Russians like to keep others waiting, finding out the bus ride would take 3 hours, in stead of 1.5…what a nice beginning of the day. However, Vladimir was well worth the struggle. It is a very nice, old, small village. We visited a few museums, churches and cathedrals, walked around a while and saw some amazing buildings. So everyone was pleased and ready for the trip back home. And then, of course, all hell broke loose! Moscow is ever so famous for its long traffic jams and so we noticed. In stead of 3 hours in the bus, it took us almost 6.5 hours. Considering temperature reached almost 25 degrees that day and some youngsters at the back decided to drink vodka, get drunk, break the sound barrier and throw around some underwear in the bus, this was not all that pleasant…
On Tuesday we celebrated the 26th birthday of our dearest German friend.
We bought him some presents, cooked a delicious meal and threw a party (if we have to…). 18 people in 1 small room; very cosy, that’s for sure. Unfortunately I had to leave the party rather early, as I wasn’t feeling all that well. No mum, not because of the famous Russian beverage, but it turned out I was starting to get ill. Nothing all that bad; just a soar throat, headache and aching muscles. Yesterday I already started to feel better. It seems, though, the disease is spreading fast, because already 5 other friends of mine caught it. Also, that same night, my mother called in a great panic. She was watching the news and apparently there had been a major fire in one of the universities here in Moscow. They showed images of students jumping out of the windows and dying, but didn’t care to mention which university it was, leaving all parents worried, of course. The next day everyone here in Moscow was talking about this horrible event. It sets one thinking…
This week another one of our teachers from Belgian visited us here in Moscow. It was really nice to hear some of the latest news from our home country and school in Antwerp. Also, I noticed that my Russian is improving more than I thought. So I was very pleased to be able to tell her that I am really glad I came here and have no regrets whatsoever.
Right, so the rest of the week was rather boring. Lots of classes, things to be arranged, tasks, … On Friday, after the translation course, we met the students from the 5th year who are studying Dutch at the university. My first question: “Why the h*ll would you choose to study a language such as Dutch?”. Apparently, it was not their choice at all. Students here in Moscow have to study the language the State has chosen for them. I do pity them! Afterwards, I was told that I would finally receive my metro card. So, full of courage, I jumped on the metro and went to some office to go and get it. But no no, nothing can ever be that easy here in Russia. There I was told: “No, we can’t find it, try again next week”. No problem, only 1 month late... Long live Russian organization!
Yesterday me and 3 German/Russian girls went to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. Or so we thought we were… When we left, it started to pour rain, but determined as we were, we went straight on. Unfortunately, in the wrong direction (I know, it is starting to get funny). No problem, me and my new open shoes love to walk in the pouring rain without a purpose... Eventually we did find it but were then of course unable to get in, as this weekend there was some kind of world famous Channel Exhibition going on and the museum was overcrowded. Conclusion: “Go home and stay home, Sarah!”.
To forget all our Russian sorrows, me and the girls organised a small party @ours.
All went well until around 01.00am someone knocked on our door. And guess who it was; Russia's well-known security. We all turned pale at once, considering alcohol, smoking, noise, ...are all forbidden in the student's residence. We were in HUGE trouble! But, of course, Russians will always just stay Russian and so the guy sat down and had a drink with us. No need for millions, here in Russia one can buy anything and anyone with some fine vodka. In the end we had a wonderful time, but obviously have to pay the price for it today...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)