Exploration

This week I am feeling better, which makes everything a lot easier!  I am able to think clearly again.  What is reassuring is that it was not just me that was sick.  Every one of the students in our group has been sick within the past two weeks, and a couple are starting in on round two.  Tanya told me that this time of year, everyone gets sick.  I’m thinking it’s the weather, because it’s always damp and it’s starting to get colder.   (A note on the garlic remedy: part of me really hopes that it worked, because I can’t stand the thought of eating it (and still tasting it after brushing my teeth three times that night and twice the next morning) and having it not work.  But the other part of me doesn’t want it to be the remedy that worked because it was just gross!  None the less, I am better, so it doesn’t matter what did it.)

With Saturday came amazing fall weather!  The sun was out, the temperature was comfortable, and most importantly, it wasn’t raining!  This led to a small excursion around the city.  We wound up down by the river in a small park like area called “Naberezhnaya” (Набережная), which, in Russian, means “embankment”.  (I honestly think it sounds prettier if you don't know what the word means...."embankment" doesn't sound very awesome to me.)  When the city was first founded 1000 years ago, this was the spot; the place where the two rivers ran together.  It was amazing.  Words can’t really describe it.  It was just really really nice there.  And being right next to the two rivers was incredible.  In addition to the fountains and flowers, we saw many newlyweds, which isn’t really surprising, because this is an amazing place to take pictures.  The only thing that surprised us was the sheer number of couples that we saw.  We walked around for probably three hours and saw at least ten different sets of brides and grooms.

Yup, we creeped on their wedding photos.

Me with my friends Sasha and Masha.

On Sunday, I had my first taste of caviar.  (Before I go any further, I should mention that I’m not a fan of fish or seafood….not even a little bit.  I draw the line at tuna fish, which I will sometimes eat, but other than that no.  Not even fish sticks, and I don’t think you could consider them even really fish.)  I wish I could say this is an exaggeration, but I did actually gag a little bit.  And I gagged again over the next few days whenever I thought about the caviar.  Here’s the setup: Tanya had a little party at her house on Sunday following the Christening of her grandson, Mark (one of the cutest babies ever, but boy, does he have a set of lungs!), so part of her family was here for a late lunch.  Tanya handed me a plate of food (which was apparently only the first course/salad portion of the meal.  A stew was to follow, thank god, because it was really good and it got the fish taste out of my mouth!) and as I sat down to the table full of Russians, I realized what filled the little pastry on the plate.  I figured that I would at least try the caviar because a) I’m in Russia, and b) I’ve never tried it before, and I figured that if I didn’t try it, I would never know if I liked it or not.  (It ended up being the “or not,” but I’m still glad that I tried it.)  I have no idea if everyone else at the table saw me gag, but I’m kind of hoping that they didn’t.  I did consider eating it, just so that I wouldn’t offend Tanya, but I wasn’t even able to do that – just the thought of doing so sent a ripple of nausea through me, so I can’t even imagine what the actually doing so would have done!  (Good news, Tanya wasn’t offended.)  A side note about meals, and I don’t know if this pertains to all Russians or not, but when Tanya or Nastia fill a glass of wine, it is filled right to the brim of the glass.  This leaves no room for error as they move to clink glasses with you. 

I’ve decided that one thing I miss about the states is the ability to interact with people on the streets and sidewalks.  I like to smile.  (Smiling is my favorite.  I just love to smile!)  But here, that option does not really exist unless I am walking down the sidewalk with the other American students, in which case we are all talking an smiling.  I have found myself looking up when cars beep at each other (in road rage, of course) thinking that it may be someone that I know, and then I remember where I am.  I don’t wave, because, what is it that I’ve been trying to teach you Mom?  You don’t wave unless you know who they are, even if they do beep! haha  But I do look up.  And then I chuckle to myself – on the inside.