4-3-07

4-3-07

I have many reasons to be a happy little camper today. I’ll get to those in a second. First, I’ll go into why, despite these reasons, I’ve still got a little cloud over my head. To begin with, it was raining all day. Rainy days and Mondays and all that. It’s the first real rain we’ve had, the first time I’ve had to really use my umbrella. I didn’t realize what a hazard umbrellas were going to be. It would appear that to the average Russian pedestrian, the umbrella is not merely a tool to keep oneself dry, oh no—it is a tool with which to whack people into doing your bidding on the sidewalk. Or so it would seem. Sometimes back at IU on rainy days, when everyone has their umbrellas out, large groups of people will collide on the sidewalk, going every which way. When this happens, sometimes one of my favorite unconscious on-campus phenomena will take place: We’ll all tilt our umbrellas at such an angle as to avoid everyone else’s umbrellas, and for one second, it’s like we’re all under the same shelter, even though we’re all moving and going different directions.

To hope for something similar here would be foolish. My mama didn’t raise no fool. However, I didn’t expect other people to bang into my umbrella with theirs with quite the force that they managed to. I don’t understand, how does hitting my umbrella and sending droplets of water flying onto you benefit you at all? Whatever. Luckily, I’m taller than average so I can lift my umbrella above most others’ with relative ease. This is especially nice because the vast majority of babushkas are built like tanks, wide and low to the ground, the better to ram into you. This creates an unfortunate side effect. Though I may be able to lift my umbrella above someone else’s, there’s nothing to stop them from slamming theirs into my neck, consciously or unconsciously. Wasn’t that Russian spy that was assassinated in London killed by a pellet shot out of an umbrella? That umbrella was closed, I expect, but it would appear that I should watch out. In the blink of an eye, an umbrella could become lethal.

The other reason I’m gloomy tonight is because I managed to lose 500 rubles, roughly the equivalent of $20. And yes, I’m 99% sure that I simply lost it, it wasn’t pick pocketed. I always wrap the cash in my pocket around my gigantic set of keys: no one’s moving the money without moving those massive puppies. So who, you ask was handling the keys? Me, in the rain, struggling with the umbrella and desperate to get inside my building and out of the rain, fumbling in my pocket. Yeah, it sucks. Perhaps this is some sort of karmic balance after I won that 40 Euro on the ship to Stockholm.

But really, I’m not letting it get me down that much. Thinking of those Euro gave me an idea, I’ve still got 30 Euro left, I think I’m going to change it over tomorrow. I’m not going to be visiting another Euro-using country while I’m here, and it seems silly to hold on to it to change it into Pounds for my one night in London. That’ll be nice. Now that I’m composing this post and thinking of the reasons to counteract the rain and the lost 500 rubles, I’m feeling better.

I was out like a light last night but at 3:30 I was woken by the people who live next-door having an argument in the hallway. I would seem as though they had “taken it outside,” but it was stupid because if I could hear it, then whoever else was in the apartment with them could hear it as well. It was one of the two apartments that share the third floor with us. They both appear to be owned by fairly well off families. The doors to both are new and have little video cameras so that the people inside can see who’s at the door. One of them has a yappy little dog, too. I’ve only seen two people going in or out of either of them, but I know the sound of their doorbells, and they have frequent guests. I vaguely remember last night, while half-asleep, making up some elaborate story about who they were, but that’s all gone now. Unfortunately, after they stopped arguing, it felt like I didn’t sleep at all between then and when my alarm went off, even though I know I did. I hate that feeling.

I’ve been having really vivid dreams lately. I became an aunt in one dream (No, the dream never said whose it was) and had to carry the baby around for the rest of the dream, which included learning to fly a plane. In another, I was desperate to get a bunch of math homework done before school. Man, I’m glad I never have to worry about that again. Last night, I was canoeing somewhere. Maybe it’s the cabbage? At home, I usually have crazy dreams after I eat spicy food. I’m certain that’s not the case here, because I haven’t had a spice stronger than dill (Although I suppose that’s actually an herb) since Taco Bar in Stockholm. Perhaps it’s the cabbage? I think I’ll just blame it on the cabbage.

So, reasons to be happy! The CIEE wireless is marvelous, especially coming right now, right before I have to register for classes. It also allowed me to final download some software updates for my computer and catch up on some podcasts.

Also, my comments yesterday about Marina’s cooking continue to hold true. I’m really hoping this is a sign of things to come. Tonight’s chicken noodle soup (Noodles have also appeared in my soups after spring break) had dill in it. Not a huge deal, because dill’s pretty ubiquitous in Russian cuisine, but a change nonetheless, and a positive one. Also, my hot dog and noodles (Alas, not the same as cut up hot dog in macaroni and cheese) were accompanied by a cold cucumber and cabbage salad. Although more cabbage isn’t really a reason to celebrate.

Reason three: Tomorrow is Italian BMT day at Subway! My mom said Subway should be paying me for the endorsements I’m giving it, but really it’s a nice place to go. It’s right by the Ermitage, too, so I’m thinking tomorrow I’m going to try to talk Hannah and Marisa into joining me for some BMTs and then head over to the Ermitage (It’s free, why not?) and finally find the stairs to the third floor, to the 20th century collection. That sounds silly, but there’s only one stairway and I have no idea where it is, so I’m going to need my guidebook. I’m pretty sure I’ve wandered around the entire second floor and I haven’t seen it, and the maps at the Ermitage don’t help much, so it’ll be some kind of quest.

And lastly, reason 4. I got mail today. A large, fat, heavy, padded envelope from Maggie. With four bars of super dark chocolate. Oh yes, I was the envy of the program. I shared one of the smaller bars, but I plan on hoarding the rest, stretching it out to make it last the whole time. This would be a good time for a letter:

Dear Russia,

You’re forgiven. Let’s have these April Showers bring some May Flowers, all right?

Much love,
Sally