It’s been an interesting first two days in Russia. The most obvious thing you observe is how the Russian manner is different from that of Americans. I mean, I was warned about this, but it’s so weird! They don’t smile; they don’t show emotion in public. I didn’t think it was weird when the woman changing my money today looked at me crossly to tell me she wasn’t ready for my money, but was totally surprised when she smiled at me when she gave me my rubles. Totally not expecting that.
The other thing is that Russians seem to have a different attitude toward the handicapped or disabled. Today a blind woman with a cane was walking into a coffee shop, approaching a step down, and one of the baristas rushed over to help the babushka. And some other people lifted a woman in a wheel chair up a bunch of steps into the Hermitage/Winter Palace. It was incredible. Oh, and when my friends and I left the coffee shop, a woman came rushing out to return a camera to Jenni (she’d left it on the table). It seems like Russians really look out for each other, despite the coldness of their attitudes. I find myself trying really hard not to smile at people in the streets, because I think they might find it an invasion of their privacy, or something. I usually get glares back. But smiling is a hard habit to break.
I saw Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son today. The most striking thing about the painting was the appearance of the elder son. He really didn’t seem that reproachful to me. I thought he’d look more indignant than he did. My favorite piece that I saw was a sculpture called The Eternal Spring; a man and woman were kissing while they were both kneeling. I think I liked it because it looked like rapture. And it seemed ironic that it was called ‘eternal spring’ because feelings like that don’t last forever, you know? No matter how much you want them to.
I think I may have missed out on a lot of the art within the Hermitage today just because I was mesmerized by the palace itself. I kind of wish they would have preserved the place as a historical site, like as a palace, so we could see, maybe a little, how people lived in there. Because despite how beautiful and ornate it was, it really just felt like a museum. Perhaps that’s how it felt when people visited it in the days of the tsars. Who knows. I was beautiful, for sure. Oh, but I don’t have any pictures because my camera died right before we went inside.
We also visited the Church of the Spilt Blood, erected on the site where one of Russia’s emperors (Alexander the…2nd?) was killed. He’d been told as a boy that 7 assassination attempts would be made on his life. Someone threw a bomb under his carriage (this was now the 6th attempt on his life), killing the driver and seriously injuring the tsar, and as the tsar was talking to the terrorist after the event (he’d crawled out from the wreckage), someone else threw another bomb, and that’s how he died- on the seventh attempt. Crazy, huh? So the people built this church on the site to commemorate him, and it’s so beautiful. The entire inside- the walls and ceilings- are coverd with mosaics. There’s so much color, so many pictures, so much going on. It’s breathtaking and fascinating. Even the floor is beautiful. I don’t think they use it for services anymore. I have a couple pictures of the outside, but it’s the inside that surprises you and makes you wish the States had anything so beautiful. Maybe we do, but I haven’t seen it.
Unfortunately my converter (the thing I use to plug in my laptop to charge it) made a big ‘pop’ sound yesterday and then had smoke sneaking out of it…so I think it’s safe to say that it’s fried. Which means for now I don’t have a sure method of charging me laptop. Which is kind of disappointing, but definitely not the worst of things that could go wrong.
Friday, August 31, 2007
30.8.2007
So I got my first day in Russia off to an interesting start. A Russian man kissed me in the hallway on my way back to my room from breakfast. I didn’t want him to; he was old and fat and all over my face from out of nowhere. I’d seen him in the elevator earlier on the way to breakfast, and in the breakfast hall, but had assumed he was harmless. Clearly not. After he kissed me (YUCK!) he began motioning, and I think he wanted me to take him back to my room. I didn’t know what to do, whether to try to outrun him to my room or get in the elevator by myself, with the possibility of him following me. I managed to wait him out, though, and he went away a little while later. Now I’m hesitant to walk around the hotel by myself.
Other than that, though, I’m here, safe and sound. I have a bit of a cold, which is less than desirable, but I don’t think it will get in the way too much. I think I fell asleep this morning during our tour of the city…but I didn’t realize it until I woke up. Sankt Petersburg is such a Western city; if it weren’t for the Orthodox churches, I’d swear I was somewhere in Europe (not that I’d really now, since I haven’t been there- it does look a bit like London, but more colorful, and I have been there). The city was originally named after its founder, Peter the Great, but then was named Leningrad to honor Lenin after his death. It was named Petrograd (or something like that) during the first World War, and most recently was renamed St. Petersburg, not after Peter the Great but for one of its patron saints, Peter.
