Wednesday, November 25, 2009

F-U, Flu

November 25, 2009

The swine flu epidemic was a popular topic in the news when I left the states. I can just imagine the crap the media is feeding America now that we should peak the “normal” flu season. Though I'm just starting my public health career, I'm already becoming jaded with all of the diseases that's out there to kill you. It's the circle of life, as a 6 year-old Mendocino boy taught me.
The point: 'Tis the season to wash your hands often, sneeze/cough into your sleeves (rather than your hands), and to stay far away from sick people. Relax about the swine flu hype. Everyday, people die from tuberculosis, starvation, racism, and well, AIDS. I've learned that the media are like terrorists—and we can't let the terrorists win.

I've seen supermarket attendants wearing surgical masks. Good for preventing tuberculosis. More effect to wear gloves, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your face.

The hot news right now is that Ukraine's swine flu epidemic is a big problem. Turns out it's just a political thing. Out of curiosity (and due to the geographical proximity), I looked up the statistics for swine flu in Russia. The numbers were strangely low. Almost abnormal. Naturally, I want to know if someone in Samara has it, and there are a few cases of swine flu. Schools are closing as a safety precaution, too. I think some research has found the efficacy inconclusive.

This is another cultural difference that I've noticed. Russians don't go to the doctor every time there is something tickling their throats. If anything, people will go to the pharmacies first. This was also the case in Argentina—go to the pharmacist, explain your symptoms, and they will give you a bunch of stuff to experiment with. It's like our pharmacies, but a lot more helpful; possibly nicer.

Some home remedies I have learned:

-Soak your feet in water with dry mustard. Sleep with dry mustard in your socks.
-Apply a warm compress on your sinuses to relieve congestion.
-Drop oil and onion juice into your nostrils to relieve congestion. It will hurt like hell.
-Drink hot wine or hot beer to relieve sore throat.
-Drink warm milk and honey to clear a cough.

Original Sin

November 15, 2009

I made the mistake of mixing up the words for circus and church. One day, Poland asked me if I wanted to go to the tsirk (circus) because he saw a flyer. OF COURSE, I wanted to go. Another day, he asked me if I wanted to go to a tserkov (church), and I misheard it for tsirk. Had I known, I wouldn't have agreed to go. Fortunately, we uncovered this blunder early enough so that I didn't have to wake up early on a Sunday morning to find myself at a church rather than a circus.

It's an honest mistake. And something that I am willing to own up to. So enjoy these pictures, courtesy of Piotr (Poland). And let's appreciate that he woke up early on a Sunday morning to take these. I can't explain anything about it, so just enjoy it. I was sleeping.




Sunday, November 8, 2009

Baby, It's F#$&^ Cold Outside

November 8, 2009

When I first arrived, the weather was amazing. It was almost equivalent to our NY end-of-summer weather because I was wearing short sleeves and could afford to go without a jacket. This phenomenon, if you will, is called “Indian Summer.” To me, Indian Summer is mother nature giving you false hope about the future climate. Fortunately, I’ve lived in DC for 4 years so I’m used to fickle weather. When Indian Summer was over, that’s when I felt the cool, brisk autumn weather. It was lovely and refreshing. So lovely and refreshing that I said, “I need to buy an autumn coat!”

So last month (early October), I went shopping for a cute autumn jacket at a local mall called “Park House.” A mall is a mall is a mall, no matter where in the world. That is because a woman is a woman is a woman. Period. And as a woman who went for one jacket, I came back with two. The irony--I went to a store named “The New Yorker” that is operated by a German company. For an American, it is expensive to shop for decent-quality clothes in Russia. It’s the truth--and it’s not because I’m cheap. I was eating gretchka and borscht for awhile.

Within the next few weeks, the days got significantly shorter and the weather got increasingly colder. By the end of the month, it was freezing temperature (about 30 degrees Fahrenheit). Silly me, I only wore my two coats for a few weeks. Right now, the temperature is equivalent to our winter…and it’s only fall. The nights get to -5 degrees Celsius. So far, I’m surviving because I go from my flat, walk a few minutes to transportation, and go to another building. But I can really feel those few minutes outside. Friends, I don’t think I will make it through the winter.

In the last week of October, I saw ice on the streets. By Halloween, we had our first snow fall (I know some of you in the States have already had snow). I didn’t mind the snow at first because it was big, soft, and fluffy. And fresh snow makes the city look pretty. Fresh snow doesn’t stay fresh for long, you know. In Argentina, the winter was pretty cold, but I managed with a light jacket…I was in denial about the cold. Here, I’ve worn my winter coat--rated for -30 degrees Fahrenheit--a few times, but I want to acclimate my body to the cold. When I can’t stand it anymore is when I will freeze in my winter coat.

Still, I see some girls on the street wearing leggings and mini skirts. They look cold. Cute, but cold. Therefore, they look stupid. I’m not making judgments--I’ve looked stupid for the sake of looking cute before.

When there is a problem, you naturally search for a solution, yes? My options:
- Sit by the radiator
- Drink tea
- Eat lots of soup …or I just eat for a higher caloric intake (calories = heat energy, it’s basic science)
- Find another warm body (I live with 5 other people)
- Vodka (or other tender spirits)
- Wear really warm, wool socks and mittens made by babushkas
- Earmuffs (I haven’t seen anyone else wear them, but I’m rocking it)

Send warm thoughts, please. It’s faster than the post.

(Internet problems still make posting pictures a pain in the butt...I will update with pictures...some time)

My First Night with a Russian

October 30, 2009

I went with a couple of friends to a Russian man’s birthday party. When I say party, I really mean that it was sitting around a table that was full of cake and beer (mostly beer, or course). The people at this party were so warm, energetic, and drunk. They propagated the Russian stereotype. The forwardness of people, men and women alike, frightened me at first, but my friends (also foreigners) told me that here, it’s normal.

I arrived “late” to the party. Everyone was sufficiently drunk at this point (minus me, of course). I didn’t know anyone, but people were just so warm and accepting. Within a minute of sitting down, the birthday boy offered me a beer (I took tea). Within a minute of my tea arriving, another woman paired it with cake. As soon as my cake finished, she made sure I washed it down with a cocktail. So thoughtful!

Well, remember when I first arrived, I thought I’d be discriminated against? So far, the exact opposite has happened (with exception to a babushka or two). At this party, some man asked what my nationality was and continued to eloquently, but drunkenly, explain how much he loves women with Asian features. Then he turns to his Russian wife and tells her what he thinks of me, and she was completely normal about it. Later this evening, another man (much older, of course) comes to say goodbye to me, and takes my bare hands with his leather-gloved hands and professed his love for me because I am “exotic” and he is tired of typical Russian women. I’m not used to it being okay for a man (especially not older ones) to ogle or openly flirt with another woman in the presence of his partner…and the partner doesn’t get jealous. Of course I am uncomfortable with this, even though I know it’s harmless and very superficial. It’s just a cultural difference.

Thanks. In Argentina, I felt like meat. Here, at least I feel like soy meat.