One of the dreams on my girl's list of things to do in Russia is see the Nutcracker ballet. We didn't manage to fit it in last Christmas, so I wanted to be sure we didn't miss the opportunity this year. A few months ago I began checking out theaters and dates and cost. I quickly ruled out the Bolshoy, although beautiful, I wasn't willing to spend $300+ per ticket. I also found that because the Russian Christmas doesn't fall until mid January most performances are closer to the new year. So I hunted until I found one early in December that fit my budget and would help set the Christmas season for us. I asked Chad if he was interested, but he was fine leaving this as a girl's outing. So what began as a small family trip to the ballet morphed into a group of high school girls and moms going together.
I sent out invitations and before long I had a nice group put together who would like to go. I made a trip to the box office and was given a general date of when tickets would go one sale. I was pleased because I was well ahead of the game. Not quite feeling comfortable with how things work here I enlisted the help of one of the Russian nurses in Chad's office. Together we have been checking the website, waiting for sales to open. She called the box office once a week to see if there was any new information. She was always told "just keep watching the internet."
Well this week it seemed that the date was getting too close so I told her I was going to stop by the box office the next day to get a bit more information. She decided to call just to check up and they told her that indeed the tickets could be purchased at the box office and they actually did not have the complete amount left that I wanted at a certain price point. We were both stunned. With all the calls she made it seems that at some point they would have told her that although the tickets were not yet for sale online, they were for sale in the box office. She then tried to purchase the tickets over the phone with no luck. She couldn't even get them to set the tickets aside for me to pick up. We were both frustrated. "Kris," she said, "you better go over there right now. They are open for two more hours." She made another quick call to ask if I could use my credit card then I ran out the door and left supper for the girls to figure out.
I arrived at the box office sweaty and tense. I waited in line then finally made it to the window. I handed over the instructions the nurse had written for me in Russian then slid my credit card under the window. "Nope, I won't take your credit card." WHAT? I was speechless. We argued and argued back and forth. She would not budge. I finally convinced her to set aside the tickets with my name on them and I would be back when the box office opened the next day to pay in cash.
I left dejected. The air felt heavy and seemed unusually hazy--it fit my mood. I decided to walk around the Kremlin wall. I watched the soldiers march in for the changing of the guard at the eternal flame. I wandered around the corner and just stood there looking at Red Square and Saint Basils. I really don't make it down here often enough. Each time I am amazed at the beauty. Right now it is especially pretty with the early, dark nights that cause the lights to twinkle. I finally wandered back to the metro station and headed home.
At home the girls and I scraped every ruble together to come up with the cash needed to pick up the tickets. I was nervous and excited thinking that things were finally coming together!
The box office opened at noon so my goal was to be there a bit early to beat the line. I got there at 11:45 but there were already 10 or so people in front of me. Feeling particularly worn out I just stood there waiting for the doors to open. People came up trying to place themselves in front of me, but fortunately I have gotten pretty comfortable with a jab of my elbow to keep my place in line. As soon as the doors opened it became complete chaos. Everyone ran for a window then pushed themselves forward. I think I proceeded to ram into a few more babushkas, but I was to ornery at that point to care. I waited and waited only to watch a lady cut in front of me then get on her cell phone to have a lengthy discussion about which tickets to purchase. A few more people moved forward then just as I was ready to step up to the window the lady on the phone squeezed up to the window cutting me off. I was ready to scream! Funny how I had just read in my devotions that morning about being kind to mean people. Lord, really? Do I need to learn that lesson today? So I sighed and let her buy her tickets.
I moved up to the window and passed yet another note in Russian to the lady. "You're in the wrong line, your tickets are at the next booth." she said. Come on, you can reach the tickets from where you are sitting! Just get them and let me go home! No, she absolutely could not get the tickets. She had several conversations with the woman who was in the next booth, but she would not pick up the tickets and sell them at her window. I looked at the line and stated that I was not waiting again. So she said I would be next at the window to purchase the tickets. I squeezed over. The people in that line had their act together. They really know how to not let anyone past them and they weren't about to let me get by. Somehow I managed to make my way to the glass and be close to the window. I saw the lady in my old booth talking to her colleague about the tickets. She pointed at me and explained that I was next. The new lady nodded. The tickets were right there by her fingertips. Why oh why couldn't she just pick them up?
So finally the customer who had been being helped at the new window moved aside. I was ready to jump in but the young lady who was next in line had been watching and she was not going to let me by. She gave me the evil eye as she elbowed me and stepped forward. Fortunately the woman behind the window explained that I was next. The customer was not happy and refused to move. We stared at each other. I was very close to sitting down right where I was and having a major meltdown.
Now you have to understand that the widows at the box office are covered in flyers and maps of theater seating. There is only about a one foot by one foot piece of blank glass to see through when buying your tickets. So I squatted down and looked sideways through the opening. Although I couldn't see the ticket woman, I passed my id through the window. I could just see her pick up the tickets, read my name and count them. I shoved my $800 in rubles under the window. She slid the tickets to me and like that I was free. Thirty seconds at the window was all it took.
It took me the rest of the day to calm down. I called the nurse to let her know I was successful and she said "Do you see Kris what I have to go through it my own country?"
Now I am just looking forward to the ballet and a special evening with my girls!
 |
| Lady who would not move to let me buy my tickets. I had to work around her! |
No comments:
Post a Comment