Third Time's a Charm?

Well, here I am, with host family #3. They say that third time's a charm, and I certainly hope they're right.

Babushka #2 was extremely controlling. It would be impossible for anyone to follow all of her rules. I tried, I really did. But when all she did was nag and yell at me, I began to block things out. The big blow-up happened when I didn't clean my shoes to her satisfcation. Yes, my shoes. She started screaming at me and pushing me out of the way because of my SHOES. I was fed up with it all and tried to explain that it really wasn't that important, so Babushka shrieked, "It's important to SOCIETY!"

A small story, I know, but it was like that nearly every day. I was constantly on edge and worried about whether or not I was doing things, from folding a towel to buying the right shampoo to having a name that wasn't "too Jewish," correctly. There was no way I could live up to her expectations and no way I could relax.

So I moved. Host #3 is a friend of my teacher Vera's. Her name is Natasha. I've only been here two days, but she seems lovely. Vera called her an "angel." Natasha is an older middle-aged woman who is fairly laid-back. We talk plenty, but she also gives me lots of free time. So much better. Since I have a key to the apartment, I'm able to come and go as I please, and I'm not being force fed anymore! I think this is where I was supposed to be living from the beginning.