My converter just popped while it was plugged in, and smoke is snaking out of it. I think it’s safe to say it’s fried. Which is kind of a bummer since I was planning on using that this whole semester to keep my laptop charged. But oh well. I’m wiped. I’m going to take a nap.
One other thing. We’ve got some southern gentlemen on this trip. They open doors for the ladies (and call us that), and praise one another for their chivalry. And what my dilemma is is this: I feel like I actually need their help. I’m glad there’s someone waiting to make sure all the girls get on the subway. Because I kind of fear what might happen if I’m alone here. How does my feminism work in a world where I feel like I need men’s protection so much? Where I feel like I am the weaker sex?
Other than that, though, I’m here, safe and sound. I have a bit of a cold, which is less than desirable, but I don’t think it will get in the way too much. I think I fell asleep this morning during our tour of the city…but I didn’t realize it until I woke up. Sankt Petersburg is such a Western city; if it weren’t for the Orthodox churches, I’d swear I was somewhere in Europe (not that I’d really now, since I haven’t been there- it does look a bit like London, but more colorful, and I have been there). The city was originally named after its founder, Peter the Great, but then was named Leningrad to honor Lenin after his death. It was named Petrograd (or something like that) during the first World War, and most recently was renamed St. Petersburg, not after Peter the Great but for one of its patron saints, Peter.
My converter just popped while it was plugged in, and smoke is snaking out of it. I think it’s safe to say it’s fried. Which is kind of a bummer since I was planning on using that this whole semester to keep my laptop charged. But oh well. I’m wiped. I’m going to take a nap.
One other thing. We’ve got some southern gentlemen on this trip. They open doors for the ladies (and call us that), and praise one another for their chivalry. And what my dilemma is is this: I feel like I actually need their help. I’m glad there’s someone waiting to make sure all the girls get on the subway. Because I kind of fear what might happen if I’m alone here. How does my feminism work in a world where I feel like I need men’s protection so much? Where I feel like I am the weaker sex?
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Live From Times Square
New York takes out its trash on Saturday nights, too. I think all the trash that I’ve seen lined up on the streets is from one day. Which means that New York generates SO MUCH trash. And yesterday I was a part of it. By the end of the day it’s really a smelly city. I got breakfast at Starbuck’s yesterday (I needed a little reassurance, something familiar) and for whatever reason the inside of the store smelt like…someone had been sick in there that morning. Needless to say, I took my orange juice and mini-meal outside.
One thing I’ve noticed that I didn’t expect is all these little mini-water towers on the tops of most of New York’s buildings. They must be there for fire emergencies; I can’t see them emptying them and refilling them everyday- or maybe they do, and that’s how they get water to the uppermost floors. At any rate, the water towers are small in comparison to the buildings they perch on, and I like them.
After spending some time with Emily yesterday afternoon, I headed back to my hotel for some rest and relaxation. I hit Times Square alone later to find some truly ‘New York’ place to eat. But everything looked either really pricey or like fast food. I was in the mood to be waited on, but not to pay $100 for it. So when I finally came upon a Bubba Gumps, I knew the fight to find somewhere to eat was over, forget about finding something unique. I sat at the bar, because I was alone and it was the fastest way to get seated, and two girls from Wisconsin came in and sat next to me. We chatted and they decided to stay at the bar to eat rather than just get drinks. When one of the bartenders found out they were from Appleton, WC she got really excited because she had grown up there. A little while later the three of us (the WC girls and I) were treated to some delicious apple-shot thing. They knew what it was, but I didn’t, and I also didn’t feel the need to inform the bartender that I was only 20. And then she put our three meals on the same bill. So apparently she really thought I was from Appleton, too. Then we headed down to the Empire State Building, which was wonderful for getting the city into perspective, but I was wearing a skirt and the west side of the observation deck was windy. Suffice it to say that if anyone at any moment was not enjoying the view from the Empire State building, they certainly had a little show of their own going on on the building. Pretty sure I flashed everyone countless times. Oh well.
