Today was my mother’s 60th birthday.

She is the best person in my life and possibly the best person I have ever met. I’m so lucky destiny landed me into her arms.

I stumbled upon this text by Tolstoi about his aunt Toinette (who raised him) which sums her up:

“Tante Toinette a été la plus grande influence que j’aie reçu dans ma vie. Elle m’a enseigné le bonheur d’aimer. Elle ne l’a pas fait par des mots – les mots c’est si peu de choses – elle l’a fait par ce qu’elle était. Je l’ai vue près de moi pendant plus de trente ans – on peut dire que je l’ai vue vivre, et je ne connais pas de cas où elle ait offensé quelqu’un.

De la vie de Tante Toinette le mal était absent. C’est facile à dire mais difficile à faire. Je n’ai connu qu’un être de cette sorte: elle. Chère chère tante, pardonnez-moi, je pense au bien que je n’ai pas fait ou que je n’ai pas su faire, et au mal que j’ai fait à ceux qui ne sont plus, tandis que toi, ta vie n’a été que le bien, toujours, et la bonté, comme sans effort, naturellement, spontanément, sans cesse.”

Happy Birthday Mummy, I love you!

(and she’s born the same day as Nietzsche by the way)

Lately university has become increasingly fun with all the different nationalities mixing together and getting to know each other. In my class there are 4 japanese people, 3 coreans, 2 chinese, 1 german, 1 american and me. Makes out for some funny moments, especially when we are trying to communicate with each other in russian. You’d thought we’d all speak english but some of us don’t.

Last week we were working on these classic russian cartoons called “Ералаш”, and started to discuss pets and dogs in particular. Followed a surreal scene where everyone proceeded to show how to bark in their language. The russians say “gaf gaf”, the french “vouf vouf”, the chinese something else etc… It was hilarious, we just couldn’t stop laughing.

When I look at this group of young people I can’t help but feel great. Everyone’s spirit is very positive and open-minded. There is a healthy curiosity for each other’s culture and a desire to interact and connect. Kanako and I have some great conversation in russian for example, in which we burst into laughter every other word as it’s so tough to express yourself with so few words for now…

Anyway, I think this russian class would be an anthropologist’s delight.

In his 1985 song “Russians” (which melody comes from Prokofiev) Sting sang “there isn’t a monopoly of common sense / on either side of the political fence”.

Well, there is a number of things I have observed which goes to show that today, common sense might actually be on Russia’s side.

For example, they have a day here called “День учителя” – the day of teachers. A day during which children, students and parents pay tribute to teachers and professors all around the country by bringing them gifts and – as usual here – flowers. You can feel a profound respect for education; it’s a serious business.

There is something incredibly right, and relieving, about being in a country (city?) that isn’t (yet?) fanatically capitalistic and liberal, and where certain values are still sacred. Oh and I haven’t mentionned “День пожилых людей” – the day of old people!

In France, that type of deference has completely disappeared.

So what side of the fence again?

This poster says: “For them, it’s their future! 5th of october, Day of teachers”

This one says “Tell them thank you! 1st of october, Day of old people”