Вот и Всё. This is it. And then some...

I am glad to say that last night, I went to the pre-screening show of Michael Jackson’s “This Is It.” My flat mate’s friend had an extra ticket--and I was the happy recipient. I only met this person one time, and I knew I’d have a hard time getting anyone else to agree to come with me, so I sucked it up and went with a semi-stranger and company. For MJ, “in the name of love; l-o-v-e.”

Fortunately, MJ wasn’t dubbed like most movies. It was funny because the audio track was a split second faster than the visual track. I know that I wasn’t the only one who noticed it because there are dance scenes so the sound of the stomping didn‘t match the actually stomps. You get the picture. The film was mostly dress rehearsals and it showed how talented MJ really is at singing and dancing, even when he’s not giving his all. It also showed how much attention he gives to every single detail. It has to be PERFECT. Then he says that he is only being demanding because it’s in the name of love. Everyone was basically scared of him and treated him like a real king, “Ok, MJ, sir, we will do as you like…you know it the best…is this all right, MJ?” That’s a lonely life.

Apart from that, I loved the songs and so I had a great time. My only qualm is that they didn’t play “Dirty Diana.” Absolute madness.

The movie theater was really nice. Clean, nearly pristine. The attendants looked sharp in their laundered and ironed uniforms. It puts American theaters to shame because ours are always dirty and the teenage or retired attendants always look disheveled and miserable.

I like Indie flicks and I really liked going to the E Street Cinema back in DC. In Samara, there is a theater called “Rakourse” that I also like. It’s less like a mainstream movie theater because they hook up a DVD player to a projector and show it on a big screen. Before the show, there is a 10-15 minute introduction lecture. Obviously, I only understand a small percentage of it. I like the idea, though. The movies they play are artsy and come from different places and time periods.

My first movie in Russia was “Mirrors” or “Zerkalo” by Andrei Tartovsky. It is a USSR-period production. Great cinematography--I have no idea what it was about. Google it, you may find it interesting if you are the artsy type. I didn’t have trouble because it wasn’t in my language, I had trouble because I couldn’t follow the director’s train-of-thought. Even Russian speakers had trouble. I don’t know how much subtitles would have helped.

Then, I saw “Antichrist” by Von Triers. I heard that they won’t even release it in the States. I can’t even tell you what I think about it because I walked out feeling violated and uncomfortable. Again, I invite you to Google it.

Watching films are great for learning a different culture and for language acquisition. The end.

Speaking American

Not to toot my own horn*, but out here as a native English speaker, I am a commodity. I’ve been snatched by two private language schools. They don’t want me to teach grammar or lessons, they just want me to talk. I am a woman. And I like to talk. It sounds easy, but it’s not. Since I learned how to talk, I’ve been trained to be sensitive to the languages around me. Anyone with foreign-born parents understands this: you translate for your family members, you simplify official documents, you speak slowly, etc. So, I was literally born for my job at the language schools.

Unfortunately, there are some common misconceptions about my being a native English speaker. I cannot just TEACH someone to speak English. It’s not magic. Just because I live in Russia does not mean I will just speak Russian. There is so much work in language acquisition and it requires a lot of personal motivation and discipline. These language schools are being really smart because they aren’t using me to teach but as a practice tool. Plus, I am not practiced in teaching grammar and frankly speaking, I am not here to do that. I am completely fine with helping out with questions and language clubs, but I came here to develop a different skill set.

Parties and other social gatherings are funny because the conversations are usually like this:

Other-Where are you from?
Me- The US.
Other(s)- Whoooooaaaaa. What state/city?
Me- New York.
Other(s)- WOOOOOOOW!!! (Sometimes clapping. Sometimes a phrase or two in English) Why did you want to come to Samara?
Me- (Blank stare for 5 seconds). I wanted to see Russia.

There’s no way I can blend in here, so I stopped bothering awhile ago. It doesn’t mean that I will deliberately draw attention to myself either. My Russian teacher said to me, “People can tell you are a foreigner because your pronunciation of words are too soft.” I thought people can tell that I’m a foreigner because I can’t really speak Russian. Strange.

Side note: I learned how to say “hurry up!” in Russian. It takes me a really long time to say it because it’s a really long word for me.

