Vitya arrived. Stas and I met a Bulgarian taxi driver at a department store the other day, and yesterday, December 31st, 2008, I went with him to pick up Vitya. Oleg, the taxi driver, turned on what he called "patriotic" songs. Actually, I don't like "chanson" or "blatnyak," but the guy wanted to do something nice for me, and I appreciated that.

— How long have you been here? — I asked him on the way.

— Eleven years!

Oleg worked as a cook and a waiter, but for the last two years, he's been a taxi driver.

— You see, when I first arrived here, I immediately got a job at the "Moskva" restaurant. There used to be one in Cape Town, you know?

— I've heard of it. But I think it closed a long time ago, right?

— Yeah! I worked there as a cook for a year. That's where I learned to speak Russian!

I laughed.

— You came to South Africa and the first thing you did was learn Russian?!

— Well! Actually, I don't like America or Europe! I'm much more interested in Russia and Asia. For a whole year, I only spoke Russian!

— That's cool! Amazing!

— I don't listen to music with English-speaking lyrics at all! After I left the Moskva restaurant, I got a job at another place, and I would play my own music on a tape recorder at work. At first, everyone asked me why my songs weren't in English but in some unknown languages? But after a month, they started to love it and began copying the tapes! I show people that there are many good songs! And even without listening to American stuff, you can find many good songs! Both Russian and any others. American stuff isn't a panacea! You can live without it and be quite happy. Right?!

We picked up Vitya and went home. I called Katya, and we agreed to meet near Camps Bay, by the beach. Someone told Katya that there would be a mega light show there by the shore.

Katyushka, Irinka, and Ira's boyfriend, Mahmoud, were at the movies, then they picked us up (Mahmoud had a car), and we headed to the beach.

No one was planning to put on a show there, but it was beautiful anyway, everything was lit up, and we had stocked up on food, cola, and champagne. We spread a blanket on the grass, sat in a circle, and hung out there for about three hours, until eleven. We ate, drank, congratulated everyone, and I spent all the money on my phone again, sending SMS to Russia and to people here. I congratulated friends and relatives back home: "From the old year (it was still 2008 for us, but 2009 for them) to the New Year, from summer to winter, from Africa to Russia."

Then we went to the Waterfront, where everyone went their separate ways. Katya went to James; they were planning to drive to the top of Signal Hill to watch the fireworks. Ira and Mahmoud also had some romantic plans, and we stayed at the Waterfront, where everything was lit up, music was playing everywhere, and crowds of people were bustling about.

By the way, it was warm, about 25 degrees Celsius. We didn't manage to visit Kirill at work; it was crowded, he was working, and Sveta, his girlfriend, was there with him. By the way, she arrived on the 24th, and they threw a cool barbecue on the 26th. It was me, Stas with Anshen, and Kirill's local friends and colleagues.

Vitya and I moved from place to place. Everything around was lit up, the trees were covered in garlands. To be honest, New Year's here isn't as beautiful as it always is back home, and in many ways, it's more modest. But I liked everything. I wasn't being picky or difficult.

The whole port was surrounded by people, everyone was waiting for the light show.

MIDNIGHT STRUCK

People shouted joyfully from all sides. And I shouted too! Someone nearby uncorked champagne, it sprayed everyone around, and a few drops got on us too.

AND THEN BOOM!!! The first volleys of FIREWORKS. And after them, more and more.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Joyful shouts, congratulations, happiness! Happy New Year! May it bring us all only joy!

We tried to get to Kirill again, but it didn't work out. We went for a walk through the "Victoria Wharf" shopping center. Then, towards Green Point. The city was buzzing. In South Africa, which pleased me, New Year's, just like back home, is celebrated more than Christmas, which passed here on December 25th.

We went into a fashionable Japanese restaurant. They had sushi, seafood, and all that. But we didn't go into the restaurant itself, but to Stas. He works there, and yesterday, like Kirill, he had a shift. We congratulated each other.

— And I've already had a few! — a genuinely tipsy Stas announced to us happily with a glass of vodka in his hand after we hugged, congratulating each other. I was very glad to see him. Stas seemed happy to see us too, which is why he was swearing with pleasure and gusto.

Then Vitya and I headed home, bought some more food, and went to the ocean.

We got home at 2:30 AM. And only then did we go to sleep.

And today we walked to the center. Then, to the beach, where we hung out until sunset. We sunbathed and swam.

I celebrated in a very unusual and, in my opinion, good way.

It's 10 PM now. Vitya went to an Internet cafe. And I'm going to take a shower to wash off the ocean salt and sand.

And how did you spend your holiday?

January 01, 2009