Focus on killing the bear

Stereotypically, Russians don't think about the future. Since the future is uncertain, there isn't much point in worrying about it.

As they say, focus on killing the bear - don't talk about how you're going to divide the spoils (fur).

Unemployment in Moscow

Due to the financial crisis, unemployment figures are expected to rise. There's a lot of hidden unemployment in Moscow too, where people continue to work at their job even though they aren't being paid. If you're lucky, you get paid at a later date, or you're told that they get a month off without pay.

Putin has proposed to raise the unemployment allowance to 4900 rubles (about $175 US) per month. If you're flat is paid for (as it is for the older generation of Soviet times), then that might be enough to scrape by on.

Troubles

Well, I'm not going to get into the details, but things are interesting over here during the financial crisis. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be around, but I'm putting in a effort to stay.

Dictionary troubles

I'd bought a pocket Russian-English dictionary several weeks ago, only to realize that it was missing the B and C sections. This past weekend I finally got around to using broken Russian and hand signals to exchange it. It must have taken half an hour since the assistant at Dom Knigi had to talk to several other staff members. I have no complaints though, don't get me wrong. I did find it strange, though, that the faulty dictionary was given a new bar code sticker and put back on the shelf.

Taking a car

Taking a car, which is a cross between hitch hiking and taking a taxi, is common in Moscow. You stick your hand out, say, near the entrance of a metro station, and ask the driver if they are going in your direction. You arrange a cost and away you go. I've done this a few times now, but only with a Russian person with me.

The last time I caught a car I accidentally pulled out the ashtray from the door. I panicked for a moment because I thought that I'd broken the handle off the man's door. I realized that it was only an ashtray, but as I left I threw it into the dark of the backseat as I was unable to put it back.

The beginning of December

It's unusually warm here at the moment, but it's certainly not tropical. One good thing about this is that there are few insects.

Dogs often wander in metro stations and snuggle up to sleep. There are many stray dogs in Moscow and I can't imagine how they manage to keep warm and get enough to eat.


New Years trees are going up everywhere you look.


I haven't been out much lately, but this past weekend I happened upon the weekend clothing market at Sportivnaya. You can buy cosmetics, wigs, jeans, clothing, boots, food, hats, and endless other items. Place your orders now! However, keep in mind that I have very little room in my luggage.

In Moscow people train dogs to beg for money. People are quite generous giving spare change to babushkas in the street and amputees in camo on the metro, but nothing brings out the awws like a dog holding a pail for cash.



Storage at the market.






Next I visited the Novedevichy Cemetary. There are dozens of famous Russians buried here. I spent a long time copying down map information and figuring out whose graves I wanted to visit. Here's Boris Yeltsin's grave:


I couldn't find all the graves I was looking for, so I intend to go back sometime in the future.


Next door is the New Maiden's Convent.



Here's a model of the grounds.

Dryer magic & plastic bags

As a student was telling me, during Soviet times people usually washed their laundry by hand. Some people had washers, but clothes often got stuck inside parts of the machine. As for dryers - well they were nonexistant. When she went to England for the first time, she was surprised that such an invention existed. Upon her return to Russia, her friends didn't believe her when she told them about it.

Apparently plastic bags in trash bins were (and still are often) unheard of. Usually, garbage it thrown directly into the can.

Informer

One of my student's told me that she used to live in Siberia and that schools get closed down when the temperature hits a chilly -37 degrees. It's starting to get colder here, but not anywhere near that cold. It's been snowing with more regularity and several centimetres have stuck to the ground.

The great migration - or not

I was supposed to move out of my flat (yes, British English influence) yesterday. My last roommate had moved out, and I was going to move into a new place with a student at the school and an administrator. Packed! Cleaned! Ready! At the time I was to be picked up, I was told that I'd be staying at my current place until mid-December.

Further proof of the changeability of my current situation.

Teremok & snow

Some co-workers and I picked up some blini (Russian pancakes) from Teremok the other day. It took me awhile, but I finally tried some of the popular traditional street food.



Mine had berries inside.

Twice I've noticed that it snowed, ever so lightly. As of last night, however, the snow was sticking.

The flurries continue on today. Wind blows the flakes in every direction which makes it tough to see. May need to buy goggles.

Moscow fashion

Women wear stiletto boots, fur coats, satin or sequined coats, animal prints, hats, skinny pants, and make-up. Men are conscious of their appearance as well, but they're not usually as dolled up as most women.

A market

An evening visit to the market by Prospekt Mira:

Cheese with cilantro:

Red Square revisted

Last weekend the plan was to visit the Tretyakov Gallery, but what began as a rainy day turned into something a little better. My Canadian co-worker and I took advantage of the temporary clear skies and visited the nearby Church of the Resurection of Kadashevsky

and the Church of the Consolation of all Sorrows:

Since my co-worker hadn't had a proper visit to the Red Square, we ventured over.

Man or mannequin?

Disturbing in a funny way, we saw these critters which were available for photos with none other than yourself.

This critter was not available for commercial purposes.

Bumped into Lenin and Stalin. Nice of them to make an appearance.

The trouble with conditioner

I'm noticing a pattern. When living in a country where I don't speak the language, I have an interesting time buying conditioner. I'd rather not buy shampoo and put it on as though it were conditioner. I've found that shampoo bottles tend to have more English written on them than conditioner bottles. So, when I want to get a new bottle I have to ask myself questions like these:

-smell- Does it smell soapy like shampoo? or creamy like conditioner?
-appearance- Is it clear or thick?
-scent- Heavy in a way common to conditioners?

I compare local and western brands, bottle shapes and sizes, and try to compare any English and foreign language I can see, looking for the same lables or descriptors. I make my purchase and then go to a bookstore to buy a dictionary.

Exploring the city

Within a church ^^^ and I really shouldn't have taken that photo (even though I was standing by the door at the exit -- so as to flee quickly). The risks I take for you dears...

The Library, which I didn't enter. I need to figure out where the entrance is, and if I'm even allowed to go inside.



Kolomenskaya Park:

Food vendor:


Novy Arbat (the New Arbat) street is all about modernity. It stretches on endlessly and is full of flashy casinoes. Speakers pump English and Russian music into the streets.


Hey, I think I'll go feed the ducks ... Oh. So, the ducks are gone. The pigeons seemed happy though.

Makdonalds. This one was once the busiest in the world.


Wall mosaic with dishes in the wall:


Yeliseyevsky's is a grocery store. Rather nice decor, wouldn't you say?




Stary Arbat (the Old Arbat):




Sign outside of a McDonalds:


Russian books are quite cheap here. There are lots of vendors selling new and used books just like this one.


Kievskaya metro station: