Amusing Encounter

Recently, when walking on Bolshoi Prospekt, the main avenue on Petrogradskaya (my home island), I was stopped by a middle-aged British tourist asking for directions.  He didn't know any Russian, but he didn't know that I am an American - he merely assumed that I was any other Russian walking down the street.  Proud that I had been mistaken as a Russian, I played along.  Our conversation went something like this.

Him: "Hello there, can I ask you a question?"

Me (speaking in Russian): "Yes."

Him: "Wonderful!  I'm looking for the nearest metro stop, do you know where it is?"

Me (continuing to speak in Russian and increasingly amused): "Yes."

Him: "Can you speak English?"

Me (replying first in Russian, then in English): "Of course (Russian)......of course (English)."

I went on to inform the gentleman as to how to get to Sportivnaya metro station, deliberately using simple words in an attempt not to show my true colors.  Didn't work.

Him: "You speak very well...your accent..."

Me: "Thank you very much..." (and at this point trying my best not to crack up)

Him: "Are you from New York?"

He had me.  I acknowledged that I was indeed from New York, and we spoke briefly about why we were respectively in Saint Petersburg.  I wish now that I had asked for his name and email address so that I might send him the link for this blog.  20/20 hindsight is a bliss, but in lieu of having neglected to obtain his contact information, I'll have to settle for hoping he somehow stumbles across this website.  Impressed as I might have been with myself for being mistaken for a Russian, I was even more impressed with him so quickly identifying me as from New York.  For while I am from a New York suburb, I don't believe I speak with a truly distinct New York accent, but rather with a fairly stereotypical northeastern accent.  Do I?

At any rate, Sir, whoever you are, I hope you enjoy your time in Saint Petersburg!