Journal 10 - Moving; Velociraptors and Bullets; Expensive Milkshakes and S'Mores

Journal 10

9-5-10

Whew!

I'm all moved into the new place now!! (Hooray!!!) But, it was a tough move! I had so much stuff, I'd really like not to think about it… Though I have to say, it's a really good thing I have as many smaller bags as I do… 4 Suitcases (2 big, 2 carry-ons), 5 mid-sized messenger bags, and a few other plastic bags later (and my clarinet!), I was loaded into the taxi, and saying goodbye to my host family.

I had one last, good laugh before I left though, learning one more piece of Russian culture. Once the taxi had called to say it was there, I told my host mum and sister, and I started to head out the door. They grabbed me, and said, "No, no, sit down!" while bringing me to the couch. Then they explained, "It's a Russian custom, whenever a taxi comes for someone, you always make them wait on the street for a bit!" Having said this, we sat for, I kid you not, 5 seconds more, and then they said, "Okay! Let's go!" Ha ha ha -- oh, culture and customs!

*****

I arrived at the new place alright -- it wound up being a bit difficult to find, because the Apartment is not really on the street that it says it is on. It's… Behind it. So in order to get to the place, by car, you have to turn off onto a side street, then turn onto ANOTHER side street, and then navigate a bit of a loop around road -- and THEN you finally get to the entrance for the apartment.

I called my new host mum, to say I was there, and she came down to greet me. She's a lovely, very friendly woman, named Elena. She was actually a bit apprehensive at first, about her place, saying, "I know that you were living in a place on Kutuzovskaya**, and that this is not as nice…" She trailed off, and I told her not to worry about a thing -- I was sure this would be just as lovely.

[**Where I lived before is, in fact, regarded as a very prestigious area of Moscow to live in.]

*****

I have to say, contrary to Elena's worries, I absolutely LOVE my new place! (Well, except for fact that there is no elevator, and she lives on the 4th floor… So, I was carrying all my heavy luggage up 4 flights of stairs… [Thankfully, she took some of the lighter things, and had a neighbor do the same -- so I didn't have to move it all, all by my self.])

I also quite adore Elena. She has such a great energy, and she reminds me quite a bit of of Mum [<-- One of my "Spare Parents" -- love you!]. I think we are going to get along fantastically. =^__^=

Best of all… THERE IS INTERNET!!!!! Internet, good, solid internet!!! In honor of that, I'm including in this journal my first online posts about the Move, and the going-ons of the day:

"HOORAY!!! I'm all moved in, safe and sound -- moving everything up four flights of stairs by hand -- and even better... ... THERE'S INTERNET HERE!!! *GOOD* INTERNET!!!! No more having to move around, no more having to be frustrated by intermittent signal, no more worries!!!! =^___^=

AND my host mum is *super* nice. AND I can shower at night after dance! AND I think my bed is going to be amazingly comfortable. AND there are shelves for all of my books and knickknacks! **AND** I don't have to worry about the floor anymore!!! There is a rug! Over the whole thing! Hooray!!!!!!

No knowledge yet on the distance to the Metro. I think she said 5-10 minutes... I'll be working to make that 5 every day... Don't want to be too much delayed.

Further Update: I'm basically in love with this place. =^___^=

The food is also amazing. I am stuffed full of a Chocolate-Banana milkshake from a new, "Beverly Hills Diner," and then came home to homemade cabbage soup (shi / щи) and a lovely stew over rice!! Yummy!!! Leftovers for lunch tomorrow!!!

And all this AFTER getting to go see "The Expendables," with some amazing friends (Including the ever-fantastic Pete!) -- this has been a truly awesome day. *purrs*"

***********

As you can tell from the above posting, I *did* get to go see the movie with Pete! I was *super* excited about that! It was, "The Expendables;" essentially, a throwback to the Golden Age of 80s action films -- with about every 80s Action hero that was worshipped at the time. So, of course, I was all geared up for a super-nostalgic, explosion-and-violence-filled, testosterone-pumped film. *laughs* It's a guilty pleasure.

But the film brings up my rhetorical question again: Why is it that my generation has so failed to produce any, "manly men" / "action hero" types, that we are still relying on our stars, who were young in the *80s*, to fill these roles for us?

… Kinda sad, isn't it?

All that aside, however, before I went to the movie, and after I'd started putting things away, I decided to take a bit of a break, and watch another nostalgia-inducing film that I had been dying to watch for weeks now: Jurassic Park. =^______^=

Some of the best lines:

‎"God creates dinosaurs, God destroys dinosaurs, God creates man, man destroys God, man creates dinosaurs."
"Dinosaurs.... Eat man... *Woman* inherits the earth."

