Some are "ahhhh"

Back to Samara Part 2

2011-05-09T19:39:00.004+04:00

In general, sequels are terrible. Don't you remember Cutting Edge 2? Dirty Dancing 2? X-Men's Wolverine gig? The first of the Star Wars series? I don't remember them because I didn't even watch them. But I could imagine that they were pretty terrible (considering my taste, of course).

Despite my generalizations about sequels, I'm less than two weeks away from my part two in Samara. Please keep your fingers crossed for me that all goes well (i.e. my visa is approved and arrives on time, no terrorist tries to blast me, I don't catch tuberculosis, my Transaero flight doesn't fall apart mid-air, etc.). I would be quite upset if any of the above happened.

It's that time of year again. We've finished our final exams, it's warm enough to sit outside, and we can celebrate at 3pm with two-for-one specials. What does that mean? Summer.

The Albany winter was brutal--I can say that even after experiencing a Russian winter. Actually, if you compare the temperatures, it's already warmer in Samara than in Albany. So I know that as soon as spring is over, there will be heat. It's the kind of heat that would drive me into the questionable waters of the Volga. More importantly, there will be mosquitoes. (cue dramatic, horror-like background music)

I learned a few things from my first trip to Russia that could make Part Two bearable. The "SCORE" products you see from above are over-priced, locally-made soap and body lotion that are infused with lemongrass oil. Lemongrass repels mosquitoes. If I'm correct, I should smell like a citronella candle. My mother and some friends tell me that it may repel people, too. That's a chance I'll have to risk if you understand the level of discomfort that mosquitoes cause me. I'm also bringing a mosquito net to hang above my bed. You can laugh, giggle, or roll your eyes back as far as you'd like, but I am serious. This is an old post about my war on mosquitoes.

Let the countdown begin.

Snowpocalypse

2011-02-05T21:20:00.004+03:00

I missed the 2010 Snowmageddon in DC last year. I was too busy trekking through the mountains of snow the Russians called a "regular winter day". Life continued, even when it was -38 and visibility was close to 0 due to the blowing snow. It's not an exaggeration when I say that I decided to experience a Russian winter to prime my body for Albany's winter. I never expected that Albany's temperatures and snowfall would nearly match Samara's winter.

Last week, we had Snowpocalyse 2011 sweep the midwest and northeastern regions of the US. I'm in NY and no longer in Russia; I was entitled to have a snow day...or four.

While the rest of Albany was paralyzed, the trusty, mostly-reliable US Postal Servicepeople continue with their work.

Shannon and I took a hike to the local post office to send a letter the old-fashioned way. No e-mail, no driving to the post office, just walking on our own two legs.

Some parts of the sidewalk were knee deep and other parts were waist deep.

We came across this on our journey. It was a bit frightening.

There are rumors that the world will end in December 2012. I'll be hiding in my snow cave if you need me.

Wanderhunger: An exclusive interview with myself

2011-02-05T02:19:00.000+03:00

Do I travel to satiate a wanderlust?

No, I travel because I'm hungry. It's not that I don't have anything to eat here, but trying new food is a good excuse for me to travel. Everything else I do when I travel is just a cover to make it seem like I am being productive. In reality, I try learning new languages to communicate in a restaurant and asking locals for recipes.

Do I enjoy cooking?

I cook a lot, even when I am alone. I like to eat well (in every sense of the word). In order to eat well, it requires me to cook. I also like eating with other people, so I sometimes cook for my friends.

What have my travels taught me about food?

Never waste food unless it goes bad. Try not to let your food go bad and eat it first. If you're not hungry, store food appropriately. I used to be a selective eater when I was young, but I had shed that habit throughout the years. I believe that if you don't give a dish a chance, you're missing out. I also believe that every person has a choice, so if you don't want it, I'll eat it. I am grateful for every (carefully portioned) bite I take.

I learn how to prepare ingredients differently when I travel, so I hardly ever get bored in the kitchen. Since I'm only one small person, I can't eat everything at the same time, so it's always new and exciting when I rediscover dishes.

What amazing deliciousness did I have to eat this past week?

Russian vinaigrette salad. I learned how to eat and cook beets last winter. This is Sofie's recipe. Boil beets, carrots, and potatoes and cut into cubes. Combine with peas, garlic, chopped onions, and dill. Toss with lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil.

Marscapone cheese and zucchini pizza. Diego brought me to an Italian restaurant where he used to work. I fell in love with this pizza and have eaten it at least once a week since I've been back from Spain. To make it, I layered a pre-made pizza crust with marscapone cheese, homemade pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and thin slices of zucchini.

I have a few more tricks up my sleeve that I'm willing to share. I'm not saying that I'm amazing cook because I'm definitely not, but I sometimes impress myself with my skills.

We're just a click away

2011-02-02T19:49:00.004+03:00

Forget jumping the fence or hopping on the next banana boat over. If you want to come to the US illegally, check out this website first. Don't leave home without it!

Rocking out in Requena

2011-02-01T15:32:00.000+03:00

In less than 2 hours from Albany, you can drive to a lovely, picturesque town called Chester. You can leave the overbearing, Gotham-like skyline for a refreshing Vermont landscape with windy roads through magical mountains. This time of year, that part of Vermont looks like a snowy scene on a Christmas card. Houses were far apart, stone cottages were blanketed in fluffy snow, and there was a comforting aroma of a wood burning stove.

I didn't take any pictures. (I only saw the landscape from the car and I was in a bar the rest of the time because it was cold outside.)

Fortunately, I took pictures when I went to Requena, a small town outside of Valencia's city. I already thought Valencia was cool for having century-old watchtowers and churches. When they told me that there's a castle in the middle of Requena, I was speechless. Don't try and convince me otherwise--living next to a castle and on its ruins is pretty amazing, even if there are possible ghosts involved.

Welcome to Requena, where everything is within stepping distance.

From Valencia, it took about an hour and half to get to Requena on train. Leaving the city, we passed orange groves, vineyards, and views like this. It's times like this where I wish I were a photographer and I knew how to get a print of what my eyeballs see.

Just like a royal red carpet, this street connected us from the train station to the castle and the rest of the town. (Javi's photo)

At the end of that giant street, we were greeted with the fountain of ducks. They explained to me that this fountain is a very stupid tourist attraction. I concur. (Note: This photo was stolen off someone's website. This guy's website says that you don't need to travel to the other side of the world to discover things because their own country is awesome. Go figure.)

Weaving through the tiny, narrow streets was like getting lost in a corn maize. These homes were actually part of the castle and where knights used to live. Now, they are ghost-factories-turned-residences.

This is one of the churches near the castle. (Javi's photo)

Every church had an intricately carved facade. During their civil war, angry republicans chopped off some of the statue heads. I don't understand why people do this when they're angry. Angry people also cut off the heads of Buddha statues in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Some Americans have impenetrable shelters for bioterrorism attacks or Y2K. In Requena, some people dug enormous holes/caves under their homes for various reasons. These caves, located under the main plaza, are centuries old and were used as wine cellars and silos throughout different civilizations. (Javi's photo)

People from Requena take their wine seriously (because they're Spanish). This mural is a couple in traditional clothing standing in front of a bull plaza/stadium. Note the man's smug smile and perfect hairstyle. (Javi's photo)

This monument, like the mural above, represents the importance of Vendimia in Requena. I found the sculpture particularly interesting because it had a USSR style and feeling. (Javi's photo)

Just like going to Vermont, you don't need to travel too far to find an exotic adventure. Where I'm from, we joke that we can get from Israel to Haiti in a 15 minute drive. This is 98% true. And yes, Vermont is an exotic place.

No money, no honey

2011-01-26T15:38:00.003+03:00

Europe had a not-so-great fiscal year. Sorry. Spain is going through a tough economic crisis as well. What a shame. I think it's distasteful to make jokes, but it's what happens when America is cooler than Spain (see link).

This is one peseta. Pesetas are no longer in use. A Russian kopeek is probably worth more.

I will be bold enough to say that this Monopoly game (Madrid version, 1992) is worth more than a peseta.

Monopoly was played in pesetas. Although I lost all three games of Monopoly, I can proudly/shamefully say that I had more money during the game than I do in real life, even when accounting for the currency change--even when accounting that I was playing with worthless, colored paper.

Spot the Differences

2011-01-18T08:44:00.001+03:00

Before I arrived in Spain, I expected it to be stuck in the 19th century (Europeans planted it in my head and I was gullible). This expectation quickly disappeared when I tried to turn on the TV and failed. I didn't have a problem with the language, I had a problem with the technology because it was the same digital cable trash that we have in the US. There was an extra user-unfriendly remote control and a million channels of non-sense. At this moment of frustration and helplessness, I heard modern Spain laughing at me and my learning experience began. Our worlds aren't as different as I had thought it would be.

Who's hot and who's not

Hollywood stars and fashionistas predict what the trends in the US, which eventually trickles down to the rest of the world. In Spain, soccer/football players dictate men's hairstyles. Rather, the football players' hairstylists dictate the country's hairstyle. These athletes have hairstylists (and probably pocket mirrors).

Take note of the 2010 World Cup winners and how they have perfectly-styled, spiky hair. Whoever introduced hair gel to Spain must be disgustingly rich now because even after a game, one can have pretty hair.

Mr. USA is less popular than Miss USA, but let's not compare that to Spain--Mr. Espana is very important.

Sanitation

In the US, we have dumpsters and separate receptacles for recycling. In some instances, if you don't recycle and are caught, you are given a fine and made to feel guilty.

I was floored when I saw that Spanish dumpsters have foot levers so that you don't have to lift heavy lids or anything. Incredible. You've seen small garbage cans with foot levels, but this is much larger. My friend explained that his people (Spanish people) are lazy and will use anything to make their lives easier. In Requena, a small town outside the city, there were trash cans that lead to a deep, underground collection receptacle for trucks to get to. Oh, technology! I was also surprised that they (more or less) recycle there. (NOTE: The photo above is not mine and I stole it. Apparently someone else found the dumpster amazing, too).

Stupid Movies

American movies, the good and the bad, are shown almost everywhere. People usually remember the stupid ones and create stereotypes based on that. Thank you, American Pie and EuroTrip-type movies for making it that much harder to explain what we're really like.

This was by far the worst movie I've ever seen. Ever ever ever. This is the Spanish equivalent of our stupid movie and it is just as bad. Yeah, I didn't catch some cultural jokes, but I understood the rest of the nonsense. I laughed so hard because it was such a terrible movie. I am not complaining that we spent 3.90 euros to see it or that I wasted some life watching it--I found the worst movie in the world.

SAME

It's just as silly there as it is in the US. No one is going to drive differently if they know there is a baby in the car. A bad driver is a bad driver (equally, a good driver is a good driver).

Want to lose weight?

2011-01-17T15:11:00.003+03:00

When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you see something that you don't like? Even though this problem probably doesn't exist outside of your head, you probably want to change--especially with 2011 starting.

There's the Atkin's Diet, but Mr. Atkins himself is no longer on it. The South Beach Diet? Jenny Craig and WeightWatchers? Forget it! With MY diet, you don't have to count or pre-plan meals. What's the secret? Fear and harmful microbes! AMAZING! All you have to do? Travel.

Foreign gastronomy is one of the best introductions to a new culture. It can be uncomfortable to try things out of your norm, but it's a great experience and can make for future cocktail stories.

Russia

The harsh and cold Russian winter is no joke. At first, it may seem like you must consume a lot of hearty meat and potato dishes, but do not be fooled. Your body will require a lot of energy to keep your blood circulating (i.e. keep you from freezing to death) and will consume many calories. With the snow so high, transportation is slow and unreliable. The best way to travel is using your legs. The knee-deep snow that blocks all paths provide resistance. You will be exercising without realizing it (or wanting to, for that matter).

Not there in the winter? Not a problem. If you see how meat is sold, fear will be your best friend and you will probably avoid eating anything that was once alive. Russian summers are unbelievably hot and the heat will burn the calories for your body.

Expect to lose 8 lbs in 10 months without trying.

Spain

Consider this diet option as a "cleansing" or "detox" diet.

Upon arrival, drink water from the tap. There's a high chance that your body isn't accustomed to the flora in their water supply. The discomfort only lasts a few days after a night of intestinal explosion. Afterwards, only drink alcoholic beverages such as beer or wine to avoid further contact with waterborne microbes.

Once feeling healthy, eat your heart out. Cities are very pedestrian-friendly and it is pleasant to stroll around. From the gastrointestinal disaster and amount of walking you will do, you are sure to lose weight while still enjoying all the food.

Expect to lose 3 lbs in 1 month.

