A General Update

okay so it's been a while since I last wrote and
quite a bit has been going on (the last two emails I
felt I’d been stretching for something to say so I
thought I’d take a break) first of all we went to a
hockey game here, which actually wasn't quite as crazy
as you'd think. sure the Russians are drunk and crazy,
but there was no fighting on the ice or in the crowds,
in fact the only obnoxious thing about it was that
everyone there seems to bring their duck calls and
blow them all the time(apparently they really took to
"the mighty ducks" here).
then let me see the next day I went out to dinner at
"the idiot", a Dostoevsky themed restaurant with
excellent Russian food and for once there wasn't
anyone stripping, gambling or for sale. This week we
also went to the banya again, I really can't say
enough good things about the banya, just really jolly
really drunk Russians trying to sweat out the
Americans can it get any better??? This time however
the outdoor pool's lights were on, not only making for
a bit of an awkward time (sure were no longer modest
but does anyone want a spotlight??) but also it shed
light on the fact that the water was green!!! Yikes!!!
Also we talked to a Finnish regular who told us that
the banya we frequent was the only one operational
during the blockade (sure we can't eat, but let's go
to the banya) apparently that was also the last time
the water was changed.
This week was also international women's day which
can be best summed up by The General "for women's day
it is tradition for us 1 hour before work to make
table of our desk and start drinking... so be careful
on your way home. Of course Russian men cannot really
celebrate women's day so instead we get drunk" (what
else would Russians do with a day off) and he was
quite right, Wednesday everywhere you looked you saw
men not with beers or bottles in their hands as you
see on a normal day but men (and women) staggering
drunk, unable to drink anymore, taking diggers on the
ice sidewalks (yes it's still cold, still frozen, and
still winter despite the fact that the Russian spring
starts march 1). The General is really the most
amazing part of my life, he is so filled with Russian
nationalism, biases, and sayings that you are in
stitches from the beginning of class to the end. "The
only hard currency in Russia was vodka" -referencing
the inflation right after the soviet collapse "In
Egypt you could wake up hung over kill a few slaves
and feel better, you couldn't do that in Russia"-
explaining the difference between serfs and slaves
"it's like when Russians took a cosmonaut and put him
on an airplane thinking he would still be an expert,
he dropped his pencil and looked up" -referencing god
knows what but it was hysterical.
Now for those of you keeping track at home I am
taking a slight vacation from writing, as today I head
off to Moscow for 3 days and then another 7 in Kiev
and transit. I'm finished with the evil Tatyana,
finally out of that babushka's reach, I took my final
today. wish me luck in Moscow, don't worry I’ll leave
big L some flowers for all of you, I know you miss
him. ell