"What's gonna happen to the goat?? He's gonna *eat* the goat??"
"Excellent."
"What's the matter kid? You've never had lamb chops?"

"Clever girl…"

-- Jurassic Park

God, I love this movie!!

Watching it also reminds me of the time when I was visiting my best friend Yitian, with another friend, and I dubbed over the scariest scene in the movie (the Velociraptors in the Kitchen), turning it into an exposé, on how the whole thing was really just a misunderstanding between the kids and the velociraptors. The Raptors were upset to discover that the people were getting food that was so much better than their own; and one just wanted to make a soufflé! But, without opposable thumbs, that cooking thing is just a little difficult, so they wanted the kids to help!

I will never forget the looks on their faces, when I broke out the "stereotypical French accent" for the Velociraptors.

[Those looks probably stemmed from the fact that I love French, and normally frown on any mockery of it; as well as the fact that they'd never dreamed, in a million years, of a Velociraptor having that kind of accent. … Which, for my part, was exactly why I thought it would make it so comical to do. I was right. Ha ha ha!]

**********

Before long, it was time to get to the movie! I met up with Pete in the Metro, and then we headed out to find the theatre it was being shown in.

Along the way, we stopped and bought some Ponchiki** (for old times' sakes) -- and Pete laughed about how I started a conversation going with the Ponchiki Lady, and how she basically gave me a discount on the price, because I didn't have change. "You just talk to everybody, don't you?" He said.

[** Ponchiki are kind of like doughnuts. Think, funnel cake batter, but in a mini-doughnut shape. Dusted in powdered sugar. Delicious. There was a place just down the street from where Pete used to work, that made AMAZING ponchiki, and I used to stop in and get some for us to share, while I was visiting.]

We also stopped and got M&Ms. Hooray! (As I would learn later, as Pete was sharing them with me during the movie, Russian M&Ms are different from American ones! They are slightly bigger, and the texture of the chocolate is also different. Randomly, they also don't have blue M&Ms. The shock!!!)

*****

A gypsy cab ride later, we met up with our friends Ksusha and Andrew, and we went in to watch the movie. As we sat down, Pete and I were like little kids, excited for our 80s-Action-Movie-Throwback, and he declared, "I want to see someone get stabbed in the face!"

[It's hard to communicate the feeling of that conversation only in type -- because that sentence looks absolutely *awful.* But it was said with all the facetiousness of knowing that this was going to be an over-the-top, action flick -- and given Sylvester Stalone's antics in the Rambo films, it really wasn't a stretch to expect that that kind of thing was going to befall some poor Bad-Guy-Minion in this film.]

That said, the, "Stabbed in the face," conversation led to Pete and I keeping a veritable tally of all the times some bad guy was killed or maimed through trauma to the face/head. It was macabre humor, to be sure -- but we were practically giggling the whole time.

All in all, "The Expendables," was every bit as amazing, if not more so, than I had hoped it would be -- and I was SO, SO happy that I got to go see it with my friends.

One last interesting fact about the experience: the theatre we were watching the film in was showing the film in English -- and yet, all of the subtitles for the Spanish lines in the movie, were done in Russian!! Funny. I wound up being caught between trying to understand the spoken Spanish and trying to read the printed Russian. Consequently, neither worked out too well. *laughs*

*****

After we got out of the Movie, Pete and I had talked about hitting up a new, American-Style diner that had just opened recently (The "Beverly Hills Diner") -- so we invited Ksusha and Andrew, and away we went!

If you'll recall the internet post I included earlier, this is where I got the chocolate/banana milkshake from. It was quite amazing. It was also 300-ish rubles. Which makes it an almost $10 milkshake. Upon seeing the price, I said, "This had better blow that Pulp Fiction milkshake right outta the water." [For anyone who hasn't seen "Pulp Fiction," one of the characters orders a "Five Dollar Mlikshake," to the chagrin of her "date" for the evening. Adjusting for inflation, maybe we were paying about the same, after all. … And yes, I did just make a serious reference to "adjusting for inflation." What are you gonna do about it? =^_~=]

Continuing the Movie-Related trend we appeared to have going, Pete and I got into a discussion about then movie, "The Sandlot," which brought us the following:

1. The agreement that "Baseball" type shirts are amazing.

2. That we should have a "S'mores and Sandlot" party -- i.e. We should watch, "The Sandlot," and make S'mores while so doing.

And most epic of all:

2. The, "S'mores and Bike Race" story….

Pete had once been part of a bike race with some family and friends. It seems to have been a multi-day/multi-member event, somewhere out in a mountainous/good for camping area.