Thailand

Don't drink bottled water and eat som tam salad at an open market.

Expect to spend 2 weeks on a bathroom floor hovering over a toilet. Results may vary. Warning: risk of death.

***If the information above is not what you're looking for because you need to gain weight, then consider traveling to Argentina.

Argentina

There's no better way to beef up (pun intended) than to chow down on their cattle. Eat everything in sight and every part of animal that is given to you. Don't ask questions about what part of the animal it is because you may lose your appetite and this program will fail. Just eat, eat, eat because everything is delicious.

Order ice cream at least every other day from a local vendor. The ice cream there is heavenly and makes you a better person.

When you're full? Take a siesta. Reward yourself with all that hard work of eating and just take a nap. You don't want to walk around during siesta anyway, there are bikers waiting to rob you outside.

Expect to gain 7 lbs and a rounder face within 6 months.

_________________________________

Note: The diet regimen has not been scientifically proven nor are there any studies. As a training epidemiologist, if you find funding, I can try and put something together to give this program credibility.

Results will vary. I am not liable for any outcomes related to the above diets if you wish to try them.

Made in China

2011-01-14T00:16:00.002+03:00

Even things Made in China originated in Spain. Everything with importance came from Spain.

About 30 minutes ago, Diego and his brother, Pablo, began throwing trivial facts about their heritage at me. I am (note the current tense denoting that this is continuing) an innocent bystander taking painful bullets of Spanish pride. Just kidding. The only thing that's painful is the cramp in my side I have from my laughing so hard.

Quoting the two of them:

-Why is it 'Florida' and not "flower?"

-Why is "Sacramento" not "sacrament?"

-Why is "San Francisco" not "Saint Francis?"

-"Colorado?" Hah. It doesn't get more Spanish than that.

-Martin Sheen is really an "Estevéz" and his brother Charlie is "Carlos," of course.

-Rita Hayword was born Margarita.

-The first people to land on America (Florida and Alaska) were Spanish. They just sold it.

-ChupaChups are from Spain and some designwork was done by the famous Dalí.

-Did you ever realize that in all world maps, Spain is in the center of the world? Morocco is, too, but nobody cares.

The following list is what I've learned myself.

The best _____ come from Spain:

-wine and cava ("It's

-oranges (Valencian)

-ceramic (Lladró is Valencian)

-musicians (Rodrigo is also from Valencia)

-walnuts (Diego's grandma says that California's walnuts can't even compare)

-shoes (e.g. Campo. I'll actually agree with this one)

-furniture (never forget that Italians buy the structure from Valencia and upholster it themselves and sell it as their own. Bastards!)

-olive oil

-ham and other meats that I can't import legally into the States

Also, don't forget the soccer team. They won the 2010 World Cup when I was in Russia. I'm grateful that there were only 2 Spaniards in the city at the time, otherwise I would have shot myself in the funny bone. I'm tired of Iniesta; the fact that I remember his name sickens me.

This is real.

No snow here

2011-01-13T23:10:00.003+03:00

The first view of Valencia was from a bus, through my sleepy and crusty eyes. I woke up to a sunny city with palm trees and orange trees on the sidewalk. I remember angrily growling at Diego with sweet morning breath, "You are so stupid to live in Samara instead of here." (I don't mean to offend anyone from Samara. I still like it there and will soon return, but not to live.)

In Valencia, they had a river named Turia. This river was bad and made a flood that killed many people in 1957. As punishment, they had it drained and made a park out of it. Orange trees like this are in abundance and line the streets. Don't eat the oranges as they are bitter. Actually, be careful of what you eat unless you have someone to care for you when you're helplessly vomiting on yourself.

A view of the city from a very old, 14th century tower.

I'm not used to being surrounded by buildings, sculptures, or anything that are so old. In Russia, things just looked old. There's nothing in the US that is comparable to this. I don't think we even have ghosts that are that old.

Barely in Barcelona

2011-01-13T22:16:00.003+03:00

I went to Barcelona because it was cheaper than flying to Madrid. I studied in Argentina because I wrote "Mendoza" on the line above "Santiago, Chile." This same logic landed me in Russia.

I was content with visiting Barcelona. On the contrary, my Valencian co-traveler was a little bitter.

Diego: Sorry. We are not spending any money here or supporting Barcelona's economy in any way.

Me: Why do we not like Barcelona?

Diego: Because they are (insert translation of explicit Spanish word) Catalonian.

Me: (Rolling my eyes and not my r's)

We spent a couple days in Barcelona. I was able to go sightseeing like I wanted, so I was happy. Diego was happy because I was happy going to parks and walking around (read: free activities).

There aren't many photos of the city because I mainly saw it in the evening. My sleeping schedule was thrown off due to exhaustion from jet lag and a difficult fall semester. Also, being a vampire is a trendy thing now, so it's cooler to walk around at night.

San Francisco's hills do not compare to the giant hill leading to Park Guell. I laughed when I saw outdoor escalators. I stopped laughing because I ran out of breath while climbing it.

A previous post from Moscow showed pictures of inscribed padlocks. Why buy padlocks when you can carve your names on cacti? Poor cacti.

I was perfectly comfortable walking around Park Guell even though it was raining. Why? Because there was a snow storm back home in the US at this time and I was not there.

Some points of interest that shouldn't be missed in Barcelona are the buildings designed by Antonio Gaudí. Watch this documentary that solely focuses on these buildings if you won't be able to come here soon, or if you're too lazy to walk around. They do the walking for you and you can do the looking.

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Coming from New York, I wasn't surprised to hear Spanish speakers all around me. Sure, the accent is distinct, but the language was no different than what I hear back home. What did shock me was that all of the signs were in Catalan, not Spanish. I stand by what I said before, Montreal was a bigger cultural shock for me.

"Yo no compro pan"

2010-11-08T00:00:00.002+03:00

For those keen on the Spanish language, you understand that the title translates to "I don't buy bread." On a visit to France, my Spanish significant other and his brother were instructed to repeat the phrase if a French person asked him something. It's a clever mnemonic to say, "I don't understand [French]" or, je ne comprends pas.

I didn't go to France. I took a weekend trip to Montreal, Canada, which is conveniently located a few hours from the New York Capital Region.

As sarcastic as this may sound to some, crossing the border was accompanied with quite a dose of culture shock. Driving through the mountains and rural counties of upstate New York was shocking enough, but I was quite surprised to see that road signs and radio stations were posted and broadcast in an unfamiliar French. Both French and English are spoken in Montreal, but everything was overwhelmingly French (albeit French-Canadian). Canada is (more or less) the first country I have visited where I didn't really know the language.

My excitement for a foreign, French-filled weekend in the French Quarters was quickly extinguished when I learned that the hostel receptionist was from Spain. Of course.

Just kidding. Many great things come from Spain (as I will sarcastically note in a future post).

Highlights of the weekend, more photos can be found on my Facebook page in the album "Your breath smells like poutine":

The Jean Talon market had fresh, colorful crops and a variety of food. Unfortunately, you can't legally cross the US-Canadian border with meat or vegetables. It was a shame that I couldn't bring the bison meat over. Lucky for me, I found a kilogram of buckwheat (gretchka) to bring home as a souvenir to remember my life in Russia.

A large part of traveling is trying new cuisine. I find it extremely stressful to do in a short period of time. People said that we had to try the crepes, poutine, this restaurant, that bar, and so on. I won't lie--stress tasted delicious.

Montreal is known for this dish, poutine. It is everything I love on a plate: crunchy french fries topped with creamy cheese curds and a rich, gravy sauce. We ordered it with sauteed onions and ground beef on top. Finishing this dish may leave us finished on a cardiac hospital one day, but I certainly enjoyed it (up to a certain point).

Besides the food, landmarks, and clubs that people suggested to us, one thing I learned too late was that almost everyone who drives to Montreal leaves with a speeding ticket. The photo above was the first photo taken in Montreal. It's a driving school and I thought it looked funny. On my way home, I may have been going a little bit faster than the posted speed limit because the roads were empty. A state trooper saw me first. I did not have the last laugh, of course.

NOTE: Follow the speed limit posted because the laws of physics always win. Also, if you are going to have poutine, a "regular" portion should suffice for two people.

Good news for Snow White

2010-09-20T03:51:00.003+04:00

Going to an orchard to pick your own fruits are good, wholesome fun activities that cleanse your soul and liver after an action-packed weekend.

The Russian winter had me on my knees and begging for spring. I was allergic to spring and wished for summer. Samara's summer was boiling hot this year and I was aching for fall. Fall is here and I couldn't be happier.

Fall is a special season. Many people describe the air as "crisp and cool." I know that it's fall because there's a special fresh, dewy smell when you walk out first thing in the morning. No high definition could ever capture the brilliant colors of New York trees in fall. I've missed this fall for the past three years. Today, I gave autumn a bear hug and went apple picking with my new classmates-turned-friends.

Autumn didn't return the hug.

Our plan for an exciting apple-picking jubilee was quickly extinguished when we saw a sign telling us that there would be no more apple-picking for the day. Not all was lost because they picked the apples for us and sold a bunch in their farmer's market. I'm not complaining because they picked the good apples.

Nature and gravity also stole the apples from us. As public health students, we are ready to serve the public. I figured that we could put the apples back on the trees so that other people could pick them.

That plan to replace the apples onto the trees surprisingly didn't work out too well.

Fortunately, this farm had a petting-zoo of soft (but smelly) animals to distract customers from the fact that there were no more apples left on the trees for the week. I also learned that there are other well-educated adults cannot correctly or confidently identify different types of farm animals.

Below: Popular fall crops sold at their farmer's market.

Adventure in Americaland

2010-09-13T01:10:00.008+04:00

While living in Russia, I learned so much about Russian culture. Makes sense. I concurrently learned about Spanish culture, history, their influence on American history and that they have a high quality of furniture** and shoes.

Meet Diego. He is from Spain. He lives in Russia and spreads the language of his glorious country. Diego came to America for the very first time. He is a man very proud of his heritage and country. During this visit, part of my goal was to prove how great my country is. This is his story.

There are a lot of foreigners--immigrants and tourists alike--in America. To witness the very first moments of a landing on our soil is very special. By special, I mean absolutely humorous. Because he was only here for a short time, I had to pack a lot of America into ten days. The following is a recap of things that made an impression on him:

-A school bus. That was the first thing that caught his eye. He was amused that we actually have a yellow bus that goes around "collecting" students to go to school.

-Nightlife. He was kind of annoyed with the dress codes with some places. The first night, my friends took us to a bar that was very reminiscent of a college party, as seen in popular films. He noted that our population of 'Jersey Shore' characters are very similar to the people in Valencia.

We don't know who these people are but it was taken in a NYC bar. This is embarrassing, isn't it?

-Albany. Please understand that New York City is a city within New York State. Albany is the state capital. Diego was very shocked to see how dangerous Albany is. I was also very shocked to see how dangerous Albany is. One wrong turn is all it takes.

Beautiful brownstone houses off Lark Street in downtown Albany. This is part of the safer side of Albany as we've been told.

-Home security. Rather, the lack of home security compared to Russian and Spanish homes. My windows are locked, but aren't barred or have barbed wires on them. Although I have a sliding door (for example) with a bar that prevents people from opening it, he was not convinced that it would deter robbers. I have two locks on my front door, but for him, it doesn't compare to having a billion locks like in Russia. He was very jumpy for the first few hours in my apartment.

-Suburbia. This just doesn't exist elsewhere. He was surprised how many houses we have because he is used to people living in flats on top of each other. He was also in shock with how many cars we have in the US.

For some reason, it was amusing to him that some businesses and offices are run in buildings that look like houses. My college roommate still finds it strange that some doctors and dentists run their practices from their homes.

This is a view from the Corning Tower's observation deck in Albany, NY. We are looking towards the east over the Hudson River. Diego wants to show his friends that we have highways that are shaped like this.

-Demographics. He knows that the majority of my friends are immigrants or offspring of immigrants, but he didn't really expect so many "non-Americans" living here.

My American friends. Besides Diego, this also excludes Avani (lower left). She was naturalized.

There was a sign in Russian at the tiger exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. The only tiger I saw in Samara was at the local zoo. That tiger did not look like he had the strength to do anything.

-Everyone speaks Spanish. That was annoying in proving a point. He said, "Spain doesn't need to come here to conquer your country because our former colonies already are." He was referring to the Hispanic population.

A moving truck in the Bronx most likely owned by Spanish-speakers. He found this hilarious. I found it hilarious that the front was decorated with American flags.

-American weddings are extravagant and super expensive.