A small request: If you can think of any English expressions and/or slang, please send it to me. It’s always interesting to teach/learn jargon. Leave me a comment on the blog or e-mail me. Facebook also works, but it’s really slow for me. Thanks much!

*LOOK!!! I used an expression!!!!!

“If you have sex, you will get AIDS, and DIE!”

October 17, 2009

I took a quote from Mean Girls--please don’t judge me.

It’s been a month since I’ve arrived and I am feeling very guilty because whenever someone asks me, “So, what are you doing here?” I can answer about my project because it is related to my profession (to-be). I still can’t give a reasonable answer about why I am in Samara. I feel even guiltier when Russians ask me and I don’t really know how to respond in any language.

Graph: http://www.journaids.org/index.php/factsheets/hivaids_overview/

A few weeks ago, I delivered my first training and it was beyond successful. I had my doubts because the other two trainers didn’t have much energy and we were going to a place that was previously unsuccessful. We were honestly dreading the 90 minute session. Long story short, it was PERFECT. We, 3 trainers and 15 students, sat in a small circle in a cozy, little room. The lecture was brief so the (semi-translated) conversations were long, honest, and fruitful. We did a run-through about the HIV virus, transmission, and other basic information. The behavior-modification section was well-received at this session because everyone was really engaged and energetic for our games. Later, I found out that people who were there were actually interested--it makes a huge difference and I’m very grateful.



As far as what’s going on with my project now, I am still waiting. It is a slow period because the volunteers from the other organization (AIESEC) finished their term. There is another volunteer, but she is out of the country for the month for conferences. I still can’t leave the country until I get a residential visa--oh, the irony. I’ve proposed a monitoring and evaluation program for this project in order to show that it is evidence-based and that the organization really is effective in prevention. I’m not sure how far past the “proposal” stage it will get. My point:

Evidence helps an organization win grants.
Grants = money.
Money = motivation.

Salsa Golf, Revisited

Last night, I learned the how to say the verbs “to get fat.”

As some of you may remember, I came back from Mendoza a little ”lumpy” and very well fed. Many tourists go to Argentina for leather, but I went for the eatable parts. Another culprit for my weight gain was the amount of mayonnaise I ate. Don’t be grossed out--the mayonnaise was delicious and not like our Hellman’s version. It is made with olive oil and the like--it is creamy and doesn’t taste heavy at all. I learned to eat EVERYTHING with salsa golf--a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise (do not say anything until you have tried it). My salsa golf is even better because I add Sriracha sauce for that special tingle.

I wanted to know the verbs for getting fat because it is happening again. I eat a lot of sugar. This is very different because back in the States, I avoided salt and sugar like it was the Black Plague (“White Death” is more appropriate). Here, I am eating chocolate, cookies, Turkish Delights (!), and candy every day. They make me happy.

People are usually averse to Russian cuisine, as was I when I first arrived. I think the style is more comfort-foodish. A few of my favorites:

-Pelmenie: Russian-style dumplings. The fillings vary and they can be eaten in broth or with sour cream. I eat these with my Thai-style salsa golf. It’s also very convenient when I don’t have much time because I just boil them for a few minutes and eat. Like ramen or ‘mama’ noodles.


-Blinchikie: Crepes. Russians call them Russian-style pancakes. They are crepes. At the restaurants, I see them making these “pancakes” the same way and using the same machines to make crepes at Crepeaway (a DC crepe joint).

-Pierogkie: More or less, these are turnovers. They can be fried or baked, just like empanadas. Only, they aren’t empanadas because they are softer and more bread-like. You can get them with different fillings (e.g. cabbage, meat, potatoes, mushrooms, etc.).

-Borscht: Beet soup. Extra delicious with sour cream or mayonnaise. I made this for the first time the other night (super easy and very yummy). Beets make it nice and red, potatoes give it some flavor, some cabbage, some carrots, water, and lots of seasoning. There’s supposed to be meat in it.

Sofie's borscht.

