Funny exerpts

The people I have met on my many trips to Russia have an aversion to
dirt. I can understand their reluctance to sit on the ground as
their clothing is often very nice and the floor is often dirty. What
stuck me as odd was the ubiquitous adoption of this aversion. It
seems everyone feels the same way. I assumed there would be
exceptions to this but I have not found them, until I stayed with
Russian Hippies.

I on the other hand have a special afinity to dirt. I can happily
roll around in the mud and dirt for hours without a care in the
world. After all thats what showers and washing machines are for.
The moment one of my new friends dropped a fork on the floor and
picked it, wiped it on his pants, then used it to stir the pot with
all our food in it; I knew I was with people I liked.

Sadly we did not roll in the dirt. We did go for a walk with Kola,
Valya, and myself. During which time we wrestled in the snow and
took turns trying to toss each other into snow banks. Kola knighted
Valya with a rather large icicle he pulled from a building. Both
Kola and I used my scarf to tie Valya to a swingset. We then walked
away to leave her to freeze in the Russian winter. Since Kola does
not speak English and I do not know Russian, we decided the
conversation would be much more interesting if we retrieved Valya
( well rather that's what I assumed he was thinking)

Kola is this super laid back cool dredlock wearing hippie dude. He
attended four yeas of music school, at which time he learned to sing
and play guitar. He travels by hitch hiking around the world and is
a testament to the modern hippie.

After the food and festivities we all claimed a spot on the floor to
sleep. When the sleeping bags were set out? We saw we were one
short. Someone whould have to share. At which time Kola jumped up
and trotted to my space to share. It was very funny and we all got a
good laugh from it. I still don't know who ended up sharing for real.

I loved the part where we were all bedding down and everyone
stripped down to, at the most, their underwear, at the least,
nakedness. Contrary to popular belief, I am rather shy. I ended up
sleeping in my jeans. I was not surprised a bit by this, after all
these are hippies. Naked people are all over the place on line. We
all know what the "Internet is for" (ref: Avenue Q)

At the culmination of the gathering I guess I made a good
impression. I was invited to join some of them at the rainbow
gathering in Europe next/this year. Yay for good impressions.


-Dana