Article 2 - 4-4-10
Q&A in the RF!
Welcome back to another production of “Expat Student Publishing!” In case this is your first time joining me, my name is Caitlan (or Moscow Kitty), and in today’s edition, I’ll be having a little Q&A on life in the RF! (That’s “Question and Answer on life in the Russian Federation,” for those of you who aren’t fans of reducing.) Let’s get started, shall we?
Q: Why Russia??
A: I came to Russia both to try and become as close to fluent in Russian as I possibly can, and to study Ballroom Dance. (Also, I have studied French for 9 years, but Russian for only 2.5 years; thus, Russian was in need of more work, to “catch up” to my French.)
Q: How long do you plan to be in Moscow?
A: I intend to be here for about a year and a half. One doesn’t become fluent, or a beautiful dancer, overnight!!
Q: And now that you’re there?
A: Much to about every Russian’s surprise who asks me this question, I quite enjoy myself here!
Q: Are you kidding? Is someone making you say that?
A: Absolutely not! But, I’m also very goal driven: I came here to study Russian and Ballroom Dancing. I’m now studying Russian and Ballroom Dancing – I couldn’t be more thrilled!
Q: So, what do you *really* do with your time? I mean, you’re in *Moscow*…
A: Is this some kind of veiled attempt to make me slander my own name? I go to class for Russian, with the American Council’s Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP); and in my free time, I have my Ballroom Dance lessons and practice time!!
Q: Really?
A: I’m quite sure that a certain trademarked character of DreamWorks’ said it best: “Really, really.” I go to School; and then I go to more school!
Q: Ok… Well, what are classes like, then?
A: Now, a good question!!
I am in school, M-Th, from 9 AM – 4 PM (M, W) or 9 AM-3PM (T, Th). Once per week, we have a little weekly meeting, where we can air our concerns, problems, or get information on what will be happening in the coming week(s); and on Fridays, we have our Excursions! These are trips we get to take to check out interesting things in and around Moscow! For example, we have been to: the Lenin Library; an old, Soviet Bunker [transformed into a museum to the Cold War]; and a Chocolate Factory!!! The excursions are quite fun, very informative, and conducted entirely in Russian! … So it would probably be better to say they’re very informative when I can understand our guides… (I never fail to get at least a general idea, however! Typically it’s more than that!)
Back to the M-Th bit… I have 10 classes within the RLASP program:
Lecture - Economy and Social Geography of Russia
Phonetics
Razvitie Rechi - A conversation-type class
Lecture/Active - History of Russian Dance (We learn more folk-type dances, with some ballroom/latin stuff thrown in.)
Lecture -- History of Russia in the 20th Century
Video - Film class
Lexicon-Grammar
Lecture - History of Russian Musical Culture
Literature – (Not like "War and Peace," read and discuss; so far it has been smaller things (short articles, short stories) -- but we do still read and discuss them!)
SMI - Russian Media/News
We normally have 3-4 classes per day – we start with a lecture in the morning (50 min), then have a break; 2, 50 minute blocks of one class, with a break in between them; an hour lunch; 2, 50 minute blocks of another class, with a break in between; and then class is either finished, or we have our dance class.
Q: And how’s the ballroom dancing?
A: It’s wonderful!!!! Tough, but, wonderful! In truth, it only just finally started up last week, as I had to go through all the channels of finding a place to go, getting introduced, getting placed with a teacher, etc. None of which would have happened without my teacher from our dance lecture, so I really owe her everything!!!!
Everyone at the club that I am dancing at, they are all INCREDIBLE dancers – so I’m really making sure I stay focused, so that I can try to catch up to them. I have quite a ways to go, so we’ll see how that adventure plays out… Luckily, my teacher is quite incredible himself (and in Barcelona, Spain, competing this weekend!) – so, as long as he doesn’t give up on me first, I have the utmost faith that I will be improving quickly.
Q: Do you go clubbing at all?
A: Well… Considering that there are only 24 hours in a day; and for almost every day of the week I am commuting for 3 of them (1 for school, 2 for dance); in school for 6-7 of them; dancing for 2-3 of them, doing homework for at least 1 (or less, but hopefully more!) of them; eating/getting ready for school/getting ready for bed for another 2 or so; working on my journal for 1 of them; sleeping for 6-ish of them… Well, that right there (using the largest numbers) is 23 – you can imagine how easy it is to loose an hour somewhere throughout the day…
… So…. Uh…. No. Ha ha ha!
But! I did go out to one club with some of my friends from our school group, before ballroom started, and it wasn’t bad.
I also go out to a place to dance Hustle once per week; and there, the music is great (I’ve befriended the DJs), and the crowd is pretty friendly!! – But then, I assume that’s not the kind of “clubbing,” you were referring to!
*****
Q: So, Russia is full of Vodka, Bears, Communists, and Hot Women, right?
A: Ahh, the stereotypical question about Russia… Let’s put you straight, shall we?
