The Russians Are (Not) Coming!

Even before 2022 (before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine) we sometimes joked about the Russians coming to invade 'insert nation'. Today, it is obviously far from funny, so we don't joke about it, although we in Europe are thinking about this more and more. We sometimes receive interest from Russian students or parents who inquire whether they can take lessons with us. Normally, all is fine with them and they act respectfully (and are usually also sensitive to the political situation surrounding us/them). Well, not this time!

There is a family who recently moved from Moscow, and the mother wanted to arrange trial lessons with us for her children. So far, no problem at all. She comes to the trial drum lesson with one of her sons with a phone in her hand - as she is a blogger and has to take pictures of everything, even video record her son in the drum room. The son seemingly is sick and tired of this charade but nevertheless goes ahead with it. He is a talented, nice kid no problems there. 

After the lesson, the mother is very satisfied and inquires about our other lessons as well, in a very direct manner about who is available and at what times. I start getting suspicious thinking to myself that the costs add up, so unless they are super-rich it will be hard to afford 3-4 lessons a week with us! Nevertheless, as usual, I politely inform them of everything and try to cater to their wishes and accommodate them. So, we set up a few more trial lessons for other members of the (large) family.

The next week, with the appointments written in our calendars, I sent out a friendly reminder that we will be here expecting them for their trial lessons. They did not write back nor appear. Late in that evening, they finally wrote back saying that they couldn't make it. But they might come another time. Of course, there will be no other time, having already disrespected our timetable in this unfriendly manner. Morale of the story, my sixth sense was right: when someone acts too excited usually means things are not right!

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