The Penthouse

My name is Saina Nakajima.

I came from the United States

with a dream of building a new life with my husband and son,

but I could never have imagined

what awaited me here...

- (Saina) Oh, thanks! - Here you go.

I heard some singing.

- Did you have a nightmare? - No, David, it wasn't a dream.

Wait, I recorded it!

Where's the recording?

I remember...

I don't get it... The recording's gone.

Oh, let me see.

Maybe you forgot to tap the record button?

It happens.

I did!

Alright, I gotta go.

You know, Saya, it could've been the neighbors.

It could've been anything but...

Nothing mystical here.

You don't believe me?

Of course, I do.

I can stay here if you want.

No. I'm good. Go.

You're sure?

I'll get our things sorted.

Alright.

See you.

Oh!

- Call me if anything, okay? - Uh-huh.

Bye!

- Hi! - (staff) Yes?

Do you have flour?

Yeah, over here. Let me bring this.

Thank you so much!

If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?

You don't look like Chinese.

No. I'm from Yakutia.

What? Where is it?

Yakutia. Sakha.

- I never heard of that place before. - Yes, it's far up north.

Ah, up north.

- It must be cold there. - (baby whimpering)

Very cold.

It's colder there than at the North Pole.

- Anyway, nice to meet you! - Thank you!

- Have a nice day! - Goodbye! You too!

Hi, sweetie! Wake up!

How many should I put?

Not too many.

Three or four should be good.

What about your husband? What does he think?

He doesn't believe me.

He says I'm seeing things.

Are you guys getting along?

Yes, everything's fine, aunt. I don't know…

It's like in a dream.

Oh...

The headache won't stop.

Why?

I'm very afraid of heights.

I don't even dare to go near the windows.

It's okay.

A new place, a new baby.

- Agree. - It takes time, you know.

- I hope so. - Honey...

I really do care about you.

Aunty, don't worry about me.

Hearing your voice makes me feel better.

My darling.

It's a new place, and who knows,

maybe you'll have another baby.

- Uh-huh! - This can happen too.

No thanks! One is more than enough for now!

Okay, that's up to you two...

Only time will tell.

Well, okay. Bye, Auntie.

Thanks for the help!

Of course, dear. I won't bother you.

- OK, bye! - Tell me if anything.

- Bye! - Don't get lost. Bye!

- (husband) Hi, Saya! - Hi!

How are you? How's Sam?

We're fine. Sam's sleeping.

That's great.

My business partner invited us for a dinner at his place.

- I thought maybe you'd like to join? - What about Semenchik?

Should we take him with us?

What if we leave him with a babysitter?

We could spend one night out.

Alright...

And the babysitter? Will you bring her?

She'll come by five.

And you can get ready.

I'll pick you up around six.

Mmm... OK.

Kiss-kiss! - Bye.

- See you tonight. - Mmhm.

Saina, come take a look! You see?

- If the balls come up, it's ready. - Ah!

- Like Russian dumplings! - Yeah, you are right!

- Anisa? - Yes?

It's alright?

That's right. Okay, just cut it and put on the dish.

- Okay. - Okay.

Later we'll put the dessert on top.

Okay!

- (Anisa, shocked) Fifty below?! - (Saina) Yes.

- In winter. - (Anisa gasps)

- (Anisa's husband) Wow! - (Anisa) It's must be freezing over there!

- (Anisa's husband) Yeah! - Yeah, but we manage.

We are used to it.

If we, Malaysians, were there, we'd freeze to death!

- Yeah! - (chuckling) It's so cold!

Yeah.

David, help yourself to some wine or

maybe you want to try our local syrup Bandung?

How absent-minded of me to bring wine to a Malay house!

It's OK. Don't worry, we're OK, buddy (chuckling).

Saina, what would you like to have? Wine?

I... I'd love to try some Bandung.

OK. Well, me too then.

In that case, I'll have to drink this "guy" home by myself.

- Cheers! - Cheers!

Thank you for inviting us.

You're always welcome.

- (Saina) Mmm! - How is it?

Nice.

I like it.

- (David) It's very nice! - (Saina) Yeah...

So, yeah, I've only been in Yakutia for summer,

but I'd love to be there in winter too.

David, it's 50 below.

I wouldn't risk it! (Laughs)

Yeah.

Saina, I was wondering, what is the religion over there?

Umm... Well...

We the Sakha people and we have own faith.

And also we believe in spirits...

- (Anisa) Spirits? - Yes.

There are lots of them.

Evil spirits, good spirits,

forest spirits...

Long story short,

we believe that everything around us is alive.

Basically, it's Tengrism.

You know, the Sakha people are a Turkic tribe.

Ah yeah, I see, I see.

There are so many Turkic people around the world,

and it so happens that you are here.

How exciting!

Maybe.

Speaking of traditions, today I performed a ritual in our apartment.

- (Anisa's husband) Ritual? - Yes.

Okay, what kind of ritual is that?

I just fried some pancakes

and placed them in the corners of the apartment,

to be nice to the local spirits and ask them to stop bothering me.

Why? Is a spirit bothering you?

Hush, hush...

Oh no. Actually...

Just Saina feels a bit uneasy after we had our son.

Anyways, I hope that the spirits will calm down

and I won't have nightmares.

Oh... Okay...

Hearing this makes me feel eerie.

Here, let's have some Assam Laksa.

It's a sour and spicy fish soup with rice noodles.

I bet you gonna love it!

And it's easy to make.

You should try her cooking. It's... mmm!

- (laughs) - Delicious, yummy!

I don't think it's that easy.

I'm sure Anisa spent half the day cooking.

Aww...

I researched local cuisine, and this dish is by no means a piece of cake.

- First you add the noodles... - (Anisa) Yes.

then the seasoning,

and only after that—the broth.

- (Anisa) Yeah. - Yes?

David, now I understand why you can't wait to go home after work.

Mmhm!

Yes.

Actually, we have a small gift for you.

- Ah! - (Anisa's husband) So sweet of you!

Umm, this is a Sakha musical instrument.

Oh... okay.

Called "khomus".

Ah, an instrument?

Yes, yes.

Hold it between your teeth.

- Can you show us please, Saina? - (husband laughing)

Okay.

- Can I? - (Anisa's husband) Yes, please.

Do you really think it was a good idea to mention the ritual