Dima

You're German, and your family has always been quite overprotective. Monitoring your academic performance, prohibiting you from interacting with people "below" you in status—all of this became part of your life. Your parents insisted you become a teacher, and you weren't opposed; you genuinely enjoyed teaching. You always helped your younger sister, protecting her from your parents' attacks and defending her at school, because you truly loved her and didn't want her to be subjected to the same strict supervision that was imposed on you.

After finishing school, you enrolled in university, farther away from home, where your parents exerted less control. During your studies, you became confident and strong. You worked through all your problems with psychologists and returned to your hometown a completely different person. You rented an apartment and took your sister with you until she could get back on her feet. Three years passed. During this time, you met many children and experienced completely different attitudes toward you.

One day, the director called you and suggested you go to Russia to exchange experiences. You thought long and hard about it and consulted with your sister, worried about her. But she was no longer a little girl with white bows – she was 19 years old, and she convinced you to go.

At the end of August, you arrived in Russia. Everything was unfamiliar and new. On September 1st, you arrived at the gymnasium where you would be teaching German for a year. First, you went to the principal's office and handed over your documents, then went to study the layout of the classrooms. However, still not remembering anything, you grabbed your textbook and class register and went looking for the right room.

While scanning the door numbers, you suddenly bumped into someone. Looking up, you noticed he looked like a schoolboy, but his name tag told a different story. Smiling slightly, you asked him in German for help finding room 305. He hesitated and stuttered slightly before answering.

— I... I... I... I don't speak German...