We went to my cousin's wedding. There, he witnessed a room full of Asians, the electric slide, and cocktail hour. Congratulations to Bert and Maricel. Hooray!

-People are generally nice here. Store clerks, gas attendants, and other service workers are much more pleasant to deal with.

-Toys 'R' Us is an American company. It made sense when he realized that the name is in English.

Cindy and Diego in the Times Square Toys 'R' Us store. His expression is very similar to the one I took of my dog when I dressed her up as a pirate. Not happy.

-Go Diego Go! is a popular character. My nephew actually prefers him over me. Fact.

Souvenirs

I'm not one to judge because from Russia, I brought desserts, bacon flavored chips, tea and cookies as souvenirs. Besides the usual t-shirts and shot glasses he bought as souvenirs, he brought home (for his mommy and the rest of his family):

-Ziploc bags. Spanish technology hasn't caught up yet with the zipping feature.

-Sink drain catcher. For the kitchen because it's brilliant.

-Pop-tarts. Chocolate fudge flavored. He got hooked after I took him to he Pop-Tarts store in NYC.

-Granola bars.

-Pill organizer cases with the days of the week and times.

It's one thing to have an experience in the US, but nothing tops it off better than being knighted with a 'Bronx name.' I've never heard anything like this before, but that's because I'm not hip. I convinced Diego to buy a CD from some kid promoting his work on the streets.

Apparently, 'D-Boogie' is a cooler name than Diego.

**Italian furniture isn't really "Italian" because the smart Italians buy the constructed furniture frames from Spain and upholster it themselves, therefore passing it as Italian. Interpret this piece of information as you'd like.

There's no room for fools in school

2010-09-13T00:48:00.002+04:00

Education values are different for every person. In the US, it's a common practice for students and their families to go to school on credit. We ask the banks and government for money to pay for university. Non-Americans are usually shocked to hear that it's easy to ring up a half-million dollar bill for a four-year private college. True story.

Some of my foreign friends thought it was strange for me to be so serious about my studies. There's a certain pressure over me when I'm spending invisible money that doesn't even belong to me. I'm not going to mess around.

We, in the US, have a strict no-no policy on plagiarism--on copying the thoughts or ideas of other people--cheating, working together, etc. Publishers are also really big about their copyright rules. My ears have already bled after hearing about the rules for the 12,409,548th time. After being abroad, I realize that this is probably a super strange concept for the international students.

- In Argentina, my theatre/dance professor told me straightforward to go online to copy and paste articles into my research paper.

- I didn't buy textbooks in Argentina, everything was photocopied.

- Russian students can sometimes give monetary bribes to their professors. Unfortunately, students sometimes have no other choice.

- In Spain, you don't even have to go to classes. Just show up to take exams.

Pardon me as it is now high time for me to study until my eyes bleed.

America the Beautiful

2010-08-18T20:45:00.004+04:00

I'm still sweating the red, white and blue--this time with stars.

I've been home for three weeks, and I am glad to report that my adjustment isn't nearly as bad as I had expected it to be.

Now what?

- I will continue posting blogs. Foreigners often ask me what life in the US is like. I want to offer answers. Plus, I've learned over the year that I enjoy writing very much.

- Because I've finally realized that I enjoy writing (I've been in denial), I'm freelancing to pay for my meals while I'm back in school.

- While growing up, people have been drilling the "School is cool" mantra in my head. For that reason and more, I am going back for a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology. I will study epidemics, not diseases. PLEASE don't show me your skin ailments, it can be contagious.

- I refuse to forget Russian. It took too much time and effort to get to where I am today and I don't want to lose it. Encouragement is encouraged, as always. On that note, I must study Spanish for professional and well, super personal reasons.

Where am I?

In your hearts, of course. Physically, I'm back in my hometown in the great big state of New York. I live in the southern-most region of NY--but not in NYC and definitely not New Jersey. Please note that New York City belongs to a state. Albany is the capital of New York. It is not in the city and it is located about 2.5 hrs north.

Readjusting and reuniting takes a lot of energy. I have been cruising along and reconnecting with friends and family. Readjusting to small things like going to the grocery store or driving on smooth, paved roads aren't stressful but amusing.

Cheers (eye-to-eye contact) to a non-adventurous suburban lifestyle in America!

Final impressions

2010-07-24T12:39:00.003+04:00

In my final days, I'm trying to pack as many activities into my schedule as possible. Packing my bags, however, is not part of these fun activities.

I went to a local museum--just to see an exhibition from the Peter and Paul Fortress from St. Petersburg. Then, I went to Lenin's house where he actually (gasp) lived before going to Kazan for university. I also held off from going to museums because I needed my Russian to be good enough to understand what's going on. Artifacts tell a story, but the words keep you from mistaking a guillotine with a deli slicer. (Cultural Note: For anything written in English, multiply by 100 to get the word count in Russian.)

Where Lenin slept and studied before leaving Samara for Kazan University. Compared to the rest of the house and to his family members' rooms, his room was the least decorated.

How to put a man in his place. A medieval torture device on display in the Alabin Museum in Samara. This exhibit was taken from the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

A few days ago, I was invited to tour a public hospital in Samara alongside a Spanish professor and Macedonian students. I am glad that I received this tour at the end of my stay because it could have tainted my view of Russia completely. As grateful as I am that I got an insider's view of a hospital, I'm still in utter shock of what I saw. Maybe those who complain (residents, citizens, and foreigners alike) about the quality US healthcare will shut their mouths if they see what I saw.

Seeing Diego in over-sized scrubs kept my mood bright despite the dreary atmosphere. Enjoy the demeaning photo before he discovers that I've posted it and makes me take it down. In hospitals, the typical uniform is not that much different from US hospitals, but they wear sandals and chef-like caps.

_________________________________________

I'm going home. The time is right to leave and I haven't become jaded yet. In Tolstoy's "War and Peace," a character named Pierre discovers that he lost a great fortune but feels richer after a life-changing experience. If you know the story, then it's obvious that I didn't have the same experiences as Pierre (he was in prison, and I'm not comparing Russia to a prison). How Tolstoy translates to me: It sucks that I'm going home because it feels like I'm leaving a lot behind, but I feel richer and 'fuller' after being here.

This isn't a good bye, of course. I'm only changing my location.

Throw your gang signs up

2010-07-23T12:32:00.001+04:00

Please read about 'gopniks' because I couldn't have done a better job regarding this subject.

NOT an example of a gopnik, just a ladies' man in the making.

They know drama

2010-07-21T20:36:00.002+04:00

There is a TNT network in Russia like we have in the US. There are programs that are Russian versions of the American shows. Try and guess what the original American programs are. Have fun!

SOLUTIONS!

1. The Nanny (Моя прекрасная няня)

2. Married With Children (Счастливы вместе)

3. Scrubs (Интерны)

"Boom!" went the night

2010-07-20T12:48:00.006+04:00

Around 12.30am last night, I heard an explosion. No one else heard it so I assumed that it was just another Russian driving somewhere. A few seconds later, I heard another explosion. Well, that's not right. From our fifth-floor window, we saw our dumpsters on fire. It didn't seem like a typical cigarette fire because it was too rapid and explosive. Of course, it was terrifying that the dumpsters were so close to the building (and could be close to a gas line), but I was afraid that the firefighters wouldn't come in a timely manner. Fortunately, they arrived 10 minutes after. That was a welcomed surprise.

Smokey the bear says it's super stupid to open the window when you're above a fire.

At 12:20am, I went down to throw away some garbage (non-flammable, all organic material) and immediately went to the courtyard for a few minutes. At 12:25ish, I went back home and there was a man standing in the entrance waiting to enter. He was there without keys and he wasn't calling anyone on the callbox. Funny thing is, Diego immediately called out this guy's suspiciousness (actually, he says that about everyone). I heard the explosions after we got home. It's probably a coincidence, but who knows. It would suck if we were the ones who let the culprit enter the building. It would have sucked more if we were still at the door when the explosion happened.

Coming out of the building today, I saw boxes "blocking" the entrance. This apparently means, "Watch out, we're throwing ashes from the rooftop."

I used to complain that the trash chute in our building doesn't work.

During this event, the neighbors were also sticking their heads out of the window. I couldn't make out what they were shouting to each other (I don't like inhaling ashes so I kept my window closed), but I was scared they were blaming the foreigners living in the building. Strange night.

Not quite 'yellow fever'

2010-07-19T18:34:00.003+04:00

Somehow, I came across this blog a few days ago and find it interesting. The writer is an American living in the middle of Russia and dedicates his site to Russian women. At first, I was repulsed by the idea and disgusted by the fact that anyone could do this to women (from anywhere). Looking a little bit deeper, I see that he has some interesting points to make. The post about the difference between the reactions towards pregnancy in America and Russia elicits a compelling discussion.

Your opinions are your own about his site. I've written him and received this answer,

Wow.. another American as crazy as me :) I just got done browsing through your blog. Nice job and nice impressions. Obviously we differ on various aspects of Russian Femininity but that is to be expected.

FYI I believe that Russian Women have enormous levels of womanly "power" that a typical feminist would refuse to admit. When you get a chance you can read this post because I think it pretty much nails what my message is.

Take a look at this site for yourself. Though we don't share the same opinions, I certainly do respect his and I welcome different viewpoints.

Six days left...

2010-07-19T18:03:00.005+04:00

In Moscow, a Russian-speaking, non-Moscovite man asked me for directions and I responded accordingly without hesitation. I am not a Moscovite nor am I Russian. That felt good. In my hometown in New York, travelers have asked me for directions, but I'm afraid I was only right 50% of the time. That's a bit embarrassing.

This weekend, I had the pleasure of hosting CouchSurfers (CS) for a few nights. This was my first real interaction with the CS network and it couldn't have been better. Before making judgments or getting nervous, it's credible and I've known others who have had great experiences with it. Now I am vouching for it.

We hosted a pair of young travelers--one from Moscow and the other from Chelyabinsk--who were just extremely pleasant and great cooks. The great thing about traveling is that you are constantly learning, even if it's not a goal. Maybe it was ironic that they were Russian CSers hosted by a foreigner, but we taught each other a lot. I'm not surprised that sometimes I learn more about something in a few days worth of conversation compared to a textbook.

From the left is Marina from Chelyabinsk (CS), Diego from Spain (hidden), Roma from Samara, Stass from Samara, and Sergei from Moscow (CS). Marina made sushi rolls and Sergei was making apple pierozhki.

Couchsurfers or not, I now have extremely high expectations for my guests.

It was a blessing to have new eyes see the city because it refreshed my feelings about Samara. It's a good thing.

7 Days, 7 Sins

2010-07-18T23:59:00.000+04:00

Today starts the countdown of 7 days until I go home—if all goes as planned, of course. Though I am unbelievably excited to go home to my family, friends, steak, and US soil, I don't know how ready I am to go back to the States. It's going to be strange and honestly a little scary.

I've grown comfortable everywhere I've lived, but towards the end of my stays, I feel jaded about the city and indifferent to it. Never say goodbye on bad terms.

I was born and raised in a metro New York suburb and I was ready to bolt to university as soon as I turned 18. I immediately fell in love with Washington DC and never wanted to leave. At the end of my second year, I was again anxious to get out of the city. As an aside, I lived on the second floor of a dorm on a busy street across a hospital and metro station. The noise drove me crazy. The night before I left Washington for the summer, my roommate and I were given a private tour to the top of a church bell tower where we could see a beautiful panoramic of the city. All feelings of anxiety and urban frustrations floated away. It was the perfect way to leave DC before going the summer and a semester abroad. In Mendoza, Argentina, I was (and still am) in love with the little city until the very end—when I became irritated at small things that didn't bother me before like curious stares and questions about being a foreigner. The night before I left, my friends and I went to the lounge of the highest building in the city, where the views were endless. I made peace with the city.

There's a pattern I just noticed while writing—I like saying goodbye from a higher altitude. Today, a friend took me to a scenic location outside the city where I've never been before. The view smacked me speechless.

Photos from Vertelyotka Square:

Roman (a long-term student from Nepal), yours truly, and my CSers Marina and Sergei.

Katya (a friend to all foreigners), me a bit taller, Marina, and Sergei.

Tonight made my goodbye more real.

Special Edition Post: Hot Stuff

2010-07-15T11:06:00.003+04:00

If you don't understand Russian, read the cover of any issue of any fashion magazine. There, that's what it says. Honestly, magazines are great for language learning because it doubles as a picture-book when you are tired of reading.

According to the response from the last post, I figured I could give you guys a little more taste of fashion. Of course, the street is the best teacher if you are a Sartorialist follower, but magazines can also give you a good insight into culture.