-Porridges (kasha): This is the umbrella term for oatmeal, buckwheat, millet, rice (?), etc. I like oatmeal in the morning because it makes me warm inside. Fiber is very good for your insides, believe me as I am now old and wise (hah!). Buckwheat (gretchka) is unbelievably cheap and very delicious. We make jokes that we eat it because we are volunteers, and back in our home countries, we can only find buckwheat in pet shops. I love it because it is fast food, filling (thank you, fiber), and you can eat it with everything (like rice). I have heard that you can eat it with sugar and milk. Millet (psheno) is what I used to feed my parakeets. It is tasteless and I don’t know how to use it properly. I used it to make a heartier soup and it was delicious. The next day, the soup had an oatmeal-like consistency because the millet soaked the soup up. I also made little fried cakes out of it. Fried = tasty. That is a universal fact.

The ingredients for my Thai-style Salsa Golf: ketchup, mayonnaise, and sriracha. I ate it with the buckwheat (gretchka). Yum.

-Sunflower seeds: I cannot tell you how many hours (HOURS) I’ve spent sitting there eating sunflower seeds. I am addicted. What is special about it? Nothing, but I am addicted to eating. And there is something very meditative about lounging, cracking the shell, and finding that tiny seed within. Satisfaction in the purest form. I now call myself a connoisseur of sunflower seeds. My flat mates will suffer for a week if I buy a bag of seeds that I consider unsatisfactory. Yes, sunflower seeds have become a determinant of my mood.

I don't know why I can't turn it. Easier if you turn your head. Thank you for cooperating.

-Miscellaneous: Lay’s makes bacon-flavored potato chips. I’ve also seen bacon-flavored cheese spreads (like those soft triangle cheeses in the refrigerated aisle of supermarkets). Sushi is trendy here and they sell sushi-making kits here. I have found Thai fish sauce, oyster sauce, Thai-style noodles, and chili sauces at one supermarket. The problem? Thai food smells, the products are really expensive, and oh yes, I don’t know how to cook Thai food.

It sounds pretty reasonable what I have to eat, so why did I want to learn the words to express increasing weight? I eat a lot more than usual (my schedule is more relaxed and I like experimenting). What measures am I taking to combat obesity not only in America but in my own body?

We eat vegan. Not vegetarian, I can live with that--V-E-G-A-N. Even if you don’t know me very well, know one thing about me--I love meat. I love the cow meat. For almost 10 years, I didn’t eat it and I was happy with that choice. Then, I went to Argentina and fell in love with meat. Now, I like my meat black-and-blue and I can eat it any time of the day. No steak sauce (absurdity!). That is as honest as I can be.

In my flat, we have a vegan and two vegetarians. I am the antichrist. I am American, I speak English, and I eat animals (and animal by-products). We mostly eat dinners together. It’s a social thing to sit there, talk, chop food, and cook. It’s nice. We are respectful people and we cook vegan so that everyone can eat. Of course, I add impurities (e.g. sour cream, cheese, mayonnaise, MEAT, etc.) to my dish after it’s cooked.

There are positives to my (forced) plant-derived diet. I eat a lot of fresh vegetables and produce. Remember, vegetables have a lot of fiber and fiber does the body good. The more healthy dishes I eat, the fewer unhealthy dishes I eat. Plus, the quality of meat is dubious. Simple logic, but it’s one step against heart disease. I’ve also learned how to get creative with dishes.

When I get back to the US, take me out for good steak and I’ll cook a great vegetarian meal for you. Do it, it’s a dare.

P.S. Read “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain if you know what’s good for you.

P.P.S. There would’ve been more pictures, but by the time I remembered to take a picture of a food, I had already satisfied my hunger. I’m a food hedonist.

Camels, Lions, and Bears, oh my!

October 11, 2009

My first time in a marchutka was memorable--I randomly saw a camel on the street. A camel in Samara does not make sense to me. From that moment on, I was determined to find this camel again. Yesterday, I was looking at the city map and found that there’s a zoo. I figured this camel would be there.

Today, I went to the Samara Zoo. When I first entered the park, the smell of the animals hit me like a bus. After overcoming the shock, I laughed uncontrollably. Sorry, Samara.

Samara Zoopark. This is the first thing I saw when I walked in. That's also the entire zoo. 100 rubles for the entrance ticket.

Lo and behold, I found the camel. When I found him, he was walking around with a kid riding in between his humps. That didn't faze me, but I was a little disgusted when I saw the handler kidding the camel on the mouth. Maybe I am showing the American in me because "PDA (public displays of affection) is not okay." This includes PDA with animals.

