Day 7: 10th September

This is the first day of teaching for me, so I awake quite 'ahhh. So this is all real now. What if they turn on me?!' - bit excited but a bit panicked.

I start with breakfast and watching 'Judge Hour' with Pavel Astakhov, a brand new crush – lol. He is like the 'Judge Judy' of Russia, except that he is set before these arguing Russians, and behind him, he has an eagle between two huge Russian flags. I watch this with great interest...mainly because of the totty controlling these mad angry Russians...Bit of a silver fox.

павел астахов, <<час суда>>
Pavel Astakhov, 'Court Hour'

Anyway, head to the lesson with Roman about literature – the same as the other lessons, 'tell me about yourself, where you come from' etc etc – a very mellow lesson that I sort of don't remember, I was still a bit nerve-wracked by the lesson I was teaching...vote of confidence before I go in, as Natasha tells me to dress like a teacher and not in the red tights, bright flowery thing and my farmer hat that I have on. Oops. I have nothing 'teacher'-y, only jeans. Maybe I should go with that? Who knows. Oh and I have sparkly make-up on – not strictly teacher-ish, but I want to look like I've made an effort...

Roman tells me not to worry anyway, as everyone comes into the class quite positively, but thinking 'who is this woman' and they all sit down (Roman is still with me, thank goodness). 'So this is Helen, take it away Helen' Oh oh, ok here it is....I tell them to go round the room telling me about themselves – what they study, where they live, how old, what they like doing in their free time, if they want to go to Britain – you know, the kind of stuff you are asked in language lessons at school. The levels are varied but some of them are completely shy. They are also much younger than I thought – about 17/18 and one 20 year old. Aaaanyway, from here, I tell them about myself, about Durham, blah blah... then I am subject to questions from them. This could turn out badly...

-What kind of music do you like? - I forget. I tell them Lady Gaga and Spice Girls. So they now think I have a 10 year old mind. They roll their eyes more at the Lady Gaga though, surprisingly!

-Is it true that in England, you have to drink tea at 5 o'clock everyday? - after giggling (oops) at the stereotype I answer 'no no no no, that's not true...although I spend lots of my time drinking tea.' Oops.

-Is it true that football is the only sport in England? - no, not necessarily...there's also rugby, particularly in Wales. But even though I'm welsh, I love football and understand it more than rugby. Oops. Strike two of giving into the British stereotype

-Is it true that in England all the old ladies dress like the queen?' - I can only say no. There is no way of justifying otherwise.

-Does everyone in England think that in Russia, bears walk down the streets? - I didn't quite know what to say to this, as I don't know how to explain this in Russian – I was told of bear-baiting in the past but didn't want to seem backward by saying that. But explained that Hugo had found a bear outside the Hermitage. Maybe, maybe. Also their president's name means 'of the bear'. Should've pointed this out.

-what do you think of American politics, about Afghanistan? Probably the best question I've had (barring the bear one of course.) Explain that I don't want troops to be out there still, but that what they have started must be finished.

-what do you think about English politics? And David Cameron? - David Cameron. LOL. I can't remember what I said but I remember saying I don't like David Cameron, but I think the coalition is gonna be good...

-what did you know about Russia before you came over? I don't tell them, but not an awful lot. Just basically stick to the stuff they told you in university and what your parents' preconceptions were, yes? Any of the 'scary stuff', blame it on your friends, say that they were the ones who told you....

Many other questions are asked that I either answer or try to, I throw a few back at them about russian politics, their ideas about America and Britain and then round it up, among other subjects, say thanks and goodbye, and some thank me as they go – they seem pretty sweet. There are about 15 of them (one is absent), all engineers and Roman says it was all alright.

Following this, I head to Coffee House. Not really drinking in Russia, but go and have a cocktail to celebrate the end of the week and getting a good group of students to teach.