Things are looking Better

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I was planning on continuing to live with my family and just not be home much.
But Monday morning I changed my mind.
As I got ready to go to classes, my host mom approached me staying, "If you're going to be so stingy with money we are going to be stingy too. You can start paying for everything. Electricity, ect, ect" , (she listed a bunch of things in Russian that I didn't understand). The only things the host families can charge us for are food (if we decide to eat with them) and laundry (if they do our laundry for us). So what she was saying was clearly against my contract.
When I arrived at the university I sought out the director of my program. I went to the staff room, where she always seems to be. She wasn't there but most of my professors were having lunch. They asked me why I was looking for Lena. I decided to tell them everything that had happened. I broke down crying. I tried not to cry, but couldn't help it.
The professors were shocked that my family had treated me so terribly. And when I started crying they did everything they could to make me feel better.
My phonetics teacher said, "My sun don't cry" and gave me a big hug. Russians call people "my sun" or "my sweet" or "my chocolate" when they care about them. My grammer professor had me sit down on the couch, made me some tea, and gave me some apples from her dacha. Russians prize food from their dachas (summer homes with gardens) above just about any other gift. They were so wonderful. When Lena, the director, showed up I was feeling better already. I repeated everything that had happened and she said that she would move me out immediatley.
The past few days were hell. I felt a lot better when I got an email from Wendy and Sam. I felt a lot better. They included the cutest picture of them from when they had last hung out with Steve. I miss them sooo much.
Yesterday I moved out. Only my host mom was there as I moved out, which is probably for the best. Lena was late and I ended up talking to my host mom. It was good to end saying what we thought about the whole thing. My host mom had definitely been out to get as much money from me as possible, but had never insulted me like her daughter did. My host mom repeated that all the other students who had lived with her had paid $300 a month for breakfast and dinner. She had expected me to do the same, before I even stepped foot in the door. I know that what she said about the others paying $300 a month is true-they were in a program where meals were built into the program fee. The program director then paid the families $300 a month just for food.
I told her that I was told before coming on the program that I would pay $150 a month for food if I decided to eat with the family (as it turns out though all the families asked double that. And pretty much everyone decided not to eat with their family). I told her also that the real reason that I was leaving was because of how her daughter treated me. She nodded and said nothing.
We talked a while more and then I left with Lena.
My new host mother is really nice. Her name is Galina Nicolaevna. She is much better off financially then my previous family. She has her own appartment, which she keeps very neat, and also owns a dacha. She is probably around 50 and is retired. But she volunteers a lot of her time helping the old and the poor.
I showed her some pictures of my family and friends. She was particulary interested in the pictures of Wendy and my former roommate, Gen.
When Gallina saw the picture of Wendy drawing, she said that she likes her drawing. She said that Wendy is chyorninka. Chyorni means black. I think that most Russians call the skin color of Asians black. She attatched "inka" to the end of black too, signifying that she liked Wendy. There are very few Asian people in Moscow so I think she found it really interesting that I have Asian friends.
She found the pictures of Gen to be the most interesting. Galina said, "She is all the way black! only her teeth are white!" She looked at the picture for a while and then said, "She's nice and pretty" (anyway that is the closest I can translate what she said).
Black people are even more rare in Moscow than Asians. I've seen about 7 or 8 black people in Moscow.
Anyway, I really like my new host mom and the place I'm staying. I live by the Park Pobedy metro station and it is really beautiful. There are these huge fountains by the metro stop and some historic buildings. My apparment is clean and decorated with paintings my host mom's daughter painted. Her daughter is quite talented and I originally thought that she had bought the paintings.
I'm not going to eat with my new host mom though. I'm going to make dinner for myself so I don't have to worry about money.
I'm feeling much better now. I know I made the right choice to move out.

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Comments

[Kira]

I'm so happy that you got everything worked out, that you're happier with your new host mom and that the rest of your trip won't be ruined by Russian greed. And maybe when you meet her daughter, she'll be very nice, too! :-)

[steve]

yay! glad to hear things are looking up!

[Aunt Sue]

Feeling Better?
Hi Genna, I'm glad for you that you have been able to move out and have found a better host mother. And it is probably a good thing that she lives by herself. No distractions! Now you can dedicate your time to your studies and positive cultural experiences. And, it really showed maturity on your part to leave your former host mother on better terms. It must have been very difficult for you to deal with, but you did it! You stood up for yourself, and the result is a better placement. Do you think your new neighborhood will be safer than the last? Hope all continues to go better. Take care. Love, Aunt Sue

[Wendy]

Eh? I'm actually black/inka? AHHHH, I'm like, having an identity crisis of some sort!!! ;) I'm SOOO happy that you feel better, Genna! (And I'm really glad to hear that the e-mail helped!) Here's to an awesome rest-of-your-trip! (And yay, you get to see your package soon!)