This is the infamous camel of Samara. I still laugh when I see this.

The animals were in cages like the ones you find in pet stores--my Polish flat mate said that it reminded him of an animal shelter for homeless pets. There were not even wallpapers or posters in the cages to emulate the animals’ real environments--just concrete walls, fencing, and a tin roof. Alia (from Egypt) excitedly told me that this was also how it is in her country. It was also really funny (in a sad way, of course) to see the animal food. To me, it seems as though every animal was fed the same kind of food; raw meat, some fruit, and crackers for people (sushki).

Chicken. aka. dinner.

Besides the camel, I saw: a donkey, pony, deer, raccoon, crocodile, cheetah, bear, lions, various birds (some rare ones), stray kittens, chicken, monkeys, snakes, other reptiles, and fish. I felt terribly for the animals because the space was too small for any of them to get proper exercise. I also felt terrible in my stomach from the noxious animal fumes.

Rabbits in separate cages. See the toy bunny on top of the cages?

There were two indoor exhibits--one with birds and another was for “exotic” animals. In these indoor parts, there were portable heaters to keep the place warm. I am afraid that if the idea was to create a tropical-like climate, the zookeepers failed miserably. I wonder what happens to the outdoor animals during the harsh Russian winter. Actually, I don’t think I want to know the answer. In primary school, I learned that bears and reptiles hibernate in the winter. I don't think they'll be lucky enough to relax like that.

This was the "exotic" room where there were reptiles, fish, monkeys, and the lone lion. The girl lion was outside by herself flirting with the puma and cheetah next door. Not kidding.

Another surprise was seeing a raccoon in the zoo. The Polish flat-mate explained to me that it's normal to have raccoons in zoos because they are North American animals (READ: not in Europe). Imagine his reaction when I explained that in the US, raccoons are treated like rodents because they are nuisances that dig in trashcans at night. And they may carry rabies [see video].




This time, I'm not trying to be offensive to Russian zoo-people. It's just that in the US, we have annoying activist organizations (e.g. PETA) that make sure animals get better rights than our illegal immigrants. That's why my standard for a zoo is considerably high. I used to think that Washington's Smithsonian Zoo was pathetic. Today, I changed my mind. Again, sorry Samara.

Resume/CV Builder: Skills

October 8, 2009

I’ve been here less than a month and I can already say that I’ve learned a few tricks and gained some wisdom.

Laundry

I don’t have a washing machine (yet), so we do laundry in the shower or in a little bucket. There is no Laundromat conveniently located by us either. Russians typically have washing machines in their homes, or at least a babushka [see previous post] to do it for them. People don’t usually have dryers because electricity is expensive, but the washing machines spin the clothes well so that you can line dry them in a day or two. Hand washing is not efficient because it uses a lot of water and clothes don’t get that clean no matter how hard you scrub. And we have to be careful not to use too much hot water from the shower so you don’t shower in cold water (not pleasant, believe me). My tips:

-Boil water in the kettle and use to clean clothes.
-Use an iron to reduce line-drying time.
-Iron vinegar-soaked cloth to clean the iron when you burn something.
-Use a portable heater to reduce line-drying time.
-Drip dry clothes over a dirty spot so that the water cleans the floor. Use a mop to wipe floor clean. Efficient.
-Do as my flat mates do and hang clothes around your bed.
-DO NOT WASH FULL-SIZED TOWELS BY HAND. It gets very heavy when soaked and takes 4 days to dry. And they are scratchy afterwards. Very scratchy.
-Make friends with someone who owns a machine to wash jeans.

Our shower/washing machine. You can see the little bucket on the bottom right. There are only two places where you can truly be alone in my flat: the shower and the toilet (separate rooms). I am in love with this shower because you can have the water flow from the top like rain, or have it come from the side like a car wash, OR use the removable shower head. There is also an option to turn on a mysterious blue LED light. I think this a Japanese shower because written on it is "Micro-computer controller: Welcome to use products of our company, With to bring beautifull enjoy to you! This is our aim of service!"

