This trip has already proven to be a host of new experiences and today I got to add another one: ice skating! It was the first time I've ever gone-and what more appropriate setting than Moscow? As always, the awesome Russians Maksim and Bolshoi Maksim (we've given them nicknames to help differentiate them) were at the helm of this adventure and brought along a new friend, Christine (I'm not sure how to spell her name in the Russian fashion), who is a lot of fun. They taught us how to play a skating game and saved from falling those of us who were a little uncertain on the skates. It was such a fun group and it was an awesome time. I noticed, though, that we attracted a lot of stares. I think it's because we Americans are a very boisterous and happy group. Russians in general, I've noticed, are not a very expressive group in public, preferring to display a cooler demeanor, whereas we were all bouncing around and talking loudly. Couldn't have been more obvious if we were walking around wearing shirts that said, "Hi, We're Americans!" (not that we'd be any less obvious anyway).
More Russian language class today. By the time we're done here, I hope to be a master at writing in Russian cursive. Of course, by then all of my English cursive writing will have been completely forgotten and I'll start writing my English t's as n's like they look in Russian.
Oh, and today we found out that security guards take their duty VERY seriously. We heard this but poor Shelli found this out firsthand. She did not have her entrance card that we were given the first day and she was trying to come into the hostel but the security guard wouldn't let her. Not only would he not allow her to go upstairs (despite having her passport), she had a hard time leaving the hostel without it in order to return. So far, we haven't had any problems with this because the guards knew who we were and let us by with no problem. But the new guard tonight meant business and we all learned that there's no messing around. Russian students have to carry passports with them everywhere. They have 2 types-one for the city of Moscow (plus their student IDs and driver's licenses if they have them) and their international passports. As one of the Americans pointed out, "Russians are very well documented." Interesting to think about.
I'll add pictures of the skating later.
пoка!
That's right, Russian citizens do have two passports: one for international travel with our names spelled using Latin alphabet, so that when we are abroad, foreign authorities could read our names, and the other one is our internal identification where everything is in Russian. As you grow older, it becomes a collection of different stamps documenting your life: every time you change residency, when you move, for example, your passport will be stamped that you've moved out and then, at the new place, that you've moved in; if you marry, you will get another stamp; if you get divorced-you guessed it- another stamp. You can flip through someone's passport and tell a lot about his/her life by just reading the stamps. Пока!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the purpose of keeping so many documents at one time and in one place? Oh, and I was curious, the term "пака" I learned to spell with an "a" in the center. I noticed you used it with an "o." Did I learn it incorrectly? Is it spelled "пока"? Hope you're enjoying the blog and my analyses are not completely off!
ReplyDeleteOh, it's just red tape, I guess, and they serve a different purpose. You cannot really substitute your student ID for your driver's license. You carry just one passport when you are in Russia and then when you travel internationally, you leave your "internal" passport at home. Yes, when you say пока, it sounds пака because "o" is not stressed and you stress the second syllable - покА. When you spell it, however, it is пока. I am really enjoying reading your blog, Marie.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoy it, it's been fun for me to write! I will correct my spelling in the future-thank you!
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