There's a HUGE difference between women-targeted magazines in the US and in the Russian Federation even though they share the same publishers. Here, everything is written in cyrillic (laugh here). There's no real difference from one month's issue to the next month. This month you can find 10 ways to do your hair, but next month, look at the 10 different looks J.Lo had one weekend!!!! So cool!

There are Glamours, Vogues, and Cosmopolitan magazines here and most likely, the information is shared internationally. Some major points that I'd like to mention about Russian versions:

- Their 'man of the month' is naked, always with a strategically placed item hiding his assumed boy parts

- There are articles about children and parenthood (I gagged a little)

- They have a travel section (pleasant surprise)

Otherwise, everything is pretty much the same. Reading is fundamental!

Fee fai 'faux' fum...

2010-07-13T20:09:00.003+04:00

Here are current trends that I see in Samara. Some people can of course pull of these styles very well, while others...don't. Unfortunately, these photos are pulled from the web because it's less offensive that way.

1. Indian/Middle Eastern-inspired pants

This is a unisex piece that you can see both men and women wear. At first, I thought that they were ridiculous until I tried on these silly pants. They are as convenient and airy as skirts but still has the privacy of pants.

Actually, anything resembling South Asian or Middle Eastern (in some cases, they aren't distinct, like "Asian") patterns are pretty trendy, too.

2. The Man Purse- I thought it was sweet to see men carrying their ladies' purses, but it was something else when I realized that men also carry their own bags. For the most part, there's nothing feminine about it and it seems to be purely for convenience. Even the burliest of burliest 'gopniks' (to be explained in a future post) can be seen wearing a man purse. These man purses vary in sizes and can be anything between a large messenger bag to a fanny pack (yes) to a camera case-sized bag.

3. Dyed hair- Hair dying is an international trend, but the trend I witness is slightly different than in the US and closer to the one I saw while in South America. Colors are a bit more...pronounced. Black is blacker than night, red is like the red in a rainbow, blonde is beyond-bleached platinum, and gray tends to end up like lavender (seriously).

4. Straight, dense bangs (or 'fringe' if you've chosen to learn British English)- Trends usually become trends because they are stylish and cute. Then a few too many people follow the trend and it loses its charm. Most common here is blacker than black hair with a very, very dense and straight bang. It's cute in a helmet way.

5. Ankle sandals- I tend to agree with footwear that you can run in 'just incase.' So do many women in Russia. Of course, these sandals come in various heel lengths from paper-thin flat to skyscraper high.

It's so hard to keep up with US trends while I'm abroad and I have no idea what to listen to or what to watch. A few months away does that to you, I guess. The good news is that I'm coming home in one and a half weeks. The bad news is that the blog posts will soon end. Look out, America, mama's coming home!!!!

War and no peace

2010-07-07T18:09:00.002+04:00

I survived a Russian winter. A winter so harsh even locals admitted that it was cold. I mistakenly thought that once the weather warmed up, I would be fine. Little did I know that I would be at war against nature.

It's hot. Yeah yeah, I know that cities in the mid-Atlantic region of the US are breaking records, but at least there's air conditioning. Here, it's just hot. Even when it's not that hot, the sun is unkind and merciless.

To battle the heat, we eat ice cream. It instantly soothes the mind, body, and soul. The alternative is to jump into the river. It's a longer-lasting kind of refreshing.

One night, a group of us went to meet at the river and some jumped in. It was too inviting and I couldn't refuse, so I spontaneously jumped in. Some people say that the Volga is dirty, so I figured that swimming at night would be better so I couldn't see the filth. A couple of pansies (from Spain, of course) complained that the water was too cold, but it was warmer than any ocean I've ever been in. Swimming in the river at night (no tan lines) trumps ice cream.

Heat 0, Tammie 1. But there are the mosquitos...

Insects in Russia are large. I've seen bees 2 inches long and the mosquitos look like evil-fairies. Every night, I become a mosquito slayer. Yes, I was raised not to kill, but I justify it with the laws of karma. They bite me and inflict pain upon me (I learned that I am allergic to their bites, it's gross), so I can squash them. Let it be, it's MY law of karma. I am paranoid of being bit because it's so uncomfortable (pain, not itch).

My combat tactics

- plug-in repellant in my bedroom that I never fail to use

- a fan above my bed powered on high to blow the mosquitos away.

- sleeping under a blanket to physically protect me from the fighters

- a binaural music track to drown out the buzzing noises

Believe it or not, this only has an 80% efficacy rate.

Tammie & Sarah in Russia: 7 Ways to be a tourist

2010-07-01T00:26:00.008+04:00

Introduction

We've spent a few days in St. Petersburg and we did a lot of touristy things. Of course, we've learned a lot about the city and its history, but we especially learned about tour groups and the different kinds of tourists there are.

1. Geriatric - This group can be very lively and energetic, but necessarily slow. They are usually spotted with custom orthotics and sometimes with a walking device. Geriatrics are thoughtful people because they tend to buy many useless souvenirs for their family and friends.

Everyone in this group walked around the Hermitage in St. Petersburg with their cane/chair devices. Upon arrival to the exhibit, they'd all unfold their chairs and lounge to listen to the tour guide. This group is the precursor to the wheelchair tour group.

2. Asian - I am referring to Asians in general. Those from the South Asian regions tend to travel in large groups (usually a family). Other Asians (Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) usually travel with friends and maybe with a family member. They are usually quiet but like to mumble under their breaths about other people or about how tired they are. The younger persons falling in this category usually take photos with specific poses.

A group of Asian tourists in traditional tourist garments posing in front of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.

3. School groups - The average age is 16 years old, but their level of boredom depends on their age. The older they are, the less interested they are in traveling, but the more interested they are in each other. Boys usually make inappropriate comments, jokes, and gestures about the sight at hand. Girls tend to seek attention, mostly by giggling at the boys.

4. Couples - This group varies and it is difficult to profile these tourists. It can be anything from a first date to fifty years of marriage. Either way, they tend to be absorbed in each other and not generally disruptive to other tourists.

5. Young families - We congratulate the effort and expense it takes to transport a family and expose young children to culture. However, they are generally the most annoying tourists. Strollers are bulky, children are easy to trip on, and parents are often too distracted.

6. Spanish - "[They are] loud, obnoxious, and say stupid things," says a Spaniard who some of us know and love.

7. Independent travelers - These travelers vary in group size and age. They tend to wander away from hot tourist spots. They are often lost and can be found in a corner trying to discreetly handle a map and peek into a guidebook. Their reasons for traveling also vary, but their overall intention is to absorb as much culture as they can. Younger members of this group try to milk all the discounts and try very hard not to get duped as foreigners. Stupid pictures often result from their voyages.

I convinced Sarah to pose for a 'stupid picture' in front of one of the great Peterhof fountains.

Conclusion

Essentially, every tourist has their positives and negatives. We have found that overall, there are certain characteristics that extend through all types.

- Every group has a straggler; one who doesn't hide the fact that he or she is tired and makes no effort to catch up with the others.

- Almost all buy some form of souvenir, whether it's an expensive piece of jewelry or a kitschy captain hat that says "I Love St. Petersburg" on the brim.

Because I'm pretty sure we already have a captain's hat back home, I bought my own (for my nephew when he's older than 3) useless souvenir--a toy representing the Russian version of Winnie the Pooh.

- 90% of digital point-and-shoot camera owners take pictures of everything. Of that percentage, 1% will actually remember what they shot. 80% will show these pictures to an uninterested audience.

- Esperanto is (supposed to be) an international language that's easy to learn and understand throughout the world. It's not.

NOTE- If you are not learned in the art of the Esperanto language, we highly recommend that you learn either the local language, some form of English, or how to decode hieroglyphics and other symbols.

A menu from a popular coffee chain that reads 'Breakfast with gruel.' Highly appetizing.

A sign from the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg that forbids guests from: holding demonstrations, sell things without permission, walk your dog or other animal, walk on (or off) the roof, play a musical instrument, walk around in a banana hammock, ski or skate, litter, build a bonfire, go around drunk, ride a bike, or knock trees around. This only makes me wonder WHY they had to be so specific.

Vladimir and the Golden Ring

2010-06-25T02:14:00.003+04:00

While in Moscow, we took advantage of our proximity to the Golden Ring and headed out to Vladimir on a four-hour bus trip. While the city is super important to the birth of Russia and also a UNESCO site, it was not really a foreign tourist-friendly city.

A camera will never ever ever ever be able to capture how big this country is. Even in a small city (about 315,000 inhabitants), the land was vast.

Vladimir was a good way to give my visiting American friend a quick introductory course to Russian culture outside of Moscow. In my lessons, she was:

- Navigating a Russian bus station's bureaucracy (physically less scary than any bus station in the US)

- Riding a second-hand German bus without air conditioning in heavy Moscow traffic

- Riding trolleybuses

- Seeing Russian houses and country houses (dachas)

- Learning about how flashy Russians can get

To me, this hotel epitomizes modern Russia.

This is the outside to the hotel 'Gladiator' located 10 minutes outside the city center by public transportation. The bus stop was 10 minutes away by foot and we had to go through old Russian houses to get there.

Don't let the name 'Gladiator' fool you because the decorations were inspired by the Middle Ages, nautical life, combat arts, and the disco period.

In the hotel's restaurant is a two-story dining hall complete with a lit dancing floor, disco ball, stripper pole, piano, and medieval crests.

(Above two) Of course, this is what makes a hotel Russian: A traditional Russian banya and a Finnish sauna.

A wooden ship on the banister displaying the tasteful nautical theme also found in the hotel. The door behind me leads to a hookah and billiards room. This was down the hall from our room.

"An American in Moscow" by George Gershwin

2010-06-25T00:28:00.008+04:00

I hate traveling. It's stressful, scary, and tiring. You have to worry about schedules for transportation or attractions; scams against tourists/foreigners; staying within your budget; and keeping busy. It's hard! When I first came to Russia, I wanted to settle in and feel comfortable with the country before traveling. Winter came soon after and I wanted to be indoors as much as possible. I didn't go home like I was supposed to because I wanted to see Russia when it got warmer. Well, it's over 80 degrees F now, so I it was logical--I had to (read with a breathy, enthusiastic tone) start traversing the vast and exotic lands of Russia. I don't like traveling compared to relocating, but I will take what I can get and I'll go just about anywhere.

Last Wednesday, I was a snob. I was not very enthusiastic about visiting Moscow or St. Petersburg because many people (Russians and foreigners alike) told me that it's "just another big city" and that it "isn't real Russia." After only spending a few days in Moscow, I couldn't disagree more.

A fire show in Bolotnaya Square.

On my first day here, Andrey (my host) told me that we were going for a walk in a park where strange people gather. That didn't scare me for some reason. He was not exaggerating. With all due respect, walking through this park (Bolotnaya Ploshad) was like walking through a zoo/carnival sideshow and literally watching all sorts of people from Moscow's subcultures. There were emos, punks, goths, hippies, and bikers hanging out in their respective places but living in harmony. When the sun went down, life got interesting and there was fire. People from different subcultures were dancing, breathing, and playing with fire. We sat there in a hypnotic trance for a couple of hours just watching the glow.

On a walk in Tsaritsino Park, I found that even the gates were decorated with locks. This was also a popular spot for wedding parties.

Russians are romantic and sweet. Not so far from Bolotnaya Square is a foot bridge with metal trees where newlyweds place locks with their names and wedding date. The symbolism is a bit strong, isn't it? You can choose whether or not it is a positive or negative metaphor.

The fountain in the middle of Tsaritsino Park is the grandest fountain I've ever seen. It only matches with the grand feeling you get when you walk through the park. It's a little cheesy because the background music is a mix of pop, but the water display is great. This wasn't even the main attraction in this park.

Finding Tsaritsino park was accidental and perhaps one of the luckiest things that happened to me in Russia. It's a huge park that was meant for royalty as a vacation spot, but Catherine the Great didn't like it too much so she stopped its production. Everything in that park is beautiful.

Moscow's parks are very impressive. They are what every city park should be like. The grass is lush and green. The ambiance is perfect because it's so peaceful--exactly the break any urban dweller needs. Moscow is old and rich with history, but somehow, the new and the old pair well together.

Just like most things in Russia, they go all out with the decorations and colors. The flowers are bright and happy--and they aren't even in full bloom yet. This was taken at Bolotnaya Square.

The Kolomenskoe Estate grounds display exactly what I mean about old and new structures melding well together. From this site, the backdrop is of the city and modern buildings. This particular structure is a piece of the Church of the Ascension, a UNESCO site. Look for it in the future as I plan to commission my palace with designs in this style.

