Via Ellipsis – Russia
New Normality (Глава 5)
Tuesday, Dec. 21
Learned from the evening news that the number of Russian tourists travelling for the New Year’s holidays this year is nearly the same as in 2019. A lot are going abroad.
“They’ll bring back more Covid,” Artem remarked.
Thursday, Dec. 23
While having my nails done at my stylist’s, I complained bitterly about the injustice of the whole fitness center situation.
“I go to a nearby swimming pool, and they’ve never asked for any passes,” she remarked. “You just give your name and pay the money. That’s it.”
I know what I’ll do tomorrow after completing an urgent task.
Friday, Dec. 24
I feel at least ten years younger. My insides want to dance and sing. I’ve spent almost two hours in the swimming pool, alternating between swimming and relaxing in the sauna. Initially, I paid for just one visit, to see how it all goes, but when I was leaving, I bought a membership for a month.
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, New Year’s Day
Had the most boring New Year’s Eve. Ever! Sometime in December, I asked Artem what he wanted to do, and he told me that he always went to his parents’ place, because his mum had her birthday on December 31. So, on New Year’s Eve at 6 p.m., we visited Artem’s parents. There were just four of us, as they didn’t enjoy big gatherings. Only the closest ones, as I was told.
The table featured all the traditional dishes: Olivier Salad, Shuba (layers of herrings and root vegetables under a coat of mayonnaise), caviar and red fish, sprat sandwiches, cold cuts, pickles and pickled wild mushrooms (collected by Artem’s father, as I was informed). French-style meat (pork under a thick layer of mayonnaise, sprinkled with cheese and baked in the oven) was served as the main course. Oh my, how the elders are able to eat so much heavy fatty food rich in mayonnaise and vinegar is beyond me. The only entertainment was The Irony of Fate, an old Soviet film they always broadcast around the New Year. By 8 p.m. I was full and bored, and there were still four hours to go.
So, when the TV suddenly went dead, it was a welcome change for me. Not so for Artem’s dad, as he always watches the New Year’s speech by the president. I said that we didn’t need to wait till midnight, as the recording of the speech could be found on the Internet: in the Far East the new year had already begun. The man looked dumbfounded. When he finally regained the ability to speak, he explained patiently that the speech should be watched just before midnight and on a big screen. Otherwise, it’s not the same! So, he and Artem busied themselves with fixing the piece of equipment. The TV set was brought back to life literally at the eleventh hour to the great applause from the female contingent (me and Artem’s mum). Actually, even if it hadn’t, the TV in the kitchen was working all right. But that set was probably considered not fit for the occasion. Truth be told, it was the first time in many years that I watched the speech. The only thing I remember was the traditional greeting: S Novym godom, s novym schastiem (Congratulations on the New Year, New Happiness). I wonder why people talk when they have nothing to say?
We stayed for less than an hour after midnight. The hosts started yawning, and we decided not to outstay our welcome. Initially, we had planned to go to some friends’ place afterwards and let our hair down, but Artem said he was tired. No surprise: the TV-fixing-thing involved a lot of shouting, quarrelling, and bickering. So, we took a taxi back to Artem’s.
Friday, Jan. 7, Christmas Day
Received tons of forwarded pre-fab e-greeting cards and videos. Spent the whole evening deleting this spam from my phone.
Tuesday, Jan. 11
Katia’s father-in-law is to be released from the hospital in a few days. They say he has no coronavirus in his body, but he is in very poor condition. He is so weak that he can’t even walk. Katia and her husband bought a wheelchair for him and also hired a caregiver to help him with daily living activities.
Thursday, Jan. 13
Katia’s father-in-law died in the hospital. Officially, from heart disease. Ohh. Sent a condolence message to Katia.
Friday, Jan. 14
Was snowed under with spam greetings on Old New Year’s Day. Some people are always forwarding pre-made congratulations by the dozen on all special occasions imaginable. The funny thing is, they never text you in between the holidays.
Saturday, Jan. 15
There’s a sharp surge in new Covid cases, the news says. So, Artem was right: the glitterati were back from resorts and brought Omicron with them. I guess this means we are nowhere near a lifting of the ban.