Notice the lower bed on the left. My German flat mate strategically tied yarn to create a drying line. I sleep on the upper bunk, if you care to know. See the bed to the right. My Polish flat mate hung his wet T-shirts around the bed and used the portable heater to speed up drying-time.

I burned a towel trying to dry it--ironic, huh? Then, I learned how to clean the iron.

Public Health

Living in close quarters with people (especially with filthy European foreigners) puts you at high risk for many ailments. HIV/AIDS is a problem in the Samara Region, but the following act as imminent threats. For example: tuberculosis, influenza, the common cold, gastrointestinal problems, obesity, and insanity. By the way, I’m just kidding about them being filthy; I wanted to be a little dramatic. My tips:

-Drink tea. Every day. Constantly.
-Salt and sugar = white death
-Store yummy, sugary snacks on an unreachable shelf.
-Wash produce REALLY, REALLY well, especially if bought on the street from a babushka.
-Stay far away from sick flat mates and alienate them as much as possible.

We are in the middle of combating a lice issue before it becomes a problem. Fortunately, this person is staying in another flat until she is sure the lice are all dead. What I have learned:

-I now know what lice looks like.
-Wash clothes in hot water (60 degrees Celsius).
-Iron clothes and bed sheets to kill eggs and bugs.
-While you’re at it, iron your hair.
-When you find an egg, squish it between your nails until it makes a “pop” sound.
-When the pharmacy stuff doesn’t work, soak your head in vinegar and cayenne pepper.

These are few examples of what I’ve learned, and I hope you can take away from my lessons.

I should also admit that I am still unable to correctly identify what a cow looks like. The following is not a cow. I know that much.

Some of you will understand this because this is not the first time that I have incorrectly identified a cow, or goat for that matter. I should know what a cow looks like though, considering I like to eat them so much. This was taken in Sharaeyvo.

NEXT POSTS: I know you want to SEE Samara city, know what I eat, and you want to know about my project. I haven't forgotten--I am just trying to keep a steady flow of posts going. Don't worry! :)

For Your Information

October 7, 2009

NOTE: The following is not really written with cultural sensitivity. None of my posts will be culturally sensitive for that matter. I want to introduce you to babushkas. I will often refer to these women in my later posts, so keep this information in mind or you can always refer back to this post if you forget. I also realize that it's unethical to take photos of people without permission. But they are my photos, so I am legally allowed to post them. Right?


The correct pronunciation for babushka is BAH-boosh-ka, not ba-BOOSH-ka. Babushkas are old women who typically wear a scarf wrapped around their heads, sell things at the market, and try to make trouble with me. By definition, a babushka is a grandma, but we generally call old women babushkas. If it helps, think of it as addressing an elderly woman in Thailand.

Typical Samara babushka. She sat beside me on the boat to Sharyaevo and shamelessly stared at me for a long time. It was not a nice kind of stare either. She fell asleep, so I took a photo. Hah.

Actually, I’ve noticed that older babushkas don’t like me--probably because I’m darker and possibly a gypsy. A few days ago, a different babushka was on the tram with me and called for my attention, “Devushka!” Then, she proceeded to say many things to me. Her tone wasn’t malicious, but the vibes were scary like a curse. This is a great example of when it’s okay that my Russian isn’t great.


I have questions, but I don’t know who can answer them.
-When do you know you are old enough to be a babushka?
-Why do they all wear those scarves around their heads? For the cold?
-If I get cold and I want to wear a scarf, will they call me a babushka?

If you look closely, you will find a babushka in the photo. Can you find her?

I’m still honeymooning in Russia, so the attention isn’t bothering me yet. It’s still really amusing to me. In my later posts, I will probably write angrier posts about the attention. The probable causes: I will be tired of the attention, culture shock, or my Russian improves to the point where I can understand what people are saying about me. It happens.

Home Bittersweet Home

October 4, 2009

My living situation was a mess before. The Russian organization that is hosting me apparently ran out of money, so they consolidated three flats and an office into one downtown flat. What’s the problem? There were 6 people living in one bedroom. There were 3 Ikea bunk beds and a few drawers for storage. This flat wasn’t meant to be lived in, so there’s no kitchen. But we are making do with it because there’s a full-sized fridge, electric stovetop, a microwave, and that glorious hot pot (kettle). No kitchen sink, though. Fortunately, we get along fine and share responsibilities so living together wasn’t too terrible. Oh, and the kicker--the other room of the flat was used as the organization’s office. So, I could wake up one morning and come to my kitchen and sit with a stranger. We were told that Russians live in small flats just like ours. When we spoke to Russians, they were appalled by our living conditions. The fact that non-related men and women lived in the same bedroom shocked people even more. Most people felt bad for us and even offered to board us temporarily.

