First days in Ekaterinburg

У «It’s My City» появился первый постоянный англоговорящий автор. Его зовут Эдгар Бланко (Edgar Blanco), он приехал в Екатеринбурге из Испании, учиться. IMC договорился с Эдгаром о том, что он будет описывать на наших страницах свою жизнь в столице Урала. Для тех, кто плохо владеет английским, редакция переведет часть текстов. Сегодня — рассказ о первых днях испанца в Екатеринбурге.

I arrived Ekaterinburg in the morning of 19th of February, for me with 6 hours difference. It was middle of the night and I had been traveling for almost 18 hours. So most time of 19th of February I spent sleeping.

In the end of the day I had a walk and drink my first beer in the street (as the Russian Traditional rules). It was about minus 15 degrees and for someone that live most of his live at about plus 15 it’s a big shock that people would like to drink in the street when it’s cold.

During my first days in the city I was really disappointed because I expected huge quantity of snow and the city was mostly cover with black and brown ice. Due I had enough free time, I walked up and down the city and I started to experience my first problems with the language (nobody understand me). The simple tasks as to buy something, ask directions or take a bus became a long and complex.

I don’t have any specific memory of the first days, but I remember quite clear the morning of the 1st of March. I had appointment to make a kind of X-ray of my lunges (also call Photofluorography). First time of my life I need to pass this kind of medical test. I woke up this morning, and when I reach the street I experience my first snow storm.

I can’t say it was falling down, because while the tram 26 gently glided through Lenin`s Avenue (Lenina Porspect) I fell wrapped in the soft dance of the snow and the city. Where pedestrians, sidewalks, trees, cars and me; we all were all in the tune of that white morning. Smoothly (if not slowly) we reach my destiny, and once again in the hospital I faced the Russian system.

About the hospital procedure there is not much to comment, perhaps that moment while I was mostly naked and I saw the surprised face of the nurse. This was one of this moments when you feel so proud of your manhood but instantly you understand that is not a size surprise, but ridiculous one.

The 2nd of March was interesting day also; about 00.15 AM the lights went out. So there I was, in the dark, with a half-view movie and without internet (I didn’t know how to pay internet on that time). My first idea was that I hadn’t paid the electricity bill and they cut me off. Anny way, I decide to adventure myself with the electric panelboard. In the dark, a man against a 70’s Russian Electrical Panelboard, no success at all. I decided to check the stairs and then the street, it was light in the street but not in the stairs. With no idea about how to finish the movie, so I decided to sleep.

Did I forget to mention that I lived with a cat? Well, I live with my flat mate’s cat. As you, Russian experts on cats, can imagine at this point, the cat left the flat during my dark tour. My flat mate sleeps one night out, and I lost the cat. But it was not until mid-morning when I realized it, I started the search and I found him not far from the main door. The cat was cold, dirty and a little bloody, first idea: hot shower, it seems that cats don’t like the shower at all, and he attacked me (I can’t blame the cat).

Second idea: pet`s hospital. It was a good idea, but what I didn’t think is that even in cats’ hospitals the owner should talk, form my previous experienced in Russian hospitals the only think I learned was that you shouldn’t take of your trousers easily. But this time was much easier, I met a really nice English translator in the waiting room, and she explains everything. This day a learnt a new word: «Tolsti» it seems my cat has over-weight.

Tips for the future:

Do not take your trousers easily if you don’t understand the language.

Do not trust Russian cats.