Russia
Once again in face of massive amounts of school work i find myself procrastinating, and retreating to a long familiar tool of avoidance, yes livejournal. I figure though, before i leave Russia i should at least document partly my experience here. There is entirely too much to be said and so a simple LJ entry will not suffice but what the hell. Well how do i like Russia ? Its pretty cool here. I mean there are things that are absolutely great and those not so much. So first whats so great ? Well i am now living in the third biggest city in Europe, St. Petersburg , and i gotta say i like it. The fact that there is always something to do, if you have a few good people with you and a desire for entertainment. The nightlife seems to be pretty happening. Unfortunately the only place ive frequented is Dacha, a dive bar, where all brands of american counterculture clash together, from punk and rock, to goth and hipster. So what does the dacha offer ? Well basically cheep beer, dirty floors and loud 60's and 70's american music (disco is a favorite here) with the occasional contemporary hit. Over all its a good time. Besides that, this city loves the arts. You can find an opera, an art gallery, a piano concert or play i would say on every weekend night. SO basically it offers options as one would expect froma big city. Thats all good. The architecture and the view is beautiful, the russian tsarzs were big on lavishness and luxery thus there is more then enough to amaze the eye on that front. Now for the bad. Well this society is still very closed. I feel the hidden resentment and hate, when i reveal that not only am i from albania, but also live in the US. So on one side they hate me because they would consider me a backward easternblock person and on the other because i stir the resentment this country feels for the U.S and their medeling ways. Ofcourse there is many great people, who would not precieve you like that, but on the whole i would argue that it is very difficult to get people to consider you as a human being, free of all the categories and constructions as some contaminated other. In other words not a Russian. But overall im happy with things, however i am also very much looking foward to returning to the states, to comfort and to those i care for and want near me. Well thats it., now im gonna try to actually study a little grammar :)