resonantSoul

Are you still on speaking terms with the relevant friend?

That or it's a serious trump card.

Guess who's buying drinks again?

How much Russian did you know before you went up? How much did you pick up while you were there?

That makes your wording in the post ill chosen at best. From where I'm sitting it feels more intentionally misdirecting.

I think an edit to reflect the info you put here would be very advisable.