Saturday, November 22, 2008

Tales from an American in Moscow

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been making mental notes of all the things I've wanted to blog about. However, I find I now have little time to write them down. Time is flying in Moscow and I'm loving it, but it's not very conducive to blogging. I will try to touch on things in summary, but we'll see.

I have been really busy lately. Not the type of busy I am in America, but just busy with seeing the city, hanging out with people, and working on my beer belly. I've also been busy with ruining my clothes. >:( I swear every time I do laundry, something gets ruined. I ruined one of the scarves I really liked unwittingly this morning, so my resolution not to smoke has only been reinforced (although this time I believe it was from second hand smoke). Then, I won't have to wash my scarves. But yeah, my time has been consumed with classes and being in Moscow. I am really settling in here and I'm loving it. Russia is such a different culture that it takes awhile to get used to something so foreign and sometimes inexplicably confusing. But now that I understand the culture a little better, the language a little better, and the metro system a little better I feel a lot more comfortable being an American in Moscow.

On Friday, we went to the circus. I was morally torn up all week trying to decide what to do. On one hand, I didn't want to miss out on a cultural experience, but on the other hand I didn't want to support such a cruel practice to animals. I ended up going because by the time I came to any sort of conclusion, the tickets had already been bought. So I went. The human parts of the circus were really awesome. The animals parts were offensive and nauseating. And cruelty aside, they weren't even that interesting. They led a cheetah around on a leash. How can you possibly give a cheetah what it needs??? And don't scientists need as much genetic material as possible since most cheetahs are so inbred they can't even catch their prey anymore?? I don't understand how whoever can approve the sale of endangered species to a circus. They also had horses, but their heads were chained down, which just looked painful and sad. Then, they had a section where there were six tigers and two lions on stage. There was this guy with a whip who just hit them and poked them until they did something "interesting" like growl or try to attack him. It was so sad. They are such proud creatures and they all just looked so sad. He reduced them to petty creatures as opposed to the majestic cats they are. It was sad. He didn't even look like he liked them. I don't know... the whole thing was terrible. And while one might just want to believe that it's something that only happens in Moscow, it really happens in all circuses all over the world. In fact, most of the acts there were traveling acts from other countries. I will never attend a circus again and I urge you to do the same.

This is all I have time for right now as I have to go get ready to go souvenir shopping at the market. Although it's so windy and rainy outside, going to an outdoor market doesn't sound all that appetizing. We'll see! Пока друзья!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

The Election and What it Might Mean for Russia

Well, this week has been a pretty exciting one. The election happened. That was huge in and of itself. Also, we went to the ballet again this Thursday, seeing Esmeralda. That ballet they don't perform in the US, so it was cool to see something I knew I wouldn't be able to see at home. The ballet overall was good, although there were some scenes I felt could have been cut out (which would have made it much more enjoyable). The one thing that annoys me about Russian ballet, which I realize is entirely due to a cultural difference, is that they clap and bow after like every dance, instead of just all at the end. It disrupts the flow and irritates me to know end. Besides that, it was good. Afterwards, we went to Starlight Diner, which is a very close approximation to 5 'n Diner in the States. I had nachos!!! They were delicious. And some french fries, which were also good. I can't wait to have Mexican food again.

I hate to wax political, but I am going to now. First, I am happy that Obama was elected. I hope those who were disappointed with his election watched his victory speech. It was moving and, more importantly, expressed the ideas that are sadly lacking in politics these days (both parties included). Although I am not an idealist and I realize that speeches are speeches, I thought he had some good things to say. I enjoyed that he said that he really wanted to engage Republicans and try to curb some of the intense partisanship that has developed over the years. I would love to see some of the bad feelings put aside and see our representatives more focused on the issues at hand.

Although I am more liberal than Obama himself, I think his moderate politics could be good for Washington and its internal, as well as external, affairs. I hope Republicans at least realize that he will do better internationally than McCain (although domestically that depends on your point of view of course). Now, my dad, who is forever a Republican Crusader, would tell me that I am wrong, but hear me out. Politics, especially international, at the end of the day is all about relationships. Obama, without a doubt, is very popular abroad. All of Europe likes him, as well as Russia. The European Union is an important ally and we need to repair the damage to our relations. Russia is an extremely important relationship we need to develop as well. We cannot use intimidation politics with Russia, which is what was proposed by, say, Palin. We can't just say, "Do what we want or we'll start a war with you". Because Russia will respond to such a threat. They'll call our bluff. They are nothing if not proud of their military history and current power. They also are not as inclined to peace as other nations and they are perfectly OK fighting for something they feel they need to protect. Obama has a way with words, you can't deny that. He is extremely diplomatic and I think that his skills will work well on Russia. Russia is an important ally. They have tons of natural resources and have a lot of control over Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia. It would be wise to attempt friendship with them. In that, at least, I think people should be satisfied. Feel free to hate him for whatever else, but at least on the international scene he has a good chance of success.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