Moscow is a city with historical landmarks, but don't forget that it's still a city.

In a few days, there will be a motocross event outside of Red Square and behind St. Basil's Cathedral.

Seal, Matisyahu, and the Wu-Tang clan will tour through Moscow, too.

Needless to say, Moscow shocked me completely and I am absolutely impressed (because of everything this city has to offer and because I had misjudged the city). It is a huge city and it is Russian without a doubt.

A trip to the post office (guest post)

2010-06-24T17:33:00.007+04:00

One of the worst experiences in terms of public services in Russia is the Post office.

Yesterday, I tried to send the above parcel full of books, magazines and various papers back to France (I can't afford the 22 euros per extra kilo of Czech Airlines). So, what did I do? I went to the department of the Post office specialized in sending parcels. There, they told me I had to open the whole box (very well taped, of course) because they had to check what I was sending. I told them it was only books and it turned out I had to go to an other department to send books (??). So I went to that other office, waited in line for half an hour (short line), filled in three different customs forms and the lady told me that I had to weigh the parcel and then buy stamps and then come back to the counter. Ok. So I went to the scales but the maximum weigh was 2 kg (4 lb) which meant I had to go back to the first office to weigh my parcel (10 kg/22 lb by the way).
THEN, I came back to the second office (the one that is supposed to send books, are you still following?), waited in line for an other half hour only to hear this: "for books, you can't send more than 5 kg (11 lb) at a time, and it has to be only books, and they can't be in a box" (????). At that point, I really wanted to cry. I gave up and took the box back to my apartment in the hope of finding an other way to get it home (which I did).

So what's the moral of this story? Never ever travel with a lot of books.

Remember me

2010-06-17T18:34:00.004+04:00

Everybody has their own way of commemorating an event or person. If a certain someone chooses taxidermy over a traditional burial to remember her dog, so be it. If Russians want to keep their statues of Lenin in every city possible, it's their choice. We cannot judge. But we can silently giggle on the inside.

If you haven't noticed, I try not to post about famous landmarks and write about things you can find on Wikipedia. 1. It's boring. 2. The pictures you will find in a Google search will be of higher quality anyway.

The following pictures are landmarks, if you will.

Some people pay a high price for a place with a view of the sea, ocean, or river. For me, having a view of the rocket from my bedroom window is priceless. This rocket was launched, but it failed. Now, it stands in the center of the city for all to see and to wonder about the greatness (in all meanings of the word) of the cosmos.

This was taken back when I was visiting Rostov-Na-Dony. In Samara, we have a small airplane sitting in the middle of a traffic circle to symbolize something...great. In Rostov, they have a farm machine on a pedestal. The city is the production center of these farm machine things.

While we're on the subject of random things in Russia, this is not an uncommon sight in Samara. I was having sushi and saw this from my window. I'll accept this, too.

Russian paradox (guest post)

2010-06-17T16:57:00.006+04:00

Soviet propaganda poster. "Don't talk too much!"

In the Soviet Union, women were given all the rights that others had to fight for in most western countries: right to vote, right to divorce, even the right to abort... In Russia, women have had the same rights as men for a long time. But that doesn't mean they are equal: it seems to me that Russia skipped the feminism step.

For me, who grew up in France, the status of women in the society has been one of the most shocking things in Russia. It’s hard to explain because there is nothing very obvious: most women work, drive, a lot of them raise children on their own, etc. But they are expected to be always pretty, to marry and have children rather young and if they don’t, it’s strange. I was told once that if a Russian woman is not married and does not have children at 26, there must be something wrong with her. At school, when two children fight for a seat, the teacher says: "come on, you're a boy, you should let the girl have the seat" and to me, this is shocking. A Russian friend of mine told me that in the city where she lived before, women were often beaten by their husband and it was considered normal. This same friend explained that she thought Russian men were often spoiled by their mothers and expected the same from their wives.

When I talked about this with Russian men, they told me that this was probably due to the fact that Russian women were given all those rights without having to fight for them. When I talked about it with women my age, they told me they didn’t see where the problem was: after all, women and men are different and it’s normal if their status in the society is different too. They said that having a man “protecting” them is actually comfortable and if that means they can’t be his equal, then be it. And because I grew up in a country where I was taught that despite their differences, men and women are able to do the same things and have the same life, to me, this is sad.

On the other hand, women have always played an important role in the Russian society and all Russians will tell you that they are strong and that in a lot of families, things are working thanks to them. So why do a lot of them behave like they are weak and subordinate? For me, this remains one of the biggest Russian paradoxes.

Sugar and spice and everything nice

2010-06-13T13:09:00.003+04:00

A photo taken by a friend while we were walking past a wedding in Kazan.

Americans are prude and yet, there's a nasty stereotype about American girls being "easy" when abroad. Americans, compared to European countries, are conservative. We don't say 'bad words' on public TV or radio, we censor nudity, and the sexual education in our schools teach abstinence-only methods. It's not surprising that Sex and the City 2 still has a following, regardless of how bad it is (it seriously embarassed me to watch). It's not that surprising when a small-town girl gets a little wild on her vacation to Europe, is it? Let's compare that to the freedom children feel when they go away to camp. Some just want to act out, but not all. Definitely not all.

When I'm abroad, my greatest culture shocks come from romantic interactions between girls/women and boys/men. We are conservative in America. On a vacation in Chicago, I saw a couple passionately kissing outside. I rolled my eyes and said, "They need to get a room." Shortly after, I was told that the woman just accepted the man's proposal. Whoops. Public displays of affection (PDA) is not a widely-accepted concept for us.

In Russia, I was shocked to see how romantically young couples act together. Argentine couples were also very publically affectionate, but it seemed to me that it was more...carnal. Overall, this is probably connected to the fact that many Russian couples get married in their early twenties.

At camp, I saw a kissing game played by young teenagers while we were waiting for lunch. It was an innocent, friendly version of the wildly popular 'Spin the bottle.' To play the game, they stood in a big circle and one person was in the middle. Those who made up the ring sang a chant and walked in a circle while the person in the center closed his/her eyes and pointed to a random person. Only the person of the opposite sex was allowed to the enter the circle. When there was a couple in the circle, they stood back to back. Everyone else counted to three. At three, the couple would turn their heads to one side. If they turned it to the same side, they'd have to kiss each other on the cheek. If they turned to a different side, they'd only have to hug. It's a simple children's game but it got me thinking a lot about our different cultures.

Another night, there was a show that picked 10 boys and 10 girls and made 10 random pairs of the two. This show was a competition to pick out the best pair. The tasks each pair received was to role-play and improvise a short sketch. For example, "Act out how a couple first meets in school," "act out how a couple first meets at the bus stop," "act out the first time a couple says 'I love you' in a movie," etc. The second part of the competition was when all the boys left and the girls sat in a row. One by one, a boy came in blindfolded and had to figure out which girl was his partner by feeling the girls' knees. Of course, this is completely innocent--but I only imagined all the lawsuits that would've been filed if this game was played in an American camp.

Remember that time at camp?

2010-06-11T12:29:00.002+04:00

Going away to camps are relatively popular here in Russia. For children, it's beneficial for them to get out of the city, breathe fresh air, and socialize. For parents, sending their kids away to camp for a few days or week is probably the closest you can get to selling your child. I'm 100% sure that my parents were going to donate me (tax-exempt purposes) when I was younger. It's natural.

In winter, I agreed to do a full week (every day counts, believe me) working as an English teacher in a linguistic camp. When kids are on vacation and out of school, studying is the last thing they want to be doing. Of course, there are exceptions. I will admit now that the only sleepaway camps I went to were academic--one for yearbook (yes, it exists) and another for 'writing the expository essay.' When children are out of the house, out of their parents' surveillance range, they feel free. I, as the teacher/counselor, felt trapped. After that week, I said 'no' to working with children in mass numbers. It's just not my thing and I accept that.

Last week, I spent five days at another linguistic camp. This was obviously against my free will and I received no compensation for it, but my visa was being compromised (if you want the full story about visas in Russia, contact me privately). I had worked with these children before at a day camp, but only for about 2 hours a day--far from 24 hours a day. I tried to be optimistic about it: I'd improve my Russian, I can get fresh air, I won't have to cook/spend money, I can be unplugged, etc. The air was fresh, but full of may flies; I was well-fed, but the food was terrible (and I can usually eat anything); and there were no activities at this camp.

I'm not saying anything about communism in Russia, but you can still feel the culture left behind from the Soviet era. When I (involuntarily) volunteered at the day camp, I did my job well. Because I did it well, I was invited (read: forced) into volunteering at the summer camp. I lost the motivation to do exceptional work the second time around.

Besides improving my language skills, I had a lot of time to be observant. In America, we try so hard to be politically correct that it makes us prejudice to people who are not so politically correct (i.e. those who use the metric system). During English class, we practiced paying compliments to each other. One girl turned to her partner and said, "You are...um...BIG!" She wasn't saying it to be funny because it was the only adjective that came to her mind. In another activity, a student described a classmate, and the others had to guess who it was. One description was, "He has short, dark hair. He is plump." One of the boys answered enthusiastically, "Oh! That's me for sure!" Kids are funny, but not funny enough to convince me to do this again.

Below is a video clip of our kids participating in the camp's talent show. It's cute, and now the song is stuck in my head.

Snow in June

2010-06-03T11:35:00.003+04:00

This is nature's cruel joke on Russia. It's summer (I think) and getting pretty hot, but the grounds are covered in white.

It even looks like it's snowing with the dandelion fuzzies floating through the air. Fortunately for me, my allergy attacks have slowed down tremendously. Now, it's I'm battling carniverous mosquitoes that eat people through jeans (seriously).

I found the culprit. This is my nephew, Devin, successfully blowing dandelion fuzzies my way. Thank you, love.

There are different regulations here. Coming from the US, I am accustomed to all of our rules and standards. Here, I notice that there are no rules or that they're just a little more relaxed about it. Again, there's no wrong or right way--it's a different culture.

Back home, we have dandelions, but dandelions are weeds. We kill weeds. That's probably why there are fewer at home compared to in Samara. We probably have some public works regulation to kill weeds, since we have something for everything. In Russia, you can sell food on the street without a license. Meat isn't refrigerated, but lies there on a table stand outside in the open air (you can also find dried fish, fruits, vegetables, and sunflower seeds for sale). I doubt the department of health follows anyone around (but someone needs to call Upton Sinclair). Bicycle and motorcycle riders don't have to wear helmets, although the traffic and drivers are a bit crazy here. In cars, you don't have to wear a seatbelt, but you must appear to be wearing one. I mean, you can just lay a belt over your lap and they're satisfied. Roads are rough out here because of the harsh winters--that's understandable. Rather than fixing the roads, money is spent on painting new lines on curbs and on the road.

Okay. I accept the differences we have between our regulations, but Samara needs weed killers.

Random in Russia part 13456789034987651

2010-06-02T12:25:00.002+04:00

If you go to this cafe with your motorcycle, you can get a 15% off discount. Score!

By the way, this wasn't a biker bar. It was a quiet little cafe/pizzeria with Asian-like decorations.

Oooh ba-LA-LAika!

2010-06-01T11:31:00.000+04:00

Russians have more stereotypes of themselves than Americans have of them. One of them is that all Russians play the balalaika, a traditional stringed Russian instrument (like a guitar). Needless to say, this stereotype is false because (reality check!) not everyone is talented enough.

I went to the philharmonic to watch a balalaika concert by Alexei Arkhipovsky. This man is an extraordinary musician and shows how versatile the instrument is. While playing, he had a childish mannerism and lightheartedness that made the concert that much more enjoyable. I expected to hear folk and traditional music, but it was more towards the 'experimental' genre. Though I am usually uninterested in that sort of music, I was enthralled by his interpretations on the balalaika.

Overall, my impressions of Russia and Russian people are positive. There are a few exceptions to this, but it'd be unfair to let that ruin my outlook. The concert tickets are not open seated, so every ticket-holder is assigned a specific seat. The first ten minutes were interrupted by obnoxious and boisterous guests who could not civilly settle a dispute. Two people entered late (by a few minutes) and found their seats already occupied. The people who “stole” the seats argued that it was a “you snooze, you lose” deal. This argument was so loud that the musician had to stop playing. At that point, there was no right or wrong because they were all disrespectful to everyone else.

Now, I'm not writing this to say that Russians are rude—that depends on the individual, of course. I'm just giving a reminder to be mindful of each other. It really is that simple.

What I learnt in school (guest post)

2010-05-31T17:40:00.005+04:00

Soviet poster against illiteracy and alcoholism: "The smart and the fool: one goes for the book, the other goes to the pub"

Russia’s literacy rate is close to 100 % higher than in France and in the US. Education in Russia is a big deal.

