Thursday, July 13

(written a week later)

In the city, a 10-years-old boy came to me and said: "What is your name?" I told him my name, and asked his; I asked how old he was. He was joyful and laughing, then he said "Привет, товарищ" (hello, comrade) in pure Russian – I should say I was surprised; I asked "Ты говоришь по-русски?" (do you speak Russian?). The boy put his hands to his head and said in Chinese: "Oh my god, my head is exploding!", and laughed. Then I had to go, but I thought I don't get to use my second language of the neighboring country here at all. My friend talked to the boy for a little longer, and was told that the boy learns Russian in school and his hero was Lenin.