ياب في موسكو - B1

Jaap decided to learn Russian to better understand the world he had entered. He wanted to communicate effectively with Nadya and her influential friends, and to immerse himself in Russian culture and politics.

One evening, while practising Russian with Nadya, Jaap said, "Nadya, I want to improve my Russian so I can follow the conversations around me. There's so much happening in politics, and I feel I only know a little."

Nadya replied, "That's a great idea, Jaap. The better you understand Russian, the more you'll appreciate the subtleties of our politics and society."

With Nadya's help, Jaap's Russian got better quickly. He joined in conversations with her friends, talking about politics, culture, and current events.

At a friend's gathering, Jaap debated with a Russian diplomat. "I think Russia should have strong ties with its neighbours," Jaap said in Russian.

The diplomat replied, "That's true, but we must also think of our national interests and security. Sometimes we must make hard choices that not everyone will like."

Jaap nodded. "I see. It's a delicate balance, isn't it?"

The diplomat answered, "Yes, it is. It's nice to see someone like you learning our language and joining in these talks."

As Jaap learned more about the language and culture, his relationship with Nadya and her friends grew stronger. They trusted him more and included him in private conversations, giving him insight into Russian politics and society.

After a conversation with a high-ranking FSB official, Jaap told Nadya, "Nadya, I think I'm beginning to understand the complexity of this world. It's exciting but also a bit scary."

Nadya said proudly, "I knew you could do it, Jaap. You've come so far since we first met, and I'm very proud of you."

As they continued to explore the world of Moscow's elite, Jaap's new understanding of the language of influence helped him appreciate the challenges and opportunities they faced. However, their journey was far from over, as they would soon find themselves even more deeply involved in the risky world of espionage and power.