Naturally, we stirred up some trouble until something was done with the situation.

Currently, the situation is much better. The organization moved out of our flat, so now 4 of us are living in the same bedroom and the other 2 are in the window-less room. We can’t split 3-3 because we have bunk beds. Yes, it is exponentially better having more room to live in, but it’s even better now that we don’t share the space with the organization. That made things very uncomfortable, as you can imagine. There’s no Internet, TV, washing machine, dishwasher, or kitchen sink, but I really don’t need that much to survive happily. We are waiting for wardrobes, though. I don’t recommend this living situation for people who have never experienced dorm or hostel life. Or messy people--we are constantly cleaning the flat.

Our kitchen/common room. Notice the drying rack on the side. This is the view when you first enter the flat.

Oh yes, I should address the fact that I live with boys. But I couldn’t ask for any more respectful boys to share a room with. Of course, most of you care about my well-being, so I really want to emphasize that my flat mates are very considerate. I am very comfortable with the people I live with, but I bet my parents and brother are still uncomfortable with this.

My bedroom now with only 2 bunkbeds. I forgot to take a picture of the other half, so I'll do that and randomly post it later. This is the only room with a window.


A portrait of my temporary family created by yours truly. It reads, “My (^Swedish) Family.” At first, I thought that was cute because one of the girls is from Sweden. Then I learned the definition of “Swedish Family” and no longer think it is cute. Funny, but not cute.

Cost of Living

Friday, Oct. 2, 2009

These are only ballpark figures in USD. Currency changes everyday and I just don’t care enough to be that accurate.

A produce stall at a tram stop. I am learning quickly how to measure things in grams and kilos--out of necessity, of course.

Lunch special at nice hotel: salad, entrée, and drink…………….$6
Public Transport (bus, tram, trolley, metro)………………………$0.30
Marchutka………………………………................................................$0.50
Block of cheese……………………………….........................................$1.40
Drinkable yogurt………………………………......................................$0.90
Crackers………………………………....................................................$0.90
Cereal………………………………........................................................$0.30
Frozen pizza……………………………….............................................$3.50
Umbrella………………………………...................................................$6.50
Half pound rice……………………………….........................................$1.00
4 hot dogs………………………………..................................................$0.90
Sliced processed cheese (like Kraft)……………………………..........$1.00
8 oz. (no refills) Beverage at restaurant…………………………...…$1.00
Toilet paper roll (scratchy only)……………………………................$0.90
Round trip Boat transport 2 hrs up the Volga River……………..$5.00
Cone of my favorite ice cream........................................................$0.75

And you have to pay for plastic bags (about 8 cents). And for sauce packets at fast food places, it’s about 50 cents each).
A mall is a mall is a mall. Same goes with mall food courts. Alia (Egypt) bought chicken from KFC. Delicious.

Cost of living is comparatively cheaper here, but people don’t buy in bulk as we do in the states. I go to the market (either supermarket or farmer’s market) many times per week for groceries. I do not live like a queen here because I can convert from US dollars, but part of that is because I am not making too much money hahaha.

Yummiest ice cream ever!! This is a the same tram stop as the market above. Better than the helado Catty and I got fat from in Mendoza. Looks and tastes homemade, too. If it isn't, then so be it. It's still really good.

Drink, Drank, Drunk

We do not discriminate with drinking vessels. An espresso cup is just as good as any other. The sketch is of the famous Russian poet Lermontov.

October 1, 2009

Vodka is the national drink of choice and it no longer fazes me when a man is walking around with a bottle of beer at 11:30am. However, I am not used to people getting on public transport vehicles drinking beer like it’s water.

