Monday - hard day

So that's a bad translation from a Russian saying. But it's very true!

After a lovely weekend, Monday started with the hot water turned off again. That set us all off on the wrong foot. My usual breakfast bunch weren't to be found, so I ate alone at the buffet (small little cafe outside the cafeteria. I get bread with cheese and kielbasa and a hard-boiled egg to go with my coffee.) and walked to class. Everyone was there, but you could tell they were tired. Classes went well, although my seminar this week is really heavy on the information even though we're short on time. The worst was the lunch rush: the cafeteria in the building where we have class is closed for the summer, so we had to walk 10 minutes back to the main building. There was a massive line, so we only had about 5 or 10 minutes to eat before walking back. It's been frustrating to not know which cafes and cafeterias will be open, and if we'll be able to eat affordably or walk 25 minutes to a restaurant, which will cost twice as much. Luckily this has been resolved by the appearance of some fridges (one of which is right in my room!) and the fact that our lunch break has been extended by 20 minutes.

After classes we had a nice cultural experience: we Americans won't just give up. The Russians actually are really good at this, but not in positions of authority. Here's the situation: no one is allowed to take a meal outside of their room or suite. This is apparently the way it's been, and everyone just follows suit. However, we've been bucking the system by eating together in the kitchen. There's no table or chairs, but we stand and make do. We all cook together, and clean up together, so it's nice to also eat together. The ladies who work on the floor to make sure cleanliness and order are preserved (they're called a "dezhurnaya" in Russian) have finally had enough of us, and called in the superior in charge of all the dorms. So, word from above is no more eating in the kitchen. So we ate al fresco last night... We also were told we couldn't put a fridge in the kitchen because 1) no outlets (false) 2) other people will steal our food (probably) and 3) no one else is allowed to, so if they let us, there will be chaos. So different from the dorms in Vilnius where everyone managed to leave the pots and pans, spices and oils, dish soap and sponges out in the kitchen, and share the fridge, and clean up after themselves. It doesn't help that the Russians are xenophobic to begin with, and think people of other nationalities will have special difficulties with preserving the (not really) pristine conditions. It was a frustrating evening, but it ended nicely with 8 of us gathering in one girl's room to share some wine.

Today's already better, and it's my turn to cook. Cheddar cheese was on sale (good, orange, familiar cheddar!!), so that should also help lift spirits. It certainly doesn't hurt that the sun is shining, but the air is still cool enough that we don't melt on the streets. Did I mention there's no air conditioners??