I started off the morning meeting with a new student, which went very well. Although because of the closes metros for maintenance I miscalculated the amount of time necessary to get there and when I tried to text her to let her know, since I was in the metro, there was of course no signal. So I texted as soon as I could and arrived about 15 minutes late. That aside, it actually went very well, and it turns out she actually is required at her job to type up files and paperwork in English and do conference calls to other companies in Brazil and India.
Although they speak English, she doesn't have much experience speaking, only reading and writing, as usual... and because of their accents and her lack of hearing English on a regular basis, she frequently is unable to understand what they're saying. Same story, different person. Everyone can read and write, but has trouble speaking. The meeting went well, and I got to meet her family, which was interesting because they mostly live in Los Angeles and are actually only visiting. So we spoke in English for a while which was very cool, and as per usual they looked at me like I was kind of crazy for wanting to stay here, but that's certainly nothing new.
The last Saturday of May each year in Russia is called Chemists' Day and chemists across the country celebrate by ... well they're Russian, I think you can guess. I got to experience something particularly awesome as soon as I got into Moscow though. When I got to the metro station at Kon'kovo to meet with Sasha and Лёша, there was apparently some kind of Police academy nearby or something and there were like 50 cops in the metro. About this time when I'm standing there waiting for them to arrive, about 4 or 5 guys made the mistake of trying to jump the turn-styles and because there were so many Police, the metro guard had to do his job, and blew his whistle, taking off after them.
First off, the kids were surprised when he took after them and after an initial OH CRAP RUN moment they jetted away, and this cop took off faster than I've ever seen anyone besides Usain Bolt run. About 10 of the Officers in the subway saw and dropped their bags and took off after them as well. These kids were booking it, but this guy managed to keep up, running down one side of the metro as they ran down the other, and I don't know what happened to some of the guys, but at least one of them got side-tackled at the steps on the far side of the metro as he tried to scale them. Thoroughly amusing, and I really wish they had been there to see it. Unfortunately right as this was going on, they texted me to meet them by the bar outside the metro.
So I headed out of the metro laughing about what had happened and met with Sasha and Лёша to go to the grocery to pick up some food for a picnic. We headed a few stations over and met with Anya before heading to a park at.... Kolomenskaya station maybe? I don't really remember honestly. Only that it's on the green line and the park was absolutely awesome.
We brought the frisbee of course and had fun teaching Anya to play. It was particularly amusing since we showed up dressed to play obviously, and in traditional Russian woman fashion, she dressed to look beautiful and was in no way dressed to play frisbee. So she played in a dress and stalkings ... awesome. We played for several hours and had an awesome time, despite an art class walking up about 20 feet away to draw flowers and the fact that we kept hitting them with the frisbee. They kept glaring at us, but I mean ... you chose to sit next to the people playing sports. I am sorry, really I am, but you aren't allowed to be mad at us.
Then a group of women walked up with a blanket and set up for a picnic right in the middle of the space we were playing in forcing us to throw it over them and again, they got hit a few times.... again, sorry... but you shouldn't have sat there. We got more than an eyeful when a couple walked up and stripped naked to sun-bathe right in the middle of the park surrounded by guys playing frisbee, futbol, and families with small children having picnics. I ... don't even know how to respond to that. I'm sure you got a nice tan, but I'm sitting here expecting people to like... move away from them or something. But nothing. Everyone just went about their business like this is common and nothing to think twice about. Just strange, I don't know how to respond to that.
There was some more exciting events surrounding bathrooms when I went to find one and ended up getting lost in the park because the signs were rather unclear, and I got lost for about 2 hours. At least I know my way around from now on and that won't happen again. Then, when I finally found it (turns out it was right next to where we were eating and I just headed the wrong way to begin with ... oi oi oi), several women dressed like they were headed to the opera just walked in while men were standing at the urinal. All the men looked to the side at the women, one said, "This is for men." The women explained that the lines in the women's room were too long, and besides, they didn't care, and no one said anything else, just turning their attention back to the urinal to finish their business as if nothing unusual had happened... as usual.
Not sure I'll get used to the "Whatever, who cares? This is Russia?" attitude, but I'll try my best. Headed home in the late evening completely exhausted, and only managed to get to bed before falling over. Still, I definitely had an awesome day, and certainly eventful. I hope everyone had as awesome of a day as I did. Not a cloud in the sky, and couldn't have hoped for a better day to spend in the park))) Take care all, talk to you tomorrow!