My Belgian flat mate said to me that her image of America is very negative because of some movies she has seen. She asked me if football teams were that great a deal and if many girls desire to be superficial cheerleaders. I said, “Not in America, but Texas yes.” She also asked if it was common for university students to get involved with fraternities and sororities just to have crazy drunken nights on the weekends. Of course it happens, but it’s definitely not a scene for everybody. Ashley, the EX-roommate, said, “It’s funny that the Europeans think we are a bunch of drunkards, but they drink more than us!” Good point.

What is my reality? I drink tea all day and night. It’s a pain in the ass to buy the big liters of water and carry it home. It’s much easier to boil tap water--and it’s very convenient with this high-tech hot pot/kettle. It turns itself off when the water boils! A person can only drink so much tea, though. And for that occasional glass of wine? I get it from the box--it’s cheaper and it’s not nearly as bad as boxed wine in the States. And as for vodka? I’ve only recently tried it. I didn’t like it in the US, and I sure don’t like it now. It is getting colder everyday...

Frogger

September 30, 2009

The drivers here are crazier than drivers on NJ Rt-17!!! Speed limits don’t matter and the lanes on the line are there for decoration. Cars also DO NOT yield to pedestrians. I am not using my NY jaywalking habits here. Yesterday, I saw road construction and I expected traffic to slow down because only one lane could get through at a time. Nope! Road construction is no different than a pedestrian--you don’t have to yield. I asked a Russian girl if there are many car accidents. She said, “No, Russian drivers have great reaction.” HAH.

I rely on public transportation to get around. In Samara, there are trams (electrically powered and runs on a train-like track), trolleys (electrically powered but no track), buses, and marchutkas.


Marchutkas are vans with the craziest drivers, but they get you to your destination very quickly. I usually don’t get carsick--unless I’m in a Mazda Miada--but I walk out pretty dizzy when I get off these vans. Now, the thing with marchutkas is that they only stop when someone wants to get on or off. That means I have to announce to the whole van that I am a foreigner and would like to get off at the next stop. Then, everybody looks at me--I am a superstar in Russia.

Tram on my street. These are very slow because it stops at every stop, but it is 5 rubles cheaper than the marchutkas. Every cent counts for me.

First Impressions

Sept 25, 2009

I’ve been here for over a week now. Let me draw attention to some common stereotypes.

1. Russian women are stick thin and wear lots of makeup.
-- A good handful of women here are extremely thin. The food portions are also smaller than what we have in the States. But, let me state that there is a high rate of eating disorders here. Alternatively, our big food portions and many Americans suffer from heart disease. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and this differs throughout the world.

MANY women wear high heels, including stilettos, no matter the occasion or weather (wearing heels in rain is not a faux pas). It is NOT uncommon to see a bus driver wearing a sweat suit with high heels. Some girls wear a lot of makeup here, but again that varies. I don’t wear any more makeup than I did in the States, but people stare at me, so I do try to look decent. J

Hehe, my project had a performance at a local college and the school’s director invited us to her office to personally greet us. She was wearing a sheer shirt so that you can only see her bra. This is not seen as strange here.

2. The population is homogenous.
--Nope. There are so many universities in Samara and people come from all over Russia to study here. The number of international students/interns/volunteers are also increasing--there are people from every continent. There are many Kazakh, Bosnian, and Serbian immigrants here.

Waiting for our training outside Aerospace University. Me, Fatih (Turkey), Masha (Russia), and Zsazsa (Indonesian ex-pat in Japan).

3. The police is not your friend.
--True. Some policemen are corrupt and randomly cause trouble with foreigners to get some quick cash. I have to carry documents with me everywhere. Actually I’m instructed to immediately call my project coordinator if something happens, and that I should not even try to explain my status here.

4. The sun never shines in Samara.
--Autumn just started, so there is still sun. It has rained a few times, but the sun always comes out. A Spanish ex-pat said to me, “In winter, there is sun, but you just can’t feel it.“ I was afraid that I wasn’t going to see sun in Russia, so I was no stranger to the beach this summer. However, people with darker skin have a higher chance of attracting attention from the police. Whoops.

5. Russians are so cold and never smile.
--In business settings (e.g. restaurants, shops, etc.), smiling is seen as unprofessional. Also, “the customer is always right” mentality is not the same here as it is in the US. Russians are also people. People are friendly in the right atmosphere. Plus, can you honestly not smile when you are around me??