Num nums

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...

...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??

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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

Enlarge the image.

Happy Anniversary!

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

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!!!

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

´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.