Yes, Mom, hello. I’m glad to hear you.
I am fine, I’m in Moscow.
Why haven’t you called? I don’t know where you are and how you are. It’s very cold in Russia, (lot's of) snow.
I didn’t know what to think because being on plane is always very dangerous ... John, do you hear me?
Mom, I hear you well. Everything is fine with me, I’m in the hotel already.
I have a very good room, clean and comfortable. Now I’m in a restaurant, having breakfast.
Do you remember that I like red caviar? It’s very expensive here, in Canada!
And I am eating red caviar and pancakes right now here in Russia, it is not expensive at all and very tasty!
I’m glad that you are fine and that you’re having a nice breakfast. Tell me whether Moscow is a small or a big city?
Certainly big, very big!
So far, I have seen Moscow only from a taxi but I realized that in Moscow, there are wide prospects,
long and short streets, and buildings old and new, tall and not so tall.
It’s not very cold outside. The weather here is as it is back home, in Canada: there is snow everywhere, very beautiful...
Where is your hotel (located) - far away from the Kremlin or in the city centre?
I don’t know yet but I think not too far.
Well, I have a new acquaintance in Moscow already, even a friend, his name is...
I’ve already understood! It’s not a “he”, it’s a “she”, and her name is Maria!
Good boy! I like that you have got a girl friend in Moscow already.
Is she pretty? Tall ? What color are her eyes - blue or not?
Does she have short hair? Where have you met her: on a plane, in the airport, or in the hotel? And...
No, Mom, you’ve understood it all wrong! I said that I had a male acquaintance, not a female!
His name is Lyova, he is staying (living) in the same hotel where I am staying (living).
He is a Ukrainian, he has a big family, they live in Kiev...
How come? Why does a Ukrainian live in Kiev? Ukrainians live in Canada.
You remember, when you were at school, you had friends, I don’t remember their names...
Does he understand Russian? Or you communicate only in English?
Maybe, you understand Ukrainian?!
Mom, please, don't... I don’t understand Ukrainian, we speak Russian.
Sorry, I need to pay for breakfast, can’t speak any longer.
Tonight or tomorrow evening I’ll call you. Good bye!