Alright – so I haven’t posted anything in a while, but
that's because we’ve been going on these ridiculous walking tours and then bus
tours all over Moscow. Not only that, fatigue has hit everyone and no one can
stay awake for all the activities that we have. I think everyone is very close
to their physical limit after getting 3-5 hours of sleep and then following up
with about 6 hours of walking each day. I had some of my impressions and
snippets of my ideas so I have compiled them below.
On the flight over from Berlin, I sat next to Professor
Nepomnaschy and spoke about Rocky IV(the
boxer) and how his Russian competitor has all the technology and intense
regimented training program in comparison to rocky who training alone and with
only his determination to win. The same thing type of plot occurs in in the
movie BeerFest in the beer
competition between the Americans and Germans, when the Americans are competing
against a superior team with better equipment. In reality, Americans have had
just as many, it not more resources and technology than everyone else and we
are always looking for a method to incorporate the under dog story. Going abroad has been enlightening to how I perceive myself as
an American and my cultural take on everything.
Future Beer Drinking Technology
Beerfest
During my flight I had to stand up on two different
occasions and I accidentally stepped on the foot of the Russian man sitting
behind me.... twice... while getting out of my seat. When we were done with our
flight I stayed seated to wait for the people around me to leave and I feel a
bag hit my head. Whether it was an accident or not, we'll never now.
When in line for customs I was cracking jokes with my
friends and laughing and before I knew it I had gotten to the red line where
they as the next person to wait. I then look up and see three Russian custom
officials ladies with stone cold expressions. I immediately wipe the smile from
my face and step forward to the counter. I hand in my passport and my heart
almost stops. This female version of Putin stares back and forth between my
face and passport scrutinizing every detail of my face for a match. I feel
beads of sweat roll down my face. She types into her computer and looks back at
me again and then stamps my passport. I let out sigh of relief and walk through
the gates. Our friend Juhno had left 200 roubles in his passport and the
customs official accepted it as a bribe
When our bus arrived to transport us from the airport to the
hostel, Emiliano our Russian expert, commented on how in Russia the roads
looked like they were large clearings in the forest. This was very different
from Germany, where urbanization was the primary focus and all the greenery
looked manicured and fake. As the forest cleared, we drove on a central highway
from the outskirts of the city and saw an incredibly ugly apartment complex
high rise. And then another. And then a row. Then rows on both sides. Then in
every direction that you could see. In the socialist model you can see the
attempt at utopia, but the resulting dystopia and ugliness on the city
outskirts. There was nothing unique on any street except on occasion there were
extremely beautiful and ornate churches.
Beautiful Socialist Housing
En Route to Moscow
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