I came to Samara in November and have been teaching French in a Russian school ever since. Even though I know that this school does not represent every school in the country, I've made a lot of interesting discoveries about the Russian education culture.

I have discovered, for example, that the education system here is competitive and very elitist-- if you're not good enough, too bad! And it starts very early! When I was preparing for a New Year show, I told the teacher in charge of pre-school that not every child could say something in French (they had been learning it for 3 months). “Well, let the parents see that some of them are capable and some are not,” was her answer. We’re talking about six-year old children!

Arts and sports play a much greater role in school than they do in France. Students show what they can do during the many celebrations throughout the year: New Year, Spring Day, Women's day, Victory Day, Graduation Day (Russians like celebrating!) and the shows are always really impressive. If my camera hadn’t died from cold this winter, I would have posted pictures… you have to see it to believe it!

But what struck me the most is the way Russian teachers speak to their pupils like they are adults, even when they are only 5 or 6 years old. Children learn very early to be responsible and to respect their teachers. If they don’t, their parents are made responsible for that, so good behaviour in school becomes a matter of family honor. One day, I was teaching a song to preschool children and one of them was very noisy and made it impossible for the others to sing. I mentioned it to their Russian teacher who told this to the kid’s grandparents. At the next lesson, the boy’s grandmother came to me with a box of chocolate asking me to forgive THEM (!!) : I was speechless (but I took the chocolate!).

Something must also be said about Russian teachers; they are really devoted people who are often at the school from 8 am to 8 pm for a monthly salary of 300 dollars at best, which is difficult to survive on...even in Russia!

Those seven months have taught me one thing: teaching is never easy, particularly in a country where the education culture is different from everything you know. I'm glad I did it but I must admit: I'm also happy summer is coming!

Yeah, you made me feel shiny and new..

2010-05-31T14:17:00.005+04:00

Within the Russian Federation, there are several republics. You've read about my trip to the Bashkort Republic when I went to Ufa. Last weekend, I took an eight hour ride on a bus just as comfortable as a Chinatown bus and found myself in the Tartar Republic in Kazan, the 8th largest city in the country.

Kazan is a beautiful, clean city. There are many churches and mosques because the dominant religions are Islam and Eastern Orthodoxy.

The Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

At first glance, I thought this mosque was Cinderella's castle from Disneyland. It wasn't.

As usual on a weekend in Russia, there are many weddings taking place. Lucky for us, we came across a Muslim wedding.

I thought it was funny that there's a metal detector to get into the mosque. If anyone (women in particular) is planning a trip to Russia, I strongly recommend that you bring a pashmina or a shawl. I recently realized that it's very versatile as you can use it: to cover your head when you enter an Orthodox church or mosque, to use as a pillow when folded up on an uncomfortable bus ride, and as a light blanket when necessary.

Still in the Kremlin.

You can see a man fishing on the platform. This isn't a river, but I'm sure the fish you catch are just as tasty and healthy as catching a fish from the Hudson.

For a second, I felt a little lost. Russian cuisine with Spanish names in a Mexican-inspired building? WIN!

On Saturday, we took an excursion to a tiny island two hours away by boat. People actually inhabit this 1 km x 1.5 km island. Here, there were more churches and a monastery that transformed throughout history (i.e. psychiatric hospital, work-camp, etc.).

The key to my heart

2010-05-27T20:10:00.003+04:00

There's a different sense of security and safety in Russia. I'll expand on this topic another day. Today, I want to focus on security and homes.

Keys are ordinary items we use in our day-to-day lives and we barely pay any attention to them. I've noticed that keys are different in each country. To me, they look silly. I apologize to all of the keymakers now, I don't mean to scorn the art.

Below are my keys to two apartments. The one on the left looks like a screwdriver and is used to open the door to my apartment. The one in the two little keys in the middle are the same. They are used to open the door from the corridor to get to the door to my apartment. On the far right is a skeleton key. I only heard about skeleton keys in stories and fairy tales. I feel the magic every time I use it.

Look closely at the photo below. I know It's strange to take a photo of my door, but it's not really a door--it's an obstacle course. Coming into and getting out of my apartment is an adventure on its own...a physical challenge. The dark door in the back leads to the hallway and it requires me to use my body weight to turn the handle. I am not exaggerating. It is opened by the small keys (in the above picture). Locking and unlocking is just as difficult as turning the handle. I've broken the key...twice. The middle door requires me to push/pull with my body weight so that the lock aligns properly with its counterpart in the door frame. This recently broke, so I don't have to worry about that for awhile. The inside door requires a skeleton key. You just have to feel for it.

My Russian friends told me that here, they don't have home insurance to secure their investments like we have in the US. The explanation was simple enough and I accepted it as it was.

These doors have caused me a lot of heartbreak and anger, but I suppose they are my Russian guardians (since the police aren't).

Num nums

2010-05-21T10:32:00.005+04:00

We admit the fact that in today's society, it's difficult to eat healthy. Between working, studying, and supporting a family, it's just easier to turn to fast food. Many foreigners like to attack me about McDonald's because I'm American (the connection and logic isn't quite clear to me, either). Okay, so McDonald's, Wendy's, White Castle, and Burger King are all fast food chains, but the concept isn't bound to their respective corporations. Fast food is merely food that is convenient and that serves its purpose in filling your stomach. While Americans have a bad reputation for being slaves to fast food, it's also a habit abroad.

What do street vendors do? They sell food. Fast. It's convenient. There are countless kiosks and stands where people can buy fast food here in Samara. I doubt that it's healthier compared to McDonald's.

This is not a post to encourage healthy eating nor am I trying to prevent you from eating fast food. Often times, these convenient delicacies are sinfully tasty and can be truly comforting.

Yesterday, I was walking down the street and passed one of the many fast food stands. I thought nothing of it, but after a few steps, I could smell the aroma of deep fried goodness. I took those few steps back and ordered something named nyam nyam (ням ням). The conditions were perfect for indulgence—the mouth-watering smell of grease, the cute little name, and my love for pocket foods.

Here stands the street vendor cart that entranced me with its delicious smell of grease.

I don't understand why I love pocket foods so much. I define 'pocket food' as a food with a filling that is relatively portable or convenient to prepare. To me, pocket foods are like presents that you unwrap as you eat (I'm pursuing a career in poetry, haven't you noticed?)

Hot Pockets (low sodium, of course)
Empanadas
Pierozhki
Plushki
Pelmeni
Vareniki
Dumplings and wontons
Calzones
New York pizzas folded in half (but NOT a Chicago stuffed pizza)
Chicken bakes from Costco
Jamaican beef patties

These are varenikis, which are basically like pelmeni but with a non-meat filling. I fried it because everything tastes better fried (especially guilt). In my pocket food list, I linked you to an older post where I explain these foods. Looking at this picture, I realize that these could also be Chinese dumplings.

Go out there and indulge (moderately)! Just remember to drink 20 gallons of water after to flush all the junk out of your body. It would probably be a good idea to do some sweat-breaking exercise, too.

Respect your food and it will respect you back.

If it's not baroque...

2010-05-17T19:49:00.007+04:00

...then don't fix it. Go ahead, I can't hear your dry laughter over the Internet.

'Quality' takes a special definition in the Russian Federation. Perhaps it's so close to China (ouch).

In general, I find that Russians are pretty resourceful. Living in a new apartment complex in DC, I was pretty pampered. Whenever there was a problem (e.g. plumbing, ventilation, electrical, etc.), we just had to report it online and maintenance would resolve the issue within hours. That doesn't happen here so people act on their own. My friend, Oksana, has been living on her own for years and learned to tackle almost every household problem. Many people know what to do.

A few months back, another volunteer was preparing kidney beans from a new, sealed bag. It was labeled, 'high quality.' She was pleased when she thought that the beans were pre-spiced. Unfortunately, these 'spices' crawled up her arm.

In another friend's flat, the handle to her drawer was broken. It only required a simple tool to fix it--a screwdriver. How was it fixed? With tape.

Last week, the pipe (made of plastic) under my sink fell down (that was quite a mess). What was our temporary fix? Yep, tape. We knew it wouldn't last for more than a few days. And it didn't. It fell again, but I found a long(er)-term solution.

I put an inverted bucket underneath it for structural support. There's NO WAY that this could fail. Right??

________________________________________________

Note: If you haven't noticed, I put a counter on the bottom of my blog. It also shows me the location of my readers. Actually, it's a little scary how much information I can retrieve...I feel like a voyeur...ack.

I just want to say, THANK YOU for your support!!!!! Knowing that you read this gives me purpose to my posts. I'm aware that I don't personally know all of my readers, but that doesn't bother me at all. Thank you!!!

Aeroflot WIN

2010-05-13T19:44:00.002+04:00

Enlarge the image.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-05-11T09:38:00.001+04:00

I'm quickly approaching my 8th month in Russia. In these eight months, I've gone through all four seasons: three weeks of fall, six months of winter, two and a half-ish weeks of spring, and summer.

I don't know what season I'm in right now...spring or summer. The transition period is so fast that the leaves all showed up on the trees overnight. Two weeks ago, it snowed. Just the other day, I got mosquito bites.

The problem?? It was like a bomb of pollen exploded. I can't be outside for more than ten minutes without sneezing my brains (and other matter) out. What's great (and bad) about non-US pharmacies? NO prescriptions needed!! Fortunately, I'm an extremely educated consumer in this field...so no worries. Going to the pharmacy skips the doctor as the middle man. I tell the 'pharmacist' my symptoms, and she gives me the 'best' available juice. Of course, I came home and googled my new candy. What was the best she had to offer me?? "A classical ("old" or first generation) antihistamine drug approved in some Eastern European countries."

Little by little, I can distinguish the differences between animals...horse/pony/mule/donkey, cow/goat/lamb, wolf/dog, boar/pig, moose/elk/deer, etc. It's not easy.

We had shashliki (Russian versions of shish kebabs...NOT BBQ) along the river. A plastic cup of cold not-so-great beer is refreshing in the heat.

Also interesting, the sun sets very quickly here. Last month, while the rest of Russia changed their time because of daylight savings, Samara didn't, so now we are in Moscow's time zone. It's STUPID. Now, the sun rises at 5am and goes down at 8ish. NO ONE is awake at 5am.

The water level in the volga is very high now. Take a look in the background, the basketball and football courts (EDIT- SOCCER COURTS...eww...foreign influence is disgusting) are under water.

In the distance, you can see a road sign underwater.

There are lots to do along the river embankment. Lots of people...lots of children.................................

Swimming in the Volga is a year-round activity. This guy (in the back) was warming up forever, I don't know if he ever dived in.

It's strange, but very convenient to have trees on the beach. It's easier than carrying a bulky umbrella to the shore.

V is for Victory

2010-05-10T15:41:00.003+04:00

There was a closed parade in Kuibuishev Square yesterday morning. Following the parade, they served porridge to the veterans and eventually to the public. I also thought it was a random event, but it follows tradition. Notice the little girl's hair ribbons. These were part of girls' school uniforms back in the soviet times.

Yesterday was a huge celebration for all of Russia. Russians mark the 9th of May to celebrate the day they kicked the Axis Powers' butts...and they are quite proud of it. Yesterday, the entire city was outside celebrating (and many were drinking, of course). Consider the celebration as big as the American Independence Day and New Orlean's Bourbon Street (but local drunks, rather than drunk tourists). The feeling of pride and patriotism was contagious.

Square of Glory. It was an appropriate choice to hold celebratory events here.

At the Square of Glory, there's a biiiiiiig, steep hill where they had a show. They did a reenactment-esque performance of the war's affect on Russian society. At the end, the performers were dancing the stereotypical Russian dance. Stereotype confirmed! My friend said it's true, Russians do indeed dance like that...perhaps with less grace, but still...

Behind the Square of Glory was the performance. If you look closely, the soldiers' uniforms really look like those guys in Star Wars.

Below: Along the river embankment, there was a small concert.
A capoeira group in Samara. Seeing their flexibility and strength inspired me to go home and practice my headstands and backbends (yoga...not capoiera). The downstairs neighbors probably hate me (read: I was unsuccessful with the headstands).

How can you NOT have fun when there's a dancing babushka??

This, dear friends, is my goal in the pursuit of karoke perfection.

It's been illegal for children in the US to play with toys that realistically resemble guns and rifles. Not in Russia. Here, children can play with tanks. This guy just wasn't interested in entertaining children.

Below: Square of Glory

My friend, Lena, places a candle to remember the soldiers who risked their lives to save the country.