Although they speak English, she doesn't have much experience speaking, only reading and writing, as usual... and because of their accents and her lack of hearing English on a regular basis, she frequently is unable to understand what they're saying. Same story, different person. Everyone can read and write, but has trouble speaking. The meeting went well, and I got to meet her family, which was interesting because they mostly live in Los Angeles and are actually only visiting. So we spoke in English for a while which was very cool, and as per usual they looked at me like I was kind of crazy for wanting to stay here, but that's certainly nothing new.
The last Saturday of May each year in Russia is called Chemists' Day and chemists across the country celebrate by ... well they're Russian, I think you can guess. I got to experience something particularly awesome as soon as I got into Moscow though. When I got to the metro station at Kon'kovo to meet with Sasha and Лёша, there was apparently some kind of Police academy nearby or something and there were like 50 cops in the metro. About this time when I'm standing there waiting for them to arrive, about 4 or 5 guys made the mistake of trying to jump the turn-styles and because there were so many Police, the metro guard had to do his job, and blew his whistle, taking off after them.
First off, the kids were surprised when he took after them and after an initial OH CRAP RUN moment they jetted away, and this cop took off faster than I've ever seen anyone besides Usain Bolt run. About 10 of the Officers in the subway saw and dropped their bags and took off after them as well. These kids were booking it, but this guy managed to keep up, running down one side of the metro as they ran down the other, and I don't know what happened to some of the guys, but at least one of them got side-tackled at the steps on the far side of the metro as he tried to scale them. Thoroughly amusing, and I really wish they had been there to see it. Unfortunately right as this was going on, they texted me to meet them by the bar outside the metro.
So I headed out of the metro laughing about what had happened and met with Sasha and Лёша to go to the grocery to pick up some food for a picnic. We headed a few stations over and met with Anya before heading to a park at.... Kolomenskaya station maybe? I don't really remember honestly. Only that it's on the green line and the park was absolutely awesome.
We brought the frisbee of course and had fun teaching Anya to play. It was particularly amusing since we showed up dressed to play obviously, and in traditional Russian woman fashion, she dressed to look beautiful and was in no way dressed to play frisbee. So she played in a dress and stalkings ... awesome. We played for several hours and had an awesome time, despite an art class walking up about 20 feet away to draw flowers and the fact that we kept hitting them with the frisbee. They kept glaring at us, but I mean ... you chose to sit next to the people playing sports. I am sorry, really I am, but you aren't allowed to be mad at us.
Then a group of women walked up with a blanket and set up for a picnic right in the middle of the space we were playing in forcing us to throw it over them and again, they got hit a few times.... again, sorry... but you shouldn't have sat there. We got more than an eyeful when a couple walked up and stripped naked to sun-bathe right in the middle of the park surrounded by guys playing frisbee, futbol, and families with small children having picnics. I ... don't even know how to respond to that. I'm sure you got a nice tan, but I'm sitting here expecting people to like... move away from them or something. But nothing. Everyone just went about their business like this is common and nothing to think twice about. Just strange, I don't know how to respond to that.
There was some more exciting events surrounding bathrooms when I went to find one and ended up getting lost in the park because the signs were rather unclear, and I got lost for about 2 hours. At least I know my way around from now on and that won't happen again. Then, when I finally found it (turns out it was right next to where we were eating and I just headed the wrong way to begin with ... oi oi oi), several women dressed like they were headed to the opera just walked in while men were standing at the urinal. All the men looked to the side at the women, one said, "This is for men." The women explained that the lines in the women's room were too long, and besides, they didn't care, and no one said anything else, just turning their attention back to the urinal to finish their business as if nothing unusual had happened... as usual.
Not sure I'll get used to the "Whatever, who cares? This is Russia?" attitude, but I'll try my best. Headed home in the late evening completely exhausted, and only managed to get to bed before falling over. Still, I definitely had an awesome day, and certainly eventful. I hope everyone had as awesome of a day as I did. Not a cloud in the sky, and couldn't have hoped for a better day to spend in the park))) Take care all, talk to you tomorrow!
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