Getting intimate with a Russian girl, “Next it was my turn to show the girls something…”

Stop reading just the headlines! After the mornings success at immigration we were on to of the world as they in theory would allow Elena to leave Russia although there were loose ends we still had to tidy up.
We were told by New Zealand Immigration that Elena would need an international Medical Certificate from a certain Clinic and a Police Certificate from Elena’s home city some 2800km away.

We marched through the city finding the fastest was to the Medical Centre. I paced up and down the grey corridor looking out onto the falling leaves that were now building up thick a blanket against the trunks of the thin white trunks of silver birch trees. Elena returned with the devastating  news. She had a previous thyroid problem in the past that could hinder her application. Her papers now had to go to London as New Zealand is a British Colony to get certified and approved – this process could take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.
With this news we knew that there was not must more we could do and I still had plenty of time before I had to return to New Zealand.

Moscow - Wayne on Red Square
Taking the afternoon off from all the paperwork we enjoyed sight seeing with Galina. St Basil’s CathedralRed Square, The History Museum and the Kremlin. So much history in one place. I just had to buy a set of Matryoshka – Russian Nesting Dolls. Elena advised me that they were expensive and that I should wait but me being me I bought them anyway. Elena tried to get me into most places as a Russian as there is one price for Russians and almost triple the price for Americanski (a term for ALL tourists) but when I pulled out my camera to take a picture if St Basil’s my exotic camera gave me away.

Next is was my turn to show the girls something, as I spied a McDonald’s Restaurant and offered to shout the girls a treat. Here  it was 1997 and Elena had never been to McDonald’s as there wasn’t one McD’s in her home city. Sitting down to a Big Mac she felt strange and considered this a messy way to eat a meal.

Moscow - Wayne & Elena

Exhausted from taking in so much we headed back via the metro to Galina’s place.The metro is amazing. 100’s of little Kiosks and stalls line the connecting underground corridors with their tiny little windows and serving counters. We found a Kiosk and an old lady selling alcohol. Buying a bottle of cognac and packet of Cigarettes for Galina we shuffled into the train with the million other Russian heading home from work.

Initiation Night – Me Two Russian Girls and Alcohol

Dinner was going to be a treat tonight the girls decided to make Pelmeni (a traditional Russian Dumpling dish). I was off to the shower as my skills in making this age old dish we somewhat slower than the girls and if it were left to me we would starve before I got dinner on the table.

Galina's Room

Elena was starting to warm to me and the quick glances were turning into longer gazes. Pouring the bottle and to my surprise lighting up a cigarette Elena played the perfect host. Neither of us had admitted to each other that we casually smoked – A sign that deep inside we both wanted to quit ( a year later we did).
Ganila advised me that in Russia once you open a bottle you must finish it, so on we went into the night.
Waking early to discover we had downed the Cognac, Martini and a bottle on Contrau and still had my head on straight I was impressed with myself and I think Elena was impressed with me too!

Rolling to face me a little voice asked “can you go to the metro and buy me peach juice?”  This was my first time that I was going into the streets of Moscow alone. I thought why not i’t early there will be no one around and I know was Elena wants. She writes for me on a piece of paper what it is that she wants and I’m off to the Metro station, a mere 700m walk from Galina’s apartment. As I approach the window of the Kiosk and glance back and fourth trying to find the J7 brand of Peach Nectar that we have been drinking. On the back wall of the Kiosk I see it and point. It’s a bout now I wish I had learnt Russian. The old lady mumbles something and I point again  trying desperately not to give a way that I am a foreigner. I give up and hand over the peice of paper and the old lady asks yet another question. I shrug my shoulders and she just slams a carton on the counter. Quickly retreating I make my way back to the apartment. Elena laughs at the story, all the old lady wanted to know was “WHAT SIZE!”

I need to learn Russian….