In Which Human Rights Are Painful

24.11.2008

On the way home from class, I saw a cafe I had never noticed, before... It was called "Де-Факто / Кафе Учёта Событий" (De-Fakto - Kafe Uchyota Sobytij). De Facto - Cafe Calculation of Events. What in the name of God? That's probably the worst cafe in Petersburg. I kind of want to go, now.

Other than that, the day was kind of painful. I wore my fur hat for the first time, and looked like an arctic explorer doing so (photos soon). Because... IT WAS SNOWING. AGAIN. Basically I fell twice today and looked like a jackass doing so. It's not like you can ANTICIPATE the fall. The first time was no more than two minutes after leaving the apartment, and I was being CAREFUL. The second time, I was just walking along the sidewalk, fine and dandy, thinking about homework, on the way back from class, when suddenly, "Wait, why the hell am I on the ground?"

Some jackass left the windows open in our room for grammar, ALL WEEKEND, so the room was COLD AS FUCK despite heating being on and leaving the door open. As a result, I couldn't think in class, and so on.

Other than that the day was fairly uneventful. I finished and sent one paper for human rights, and Andrei Vladimirovich immediately asked for my OTHER paper as well. I told him I hadn't finished it yet, then asked if I could turn it in on Wednesday, but that is 'too late.' I haven't even started on it. I really wanted to write both papers in Russian, but I simply don't have the time. So, damn. I think he's getting tired of me, but I can't tell. He dragged Anya into his office today and yelled at her, I think -- at least, she came out and said he was getting after her about something. Then, guess what.... ANOTHER GIRL JOINED OUR CLASS, TODAY. What the hell? I think she might be a prospective, or something.

He basically used today just to recap what he's taught semester, probably because I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY STUDENT WHO'S BEEN IN THE CLASS SINCE THE BEGINNING. So he kept calling on me to explain things, and I clearly don't know how to express myself, and he was getting impatient.

Speaking of which, I better go WRITE THAT PAPER.

Actually, one cultural enigma I haven't unwrapped, yet. I know that in America, when you don't like someone, it is culturally polite to be perfectly pleasant and friendly to that someone. I am wondering if it's the same here? Because he's fairly nice to me whenever he sees me, and smiles and says hi when we see each other. But when the other guy in the class showed up late, today, as per usual, Andrei just kind of grimaced and said hello. I think I may ask Dr. Vertkin on Wednesday, since he seems more interested in discussing the fine points of Russian and American culture than other professors.