Frustrated

I feel like I need to vent a little bit so I apologize in advance if this blog comes across too negative or disorganized.

Up until this point, I really haven't had any issues with Russians or trying to shop with my extremely limited vocabulary. Probably because we are usually accompanied by our friendly classmates-turned-translators. But recently we have begun venturing out on our own. This really hasn't been a problem, either. Between the few words or phrases we know, some strange form of sign language, and a lot of pointing, we make due. What really has been the point of frustration for me lately is the feeling of...contempt, maybe? I have sensed from the Russians we have encountered at stores or restaurants. Contempt is probably too strong of a word. Miles and I were discussing this as we were coming back from downtown Moscow. He doesn't get the vibe as strongly as I do (maybe I'm just reading too much into it) but has encountered it a little.

In the major centers of the city, most restaurants offer English menus and many of the stores have English text under the signs (if not strictly English signs). And yet I'm surprised, whether I should be or not, by the limited ability we have to ask for help or understand directions. Most of the staff seem to know just a little English, if any, and I get a sense that our ignorance and perhaps even mere presence is annoying. This might just be a wrong impression or a stereotype but I can't help but feel a little awkward or dumb when I stand there unable to communicate. It's made worse by the fact that every time I fail to communicate or understand, I feel like the Russians talk to each other about it. I suppose in the same situation in America, I would expect nothing less, either. Maybe foreigners are merely a curiosity, if not a slight frustration, to workers in general.

Yesterday, I went to the grocery store and when I went to pay, the cashier tried to tell me to pay with some small change I had to make it even. It took me a while to get what she was saying (and I only did because I was rescued by Nadia) and as she handed me my change, she turned to the other cashier and started laughing and talking as she glanced at me. Maybe it had nothing to do with me, but I couldn't help feeling a little irritated as I left. It's times like these that I really wish I knew Russian fluently. I know that not all Russians behave in this manner, but I know that it has happened on more than one occasion because I can tell by the expression in our translators' faces that something perhaps less-than-friendly is being said. Obviously, there's nothing I can do about it.

But it's frustrating.

Yay for double post days!

So I'm sure nobody wants to hear from me twice in one day but I just had to finish the day off with an update.

So it turned out to be one of the best Valentine's Days I've had in a long time. The rumors of a home-cooked meal were, in fact, just rumors because our would-be cooks didn't get back until late. Maksim came over and gave each of the American girls valentines and took us to dinner at a sports bar place not far from our hostel. We got some universal feel-good food (French fries and club sandwiches) accompanied by some classic French wine. We joked that Maksim got to have 5 dates in one night-good even for a Russian! We bowled and ate and danced like fools and were really loud when we got really good or really bad scores. It was a lot of fun and I didn't even mind everyone making fun of my "aggressive bowling style" or the fact that I came in last place. Yeah, bowling's not my thing but that's OK because the night was so much fun. I loved getting to celebrate with my Russian-American-French family!

пока!

Valentine's Day in Russia

I don't know why I was surprised to find out that Valentine's Day is a very big day in Russia (maybe I just hoped that Hallmark had somehow overlooked this country. It's so hard to miss, you know...). Apparently, it's even crazier for Russian young adults because their view on and approach to relationships is much different than ours in America, or for most people in America.

Russians tend not to be exclusive when entering into romantic relationships. This was first pointed out to me by writer Berdy and I have seen it played out among our friends here. Several of the Russians are in "open relationships" with more than one significant other. Sure, this sounds appealing in one sense and as a Russian guy, it even almost makes sense. All the Russian women are beautiful so how could you choose just one? But on a day like this it just sounds exhausting! Trying to keep up with one person is hard enough, let alone more than one. But maybe I'm just jealous...

I've noticed in general that Russians are very effervescent and friendly towards each other and their guests. I've already commented on their manners and chivalrous behavior towards us but it goes even beyond that. A few times we've had drinks with them and it doesn't matter who we are, who they are, or how much we understand each other (which oftentimes is not very much), they always want us to have a good time. "Russians never drink alone," Maksim told us as he poured us some wine. They are quick to engage us in conversation and offer food or drink before we're even done with the first round. And Russian men and women, whether or not they are dating, are very tactile-playing with each other's hair, casually slinging their arms around each other, and kissing familiarly on the head and cheek. I was a little taken aback by this behavior at first (and I still am a little) because it is very different from what I am used to. I have a very strict "personal space" policy that doesn't quite mesh with theirs.