I’m going to meet up with my new friends this afternoon. What a fun unexpected perk!
One thing I’ve noticed that I didn’t expect is all these little mini-water towers on the tops of most of New York’s buildings. They must be there for fire emergencies; I can’t see them emptying them and refilling them everyday- or maybe they do, and that’s how they get water to the uppermost floors. At any rate, the water towers are small in comparison to the buildings they perch on, and I like them.
After spending some time with Emily yesterday afternoon, I headed back to my hotel for some rest and relaxation. I hit Times Square alone later to find some truly ‘New York’ place to eat. But everything looked either really pricey or like fast food. I was in the mood to be waited on, but not to pay $100 for it. So when I finally came upon a Bubba Gumps, I knew the fight to find somewhere to eat was over, forget about finding something unique. I sat at the bar, because I was alone and it was the fastest way to get seated, and two girls from Wisconsin came in and sat next to me. We chatted and they decided to stay at the bar to eat rather than just get drinks. When one of the bartenders found out they were from Appleton, WC she got really excited because she had grown up there. A little while later the three of us (the WC girls and I) were treated to some delicious apple-shot thing. They knew what it was, but I didn’t, and I also didn’t feel the need to inform the bartender that I was only 20. And then she put our three meals on the same bill. So apparently she really thought I was from Appleton, too. Then we headed down to the Empire State Building, which was wonderful for getting the city into perspective, but I was wearing a skirt and the west side of the observation deck was windy. Suffice it to say that if anyone at any moment was not enjoying the view from the Empire State building, they certainly had a little show of their own going on on the building. Pretty sure I flashed everyone countless times. Oh well.
I’m going to meet up with my new friends this afternoon. What a fun unexpected perk!
First Impressions of New York City
New York is a smelly city by the end of the day. My first impression of the city is that it generates a lot of trash. Half of the city's sidewalks are covered with scaffolding. I don't know why, and I have a feeling this will be one of my lingering questions about the city. So here I am in New York. I drove past Times Square, and I saw the city skyline on my way over from Queens. I noticed all these dilapidated looking brick buildings, stacks and stacks of them, and thought, hey, these look like they could be projects. So I asked my cab driver what area we were in, ‘Queens’. Makes sense. I had one of those moments (which I’m sure I’ll be having more of) where you realize, ‘Oh, wow. This is real.’ I have a confession to make. My first thought when I saw my cab driver was, ‘Oh, great. They’re putting me in a cab with a terrorist?’. SO AWFUL! I am such a racist and I don’t even know it. Turns out he was quite friendly and got me right to the front door of my hotel with no hiccups whatsoever. My first hotel room was... small. Which is fine, I don’t need a lot of room. But it’s so quaint. And old. It’s an old building, so I have my laptop on the toilet seat, plugged into the only outlet in the room, which is half-way up the wall in the bathroom. My adapter is resting on the sink, because it’s not long enough to reach the floor. I have my own little patio, which would be cool if I wasn’t staying here alone (and if I smoked), but I am (and I don’t) and I can’t help feeling a little insecure about the immediate access the outside world has to my personal space that I paid more than I wanted to for. Last night I was moved into a slightly larger room, which was nice, although somewhat unecessary.
I planned to wake up early yesterday, like 8-ish, to get to Central Park before the heat of the early afternoon hit. But my alarm did not sound because my cell phone was still on silent from the comedy show I went to last night (which was fun, by the way) and I 'slept-in' because I'm on east coast time. But I did mangage to check-out of my room before noon (and get switched to another room- bigger!- in the same hotel).
When I finally left the hotel I discovered that Central Park is this big random space in the middle of the city. I was so happy when I got there because it felt like such an escape from the city. I found myself recognizing spaces from different movies, and loving that there wasn't a constant medley of sirens, horns, and people's hurried voices. I think New York City would be a really fun place to live, but I feel overwhelmed with trying to visit in only four days, with a college student budget (somewhat supplemented by generous relatives- thanks!).
