September 25th | 25 сентября

8.45 a.m. - Hostel

• I meet Elif and the rest of the girl group outside. They are six, and tree older woman supervise. There is also an older man. Svetlana is the name of one of the supervising woman.
• We arrive, by foot, at Святителя Иннокентия. We meet the boys. They are moving stuff out of the back of a car into the building.

9.35 a.m. - Святителя Иннокентия hall

• There is many people in the hall. Some are wearing dancing clothes, of different styles. Some are made out of reindeer skin and pearls, some are western style synthetics.

10.08 a.m. - =

• We get in a theater room. We can see even more people with a wide variety of clothes style. Each group have its own style.
• Professional cameras are set up, and many pictures are taken. On the scene, there are lights, sonorisation, and video projector.
• In the group I am with, everybody is wearing clothes made in there region, in reindeer skin and pearls.
• Svetlana tells me that if I am also exotic, since I am French. There also is a black man, who sparks attention of the group I am with. I think they do not see people with this skin color oftenly.
• At some point Svetlana asks if I'm a spy. I'm used to this now, and the best way to answer this question is to say no. No joke nor sarcasm. This question is just like the form you have to fill to get into USA. In this form, they ask if you plan a terrorist attack on the American soil. If you say no, you're good. If you start joking a playing, you get more questions, and maybe problems. Just say no. That's what everybody want's to hear. And it's true.

10.38 p.m. - =

• Sitting in folding seats int front of the scene. The presentation starts. Loud energic music like in the beginning of a tv show. A presentation starts. In Russian first, by a men, and after, in Chinese, by a woman.
• I do not understand.
• The event oscillate between show and talks.
• The shows are group dances, or lone singers. The talks are transitions, presentations, thankings and awards.

• University names are cited. They took part in the organisation of the event.
• One lady catch my attention. Before the begining of the show, she asked Svetlana what my name was. I was right in front of her. I said hello. She answered. Zero eye contact. Anyway, she also got a price, and after the ceremony, she gave indications to the crowd, by voice. Overall, it felt like she fully took part in the organisation and management of the event that day. I need to contact her.

12.45 p.m. -

• We eat in a self service restaurant whith the group. Igor, one of the guys I eat with, says it feels like I'm an older brother since I hang out with them.

4.55 p.m. - Hostel

• Waking up from nap.
• Going to KFC with the boys. And some of the girls.

Later - KFC

• We talk a bit about Motorbikes, guns, and family. I make a small family tree of Sieva.

7.51 p.m. - Hostel, on the couch upstairs, where everybody hears what everybody says.

• Talking with the guys on the couch, upstairs. I asked about their friends going to the army. These guys send money to their family. The wifes hopes for their safe return, and support them. I asked if it has an influence on the life in the village. No, apparently. Guys asked if I went to the army. I said no, since we are not obliged to in France. They asked how, then, guys become men. They also asked about when I started to grow a beard.
• There was a suspicious men waiting in the hostel when we got back in. He asked for pictures with some of the group, their names, and made them propositions to go to nice place. He speaks english and asked me if I was french. He said he heard it. He was giving a the following name: Oleg Michelev. One of the guys said he was suspicious, and presented himself as a traveller.
• A the same time, upstairs, was the lady I wanted to talk to. She was talking to the babouchkas of the group. I made myself visible, welcoming. No gaze, again. She looked busy and in a hurry.

8.10 p.m. - Hostel

• Exchanging some words with Youri. He tells me about children beeng put in snow at birth to "nature test" them. There is also an other men, and he tells me to go to the public bath in Saint-Petersbourg, at Petro Palace Hotel.
• I download RuStore, following Youri words.
• "Those who lie can't stay long in cold water" as he says.

Later - In Blago

• Going out for a wok, and a drink with Dima and Luda.

P.S.

This "No Russian Gaze" thing is so frustrating. Not making eye contact... Hhhhhh. That's hard. I think the worst is the "hello", without lifting the eyes. A French rapper made a hit song out of it. See verse 2.