Hi, my name is Masha Kuznetsova. I work at Red Door Cafe at the Cyrus Place.
Two years ago, I moved from Saint Petersburg, Russia, to Indianapolis. I won’t lie – this journey wasn’t easy. Saying goodbye to the people I love, moving across the world and starting a new life wasn’t exactly my plan. But it brought me more than I could have ever expected — I found a home, amazing people and a new side of myself.
Day One
11 a.m. I pick up some shelter and hay for my outdoor cats from Indy Neighborhood Cats. Winter is here, and they work incredibly well during extreme cold!
5 p.m. At my neighbors’ house for a bonfire. Today is her birthday! When people ask me what things I’ve discovered in America that I love, I always say: tater tots and bonfires … haha. There’s something truly magical about sitting by the fire with people you care about.
Another interesting cultural difference that I noticed: When you’re invited to a birthday in Russia, it’s “strictly by invitation.” If you haven’t received a personal invite, showing up unannounced would be considered bad manners, and you’ll likely be asked to leave. Here, though, most of these events are more “open,” and a friend can bring a friend, as long as this friend can “BYOB.”
Day Two
11 a.m. My friends and I meet at Milktooth. Sunday mornings are made for brunch. Their savory Dutch baby is incredible, and the staff is welcoming and sweet.
1 p.m. The one thing that can make brunch even better is a nice walk. So we take a stroll to some local shops in Fountain Square. And yay, it’s finally cold outside! (That’s my Russian soul talking.)
Day Three
7:50 a.m. I brew coffee, turn on the playlist of the day and make myself a hot latte.
One of the biggest challenges for me, in moving to another country, was that I had to take a step back — several steps back — in my career. In Russia, I worked as an HR manager at a large IT company, but finding a similar job here proved much harder.
Just a month after moving, I found a job at Red Door Cafe, and it ended up bringing me more than I ever expected. I met amazing people, tried so many new things and became much happier.
9 a.m. All the neighbors start coming in for their morning coffee. The best part? The regular dogs. I’m serving pup cups to Gus, Louie, Wrigley, Derby, Mac and Hazel.
11 a.m. More people arrive, and soon the cafe is buzzing with the lively chatter of friends catching up.
Day Four
7:30 p.m. I’m headed to the Chatterbox Jazz Club for the First Tuesday Classical Revolution. It’s so cool how classical music takes on a whole new vibe in a bar setting, with the sound of beer and wine glasses clinking and conversations buzzing in one of the oldest jazz bars in the city.
Day Five
9 a.m. I’m at Speedway to play pickleball. It’s my third time, and I’m still not great at the game. But everyone is super supportive, and they even let me serve again when I miss.
11 a.m. My friend, who lives in Barcelona, and I record another episode of our podcast, “In Different Hemispheres,” where we share our experiences of living in different countries, and our cultural insights and thoughts.
In today’s episode, we discuss who usually pays on the first date in America, Russia and Spain. Upcoming episodes will cover the tipping system, small talk, siestas and different ways of traveling.
We are still recording the podcast episodes, so they are not public yet. But I have a link to another one with the same people, where I was a guest. The podcast is called “30-Year-Old Women.”
Day Six
3 p.m. My mom and I watch “Anora” at Kan-Kan Cinema and Restaurant, and it’s definitely a must-see! Afterward, we have a discussion about the value of human life and the differences in cultures and languages. Of all the films that portray Russian language, this one is the most accurate I’ve seen lately.
5 p.m. After the movie, we go to the restaurant side of the Kan-Kan. Their rice bowl is something else.
Day Seven
7 p.m. For dinner I go to Maialina Italian Kitchen. I’ve always admired Italian art, but let’s be real — their greatest masterpiece is pasta!
8 p.m. I head to White Rabbit Cabaret for the “Let’s Make a Date” show. It’s such a fun and witty interactive twist on dating shows! I hope they do it again on Valentine’s Day.
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