up late

I have lapsed in my efforts to reform vaguely sworn-off habits. Rather, I am currently lapsing as I watch the sun rise out my window. Anyone who really cares can calculate the time change. HOWEVER I have literally no responsibilities or plans for tomorrow, so whenever I happen to wake up, I will work on homework, relax, etc. I actually might have a plan to go rollerblading with one of the tutors and whomever else she invites.

This morning on my way to the bus stop (about 50 meters from my front door) I realized that I had forgotten my keys. At first, this didn't seem like a problem, but after thinking for a couple seconds, I realized that it was actually a very big problem and I needed to fix it. With no other real option since I couldn't get back into the building, I called Наталя Natalia to explain to her my silly situation. I felt bad about the whole thing because I didn't want to make her stop whatever she was doing just because I can't remember the three things I need for the day. On the bright side, I had a full telephone conversation in Russian.

Of course, this means I didn't actually know what was said. But I said something about waiting by the door, and she enthusiastically affirmed my guess (Да! Да!). So I was standing by the door, and all of the sudden, Наталя Natalia started yelling at me from out the fifth-floor window. I had barely realized what was happening when she tossed the key into the bushes next to me, safely wrapped in a plastic sandwich bag. I yelled, Спосибо! Thanks! and scurried off to my bus.

I think my medium-sized test today went well. Of course, I always think this about tests, while the actually results tend to vary wildly. So we will see.

I'm starting to feel more comfortable around people, in class, and the like. I realized this because about 15 minutes before lunch, after two hours and 45 minutes of class, I started complaining (in Russian) about how there was no food in my stomach, I needed to eat so as to not die, I was very hungry. This wasn't as disruptive as it sounds; the class had entered a sort of free-conversation phase. Anyway, the point is that I'm finding some kind of comfort zone. It really is a friendly group.

After classes and about an hour of sitting around, a group of us walked to a store that sells notebooks, other school supplies, DVDs, and all sorts of other things. I bought a miniature notebook (smaller than a wallet) to write down new words that I learn outside of class. Ariel has one and his vocabulary is about twelve times larger than mine, so I think I might benefit from imitating him. Or at least adopting some of his habits.

I walked all the way home from Smolny today...by myself! It was probably my first entirely solo excursion, and also the first time I walked home. Not really a very long walk, but fun to look around the neighborhood, take some pictures, stop every few blocks to double check the map.

Tonight we (the entire group) met at Мариинский театр Mariinsky Theatre. We watched and listened to a performance of Tchaikovsky's Евгений Онегин Eugene Onegin. I really enjoyed it. I had never heard the music before, nor have I ever listened to a Tchaikovsky opera. The theatre is beautiful and we had nice box seats. The plot, originally written by Пушкин Pushkin, is perfect for opera: a love triangle, some crossfire, a murder, and a touch of irony.

After the opera, Ariel and I sat for a long time and ate cheap sushi with Ilana, an American, an '08 college grad, who now teaches English. We met her on the escalator and she lives near our metro stop. I have permanently learned the word for salmon! (Лосось.) This is a very important word.

Pictures of the theatre, my walk, and the movie theatre from yesterday.