Russians everywhere
My grand plans for Saturday (either drive around the country or go kayaking in the bay) never really materialized, so i just wanted to take it easy, have dinner at some cafe, read my lonely planet and plan for the drive to Rotorua on Sunday. Another side plan was to go to the sun office and drop off some interoffice mail.
The evening turned out to be a lot more entertaining, as usual. All the cafes mentioned in "lonely planet" were closed, so i made my way to the Viaduct (where the office was) thinking I'll get dinner there, since Viaduct is also party central and places there are open late.
As i was walking into a restaurant, I heard people talking Russian at one of the tables by the entrance. so naturally, i turned around and met the two girls sitting at the table. Interestingly, when you travel alone your level of shyness goes down - eating dinner by yourself is not fun, so one tries to meet people.
I invited myself to join them, and we talked for a while. Being from San Francisco goes a long way in meeting people - even if they don't like America, everybody loves SF.
The funniest thing in talking with Russians (and they are real Russian, as in not "Jew from Soviet Union Russian") is waiting for the "jew" question. Since I obviously look Jewish, at some point the "real Russians" have to ask me (in a very polite and humble tone) if I'm Jewish. That always cracks me up. My stock answer to that is "hell's yeah I'm Jewish. and don't be ashamed to ask if i am - the whole reason i left Russia was not to be ashamed of being a Jew". This happens every time - and i love it. Feels like the ultimate f-u to the "collective Russian antisemitism" to proudly declare that I'm Jewish.
Anway, side observations aside, it was a jolly good time. They immediately invited themselves over to come check out SF, i politely offered my "tour guide" services but implied that they have to buy their own plan tickets. The other funny (and mostly true) stereotype about Russian girls is that they are gold-diggers (динамистки) - so i acquired the "rich American uncle" status fast. I'm quite aware of this favourite national pastime (getting others to buy stuff for them), so i quickly assumed the "cheap Jew" character. Anyway, i obviously did buy them a few drinks ($20 won't break me, and it beats sitting around alone).
Ironically, the other stereotype that Russians can drink a lot didn't hold true with one of the girls. After two glasses of wine she was out - it was quite hilarious to watch her on the dance floor, she kept dancing with an imaginary pole and trying to take off her dress. (Side note - it is summer, so a lot of women wear skirts or dresses. I've actually forgotten that women do that, since nowhere enough girls in SF ever wear dresses. Turns out that looks quite nice. and pretty. I'm becoming a big skirt fan).
Long story short - one of the other girls was at the bar and somehow managed to pick a fight with some random girl that was totally wasted. So the bouncers kicked both of them out of the bar, and we had to leave as well. Bouncers here are actually quite polite, unlike the usual power-tripping jackasses in NY. There has only been one instance of a bouncer being rude to someone when i was going into a bar here.
so that was it. the Russian girls (there were 3 now, another friend of theirs showed up) had to take the "drunk"one back to her place. they invited me to "take a cab over there and back to party more" with them, but i politely refused. Perhaps I'm cheap, but ferrying some drunk girls around and paying for cab fare while listening to them talk about their ex-husbands or boyfriends is not my idea of fun. Hugs and promises of visits to SF all around, and we parted.
And now the funniest thing - I still wanted to drop off my mail at the Sun office, so I went there. The office is at the Viaduct (same party central), and all my way to the office i kept hearing party music. Sounded like there was a huge party at the office!!!
Turns out the office building is across the street from some giant club, and here i thought Sun people in NZ knew how to party. Ironically, my ID didn't seem to work so no sending interoffice mail for me.
The evening turned out to be a lot more entertaining, as usual. All the cafes mentioned in "lonely planet" were closed, so i made my way to the Viaduct (where the office was) thinking I'll get dinner there, since Viaduct is also party central and places there are open late.
As i was walking into a restaurant, I heard people talking Russian at one of the tables by the entrance. so naturally, i turned around and met the two girls sitting at the table. Interestingly, when you travel alone your level of shyness goes down - eating dinner by yourself is not fun, so one tries to meet people.
I invited myself to join them, and we talked for a while. Being from San Francisco goes a long way in meeting people - even if they don't like America, everybody loves SF.
The funniest thing in talking with Russians (and they are real Russian, as in not "Jew from Soviet Union Russian") is waiting for the "jew" question. Since I obviously look Jewish, at some point the "real Russians" have to ask me (in a very polite and humble tone) if I'm Jewish. That always cracks me up. My stock answer to that is "hell's yeah I'm Jewish. and don't be ashamed to ask if i am - the whole reason i left Russia was not to be ashamed of being a Jew". This happens every time - and i love it. Feels like the ultimate f-u to the "collective Russian antisemitism" to proudly declare that I'm Jewish.
Anway, side observations aside, it was a jolly good time. They immediately invited themselves over to come check out SF, i politely offered my "tour guide" services but implied that they have to buy their own plan tickets. The other funny (and mostly true) stereotype about Russian girls is that they are gold-diggers (динамистки) - so i acquired the "rich American uncle" status fast. I'm quite aware of this favourite national pastime (getting others to buy stuff for them), so i quickly assumed the "cheap Jew" character. Anyway, i obviously did buy them a few drinks ($20 won't break me, and it beats sitting around alone).
Ironically, the other stereotype that Russians can drink a lot didn't hold true with one of the girls. After two glasses of wine she was out - it was quite hilarious to watch her on the dance floor, she kept dancing with an imaginary pole and trying to take off her dress. (Side note - it is summer, so a lot of women wear skirts or dresses. I've actually forgotten that women do that, since nowhere enough girls in SF ever wear dresses. Turns out that looks quite nice. and pretty. I'm becoming a big skirt fan).
Long story short - one of the other girls was at the bar and somehow managed to pick a fight with some random girl that was totally wasted. So the bouncers kicked both of them out of the bar, and we had to leave as well. Bouncers here are actually quite polite, unlike the usual power-tripping jackasses in NY. There has only been one instance of a bouncer being rude to someone when i was going into a bar here.
so that was it. the Russian girls (there were 3 now, another friend of theirs showed up) had to take the "drunk"one back to her place. they invited me to "take a cab over there and back to party more" with them, but i politely refused. Perhaps I'm cheap, but ferrying some drunk girls around and paying for cab fare while listening to them talk about their ex-husbands or boyfriends is not my idea of fun. Hugs and promises of visits to SF all around, and we parted.
And now the funniest thing - I still wanted to drop off my mail at the Sun office, so I went there. The office is at the Viaduct (same party central), and all my way to the office i kept hearing party music. Sounded like there was a huge party at the office!!!
Turns out the office building is across the street from some giant club, and here i thought Sun people in NZ knew how to party. Ironically, my ID didn't seem to work so no sending interoffice mail for me.
Labels: New Zealand
posted by toli at 6:29 AM
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