Sergei asked if I would like to experience real Russian food. I said YES! That is why I am here. A few hours later he tells me that we will go to Stas and Marina’s house the following night for dinner and we will have окрошка (a-krosh-ka). This meal consists of diced meats (it can be sausages, or meats), cucumbers, radishes, dill and the white part of a boiled egg. Once it is all put together, you spoon out some in a bowl, pour Kvass on top, dollop some sour cream and then add some salt. They all sat and watched me as I took the first bite (or at least that’s how I felt) and, of course, asked me right away if I liked it. And … I really, really like it! It was so good that I had more.
For those of you who might not know what Kvass is, here is my best explanation of it. Kvass is a very popular Russian drink. Not knowing quite how to explain what it tastes like I went to Wikipedia. Sometimes called in English a bread drink, it is a fermented beverage made from black rye or rye bread (which contributes to its light or dark colour).
Sveta is teaching me how to make it because I shared with her and Dima that I would like to make окрошко when I return home, but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find the Kvass, so she told me she would teach me how to make it.
My evening at Stas and Marina’s house was so humbling. I knew that though they were so happy to make this meal for me that it might have put a little bit of a stretch on their budget. So, why am I humbled? I am humbled because every time I see Stas and Marina they have smiles from ear to ear. I am humbled because they open their arms and home and make me feel so welcome. They asked if I would bring some vitamins over from the US. They knew the brand (Kirkland) and they asked if I would bring vitamins for adults and their 2 children (one being an infant). I am humbled after watching Marina glow and coo over the vitamins in front of her I realized that I take vitamins for granted.
On Friday, Dima announced that the elevator was back in service. I said, “Oh, that’s great. I think I will continue to take the stairs.”
“Oh? But it is so hot,” he said with such a look of surprise and the “oh” was coupled with a look of disbelief.
“Yes, but I think I need the exercise,” I replied, yet what I was thinking is ‘what happens if I get stuck in that elevator by myself?’ after Sergei mentioned that it takes awhile before someone might come to fix an elevator in a building.
Later that night when I was dropped off, I headed in the front door and stopped and stared at the elevator realizing that it would not only take my breath away to walk the 8 flights, but I would be sweating something terrible by the time I reached the front door of Sveta and Dima’s apartment. There is one thing I have learned in the last four days -- yes, it is possible to literally be dripping sweat just be standing still in 96 degree temperature and humidity that feels like a sauna. After one second, I decided to go with the stairs. I paced myself and made it to the 4th floor and then I stopped. I stared at the elevator as if it were some demon ready to jump out and get me. I pressed the button nervously and heard the elevator come quickly to my rescue. The door opened and still I was thinking that I shouldn’t take the elevator but my legs continued to move forward into the cubicle called an elevator. I pushed the button for the 8th floor and rode the rest of the 4 floors up, relieved when the doors opened and I wasn’t sweating.
Here is a list of things I did saw or experienced in the last 4 days:
• attended a Russian high school graduation – complete with a young boy gyrating like Elaine on Seinfeld.
• the lake (beach) – complete with the bugs the size of grasshoppers (no exaggeration)
• Russian language lessons – and being able to greet people in public
• riding several different buses and learning my way around town via bus
• more Russian hospitality – complete with stuffed chicken and Russian pickles
• Globus supermarket
• the country market – complete with an old Russian babushka pushing me out of the way
• visiting a summer camp for orphans and playing futbol with the young boys
• an underground club – complete with watching an old Russian flick
• Pasha’s apartment :)
• the family who used an American blow-up bed as a raft in the lake
• feeling like a mute at the orphan summer camp – it was the only way I could disguise being American since “foreigners” are not allowed in the camps
• a typical Russian lunch
• peace every time I round the corner from the elevator towards the door that marks my home for this 3 weeks
• seeing someone I have not seen in 3 years and excited because I wondered what happened to this person
• learning how to make Kvass
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