So… wow. I second my earlier opinion that Russia wants me dead. Last night started incredibly boring. Everyone else had an afternoon class, so I went home and took a nap. I guess everyone went out to dinner afterwards, and Nikita and Jan were sleeping, so I hadn’t heard from anyone. A Thursday night with nothing to do! So, I made myself some supper (I need to eat all of my food soon, as the weather is getting warmer, and all my frozen goods on my windowsill are thawing) and watched HIMYM and the Simpsons online. Finally, I got a very cryptic text from Nikita… my Russian really isn’t that good, and it is even worse when you throw typos in the mix. I thought he was saying he needed sleep, and he actually meant he was getting up. In my defense, нока, is not a real word. But, in the meantime, I had gotten invited to a party by cute Czech guy. So, I got dressed/pretty (I hadn’t put make-up on to go to class, so I was hag-like by Russian standards).
The party was… well. A room about the size of mine (small) with about 12 people. Czechs, Poles, Russians, Brits… probably a few others. They all played Never Have I Ever, but, considering how limited my Russian is, I decided to sit out. I had an translate the good ones for me, but I think out of embarrassment he didn’t explain the ones he drank on… I spoke very little. I know I need to practice, but I am still very embarrassed. Actually, the party eventually got checked on my the cops… But they had managed to hide the alcohol bottles (booze isn’t allowed in the dorms), and enough people were drinking tea and juice and eating blini that we claimed it was a Menslinitsa party. I don’t think they are all that dumb…
The other interesting thing was that one of the Russian girls, Katya… well, she was a trip. But she has started a mentoring program to set a Russian up with a foreign student to help lessen culture shock. But she and the British girl, Joanna, both studied Spanish, so I listened to Russpanol. This was incredibly amusing for me.
The party finally broke up as I was in the restroom. I was a little worried, as I came on Jan’s invite, and he had disappeared. I was invited to play Moscow Monopoly, but decided to find my friends instead.
Everyone was in the stairwell smoking… Essentially everyone here smokes (except Jan and myself) and it is messing with my lungs. We decided to go to the café in sector b. First, we crashed a German party…
This one room had 2 German girls, 2 cute Nordic-looking German boys, and what I can only assume was a German skinhead. He was large, had a big beard, was incredibly amused that I was American, exhausted his English by saying “I want to be a Republican sonofabitch” and started asking me if I had Slavic roots. Kolya and Nicholai had already left, and Jan was walking out the door… I was petrified they would leave me there, but Jan grabbed my hand and made sure I made it out.
We went and picked up 2 Czech girls and a Spanish girl, and made it to sector b. I just bought a Fanta, and the very nice Spanish girl, Marina, spilled Jan’s very hot tea on me. She studied English in school, but couldn’t speak it any more after a month in Russia. I studied Spanish in school, and couldn’t speak it anymore after a month here. But I understood her Spanish, and she understood my English. Enter Russpanolglish.
So, next we went to Jan’s room. On the way, I slipped on the ice. Quite badly. I have a giant bruise on my thigh, and I hit my head on the ice. My headache hasn’t abated in about 14 hours, so I’m a little worried I have a concussion. We lost a few of the boys and Marina, and had to run to Jan’s room as the creepy German guy was in the hallway. They talked in Czech, and then Jan would translate. Marina finally came back, along with the boys, plus Radik (Pole) and Gawad (French). I ended up talking American politics with Gawad for awhile.
Once again, I got up to go to the restroom, and came back and everyone left. And then I had one of my life’s most awkward exchanges ever. *Insert Mixed Messages Follies*
Essentially, an and I had been flirting for a few days, and I had actually grown to like him. After everyone left, he closed the door behind them, put his arms around me… and explained that he is “unfortunately already has relationship.” Which I was more or less ok with, but I didn’t understand why he had to snuggle me to tell me…
So, being really, really embarrassed, and pretty confused, I more or less covered my face, muttered, “its ok, hon… its ok. Thanks for everything.” And went home. And was really depressed.
I can’t honestly explain why I was so upset. I’ve been outright rejected before, and this was more of a “sorry, I have prior obligations,” sort of thing. Besides, after my less than elegant departure, I texted him apologizing, and saying I didn’t want to ruin our friendship by making a pass at him. And he was super-kind about this, saying I had nothing to be sorry about and he was flattered that I showed interest.
But I think I just had a minor existential crisis. I realized all the opportunities that I missed in the past because I had a boyfriend at the time, and didn’t want to do anything too exciting. And I wept bitter tears for everyone. I mean, Jan is going to graduate school here for several years, his girlfriend is still in C.R., and chances are, they will break up eventually. And we will have missed our chance together. And not even just me… this happens to everyone. How many people have missed their shots at a better happiness (I don’t think we only get one chance at happiness, but we could always be happier) because of poor timing? So… yeah. Depressed. I texted poor Nikita who, friend that he was, came to my rescue.
Which is how I ended up on the stairway at Moscow State University, crying to my new Russian friend as he chain smoked.
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