Language Lessons...

Jenny and I work at the college in town. Recently, a performing arts center was completed and dedicated. To honor the grand opening, the school flew in famous Russian folk musicians. They play the balalaika, sort of a cross between a guitar, banjo, and mandolin... a manguijo; a guibandolin; a tarjolinguibanmando... I digress. Anyway, we took them around our burgeoning Metropolis to aquaint them with life in the rural Southeast. The day started off with approximately a dozen understood English and Russian words between the lot of us. We went to an electronics store, Wal-Mart, The Dollar Store, Fred's, and Goodwill (hey, famous Russian folk musicians need 3 dollar shoes too!!). By the end of the day we had somewhat broken the barrier by talking about our kids and showing pictures, etc. They were exceptionally interesting and fun to be around. Maxime is the mature, leading man type; Vladimir the younger showman; and Volodya, the older eccentric. They also had a documentarian and his cameraman, both quiet but pleasant. It struck me how they seemed so unimpressed with our excessive lives and shrines to commercialism. They were interested in the little things. Things like squirrels, alligators, $3 shoes, Chinese Buffets, and gettin crunk!! At one of their performances some students got really into it and were dancing all over the new prim and proper arts center!! The Russian fellows loved it apparently. It is the only performance I missed! Anyway, I loved it and look forward to seeing our russian friends tonight at a dinner in their honor.