Valentine's Day here has been very quiet so far. Miles, French Maxime, and I attempted to go to the Gulag Museum and the Museum of the Revolution (what better way to celebrate the feast day of love?) but wound up only managing to go to another Russian bookstore to browse. I really wish I knew more Russian...Later, there are rumors of one of the American girls (not me!) whipping up a dinner for the occasion but we'll have to see if that's true.

Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day, with whomever and however you celebrate it!

пока!

Big Mac Moment of Weakness

So I have to confess to a very un-Russian, all-American moment of weakness yesterday. Katie, Karlie, and I were all hanging around the hostel and noticed that our diets have consisted almost entirely of carbs. I for one was craving a big hunk of meat (hi, my name's Marie and I am a carnivore...) and a little taste of America. So we decided to go to a Russian McDonald's for "the full Russian experience" as one of my friends quipped. A happy meal and a coke? Yes, please! Better than all of those carbs, for sure...

I think we made up for our un-Russian evening today, though. Maksim came over this morning to supervise making blinis, a dish so Russian that it has its own national day! It's called Масленица and to my understanding it is a celebration roughly equivalent to Mardi Gras. Just add some jam and sweet milk and we were in business, Russian-style! Tonight, Miles made our group another traditional Russian dish: borsch. This cabbage, beet, and carrot-based soup is surprisingly filling. Between the 2 dishes, I felt that we counteracted our American moment of weakness. And, really, the Russians like McDonald's as much as we do, though they seem to think that it is the sole restaurant that defines the US.

Between the two days of food, if I continue to eat this way, I'll probably wind up being the size of a house. And next to all of the tall, thin, beautiful Russian women, too...hmm, salads from now on, anyone?

пока!

Fun fact!

Oh, and I forgot to include this fun fact in my last post-I may have mentioned already that Moscow has a lot of stray dogs running around the city. They are pretty tame for the most part in the sense that they do not chase after people or act aggressively (disclaimer: we never attempt to pet them). But apparently these "smartest dogs" will ride the metro from place to place! I find this hilarious and impressive-sometimes I don't know how HUMANS navigate the metro system! But these dogs do and everyone seems totally fine with it. I haven't seen any on the metro itself but I have seen them sleeping in the stations.

Anyway, I just found this random fact interesting and wanted to make sure I mentioned it.

пока!

"We ain't in Kansas anymore"

So, it has been an interesting trip so far, to be sure. And it has already been bookended to this point by some pretty dramatic events.

The day before most of us flew into the country, Domodedovo airport was bombed by terrorists. We were not flying into that airport but supposedly the bombing was meant to target foreigners. It didn't affect our trip at all but certainly made for an interesting welcome to Russia.

This morning in class, Dr. Malashankov informed us that the French-American students were grounded to the hostel because of riots in the center of Moscow. I'm not entirely sure what the riots are for right now, although it is my understanding that they are some sort of protest against foreigners. They are nowhere near our hostel but the idea of being restricted because of unfriendly political activity is intriguing.

Last night, we were heading home to the hostel and we were stopped by the Russian police. We were told to expect this because they are allowed to stop anyone at any time and require identification. I was sort of surprised it hasn't happened sooner, we're not exactly inconspicuous when we go out. We just handed them our passport and papers, our Russian friends bribed them a little, and everything was fine. Certainly a new and unusual experience and much different than the type of system we are used to dealing with. Russian justice is its own unique brand. As Dorothy might say, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore..."

No, we most certainly are not.

Russian School

We all got a case of the hyper giggles today after our visit to the school. The energy from the students apparently transferred to us when we left because we were all hopping around and babbling in Runglish. I'll have to admit, I was incredibly apprehensive about the whole thing. Working with children in English scares me enough! But I actually ended up having a great time. The Russian students all spoke excellent English and were eager to practice so they were very friendly. The two girls I sat with asked me all kinds of questions about music, movies, and my life in Moscow. Then they asked me eagerly, "So what do you want to learn?" So I got to ask them all kinds of phrases and slang terms. They told me my pronunciation was good, which made me feel good. I ended up having a really good time and I think that I will wind up learning a lot of Russian from my interactions with them in the future.

пока!