Yes, there’s Vodka; I’m sure there are bears somewhere, but they aren’t marching around Moscow – and if they are, no one’s told me when they come out; Communism ended with the Soviet Union; and yes, there are lots of pretty women here.
… But you know, we have all four of the above-mentioned things and people in the United States, right? … Right?
You should really spend your time looking into the other things Russia is famous for, like the beautiful architecture, literary works by great authors, musical works by great composers, etc. etc. etc.!
Q: Okay, but really, what’s the drinking situation like?
A: As I myself don’t drink, I’m really the wrong person to ask, but…
Yes, there’s Vodka, and yes, people drink it. Beer is pretty common – it’s a typical occurrence to see people drinking it on the street, in the Metro, etc. They serve it at McDonald’s, too, from what I understand. (But that happens all over Europe, if I’m not mistaken.)
I must say though, if you want to take a look at something interesting, concerning Russians and Alcohol, one of the most intriguing, rich, and fun experiences you can have here involves being a part of a Toast! The Russians are great when it comes to making toasts to people, and you could hardly ask for a warmer atmosphere than when whole groups of friends or family are taking a drink towards something good! I have never been disappointed when I’ve been a part of that atmosphere!
Q: Is it true they don’t have vegetables, and potatoes are everywhere?
A: Concerning the vegetables, for some people, maybe – I myself, however, live with an incredible host family, and I have some kind of fruit or vegetable almost every day! (If not every day!)
And yes, there are lots of potatoes. But what’s wrong with potatoes?! I love potatoes! They’re tasty! I’ve been to places with no potatoes – you’d miss them if they were gone! Trust me!!!!
Q: I never hear anything about Russian sweets – what are they like?
A: Red October; Babaevsky. That’s all I’ve really got to say to you on that subject.
(Except that because this is a Q&A that means you’ll have NO idea what that means… So! Red October and Babaevsky are two of the most famous chocolate/confectionary companies here in Russia. They make very, very tasty things!
If you ever have the chance, check out the rectangular, “Babaevskie” candies, and the rectangular or circular “Mishka Kosolapy” candies! (The circular ones are my supreme favorites!!!!)
Concerning cookies – Ovsyanoe (soft, oatmeal-ish cookies); Baranki (think, like bagels, but slightly smaller, denser, and just slightly sweet); and Sushki (miniature, very crunchy, forms of Baranki. May be sweet or savory) – all take the day for me!
*****
Q: What’s the coolest thing you’ve done in Russia so far?
A: Oh, no!!!! I can’t possibly give you one!
Top 5 (no particular order): Starting ballroom dancing; going dog sledding; going to the Red October/Babaevsky Chocolate Factory; going to my first show at the Bolshoi Theatre (new stage); and hanging out with the US Marine Corps at the US Embassy!
Q: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve seen so far?
A: Truthfully, I’ve probably seen surprising things that I don’t remember at this point…! But seeing a whole group of people singing in the Metro (who were coincidentally going the same way I was, and were singing about the whole time) was pretty interesting… So was the t-shirt that said something to the effect of, “The KGB is still watching…”
Ooh, also, today, I learned that buying a ticket to the movies will only set you back 70 rubles (just over $2 USD) – but if you go buy a milkshake at a Coffee House, it’s 169 rubles (just over $5 USD) !!! How do we pay almost $10 for movie tickets in the US (give or take some for where you live), and in the 3rd most expensive city in the world, it’s just around $2?
(Granted, the screen/theatre are a bit smaller, and you pay more/less depending on where you sit – but just go with the example on this one, ne? Thanks!)
All of that is to say, I’m pretty unflappable – so I just tend to roll with whatever I’m seeing. … Well, unless it was that HERD of Militsia (Russia’s Police force, essentially) I saw on the Metro platform that one time… Ok, I can admit that – the herd of Militsia was hands down, the most surprising thing I’ve seen here!
(Normally they come in groups of 4; there had to have been at least 60-80 of them on that platform…)
Q: Is there anything that’s like home?
A: Did you know that just today, I saw someone wearing a “Ghostbusters” shirt? (Had the symbol of the ghost with the “no” sign over it.) – I almost went up and hugged him, I was so thrilled to see it! Ha ha ha!
Q: What do you miss most from the US?
A: Being able to drink the tap water. Or having water fountains around. (Same difference.)
This might not be a big deal to some people – but well, when I go out dancing, do you know how much water I have to lug with me!?!? And buying (bottled) water can be expensive out here!!!
Cheap Lindor Balls, too… They are expensive here!
Good shooting ranges…
The beach where my Nana lives… There’s definitely no Ocean in Moscow!
Q: If you could decide all over again, would you still go to Russia?
A: You bet!!! I’ve met some incredible people here, and I’m pursuing my dreams – why wouldn’t I choose to come here again! I’m looking forward to the future, and what the rest of my time here in Moscow brings me!!
*****
That’s all for today! Join me next time, for another taste of Russia, as brought to you by “Expat Student Publishing!”
