Well, I move on Wednesday. I spoke to Olga today, and I’m going to go over Wednesday afternoon and move my stuff. An offered to help me, so one trip should be all I need. Without my winter clothing I don’t have all that much, but I have a reasonable amount of books. Speaking of- I went with Kristina this weekend to a used book store where I found a book with George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm in one! Recently I had been wondering if Animal Farm had ever made it to the Soviet Union in translation, and it seems that it did. It is rather interesting, however, that while 1984 is credited as a novel, Animal Farm (translated as “The Beastly Court”) is a ‘fairy tale’ and is only about 70 pages long. I’m looking forward to reading it. As I won’t have internet in my new apartment, I should be able to get a lot of reading done.
Today in conversation class, we concluded our topic from last week, ‘superstition’. Our homework had been to write and speak about a superstition either from our native country or that we learned about in Russia that we consider the most ridiculous. When our professor got to the Chinese kid I spoke about last time (Dzin Bin maybe? I’m never really sure about his name) he told us that he didn’t do the correct assignment, and rather thought the assignment was to write about whether we would prefer to stay in our home country or live in Russia (?). He then read us a really lengthy, confusing essay about why he loves China and why it’s the best place in the world, so much better than any of our countries. It was really uncomfortable for all the non-Chinese people in the room (including the professor). It was a fun class. I’m not quite sure why, but the professor asked me a LOT of questions. I don’t know if she was interested in the American perspective or just mine, but every time she asked a question it would be “and how are things in China? And in America? And in Italy? And in America? And in Austria? And in America? America? America?” I didn’t mind. It’s a conversation class, and I talk a lot.
This weekend my friend Magalee from Belgium joined me for tea. She brought me Belgium chocolate which was incredible. She is in my conversation class, and she said last week I surprised her by speaking counter to the stereotypes she had of Americans. I responded by telling her that by showing up with chocolate she fit my Belgian stereotype perfectly.
Friday after class I walked to the main campus with Johann, the new student in our group. He’s from Finland, and has apparently lived in the city for three years already for work. I don’t really understand…he said he has an apartment in France, St. Petersburg, and Helsinki, and that he has also lived in Switzerland and Germany which sounds pretty incredible. He works for a company that builds/designs (I didn’t quite understand) cruise ships. He said his wife doesn’t like St. Petersburg, and moved back to Helsinki. He said it’s a six hour bus ride, which according to him isn’t too bad. I feel that would be very difficult. I think its amazing that he has apartments all over Europe, but I cant imagine living so far apart for three years. I feel like at that point either they would have to compromise or he’d have to make some career changes. If he has apartments all over Europe, he is probably doing fairly well in the company and I would think he could probably decide where he wants to live. Either way, he’s a very nice man and was good company on the walk to the main building.
I was supposed to go to the movies with Vova tonight, but he called and cancelled this afternoon (again). I think this is the third time he’s cancelled on going to the movies. I think in general every time we make plans we have to change them a few times before we actually meet up. I don’t know if that means he’s really busy or just bad at making plans.
Today in conversation class, we concluded our topic from last week, ‘superstition’. Our homework had been to write and speak about a superstition either from our native country or that we learned about in Russia that we consider the most ridiculous. When our professor got to the Chinese kid I spoke about last time (Dzin Bin maybe? I’m never really sure about his name) he told us that he didn’t do the correct assignment, and rather thought the assignment was to write about whether we would prefer to stay in our home country or live in Russia (?). He then read us a really lengthy, confusing essay about why he loves China and why it’s the best place in the world, so much better than any of our countries. It was really uncomfortable for all the non-Chinese people in the room (including the professor). It was a fun class. I’m not quite sure why, but the professor asked me a LOT of questions. I don’t know if she was interested in the American perspective or just mine, but every time she asked a question it would be “and how are things in China? And in America? And in Italy? And in America? And in Austria? And in America? America? America?” I didn’t mind. It’s a conversation class, and I talk a lot.
This weekend my friend Magalee from Belgium joined me for tea. She brought me Belgium chocolate which was incredible. She is in my conversation class, and she said last week I surprised her by speaking counter to the stereotypes she had of Americans. I responded by telling her that by showing up with chocolate she fit my Belgian stereotype perfectly.
Friday after class I walked to the main campus with Johann, the new student in our group. He’s from Finland, and has apparently lived in the city for three years already for work. I don’t really understand…he said he has an apartment in France, St. Petersburg, and Helsinki, and that he has also lived in Switzerland and Germany which sounds pretty incredible. He works for a company that builds/designs (I didn’t quite understand) cruise ships. He said his wife doesn’t like St. Petersburg, and moved back to Helsinki. He said it’s a six hour bus ride, which according to him isn’t too bad. I feel that would be very difficult. I think its amazing that he has apartments all over Europe, but I cant imagine living so far apart for three years. I feel like at that point either they would have to compromise or he’d have to make some career changes. If he has apartments all over Europe, he is probably doing fairly well in the company and I would think he could probably decide where he wants to live. Either way, he’s a very nice man and was good company on the walk to the main building.
I was supposed to go to the movies with Vova tonight, but he called and cancelled this afternoon (again). I think this is the third time he’s cancelled on going to the movies. I think in general every time we make plans we have to change them a few times before we actually meet up. I don’t know if that means he’s really busy or just bad at making plans.
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