More than a month later
Monday, Feb. 21
They have introduced Covid Antibody QR codes as of today. In the morning I went to the hospital where I had had my serology test taken and asked for my results to be entered into the database. In a couple of hours, my QR code was ready. I got a pleasant surprise when I saw they had put today as the date of analysis and not the middle of December, which means my QR code will be valid for 6 months and not 4, as it would have been with the real date.
In November and December, I had so many plans for this day. I wanted to book a trip and go to the cinema or theater; instead, I was feeling under the weather and went back home.
Wednesday, Feb. 23
The QR code system has been cancelled across the region. It is rumored that this was done to accommodate the displaced persons who fled from the rekindled conflict in the east of their country, and some of whom have been housed in hotels in the city.
In the morning, I congratulated Artem on “Men’s Day” and gave him a smart speaker. There is also a bathrobe for dad, and Lego sets and chocolate figures for my nephews waiting to be given. Both Artem and I are suffering from some infection and feeling out of sorts, so we didn’t go out, but ordered some sushi rolls to celebrate the occasion.
I made myself some chamomile tea for the evening and will also wear woolen socks to bed. Hope I’ll feel better tomorrow.
(…the end…)
Transadaptation Volume 7 – Via Ellipsis – Continuation of Uncertainty, Instability and Extremes Transadapted
January: An Unexpected Trip Down Memory Lane – Sarah-Leah Pimentel (South Africa)
February: Blow-up – Veronika Groke (Austria)
March: Futuros Murguistas – Alejandra Baccino Uberti (Uruguay)
April: The Nomenclature Man – Paulius Limantas (Lithuania)
May: Amanecerá y veremos – Adriana Uribe (Colombia)
June: Finding Light in Yerevan – Armine Asryan (Armenia)
July: The Last Judgement – Nadia Silva Castro (Brazil)
August: Puzzled – a collaged nivola by and of perypatetik authors (International)
September: Second Steps – Jonay Quintero Hernandez (Spain)
October: New Normality – Svetlana Molchanova (Russia)
November: Beyond Comprehension – Rahaf Konbaz (Syria)
December: Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Worm? (Parts I and II) – Narantsogt (Natso) Baatarkhuu (Mongolia)
Background – Context
Transadaptation Volume 6: Meaning? – Uncertainty, Instability and Extremes Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2025)
Transadaptation Volume 5: Of Flowing Vicissitudes – Life Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2024)
Transadaptation Volume 4: Material Dissent – Adulthood Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2023)
Transadaptation Volume 3: Evanescent – Young Adulthood Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2022)
Transadaptation Volume 2: Conceived – Childhood Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2021)
Transadaptation Volume 1: In the Middle – Prelude to a Contemporary Transadaptation, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2020)
Peripatetic Alterity: A Philosophical Treatise on the Spectrum of Being – Romantics and Pragmatists by Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2019)
La Syncrétion of Polarization and Extremes Transposée, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2019)
The Codex of Uncertainty Transposed, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2018)
L’anthologie of Global Instability Transpuesta, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2017)
From Wahnsinnig to the Loony Bin: German and Russian Stories Transposed to Modern-day America, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2013)
Emblems and stories on the international community
Perception by country – Transposing emblems, articles, short stories and reports from around the world
Credits
Background photo: Saratov, Russia – The river facade – Kirill Skorobogatko (Shutterstock)
Inserted photos (top: left to right): 1. Saratov, Russia – The Volga Beach – White Fox (Shutterstock); 2. Saratov, Russia – The busker – CTatiana (Shutterstock)
Inserted photos (middle: left to right): 1. Saratov, Russia – In the park – Fire-fly (Shutterstock); 2. Saratov, Russia – Prospekt Kirov – Maxim Novikov (Shutterstock); 3. Saratov, Russia – The academic theater – Lapandr (Shutterstock); 4. Engels, Russia – Saratov Operetta Theater – Shushonok (Shutterstock)
Inserted photos (bottom: left to right): 1. Saratov, Russia – Barbecuing in the forest – Irina Wolfe (Shutterstock); 2. Saratov, Russia – Entering – Irina Wolfe (Shutterstock); 3. Saratov, Russia – Skating – Natka-i (Shtterstock)