Tales of a Russian Grandmother

For the first little while I felt like my new grandma could always find something new to chastise me and my “roommate” Sarah for. At first it was little, typical things that you would expect. Then it was just more and more! In our training they warned us that the little Russian Babushki would come after us if they saw us not wearing a hat or sitting on the ground or something. I didn’t realize that was true! So I decided to make a bit of a “list” of some of the things I have been chastised for doing or not doing.

Not finishing a meal

To stop eating during a meal

Drinking water instead of juice

Not wearing a hat

Not wearing a scarf

Not buttoning your coat all the way up

Not eating fruit

Having lint on your skirt

Having dirty boots on Sunday

Coming home late

Leaving home with wet hair

Having a wrinkled shirt

She’s such a sweet lady and she’s really just concerned about us. As my mom put it, I’m getting a soft spot in my heart for her. Yesterday night she went to Moscow and didn’t get back until tonight. I actually really missed her! She’s just so happy. This is how our routine goes. We wake up in the morning and she says, “Good morning” and we say it back. Then she says something along the lines of “Kushit, kasha!” Which means “eat, cereal.” And cereal could be anything from oatmeal to dry cereal to cream of wheat. And it’s usually a giant bowl. And it usually includes a “sausage” aka a hot dog on the side. After we eat or when we’re finishing up she says “Girls, I go to work. Bye bye.” Then she leaves. When we get home we say hello and hear her say “Hullo! How are you?” To which we either say not bad or average. Then we go to our room. Sometimes she brings us fruit to eat before dinner. Then just before dinner she comes in and says, “Girls. Wash hands, come eat.” Then we eat and chat. Then she says, “Rest.” And we go to our room and get ready for bed. She’s really a lovely woman! My favorite is when I say something in Russia and she gets this big smile on her face and says “Molodyets Nicole!” Which means good job. This woman is fantastic!