School in Russia starts at 8:15 and ends at 1:55 each day, though students receive significant homework. The author, a 14-year-old girl named Dasha, enjoys spending her $200 weekly allowance at the swimming pool and cinema in her free time. She also likes surfing the internet, listening to music, watching television, and helping around the house. Dasha generally gets along well with her sister and views being a teenager as a carefree time in her life.