One of my closest friends lives in St. Petersburg. After travelling the world, living in a different place almost every year - sometimes every 6 months - for 8 years, this vagabond has finally settled in St. Petersburg to her heart's content, at least for now. Annika is studying ballet choreography in St. Petersburg, and loving every minute of it.

My story about Annika tonight characterizes her. She decided to go to the opera one night, at the renowned Mariinsky theatre. She was free for the evening and had heard it was good. Standing in the discount line for students, she realized she'd never get in on time, since so many others were ahead of her hoping for the leftover cheap tickets. Suddenly, an older man approached her, asking if she'd like to buy his extra ticket for an equivalence of 40 euros. Annika declined due to the price, even when he knocked off a few more rubles. In the end, he thrust the ticket at her and said, "Take it for free". Annika couldn't believe it, but after his pushing, she graciously accepted the gift and stepped out of the line.

The final bell before the start of the show had already sounded, and Annika quickly made her way to her seat - in the third row, one of the best! The man then came and sat beside her. "I knew you really wanted it; that's why I gave it you," he said. Imagine his joy at discovering that she was a ballet student, and his amazement at finding out that she wasn't Russian at all.

Needless to say, this is not the first time Annika has been given a free ticket to a beautiful art show. Once in China, she was given a free seat to a ballet show by a Japanese lady who enjoyed her company. Only Annika... And for him who gives her the gift, the pleasure is immense: Annika enjoys the gift to such an extent as to make it worth the giving above and beyond.