Quite a bit can happen in one year – people change, places change; you learn more things, and forget even more things; hopefully your character grows without your waist line growing with it; and thankfully you earn one more year of wisdom to help you through the next year and every other year you get after that.
It has been a year since I have written anything here. I find myself back in St. Petersburg. I have left the dormitory. The dormitory did not seem all that bad after growing accustomed to its …russianness… but each time I visit my friends back there I am reminded of the of my preliminary shock. The dorm had its charm, but I am all charmed out. I am now lucky enough to live in a stellar apartment on Griboedova Canal in the center of the city. I have a Polish couple for roomates, Zuza, a conducting student at the Conservatory and her boyfriend Martin, a PhD candidate in theoretical physicist who draws pictures all day. Apparently important pictures, from what I have seen there a lot of dots connected with a lot of lines – he says he misses math, silly, I always find drawing pictures to be quite fun. Zuza and Martin are great, we get along, we hang out, we go to gym together, it’s really just a big happy family.
Living only five minutes walk from the Conservatory is stellar, but I think I already said that. I’ve traded waiting in traffic for hours or being stuffed into a metro car with plenty of smelly Russians with a refreshing walk along a beautiful canal. Every day I get to cross a beautiful bridge guarded by four big lion statues. It’s much like living in Amsterdam. A very cold, angry and dark for too long in the winter, Amsterdam.
on the street where I live. My flute lessons continue to be a roller-coaster affair. I have had some great lessons and some bad lessons. I am delighted that I am not called an idiot at every lesson now, however today was an idiot day. They get a bit frustrating, these bad lessons, I’m able to let most of my teacher’s attack wash right off, but after an hour or so of attack I feel defenseless and stupid. I love the feedback, I am told exactly what I am doing wrong but I could do with out the anger. After lessons she is all smiles and I just feel like a popped balloon. What does not kill you only makes you stronger! ArrGrrRoar!
So in this year, I have changed, I have moved, I have learned so much but forget it each time I stand before my respected flute teacher, but I am all the wiser and handsomer and charming for it. Let see if I can keep up with the blogs posts this year too, eh?
