a friend of mine asked me to post an entry about Russia
The modern Russian life conceals many deep and unexpected idiosyncrasies. Here is a brief introduction to some different perspectives on what it's like to actually participate in the modern Russian experience.
Why does Russia attract so many people from all over the world? It's commonly accepted that human nature finds fascination in the obscure and the exotic, and Russophilia is no exception to this rule. Yes, Russia's allure stems from its inaccessibility, its long tradition of erecting inscrutable walls against the outside world. If we peer into Russia’s past, we see that her shroud of secrecy began to lift only very recently, revealing the endless black void of forests and hordes of stern-faced factory workers native to this forbidden kingdom, and indeed revealing for the Russian people the mysteries that, for them, laid outside the Iron Curtain. Great news, though - The Iron Curtain is no more…well, even if it still lingers a bit in the air, everything else certainly looks and feels a lot different. It even seems that the natural ecosystem of the Russian land has given up on its priceless *accruals*; it’s actually sad that there are no bears reading Dostoevsky in the streets any more.
Speaking for my own perspective towards my environment: I don't know about all of Russia, but at least where I live (Moscow), I feel like I am surrounded by very strong social contrasts and myriad diversities. If you asked me what the city I live in looks like, I'd give you the following:
Within a one-block radius, I have access to: groceries, drugs, liquor, Muslims, black folk, Asian peoples, Tajiks, Georgians, Chukchis, billionaires, homeless professors, hicks, freaks, lawyers, drunks, yoga classes, feral cats and dogs, huge rats, African parrots (seriously, people...we've got parrots!), squirrels, strange juxtapositions of traditional Russian architecture and newer Soviet tastelessness, all the cool old subway stations, underwear, outerwear, shoes, glass, hardware, drywall, lumber, plumbers, car service, a community garden, bars, and my favorite Soviet babushkas with their delightful purple hairdos. There are whole neighborhoods without Starbucks or McDonald’s, where the biggest businesses are ice-cream stalls and beauty salons.
The bottom line is modern Russia still keeps us guessing.
*the city has over 120 ethnic groups and nationalities
Why does Russia attract so many people from all over the world? It's commonly accepted that human nature finds fascination in the obscure and the exotic, and Russophilia is no exception to this rule. Yes, Russia's allure stems from its inaccessibility, its long tradition of erecting inscrutable walls against the outside world. If we peer into Russia’s past, we see that her shroud of secrecy began to lift only very recently, revealing the endless black void of forests and hordes of stern-faced factory workers native to this forbidden kingdom, and indeed revealing for the Russian people the mysteries that, for them, laid outside the Iron Curtain. Great news, though - The Iron Curtain is no more…well, even if it still lingers a bit in the air, everything else certainly looks and feels a lot different. It even seems that the natural ecosystem of the Russian land has given up on its priceless *accruals*; it’s actually sad that there are no bears reading Dostoevsky in the streets any more.
Speaking for my own perspective towards my environment: I don't know about all of Russia, but at least where I live (Moscow), I feel like I am surrounded by very strong social contrasts and myriad diversities. If you asked me what the city I live in looks like, I'd give you the following:
Within a one-block radius, I have access to: groceries, drugs, liquor, Muslims, black folk, Asian peoples, Tajiks, Georgians, Chukchis, billionaires, homeless professors, hicks, freaks, lawyers, drunks, yoga classes, feral cats and dogs, huge rats, African parrots (seriously, people...we've got parrots!), squirrels, strange juxtapositions of traditional Russian architecture and newer Soviet tastelessness, all the cool old subway stations, underwear, outerwear, shoes, glass, hardware, drywall, lumber, plumbers, car service, a community garden, bars, and my favorite Soviet babushkas with their delightful purple hairdos. There are whole neighborhoods without Starbucks or McDonald’s, where the biggest businesses are ice-cream stalls and beauty salons.
The bottom line is modern Russia still keeps us guessing.
*the city has over 120 ethnic groups and nationalities