People putting flowers at the monument for war heroes.

A small exhibition of propoganda during the war.

Hooray for Victory Day!!!

2010-05-03T12:51:00.002+04:00

Who won World War II?? The easier answer is that Germany and Japan lost, right? Here, May 9th is a BIG celebration to honor the soldiers who fought (successfully) in WWII. The weather is finally comfortable enough for casual strolls and to take blog-appropriate photos.

An outdoor photo exhibition in Kuibushev Square (yes, the BIGGEST square in all of Europe).

Severine (from France) and I finally headed out to a local museum after weeks of telling ourselves that we'd go. At Alabin's museum, there were two public exhibits with contemporary art to commemorate the war and another photo exhibition. In this shot, we're looking at letters and posts sent during the war.

We randomly ran into a brass band playing old-fashioned music (I'm being vague because I don't know) and I thought it was cute to see all these older couples dancing. The outdoor milongas in NYC and Washington can't even compare to this...

And how do we foreigners celebrate? We cook...and eat. Actually, we were making a care package for Riet's birthday/trip to Siberia.

As a result, our pieroshki was biracial. The shell tasted and had the texture of an Argentine empanada, whereas the filling was Russian. Tasty nevertheless. Be jealous that you didn't get your hands on these. Or be glad if I'm your good friend...

Snail mail defined

2010-05-01T14:10:00.004+04:00

´Twas the end of December when my momma sent me a package...

...and I got it in mid-March. There was no food, only new winter accessories (which I still use...in May). Customs shouldn´t have had problems with it, but it was still delayed. My friend´s parents are in the process of sending a package from Belgium to Ufa. It´s still stuck in Moscow in customs because there´s chocolate.

Turns out, the entire postal service is going through a change and there are thousands of packages that are lost and delayed. I am one of the lucky ones to get my package 'so soon.'

A postal truck. I tried getting a picture of the postal 'car' but it was going too fast.

The postal train. Efficiency at its best.

Russian Bears

2010-04-30T12:34:00.003+04:00

Russian people often ask me about what stereotypes I had about Russia before I came here. Most of them say, "You thought there were bears roaming the streets, right? And drunk people are everywhere drinking vodka?"

--Let me make this clear...none of us foreigners have ANY idea where the bear stereotype came from. We think it's a Russian stereotype created by Russian people themselves. I only recall one scene from War and Peace where some guy wrestled a bear, but I never thought it was a reflection of the country's society.

--There are more visible drunk people here than there are in any other place I've been.

I've had nothing but great cultural experiences in Russia (my experience with an organization isn't included in this statement). Unfortunately, there are a few stupid people who ruin the image of Russian culture.

Now that it's warmer here, more and more people are drinking outside on the streets. Most people are just having a good time and keep to themselves. Others are out to cause problems. My heart goes out to a friend who's been a victim to this drunken violence that was completely uncalled for. My heart goes out to his friend who was killed by the hands of these drunken brutes.

Russian people explained that the 'bear' stereotype symbolizes how uncivilized this country is. Before, I had no reason to think that Russians are uncivilized. Now, I see that these bears exist.

On the bright side, another friend stated that since the police don't really do much in terms of justice, Russia is basically a 'lawless society.' And for a 'lawless society,' there are only a few acts of inhumanity in comparison to all the good acts. It just goes to show that people are innately good.

I am American. I don't let the terrorists win.

EDIT May 18, 2010: I found this video on the New York Times. It's interesting and even shows Medvedev admitting that this 'lawlessness' is a fault of the Russian society. I hope I don't break any laws or risk jail time for this like the French teacher in Tehran.

Rostov continued...

2010-04-30T12:21:00.003+04:00

British Airlines had a strike the weekend I was originally scheduled to go home. Sorry, this is why I'm staying a little longer.

See??? The parks are lovely!!!

There's a HUGE pedestrian street and lots of places to sit and be idle.

I like reading. Look, when you are on a trip, you are ALLOWED to take stupid tourist photos. Period.

Super daddy pushing a pimped out carriage. I swear, babies ride in fancy carriages out here. They're like little houses.

Below: Parks with THINGS in them!!!

What's one thing that's missing here? SNOW!!!!! On the train going south, we stopped seeing birch trees and the level of snow had gone down dramatically. In Rostov in the beginning of April, there was NO SNOW in sight. Then, I came back to Samara where there were still chunks of black snow on the sidewalks. And two days ago, in late April, it snowed.

Rostov-Na-Dony

2010-04-10T15:22:00.005+04:00

About 3 weeks ago, I went on a trip to the south to Rostov-Na-Dony. I am finally posting my adventure. I took a train that was about 30 hours each way. It was interesting. When I came home (at 4:30 am, no less), I smelled awful.

Train station in Samara. Photo was taken from the platform.

My train to Rostov. We sat in the 'platscart' class where all the compartments are open and people sleep in bunks. I couldn't get a decent picture of it. I'll try again next time. It's not as bad as one would think.

A glimpse of our wagon. This is Leka, my friend with whom I travelled with. She wanted to visit her family and wanted some company. I was the company. This seat converts from a two-seat dining table into a bed (think: RV-style). Above is my bunk. The beds are pretty comfortable (more comfortable than the beds in my old flat anyway) because they give you mattresses and fresh (dare I say 'clean') sheets.

Russian-style crossword. I had A LOT of help. On the return trip, we bought a children's crossword that better tailored to my needs.

The train ride itself was an adventure. I said it was 30 hours one way--that means something is bound to happen. It should go without saying, but many people drink and stay drunk on these trains. It can be a nuisance, but it can sometimes be entertaining.

1. One night, crew members were running up and down the aisles cursing under their breath about some drunk people. Turns out, one crew member got drunk, fell asleep (i.e. passed out), and didn't turn on the light in the last car. That meant that another train may have collided with us. That's a nuisance.

2. On our way to Rostov, our neighbors were two drunk men on their way home. They were so interested in me because I am American. They thought I was an important person with a translator. Right...that's why I was in the common class wagon. I decided to have fun...and I kept a straight face the whole time. The rest of the wagon could hear us and they were laughing hard.

Guys - What do you eat in the US?

Me - You already know the answer to that. Hamburgers, of course.

Guys - That's all?!?!

Me - Oh...and sometimes cheeseburgers!

Guys - Don't you cook at home?

Me - Why bother, it's easier to go to MacDonald's.

Guys - Strange. Don't you have meat? You know...from a cow??

Me - Um...what's a cow? I think you only have that in Russia.

Guys - (Making moo-ing noises and showing horns)

Me - Nope. No idea.

This went on for about 30 minutes. Then I stopped before they'd really believe me and I started to tell the truth. Just a note..I've yet to have a problem with being American. Knock on wood, but everyone has only been kind.

Rostov-Na-Dony

Rostov is a beautiful city. It's ACTUALLY a city. No offense to Samara, but Samara is basically a village where they threw big buildings in the middle of (true story). I actually felt like I was back in Mendoza. They have big parks...with THINGS in them...grass, flowers, playgrounds, etc.

One park has a collection of exotic birds. Here are non-pink flamingos. I didn't bother asking 'why?'

When I say that I play tennis, people often ask, "Big tennis, or table tennis?" Ping pong is popular here, but that's because it's so fun. :)

I just thought this was pretty and a little offbeat for Russia.

Slightly different public transportation vehicles here.

I just liked the building. The city is filled with beautiful buildings.

We went during Orthodox Easter. The Russian tradition is to dye eggs, just like we do in the US. And you give them to each other. There's a whole tradition and password thing that I can't explain.

I'm limited to the number of pictures I can have in one post...to be continued.

Smile. It's spring!

2010-04-10T14:51:00.005+04:00

Just some photos to brighten your day.

Art in Yfa.

Art from Ikea. Rostov-Na-Dony

Free promotion from a local clinic in Rostov. "Wellness test. Know your weight and fat percentage." My friend said, "Cool, this will be fun." No, friend, no it is not fun.

Muay Thai in Rostov. There's actually one in Samara, too. I found a Thai restaurant (it had Thai letters, too) in Rostov, but the car was moving too fast for me to get a picture. Surprise surprise!!

Insert your own captions.

On my jar of honey. BEEKEEPER FRIENDS FOREVER!!

Good taste and high quality guaranteed.

2010-03-17T14:11:00.004+04:00

If you couldn't tell from the pictures, here are bacon (бекон) and red caviar (красная икра) flavored Lays chips. Don't second guess them at all!! They're goooooooood.

...Can't break me down...bury me, bury me!!

2010-03-12T12:21:00.005+04:00

FIRST - Relax. I'm not getting married anytime soon.

SECOND - Don't forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is purely my opinion.

Ok, please proceed.

Yesterday, I went to an open-air market where they sell lots of clothes--including wedding dresses. Russian wedding dresses catch my eye. It's like a decorated Dominican cake in wearable form. Overly...decorated. It seems to me that people see elements that they like and then combine it all in one dress. It's not my cup of tea...or cognac...or brandy. And it definitely doesn't tickle my fancy...though the lace and tulle probably itches.

A wedding dress shop not too far from my old flat.

This is what I meant when I wrote that they combined every element into one dress.

Another example...

Wedding ceremonies vary by culture and country. In the US, people usually get married in a church and ask their sister to do a reading and cry her brains out in front of everyone. In Thailand, you get strings tied around your head, pray, then old people pour water on you. In Argentina, you ride down a crowded street naked in the trunk of a car for the bachelor/ette party. And Indian ceremonies are loooooong (but really fun).

In Russia, the age where people usually get married is pretty young. A flatmate once joked that you don't see anyone over the age of 25 because everyone is at home, married with children. And I don't think it's that far from the truth. Actually, I'm 23 and some people ask if I'm married. NOPE.

1. Find your lifelong partner (people usually fail with this step and continue on to the next).

2. Find your perfect wedding dress (beauty is in the eye of the beholder).

Step 3. Sign up at ЗАГС and get married officially. That's the Russian version of our city hall marriages. And they do it like a factory line. Saturday is an auspicious day, so it's super busy then.

Step 4. Parade around.

Step 5. Decorate your car (see at full view for the full effect).

And that, dear friends, family, and anonymous readers, is why I am eloping. But again, relax, it's not happening for years.

P.S. If you know where the post's title is from, you probably wear skinny jeans and eyeliner. Cool.

P.P.S If you understand why I chose the title, you probably lived with me for four years.

I shake my 'bon bon'

2010-03-09T22:52:00.002+04:00

I found Argentine tango in Samara! Summary: I accidentally fell in love (typical) with Argentine tango while at GWU. I studied for 6 months in Mendoza, Argentina and continued to dance there. Tango and my decision to study in Argentina were completely unrelated when I applied to the study abroad program. I came home with a few pairs of tango shoes (see Facebook for additional pictures). When packing for Russia, it didn't even cross my mind that there would be a tango community here (there's one EVERYWHERE, no matter how small the city is...it's like Thai people). I went to one milonga (dance event) and was thrilled. Hardwood floors, perfect atmosphere, good dancers, etc. Snow boots or tango shoes alike- I just...wanna...dance.

This past weekend, I was invited to a salsa event. Of course, the "inviter" couldn't dance salsa but invited us out to a salsa party...he didn't major in logic either, you see. All in all, it was a fun night. And a lot of dancing. End of that story.

The point: I need to seek salsa communities rather than tango ones. Fewer creepy old men.

The problem: No shoes. And dancing in clunky boots is like going to a sauna in clothes. It's possible, but strange.

Revisiting snowmaggeddon

2010-03-09T22:24:00.003+04:00

News about the blizzard in Washington and New York made it to Russia. Russians told me about it before Facebook could. I've written about the harsh cold and the snow here. I'm glad that we can share these experiences together now. I thought we finished with the snow and the unnatural cold, but it's still going. There is a layer of ice that's a few inches deep (almost like a step). For most of the winter, people didn't bother removing it because they knew that it would just come back again. A few weeks ago, it started snowing and I thought, “Hooray! The snow will cover the ice and give me better traction.” And I fell (for the third or fourth time).

One major difference between snow storms here and snow storms in the US is that life here doesn't stop. There aren't fewer people on the streets just because there's a foot of snow on the ground. People don't stop going to work or to school. In the US, people rampage supermarkets and stock up for the storm. I think this habit is reminiscent of the times when families had to prepare for nuclear attacks. It makes sense. I've only seen people delay meetings/classes/work when it was -30 degrees Celsius outside. Here, the government isn't very good at keeping sidewalks or roadways clean. Perhaps the reasoning is, “What's the point when it's just going to snow again?” So be grateful when you walk on snow-free sidewalks and when you drive on plowed roads.

