Unexpected holiday

Last Sunday I was stupid enough to hurt badly my leg just by making a reckless step. So I went to the doctor and he told me to stay at home for at least a weak. Actually it was great. At first I thought I would be boared, but then there were so many things to do, that I didn't even notice how the time passed. It was my first time to miss work because of problems with health, and I'm glad I wasn't down with flu.

Though I still can't walk normally, I'm going to work starting Monday.

Cirque du Soleil: Varekai

Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world—a world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai.

From the sky falls a solitary young man, and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, this young man sets off on an adventure both absurd and extraordinary. On this day at the edge of time, in this place of all possibilities, begins an inspired incantation to life rediscovered.

The word Varekai means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai

Yesterday we went to see this amazing show. I was really impressed with costumes, music and style. The actors were really great. In the video you can see one of the acts - "Solo on Crutches". The reason I chose it is that the actor completely won my heart. I think he's a really brave person, 'cause he is able to do such things despite his condition.

Well, actually I watched the performance like another proof of the fact, that the human abilities are only limited by imagination, and it concerns not only physical abilities, but also art, music, etc. It inspires me to see things beyond general way of thinking.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a dvd of the show, there were no more left. But I'll sure keep it in my memories. I hope the circus will come back soon.

PS: The costume designer is a Japanese - Eiko Ishioka, I don't know why, but I wasn't surprised to hear that at all.

Tsar

Here's the trailer of a movie I went to see yesterday. It is about one of the most difficult periods in russian history. At the same time it focuses on the meaning of the devine and secular power. The movie is rather heavy, still I think it was worth seeing it. Such movies always make me want to find out what really happened back then *though it's impossible, unless someone invents a time machine*.

Russian for foreigners

Surfing the net I came across a site for russian language learners, I read a couple of topics, and now I can asuure you 100%, that russian IS difficult. It's a language of exceptions, so if you need to learn it (I doubt that there're many people willing to learn it just for fun, 'cause it's no fun), you just have to take everything as it is and not to expect many regular things as in most european languages.

bike-san, your help is needed^^

Yesterday in my japanese class we were discussing counting suffixis, like -satsu for books, etc. Then there came a question with which suffixes do japanese count mermaides, centaures and other mythological creatures. I suppose it should be -nin for mermaids (like for people) and -tou for centaures, but I'm not sure. And I heard there were some special suffixes for demons and gods, is that right?

It would be very kind of you, bike-san, if you could help me to find the answer to the question. :)

PS: Sorry, I can't write in Japanese from this computer, it doesn't have oriental languages installed on it.

Strange people in metro

We have a lot of strange people in metro, I guess it's the same in any other big city. This Saturday I saw a man writing some lyrics of his own on an advertisment poster with a marker. No one was really paying attention to him. The lyrics were about the stupidity of our TV (the ad was of a magazine with a TV program).

First Japanese class

On Friday I had my first Japanese class. I have 2 classes a week, one with a russian teacher that will teach us grammar, and the other with a japanese sensei to teach us the right pronunciation and some facts about Japan and japanese language. Sooo... The first lesson was with Kentaro-sensei, he is originally from Tokyo, don't know why he came to russia but he is studing here and writing a paper. He speaks russian fluently with a funny accent. He's a nice person, but I guess he can be harsh sometimes. And I guess he does "business" for his family, as he helps his russian students to go to Japan - his family rents them a room to stay, they make an invitation for a visa, etc.
I don't particularly like my group, 'cause people don't look like hardworking to me, so Kentaro-sensei let me come to another class of his with another group and I liked it a lot... Still they a little bit ahead of me, so I need to work hard to catch up, till then I'll be staying with my initial group.

Inside a train at a rush hour

The post was inspired by the photo posted in bike-san's blog. So you here you go: russian train during rush hour. The photo is not really clear, I took it with my mobile, so sorry for that, but you can get the idea of how crowded it is.

Yatta!!!

Starting September I'll resume studing Japanese. I'm so looking forward to it, can't wait to start!

Berlin Wall in Moscow

Today after work I decided to go another way to another metro station and I was very surprised to se a park and a piece of Berlin Wall as a monument there. I knew we had it somwhere in Moscow, but I never imagined it would be so close.

New job

Actually I'm staying with the same company but i've been transfered to another unit. Now I'm a credit analyst. This turned out to be pretty interesting, at least here we have mounts of work, so I found myself staying late right on the second day of my new job. Now I also have less free time, but that's ok, I'm really looking forward to getting new experience and knowledge.

I've also started planing my next holiday. I'd like to go to southern Spain in September. I've been to Spain numirous times, at least I go there once for three years already. This time we decided to change our usual place which is the coast of Barcelona and to go somewhere near Malaga. If I'm lucky enough I'll get to see Cordoba. I also have some friends in Spain, may be we'll have a chance to meet. SO I'm looking forward to this trip.