This past 8th of March was what is known as International Women's Day. It's interesting that even though it is an international holiday, I had never heard of it until I came to Russia.
Apparently, Women's Day is very big in Russia. Last week, everyone was already in preparation for this big day. Our grammar professor, Nina, asked the boys in our class, Christian and Tim, if they were going to bring us chocolate and flowers for Women's Day.
Tim asked why we should get anything for Women's Day, when he didn't get anything for "Men's Day." We answered that "Men's Day" in Russian actually translates to "Defenders of the Fatherland." Since he was not ever in the army, he did not receive anything.
He then proceeded to ask why we should get a Women's Day then, if there is in fact no Men's Day. We answered that with, "Men's Day is the other 364 days of the year!"
We meant it jokingly, but I think that might be true in Russia.
On the eve of Women's Day, my roommate, Colleen, and one of our fellow female classmates went out to the clubs to celebrate. We went with two other guys, but quickly were separated at the club, due to the high entry demand, and the fact that only girls were being let in.
After an hour or two of dancing around, trying to avoid all of the creepy seventeen year olds, we decided it was time to go home. The guys decided to stay behind, and so us three girls left the club to find a taxi home. The first taxi we tried to get for 350 rubles, which is roughly $12. He said he could not do it, but then referred us to his friend in the taxi behind him. For some reason, this guy decided that 350 rubles would be okay. So, we all crammed in the back seat, just tired and ready to go to bed.
The taxi driver turned out to be extremely nice, and chatted with us the entire way home, helping us with our Russian. He even turned the radio to an English channel, so that we might listen to some familiar tunes. He introduced himself as being from Azerbaijan, and kissed us each on the hand. I thought that was odd, but maybe just customary. He was very observant, and asked why Colleen wasn't speaking to him, and I explained that she had just started learning Russian not too long ago. All in all, it was one of the more pleasant taxi rides home, and I thought, 'Well, they do take Women's Day seriously here!'
While Colleen and I live in the dorms of the university, our friend lives just a few blocks away with a host mom. She asked if the taxi driver could drop her off just after we got out. We bid her goodnight, and walked up to our dorm.
About twenty minutes later, I got a call from our friend, crying. I knew immediately that something was wrong. She then told me that the "nice" taxi driver had just tried to attack her, and not let her go. She had had to hold her keys up to his throat for him to release his group, enough that she could run away.
Aside from how traumatizing an experience this was for her, what was really disturbing was that the taxi driver had been so nice when Colleen and I were in the cab. It is a shame, but you really cannot trust strangers. I know that is such a simple statement that seems very obvious, but sometimes it's hard to believe that these things actually happen.
We certainly learned our lesson, that you cannot take a taxi anywhere alone, even if it is just a few blocks away. It was just so ironic that this happened only a few hours into Women's Day.
But as our professor Nina told us today, "The west has had 200 years to modernize, and Russia, only 20. It takes time."
