Around the World...and then some

Ирина Ивановна

Irina Ivanovna is about as Russian as they come. She is a fairly short woman most likely in her mid- to late-fifties who doesn't believe in the word "silence". She lives alone in a relatively big apartment just outside the center of Moscow that contains as many trinkets as you could possibly imagine. When I first met her, we exchanged greetings and she immediately followed with, "Now, tell me if I'm getting your name right: Re-be-kah". I looked at her blankly becuase I had no idea what she had just said. Karen, our RC here in Moscow, helped out. "Oh, no," I finally responded. "Call me Becky." She stared at me as if she was no longer sure she was standing in front of the correct student. Karen again helped out by explaining that "Rebecca" was the long form and "Becky" the short form. The look on Irina Ivanovna's face didn't change, but she did try a few times "Bye-ka" "De-ki" "Be-ki". She has since asked me at least 10 times if she is saying it correctly.

Irina Ivanovna has not stopped talking since I arrived. Everything that I do gets compared to something that Masha did. Masha was an exchange student she hosted a few years ago who was from the states, but born in Kiev and therefore fluent in Russian. Needless to say, Masha's experience was a little different from mine - and trust me, because I'm hearing all about her experience. I also hear all about Irina Ivanovna's daughter, who she went to Thailand with last May. Her daughter is married and doesn't live at home. Although it is normal for Russians to live at home through their thirties, even once married, Irina Ivanovna's daughter wanted "an apartment all her own and two Mercedes and all that" (I was told this accompanied with a look of scorn or something of the sort). Irina Ivanovna also has a "Physic friend" who she constantly talks about. Now, just to be clear, this is not her husband. Her husband died a few years ago, but her Physic is just a good friend. (Thank you, Irina Ivanovna, because I honestly thought you would refer to your husband as "your physic".)

She also, of course, wants to hear all about my family and I unfortunatley disappointed her by not having pictures of my mom and dad, but promised I would once I got my computer up and running. Irina Ivanovna and I had quite a conversation about the existence of the state of New York and the difference between it and the city of New York, and how she possibly could have never heard of the state. She calls me her "little sunshine" and I'm such a "smart one" whenever I do anything from putting my clothes away in the closet to finding the Park Pobedi alone with a few friends. I hadn't been in the apartment but an hour before I was well-informed that the next day would be cool, but not too cool, but wear a jacket, and rain was possible so bring an umbrella (interestingly enough, I was once again so smart when it turned out to be sunny and beautiful and I had conveniently "forgotten" my umbrella). According to Irina Ivanovna, I'm already not eating enough, and apparently lost weight from a time in one of the pictures I showed her.

Half the time when Irina Ivanovna talks, I find myself smiling and nodding and hoping she's discussing something that deserves a smile and a nod. But I actually am surprised at how much I really can understand. I find my mind translating something she just said and then suddenly realizing that, of course, she has continued and listening again just in time to catch the next few words she has said, and then of course the same thing happening. Overall, though, she is wonderful and I'm truly enjoying living with her. Just yesterday she said she couldn't believe I had only arrived 3 days ago, for it seems like I've been with her forever.

posted by Becky @ 5:06 AM