Oh! I hailed my first cab. I was nervous, but I got two cabs! And I knew exactly where to ask the driver to take me, and I feel like a city girl! Although, I wanted to just hop on a bus, but I didn't know which to take, and I had no change, really. I had just given most of it to someone who wouldn't stop talking to me about something to do with youth, the news, and crime. I thought back to my soc classes and tried to figure out if giving this person $1.50 would really help anyone, but I had a long way to go and I didn't want to be rude, so I used the bus money to buy my freedom. Hence, the cab, because it was $10 instead of $2, and that I had on me.
I planned to wake up early yesterday, like 8-ish, to get to Central Park before the heat of the early afternoon hit. But my alarm did not sound because my cell phone was still on silent from the comedy show I went to last night (which was fun, by the way) and I 'slept-in' because I'm on east coast time. But I did mangage to check-out of my room before noon (and get switched to another room- bigger!- in the same hotel).
When I finally left the hotel I discovered that Central Park is this big random space in the middle of the city. I was so happy when I got there because it felt like such an escape from the city. I found myself recognizing spaces from different movies, and loving that there wasn't a constant medley of sirens, horns, and people's hurried voices. I think New York City would be a really fun place to live, but I feel overwhelmed with trying to visit in only four days, with a college student budget (somewhat supplemented by generous relatives- thanks!).
Oh! I hailed my first cab. I was nervous, but I got two cabs! And I knew exactly where to ask the driver to take me, and I feel like a city girl! Although, I wanted to just hop on a bus, but I didn't know which to take, and I had no change, really. I had just given most of it to someone who wouldn't stop talking to me about something to do with youth, the news, and crime. I thought back to my soc classes and tried to figure out if giving this person $1.50 would really help anyone, but I had a long way to go and I didn't want to be rude, so I used the bus money to buy my freedom. Hence, the cab, because it was $10 instead of $2, and that I had on me.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Do you know the way to San Jose? La la la la la...
I have just two days left in The Emerald City before I leave for Russia. And honestly, this post is just so that I can get an idea of what my blog will look like.
I am excited, nervous, and scared. But more than anything I am stressed. I'm having a really hard time wrapping up my life in Seattle, packing the last three years into boxes and fitting it, somehow or not, into my little car. Which, as it happens, needs to have the stereo replaced sometime in the next 48 hours so that I and my wonderful driving companion, Keali, don't finally go mad once and for all and kill one another.
My sister Becca and I are staging a brief invasion of New York City next weekend. As of right now we are planning on sleeping on the couches of strangers (don't tell our mom), and we've got one night taken care of. The other three, well, I guess we'll see.
Oh, and in regards to being prepared for Russia- I'm so not. I do not know the Cyrillic alphabet, despite making flash cards months ago (which I just discovered in my car- I put them there so I could practice at every traffic light, but clearly my brilliant plan failed due to my ever-increasing lack of memory). I don't remember the stuff I learned over spring break. I didn't finish reading War and Peace (which is incredibly overdue at the Seattle Public Library, along with a Will and Grace DVD and I don't know where that is). I haven't read 'From Nyet to Da'. And if there's anything else that I'm supposed to do pre-Russia for my program, it's safe to say it's probably not done (since I can't even think of what might need to be done).
California, here we come, right back where...
I am excited, nervous, and scared. But more than anything I am stressed. I'm having a really hard time wrapping up my life in Seattle, packing the last three years into boxes and fitting it, somehow or not, into my little car. Which, as it happens, needs to have the stereo replaced sometime in the next 48 hours so that I and my wonderful driving companion, Keali, don't finally go mad once and for all and kill one another.
My sister Becca and I are staging a brief invasion of New York City next weekend. As of right now we are planning on sleeping on the couches of strangers (don't tell our mom), and we've got one night taken care of. The other three, well, I guess we'll see.
Oh, and in regards to being prepared for Russia- I'm so not. I do not know the Cyrillic alphabet, despite making flash cards months ago (which I just discovered in my car- I put them there so I could practice at every traffic light, but clearly my brilliant plan failed due to my ever-increasing lack of memory). I don't remember the stuff I learned over spring break. I didn't finish reading War and Peace (which is incredibly overdue at the Seattle Public Library, along with a Will and Grace DVD and I don't know where that is). I haven't read 'From Nyet to Da'. And if there's anything else that I'm supposed to do pre-Russia for my program, it's safe to say it's probably not done (since I can't even think of what might need to be done).
California, here we come, right back where...
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