Babushka Number Two

Privyet :)

Well, as you may have guessed, this post will mostly introduce you to my new babushka. I feel it could be quite a long one and would very much recommend you go and get a cup of tea (or some borsch) if you are intending to get to the end of it.

Can't believe I haven't even been back for a week yet, it's been so busy here, but all is looking very good indeed for this term.

So. All I can say about Wednesday was that I felt like a very bad person - Babushka was very angry that I'd left it until two days before to tell her that I was moving (and that's fair enough I guess) and reeled off a list of tips for how I could be a better little girl for my next host as well as ways I had disappointed her, but then on Thursday things changed, she was all lovely and we left things on a good note, she even told me I could ring up for a chat or pop round for some tea if I liked (I would, of course, provide the tea as Russian tea is not the greatest).

My new babushka is quite a bit older than the first one and so far seems very funny, kind and generous. She greeted us with "I'm deaf, almost blind and a little bit silly" which I loved, although our first meeting is something I'd quite like to forget - as I tell you this next story I can assure you that I'll be cringing. Is that how you spell cringing?

Somehow, since moving here, my friend and I have acquired quite a lot of stuff, and that is an understatement. We had to take separate taxis to move flats. We got to the new place which is much more central, rang the doorbell, and our new babushka - a friendly and bald lady - came down to greet us. To our horror we discovered that there was no lift in the building as it is quite old, and we were on the fourth floor. Uh oh. So we left some of our bags downstairs and started taking others up, the babushka tried to help but was struggling, bless her, so we told her to wait for us in her flat. On our next trip up the stairs with luggage one of her neighbours came to help us out and I decided to strike up a conversation, just the standard "So do you live in these flats too? We're from England and are moving in upstairs" la la la. Strangely, when we had finished, this lady followed us into the flat and we both assumed she lived there too, but then, well, she took off her coat..and her wig…

There is nothing you can do in this situation to improve things right?

Moving on. Please.

When we first arrived and settled down for a snack in the kitchen with her I feel she tried to get her own back from this, erm, wig situation, by making me try this beetroot jelly she had which was her favourite (or so she had me believe) I went all out spreading it on my bread, took a big bite and I can honestly say that I thought my insides were being ripped out, it was that spicy. Struggled to reply to her question of whether or not I liked it, but with a smile on my face (not sure how) I said "hmm, it's okay - quite a strong flavour though".

A couple of the things she has said have made me chuckle to myself, the first one was "If I'm ever in a bad mood, just come in and tell me to sort myself out" closely followed by "I'll provide you with breakfast, of course, have it whatever time of day or night you like, but if I'm asleep don't wake me up, just help yourself to whatever - meat, dumplings, porridge etc".

The next day we had breakfast with her at about 12, all of us in pyjamas, loving life. I have been informed that tomorrow morning we'll be having chicken stir fry and rice before school. Not sure I'll be able to cope with that, but why not hey?!

Her flat is quite different to the old one, it's boiling in here for starters -  I feel like bacon, which is horrible because I now keep thinking about bacon and missing it. But it sure is nice and toasty :). It also has wallpaper with the buildings of St Petersburg on it, now I think that is pretty cool.

Getting wifi was a bit of a struggle at first - when my friend asked her for the password she replied "I'm not too sure really, can't you try and guess it?" But alas, all that is sorted now and I am writing this blog from my new bedroom, which has a door. A DOOR :).

So, now onto the olympics (you're doing well if you're still with me here) It's quite exciting being in here while it's all going on, and, in Russian terms I'm not THAT far from Sochi (Google says 29 hours on foot, compared to the 111 hours to Yakutsk). I even saw a little dog wearing a tracksuit, what more could you want? (this reminds me a little bit of Bolivia <3)

Teaching is still a lot of fun, started tutoring a girl at her house and, after each lesson, her dad insists that I stay and have some caviar etc with them, winner winner.

Finally, I'll leave you with another embarrassing moment (like you need another one?!). There are sooo many flyerers in St Petersburg, especially in the centre, and I usually avoid being swamped with leaflets by saying in Russian "I don't understand, I'm English" (I know, it's sneaky), but for some reason, on our way out the other evening, this phrase did not come out well at all and I ended up saying "Sorry, I'm an English ladies" which made the guy laugh. A lot. He nearly fell over.

That's more than enough for this post, if you're a post sending person, don't send me anything to my old address please :) and if you're not a post sending person, send me some post :) hehe.

Joking.

But if you want to, I do love getting post.

Lots of love, I'll add some photos at some point.

xxx