As Pete was working on his leg of the race, he passed a group of campers, who were making S'mores. They invited him to come have a few, and Pete, happily obliged! -- In the middle of his race, remember.

Some time, and many S'mores later, someone asked Pete suddenly, "Weren't you racing?!"

"Oh S*&t!!! How long have I been here?!!?!?"

Pete jumped back on his bike and finished his leg. As he returned to his team's "camp," Pete's brother came running up to him, asking, "Where have you been?! The paramedics are out looking for you!!!!" His brother stopped suddenly, looking at Pete's face. "… Is that… *Chocolate*?!?!?!"

Upon the delivery of the "punchline," I fell to squeaking, [It was funny!!!!!] and Pete sai, "Oh… We got her squeaking again!!" -- And, as it usually happens when someone says something like that [as My Boys can all attest], I generally squeak more.

*****

A little while later, another of Pete's friends showed up, and somehow or other, the topic of how he met Tyler (one of My Boys) was brought up. Except that Pete wouldn't tell me where. When we had a moment to ourselves (i.e. when his female friend who'd just shown up wasn't paying attention), I teased Pete, "Aww, you don't want to tell me where you met Tyler! That's sweet…" Although, I knew it wasn't for my benefit that he wouldn't say, but for the other girl's. *laughs* It was funny.

**********

Eventually, we split ways, Pete going with his friend, and Ksusha and Andrew offering to give me a ride home. Being that I'd only just moved there, it was a little tough for me (because remember, the apartment's address is not physically where it seems to be) -- but thankfully, my visual memory carried the day -- and even Ksusha and Andrew were impressed with me.

Even better, while in-transit, Ksusha said that I was, "like Sunshine." =^__^= This is amazing, because while there is a joke that I am, "Moscow's Little Ray of Sunshine," -- she has never heard anyone say that about me. So she is yet another person who has decided to call me some variant of "Sunshine," all on her own!

See the following conversational excerpt (I was relating the story to a friend):

MK: It was pretty awesome

MK: No impetus from me

MK: But she and her boyfriend gave me a lift home (a group of us went to go see the movie, and they live near me)

MK: And they were asking me how I like Moscow, do I like the people, etc.

MK: And when I mentioned people act differently towards me, she said, "it is because you are like sunshine!"

MK: It was sweet

Friend: Right on.

MK: I really am Moscow's Little Ray of Sunshine!

*****

Once I got home, as you'll remember from the beginning of this post, I had an AMAZING dinner.

Also, Jon finally got back to me about class. (I had contacted him earlier, asking about when things were starting up, etc.)

All in all, it was a busy, but WONDERFUL day!!!!

Love,

Moscow Kitty

=^__^=

Journal 4 - Regis-wha? / Corruption / Movies / Travel

Journal 4 - Regis-wha? / Corruption / Movies / Travel

8-30-10

I stopped by the University around 11 AM, trying to get my registration, but I guess I went too late, because no one was in my school group's office.

Now, this registration thing is actually *very* important.

In Russia, everyone *must* be registered to their cities. So, when you come to visit/work/stay, for more than 3 business days, you have 3 business days to get your registration. Essentially, it says that you have the right to be where you are. Without it, you can be kicked out, etc.

So, that's one day up for me…

**********

A little later in the afternoon, I was off to Dunkin' Donuts, to hang out with Pete!! I was surprised to find out that he had another girlfriend there, too. To tell the truth, I was a little bummed at first; mostly because I had just thought it was going to be Pete and I getting to hang out, and catch up on some things we hadn't had time to talk about before I left Moscow. It didn't help matters that I didn't really know the girl. [Note: now, I know her *much* better! I love Ksusha!!! She's incredible!]

In the end, we all had a fantastic time. The definite highlight of the afternoon was Ksusha's response of, "I'd bite his face off!!" to Pete's question, "What would you do if you saw some guy mugging your Nana?" She had us all *dying* of laughter!

At one point, however, our conversation turned quite serious, and to tell the truth, it depressed me quite a bit. That part of the conversation was centered around the not-so-bright side of life in Moscow: the corruption and greed in everyday life, how the standard of living is not always so great, and the cynical recognition of it all, by Moscow's population.

Presented here as the short story tidbits I received them in:

1. Concerning Russians' Cynicism at their own Country:

Ksusha had a friend who had just had a baby -- at one point, the baby was crying constantly, and seemed perpetually upset. Her friend, frustrated, cried, "Why is my baby sad all the time?!"

Someone replied, "Because you had her here!!!"

The girl responded, "Oh…" Then, "… You're probably right."