There are doctors, epidemiologists (hint-hint), teachers, nurses, accountants, and IRS agents. They are all important in society, but the one profession I'm very grateful for is the ice breaker. The men and women who stand there all day with a big stick cracking the ice off the sidewalk. I express my gratitude with no sarcasm whatsoever.

What do I do? I keep going. I complain about it and watch my hands turn different colors, but I keep going and I look for the light at the end of the tunnel. It's just getting over the 0 degree mark that's important. Some days, like today, I can even feel the sun.

There was a possibility for me to escape to a warmer climate for a few days, but for bureaucratic reasons, it didn't work out. The immigration office could learn a thing or two about efficiency from these hard-working ice-breakers. And THAT is the truth.

Kiss a foreigner who has been to the Bashkort Republic

2010-02-24T16:10:00.006+04:00

Month 5. I haven't seen my family since September and five months is the longest I've gone without seeing them. I miss my family. From the non-born, to the recently born, and to the really old members in my family, I really miss them. In these five months, a lot has happened and I've learned a lot. In these five months, I didn't travel outside of the Samara region until this past weekend.

Welcome to the city of Ufa, located in the Bashkort Republic. It was extremely refreshing to get out of Samara for the weekend because Ufa is clean, feels less-congested, and I spent time with a family. Being with ANY family feels good at this point, even if it's not mine. I'm a happier girl, now. And very full.

Fur coats just like the REAL Russians.

Elza, momma, and noisy cat. We are so grateful that they hosted us this weekend. They define hospitality.

My first real ballet with a live orchestra! And it was only about $2. "Raymonda"

My first visit to a mosque. There is a high Muslim population in the Bashkort Republic.

I learned how to crochet in Russia. My next project: learning how to cross-stitch profiles of famous communist leaders.

We went to a museum where I learned how big animals really are.

American-Chinese diner.

When people don't have refrigerators or don't have enough room in it, they hang food outside where it's also cold.

We went to a lemonarium(?) where the lemons are as big as softballs.

Outdoor zoo. Just...don't do it. There were bears, foxes, horses, wolves, dogs, and a camel.

I've been trying to get this picture for WEEKS. This is how children are transported in the snow. This is not only for fun, but it is used as TRANSPORTATION. Genius.

Her name is Ashan

2010-02-24T15:55:00.004+04:00

In the US, we have Costco, Super Walmarts, Targets, and BJ's. Here, there's a French-operated hypermarket called Ashan. It is massive and everything is cheap. I've been to Texas a couple of times and I thought I knew what big was. I didn't know what big was until I went to Ashan.

Globalization, I think you are winning.

The art of nudity

2010-02-24T15:36:00.002+04:00

If you ever come to Russia, you MUST go to a Russian banya. Sure, a sauna feels great in the middle of winter, but to get the full experience, you MUST go to a RUSSIAN banya. And if you're like me, a more or less conservative Asian-American girl, the minute you walk into the locker room, you will stand there in shock. Not the “deer-caught-in-the-headlights” kind of shock, but the “I just got stunned by a high-voltage taser” kind of shock.

Everyone is naked. Naked naked naked. I went to a private sauna when I was teaching at the language camp, but everyone wore a bathing suit. I went to a public banya and everyone was naked. I wish you all could have seen my face because I am sure it was nothing but priceless. Thank goodness my friend, another foreigner, was there to bring me back to life. No one pays attention to each other and it ended up being very comfortable for me. There is also an array of body types. I realize now that public banyas are safe from peeping toms and other perverts. No one wants to see that.

From the locker room, you go to the shower room. It's another scary room. Just think of the private things you do in the shower (when you're alone, of course). Now take away the walls. And add a lot of people. Yeah...you're better off not looking at what people are doing.

From the giant, scary shower room, you go to the sauna part. The room that is hot as hell. As soon as you go inside, you hear women beating themselves or each other with vennigs, branches of dried leaves (typically oak). It is said to increase circulation and prevent cellulite. I find that it takes too much energy to use the vennigs when you can barely breathe.

I feel at peace even when I'm in a bus full of people because I don't have to talk to anyone and I can just use the time to think. I feel relaxed and alone even in a public banya full of naked, old women because people keep to themselves. Now, I go to a banya once a week.

The following are pictures from a private room in a public banya:

Place to relax and drink tea/beer/water.

Where you go nude.

The actual sauna part. It's hot.

Pictures of the Cold

2010-02-03T16:36:00.002+04:00

On the Volga River.

Also on the river.

A car completely buried under the snow.

Theme: The word "Cold" is a pronoun here.

Free Time

2010-02-03T15:02:00.006+04:00

So, I've explained to you what I am officially doing here. Besides bringing HIV prevention into the lives of Samara's youth, I do have a life. Though I must admit, Riet and I have brought HIV prevention into our lives and it isn't a separate entity. We are ALWAYS doing prevention work, even if our friends are sick of hearing about it, but we genuinely realize the importance of it. Also, our friends quickly learn that we don't believe in taboos.

I've learned how to crochet. On YouTube. Really. If people can learn to deliver babies and ride motorcycles from youtube videos, you can learn how to crochet. And I did. I needed a hat. I was feeling creative because I was helping Oksana sew costumes. It also helped that Riet was knitting at the time. When I was younger, I asked my momma to teach me the crafts of knitting and crochet. I failed because I didn't have the patience/didn't pay attention to her. And so, I am a crochet-er. I've made hats, earwarmer/headband things, a cell phone case, and I'm currently making half gloves (similar to what homeless people wear).

This is my first project--my crocheted hat. I gave it to Sofie because it looks better on her. Since then, I've made another one that suits me better.

In December, I was working for my friend Oksana and helping her sew costumes for a New Years Show (think: flashy like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular). We didn't make these penguin costumes, but I thought they were adorable. Children in masses are cute when they are dancing on stage and when they are quiet. That's it.

Riet and I have domesticated. We are constantly doing handicrafts while sipping a hot cup of tea (or other strong alternative).

I'm exercising. I've been eating a lot because I need the calories and energy to keep me warm in this rough winter. I bought a yoga mat that I've actually been using quite religiously (only within the past few weeks...). I also have my resistance bands to build up these guns. I'm leaving Russia with weapons of mass destruction, friends.

And now my free time is being sucked away because I'm teaching English...I'll elaborate on this later.

This is not a metaphor

2010-02-03T14:41:00.002+04:00

HIV prevention work is going well. However, I stupidly and irresponsibly left my computer without an anti-virus program for two weeks. Within these two weeks, I've allowed countless flash/USB sticks onto my computer and I've downloaded programs from the Internet. As a result, I've contracted the nasty WIN32 virus. And it won't go away, regardless of how many times I run the scanners. This is a lesson learned. Always be protected.

Carol of the Bells

2009-12-23T20:33:00.008+04:00

I had the pleasure of visiting the Samara Philharmonic to watch a choire from Moscow perform. It's not very far from where I live, but I just never went until last week. First of all, have a look at how beautiful the interior is. And there's a giant organ (hehe).

Not much to say about this visit because this is the kind of thing you have to experience on your own. If you don't like classical music, fine. But you need to experience it live before you can make judgments. It's one thing to hear classical music as a recording, but a completely new experience when you're there.

The view from the orchestra seats to the terrace.

The big organ.
The choir that took my breath away and made my stomach do flips. Oh, the romance!! (This is more or less a joke).

Oh, and the last three songs were modern Christmas songs in English. They knew I was going to be there. Because I am a star. The American star.

A Grand Delay

2009-12-23T20:33:00.007+04:00

I'm sorry! I've been neglecting this blog for over a month. I have a more or less valid excuse. It's cold. It's so cold that I don't want to write. Some days are so cold outside that I can't bear to go glove-less for a few minutes, which explains why there won't be a lot of photos for the next few months. It's so cold that my cell phone stops working outside. I'm scared to find out what may happen to my camera. Also, the streets have centimeters of ice, so I'm afraid to carry fragile items (I have a story about eggs).

December was the first time I felt the weather drop down to -30 degrees Celsius. That's thefirst time I learned that cold can HURT- that it could cause PHYSICAL PAIN. A friend said, "When it's this cold, you start to feel what it's like to die from the cold." I couldn't agree more.

Luckily, I bought a jacket from the States that is rated to keep me "warm" in -30 degree weather. If you've never felt that kind of cold before, pay attention. You know when it's -15 or -20 when your nostrils freeze (you can feel it when you inhale). Bare skin hurts within minutes in -30 degree weather. I wear medium-weight thermals under jeans, leg warmers, woolen ski socks, heavyweight snow boots, and suede mittens. Once, I walked outside for 20 minutes (only out of necessity) and my thighs became numb after the pain. The wind made my eyes water (n.b. tears don't freeze because of the salt and oil content, but you can feel the cold on your face). And my face turned red. This should mean something because my face NEVER turns colors.

I know I sound overdramatic, but I'm just describing this in a way to help you understand better. It's also an honest description.

The snow on the pedestrian street (Leningradskaya). I was trying to capture parents transporting their kid on a sled. Sleds are used as modes of transportation here as well as for fun.

On December 15th, the Theatre organized a street action to hand out information and red ribbon to people on the street. This was a super-cold day. And this is a picture of Piotr on the outdoor ice skating rink in Kubishev Square.

Said street action. I'm carrying the flag of my sponsoring university.

Misha. The big boss. Haha. He's cold.

Just to show you how I dress in this cold weather.

Welcome to Samara

2009-12-11T16:53:00.004+04:00

Yeah I realize that it's a little late, but better late than never! Here are a few postcard-like photos from the city. Some are my photos, but most are from my flatmates. Also, see the video that Riet made for Mikko's goodbye. Mikko was living in Samara for 9 months and she collected a lot of blackmail. Here's the compilation.

Volga River looking towards the city of Samara. In the distance, you can see the statue of a man holding airplane wings. He stands in the Square of Glory.

Drama and Opera theatre.

Revolution Square. Also where I can catch many marchutkas. Hooray.

A hotel/restaurant not too far from one my language institutes.

The bridge over Samara River.

Happy World AIDS Awareness Day!!!

2009-12-10T21:30:00.002+04:00

Posters from a school in Togliatti. They are representations of how HIV cannot be transmitted (e.g. toilet seat, bug bites, sharing food utensils, etc.).

December 1st is the international date to "celebrate" HIV/AIDS awareness. For this day, Theatre LIGHT (the organization I'm working with) and other local organizations organized a rock concert to promote awareness of the disease. The original concept of the concert was to be an acoustic concert with a cozy atmosphere. That concept was thrown out when a local university said, "We'll give you $$$$, but we want a rock concert." Okay. They had the money, they won. All in all, it was a successful concert and about 200 people showed up.

During the day, Aerospace University had an event to promote awareness amongst the student body.

- Samara ranks third in the Russian Federation for having a high rate of HIV infection and prevalence.
- Unofficially, 1 out of 35 people in Samara Region is infected with HIV (most are unaware or haven't been tested).

Check out the video that Riet and I created. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6TiZQ7vSjI
The theme is that every 7 seconds in the world, a person in infected with HIV.

Get tested. It's possible that you don't see signs or symptoms for YEARS. It's responsible and it's a very selfless action. Know your status.

Secret Garden

2009-12-01T15:29:00.004+04:00

I went to the botanical gardens one day. It is still fall here, but the leaves seem to have fallen off the trees already. We call that "winter" where I am from. Everyone brags about the garden in Samara, so I decided to have a look myself. Here are my findings:

The flowers smell lovely. (PS I LOST MY EARMUFFS and i am really sad now). There's snow on the ground in fall, too.

An interesting tree. There are various types of trees, but no sign to show me which one it is. Therefore, this is the "interesting" tree.

It seems like a nice place to stand and ponder while overlooking the reeds.

We took many reed photos because it is Riet's (from Belgium) namesake.

Conclusion: It was really cold and there wasn't much to see. However, there's much potential for this garden to be really nice when things are alive! I'll let you know once spring arrives.

PS Happy World AIDS Day! Think twice before you take an action and before you make judgments towards others.

F-U, Flu

2009-11-25T13:51:00.004+04:00

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

2009-11-25T13:18:00.002+04:00

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.

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

2009-11-08T17:44:00.001+04:00

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

2009-11-08T17:43:00.001+04:00

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.

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

2009-10-29T19:45:00.001+04:00

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

2009-10-29T19:38:00.001+04:00

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!”

2009-10-29T18:55:00.004+04:00

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

2009-10-29T18:07:00.004+04:00

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!

2009-10-14T20:16:00.013+05:00

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.