As I wrote yesterday we had an office gathering at one of my co-worker, Hanna's, apartment. I really didn't think too much about it when I accepted, thinking I knew everyone and we would have a good time. At 6:00, work was over so a few of us went together on the train to Hanna's apartment. Well, you know how moms make suggestions in hopes that one day you will catch on and do it on your own? Well, I wish I had paid more attention. Had I done so I would have gotten something to bring to the get-together for Hanna before we arrived at the train station outside her building. But, no, instead we took a detour to get a bottle of wine. That being done we went to her apartment. As soon as we got in the door I was immediately reminded of dinner with the man from Ukraine. Incomprehensible conversations went on around me as I looked at the art on the wall. Then, I declined a drink seeing only wine and alcohol to drink, and when I was looked at strangely quickly saw the orange juice and selected that as my drink of choice. Then, it was time to smoke on the porch. I declined, they let this one go much easier, and I looked at the art again. Sitting down for appetizers involved cleverly picking a seat next to the chips which were the only appetizing things on the table. I finally caught sight of our main course and it was meat. It ended up being excellent, and then desert was apple and peach pie with green tea. None of which are foods I eat, so I passed them off graciously. Conversation started to build, luckily in French since some new guests only spoke French. They have all traveled to Ukraine and other places and were discussing different things about cultures where they had been. So, I joined the conversation to shed some light on American culture. So, the conversation turned quickly to me explaining to them the game of Beer Pong, and Flip Cup. Two games I don't even play, so to explain was very difficult. I don't think solo cups exist here, and if so I don't know the word for them, so I think they think you play it with wine glasses, as that's what I used in the demonstration (for Flip Cup I used a knife to demonstrate, as playing flip cup with a wine glass would not have gone over to well). It was interesting to see how captivated they were by this game. They all seemed very interested. Then they asked me if I had ever played this other game, which the guy grabbed a wine bottle and spun it, and made a kissy face and I said, "Spin the bottle? Yeah we played that when we were like 10." Apparently they play that as adults here. They all seemed to have stories about Spin the Bottle as if you mentioned Beer Pong to any college student. I can't remember any spin the bottle games, mostly because they all took place about 10 years ago. I also explained (or tried to explain) textsfromlastnight.com not doing it any justice, but it fit into the conversation so I gave it a whirl. Later on in the night we were all having a much more decent conversation and I could feel Hanna's husband eyeing me. He doesn't speak French very well, so I didn't really know what he was looking at. Then, he said something to Hanna, and she along with the guy next to me laughed. I asked what he said and they told me he thought I was strange because I wasn't drinking wine or champagne, I wouldn't smoke, and I wasn't eating much. I tried to explain that I was not all that thirsty and the meat filled me up too much to eat desert. I don't think he bought it. There were times when the conversation shifted into Russian, but luckily they drifted back rather quickly. It was a fun evening once it got going, and I enjoyed myself. It was nice to spend time with these people outside of work.
In other news, Red Sox are unjinxable. Beating the Yankees again last night, I now don't care if they lose every game, we are 8-0 against the Yankees, and that is enough for me. I'm off to Namur, Belgium for the weekend this evening, assuming I can straighten out some credit card issues. I'm back Sunday morning, and then Monday the conference begins. Weather, is cloudy today, but just as I wrote that we had bad weather yesterday, it cleared up and was nice the rest of the day. I'm hoping I will have some pictures to post after this weekend. I'm not sure of the internet situation, so I'll have to update you all on Sunday! Enjoy the U.S.!
demonstrate*** lol i suck, FML
Posted by: alexa | 06/12/2009 at 03:25 PM
HAHAHHA omg that's so funny, you should have explained them as plastic cups lol that way they knew they wouldn't break everytime you flipped it wrong haha :-P omg i love you sam lol that was so funny :) you should have asked them to demonstraight spin the bottle ;) jk lol love you and have a great time in Belgium... oh and P.S. Hell Yea the Red Sox are AMAZING!!! =) lol
Posted by: alexa | 06/12/2009 at 03:24 PM