I was in shock -- I just couldn't imagine being told that a child was sad because it knew it was born into a certain county -- that it should already know life would be bad there! That kind of pessimism... It made me even more thankful for the life I have had, and the country I come from.

2. On Greed and Corruption -- Especially In Medical Situations

A. Ksusha's grandmother had taken very ill. They called for an ambulance, to take the grandmother to a hospital, and the response was:

"Why should we take your grandma? She is dying anyway!"

Ksusha's family said, "We have money."

And the ambulance's tune changed right away: "Okay!"

-- I couldn't believe it!!! An ambulance *refusing* help, because someone was, "dying anyway!" --

It continued at the Hospital.

The doctor said, "If you do not pay me 1000 rub (~$30) a day, I won't come."

"So we paid." Ksusha said. "My grandmother lived, maybe another month, because we had money, to pay the ambulance, to pay the doctor -- but if we hadn't had that, no one would have helped."

B. Ksusha also related a story where she knew of Obstetricians, who would charge pregnant women, for them to preside over the births. "One charged my friend 35,000 rubles." (~$1,167 USD.)

At the look of shock on my face, Ksusha told me, "Oh! It was a deal! Normally, it's around 90,000 rubles!" (~$3,000 USD)

C. Related to the above, Pete added, "I've had people tell me stories, where they have NEEDED operations -- and the doctors will do NOTHING, until they get a bribe."

Essentially, you could be dying on the table, and until you agree to pay them, there are doctors in the system who would let you die, unless you tell them you'll pay them some fee.

… I felt sick. There is no humanity in that…

It was a stark reminder for me, that, in my bubble of school and dance, and such wonderful friends who look out for me, I am quite removed from the darker, grittier realities of Moscow and Russian life.

**********

Eventually, we all had to get running. On the way out the door, Pete said he was going to go see a movie later, with another friend, and asked if I wanted to go. I told him I didn't think I could -- I was supposed to have my first day of 2 hrs of practice. But then, I was tired, and I didn't feel well; so I took Pete up on Movie offer.

The movie was an American Movie, in English (with Russian Subtitles!), called, "Keeping Up With The Joneses." Maybe some of you saw it?

All Pete and I could say, once we got out was, "Wow." Then, we felt even more sobered, wondering how many Russians in the audience even *got* the message of the movie.

(I won't spoil the movie's plot -- but the overall message was that it wasn't worth it to get yourself into trouble, in order to, "keep up with the Joneses." Whereas, in Russia -- it's still VERY important to many people, that you have the right brand of this or that, or that you have the expensive, nice things. [I kid you not -- you should see the looks some women/men will give you after they look at the *shoes* you are wearing, for crying out loud!]

So Pete and I wondered aloud if the Russians in the audience even understood the tragedy in the movie, or might they just have thought that some of the characters had "failed," when it came to "playing the game," or, "keeping up," so to speak.

It was a cynical moment for us -- probably brought on by the conversation we'd had with Ksusha earlier, about all the bribes, etc. I didn't feel good about it; but I won't deny that the thought was there.)

**********

When I got home, I chatted with one of my best friends, Munky, and felt better about lots of stuff. I shared the terrible stories I had heard that day, and how I'd felt bad for my own thoughts, even though they were based on things that I had seen myself -- and being that I'm the person I am, it was just a tough day. Nothing I wasn't going to survive -- but it was really nice to have a friend there, then. Thanks, Munky. Love you!

**********

And now, I'm up until 4 AM and past it for the 3rd night in a row!! So much for getting into a good schedule!!!!

Worse, I have no choice but to be up early tomorrow -- that pesky registration thing…

Also, I have a meeting at MyBar tomorrow again. Ahsain wants to know what my availability is like, but I can't tell him that until I get my schedule for school… Which will hopefully happen tomorrow…..

And I hope to have lessons.

And I must practice.

And I've found out that won't get to see Mulzoff until probably the 14th of this Month!

*And* Pete leaves 17th for AMI (Anna Maria Island). -- But that's good news!!! I'm happy he'll get to, "go home." I told him he'll have to say hi to my beaches for me!!!

Also -- I just found out that Sasha comes back the 19th. Yay!

(And for those who might have forgotten, the Sasha I'm talking about here is the one who was so kind as to take me to the Bolshoi and Lenkom theaters.)

Love,

Moscow Kitty

3:57 AM

Journal 2 - Putter, Putter, Toil and Trouble; Stolen Songs and Skinny Six-Packs

Journal 2 - Putter, Putter, Toil and Trouble; Stolen Songs and Skinny Six-Packs

8-28-10

…. I slept until 3!!!

Whoops…

So much for "massive work on the journal," as was promised.