My approximately $28 food court lunch and my first visit to ЦУМ

Since I slept in and missed Lenin yesterday, I decided to go today. Francine and I got going a little late and missed our stop on the metro, so we were running late since Lenin closes at 1pm. First of all, for reference, Lenin's Mausoleum takes up one side of Red Square. However, the entrance is so Russia. The entire length of the mausoleum/area around said mausoleum has a fence blocking access and security guards there to make sure you don't step over the two foot high fence. The entrance to Lenin is facing the square, yet for some reason you can't enter that way... because of the fence. We were very confused and so we asked the guard how to get in. He points to the right and says we have to enter by Aleksandr Gardens, which is all the way at the end of the Kremlin wall. So inconvenient. Why? I have no idea. Sometimes, things in Russia have no logical explanation and you kind of just have to go with it. When we get to the end of Red Square we see that that is blocked off as well by police (we couldn't figure out why, unless it's because it's a holiday weekend?). So we had to go around the other way. Then, once we get there, the line is for some reason ridiculously long. At this point it is like 12:20pm. We decided it was a lost cause and so went on to our next stop, the mall Охотный Ряд. We did some browsing and realized everything was ridiculously expensive. We were hungry so we got some lunch in the food court. Basically everywhere in the food court they do things by weight, so you are never quite sure how much it's going to be, especially since my ability to eyeball kilos is non-existent. I got some greek salad, potatoes with mushrooms, and a baked eggplant thing. Admittedly, I was hungry and probably didn't need the last thing. However, when everything rang up, it was almost 28 USD!!! Ack!! Only in Moscow could you drop so much money in a food court. The last time I ate there it was like 15 USD. So yeah. I had too much food and I dropped an embarassingly large amount of money. As I often like to say, "You win some and you lose some". Funny, I only say that when I lose.

Anyway, after that we felt poor and so we decided to go to ЦУМ, the supposedly more affordable version of ГУМ. Or, at least, that's what my guidebook says. However, my guidebook is a liar. I haven't been in GUM yet, but there was no way this could be cheaper since the entire mall was exclusively couture. D&G, Armani, Gucci, Prada, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Emilio Pucci, Marc Jacobs... they were all there. Like, we're talking $2,000 dresses. It was fun to pretend that I could buy some of that stuff. But looking at couture always makes me want it, so I left fantasizing about what it would be like to be fabulous.

While in my reverie, we were stopped by a man and a woman asking us where the nearest grocery store was. We said we didn't know and that we were sorry. That man said oh, that's OK. Excuse me. All the while he was leering at me and as he moved away he said, "krasivaya" (beautiful) loud enough so I could hear. What was weird about the whole semi-pick up was that the woman was on his arm... and they were obviously together, so why would the guy do that so blatantly in front of her? If I were her, I would have smacked him. How disrespectful.

To bring it back full circle, I really want to go shopping when I get home... where things are affordable! Next time I go shopping, I'm going to Vykhino market. I think that's the only place in my price range.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

A great night, followed by a very lazy day...

Last night was Halloween and everyone in the dorms dressed up and we had a big party on our floor. The Homestays came as well and we even got about 7 Russians from the other floors of the dorm to join us as well! It was a pretty crazy night, I must say. I improvised a costume by being a hippie (some said this was too close to the truth to be a costume lol). Francine and I bought a bunch of candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters (i.e. our friends). Everyone had a great time and gorged on booze and candy--the perfect combination! ;) There was even some dancing and you know how much I enjoy that.

We were all up until like 5 in the morning, so this morning I was waay too tired to get up and go to Lenin's Masoleum, so I'm going tomorrow morning. I'm sad I didn't get to go with the group, but oh well; sometimes you just need sleep. And apparently I did because I basically slept all day with periods of wakefulness, but no periods of productivity, sadly. Tomorrow should be better, but I'm kind of ok with being lazy today. Sometimes you just need a day of that, you know? Plus, you need energy to pay your respects to that man who ruined Russia.

I can't believe it's November 1! That seems weird. And that means the election is soon! I'll be glad to see that over. The waiting makes me anxious, although I am happy I voted. And we'll see if the polls have been accurate after all...