turned out to be a russian to english translator. We met again, this time for a wonderful movie and then promptly went to a Russian restaurant. While I was never fond of Russian cuisine, my new acquaintance showed me the richness of this cuisine beyond the thread-bare borscht and piroshki. I learned to appreciate the various zakuski, such as marinated fish and vegetables, flavorful smoked meats, thinly sliced, melting in my mouth. I expected everything to be mayonnaise-slathered and bland, but the food turned out to be quite a feast. My new friend told me that one should never compose an opinion about anything before getting familiar with every aspect of it. So, what did you think of me first, he asked, baring his yellowish uneven teeth in a sarcastic smile. Wanting to be honest from what I assumed to be our first date, I admitted that I had a preconceived notion about Russian people.