As my Nana is so fond of saying, today, I just puttered about when I got up. I was doing stuff with my computer, like burning my DVDs; I got a nice, long shower, etc.

I almost didn't go to dance again today, when I looked at the time, but then I kicked myself -- because I *knew* I *needed* to go, and I went to practice for an hour.

And, whew!! It was tough!!!! Thankfully, things did start to feel a little better towards the end. But I knew I am going to be SORE tomorrow!

**********

Immediately after dance, I went to Embassy to see Mulzoff. It was SOOOO good to see him again!! (Williams -- if you are reading this: Militsia guy asked for my ID again!! As soon as it happened, I thought, "Again! I must let Williams know.")

In my customary fashion, I brought Mulzoff Chocolate, and while thankful, he told me -- "I have to tape out!"

"When?" I replied.

"In a week!"

"Okay, then we'll celebrate today, and that's it! [Until you tape out.]" We laughed, and laughed. How great to be "home," with loved ones!

*****

Mulzoff and I watched "Gladiator," as I'd never seen it all the way from the beginning -- and Mulzoff was a total sport, as I was obsessing over "Stolen Music!" -- When I say stolen music, I mean that parts of the "Gladiator" soundtrack, sound, measure for measure, the same as parts of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" soundtrack; and I absolutely could *not* get over it, throughout the entire movie!

"Did you hear that?!?! It's the SAME!!!"

"Yes, I heard it…."

"But they STOLE IT!!!! I mean… This movie came first, so "Pirates of the Caribbean" had to steal it -- but still!!!! How was there no outcry over this?!? It's so obvious!!!!"

"I know…."

Oh, poor Mulzoff. Thank you for putting up with me. =^__^= ''

*****

As we were watching the movie, we had a few guests come in! Mowery showed up first -- and of course we exchanged hugs, and happiness at seeing each other again! Mowery was more surprised to see me, I think. I don't think he knew I was coming back. After Mowery, then Gunny showed up!!! I was elated, of course, and after we hugged, we shared the following exchange:

Me - "I missed you guys!!!"

Gunny - "You'll never hear me say that!"

Me - As I'm laughing, "Want a chocolate?"

Gunny - Shaking his head, "I'm sweet enough already -- at least, that's what the guys tell me… Do you think they're lying?"

Oh, I about died laughing!!! I love Gunny. =^__^=

**********

As soon as the movie was over, it was time for me to go home, and upon arriving there, I immediately hopped online, where I chatted with some friends, but more importantly, I hit up Wikipedia, where I…

R-read a whole bunch about Roman Emperors (The movie inspired me to want a Wikipedia Refresher, what?) --AND researched (Well, "researched," -- it was Wikipedia, but still.) about the music between "Gladiator" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," and guess what I found?

THEY HAVE THE SAME COMPOSER! - Hans Zimmer -- who already got in trouble for plagiarism on the Gladiator soundtrack! (Apparently, he stole from Gustaf Holt's - "Mars," the naughty man…) It would also seem that, according to Wikipedia, there was a rush put on the finishing of the PotC soundtrack, soooo….. I'm going to go with, it's not too far a stretch to say he definitely plagiarized the "Gladiator" soundtrack.

The funny thing is, Cassandra had just watched Gladiator yesterday night, and was thinking the SAME thing I was!! She left me a note about it on the Facebook post I'd put up on the subject. It was nice to know that, half a world away, someone else was Geeking-Out about the music, too!

To my Magnificent Mulzoff -- thanks again for putting up with me on that.

Speaking of Mulzoff… He about *killed* me -- rather, I almost asphyxiated myself by way of laughter -- with a story he told me, as he was taking me home …

Apparently, a little boy on compound had come up to Mulzoff, and started the following conversation:

Boy: "Mulzoff, do you have a 6-pack??"

Mulzoff: *laughing* "No, I don't."

B: *big eyes, and surprised* "But -- But -- You're a *Marine!!!* … My friend is in 8th grade, and *he* has a 6-pack!"

M: "Having a 6-pack doesn't mean you're strong -- it just means you're skinny."

And both from Mulzoff's imitation of the little boy's surprise, as well as his response about the 6-pack matter, in sum, I just lost it.

… I should mention, that as this was happening, we were walking down a hill, and I was bent double, laughing so hard, no noise was coming out. Really, I'd stopped breathing. I'm pretty sure Mulzoff thought I was going to fall over and just *roll* the rest of the way down the hill.

… Which probably would have been even funnier. … Too bad he didn't have a video camera.

**********

Neways, it's past 4:00 AM, and I need to go to bed! I'm gonna tackle my iPhone in the morning -- have some projects with it I need to get to!

Love,

Moscow Kitty

=^___^=