Neglect and Reward
Well, it seems I've been neglecting my friends here.
I haven't posted and I haven't had a chance to read up on most of your lives.
Bad me!
I haven't lost any friends just yet though. That may even be surprising since my blog has turned into a bitch fest forum for my indentured servitude.
Well, the MIL and SIL are still here. This weekend was killer. I had a nice evening with alex_j. We shot a few games of pool, drank a few beers, ran of to the Russian dormitory at the single university that I attended here. [I was always told that the foreign students' hostels was better than the Russian hostels. Well, that was bullshit! Although, this place wasn't so nice, it was better than the other.]
There we had some more beer...some wine...refused to start on the cognac and decided that was an opportune time to go.
The group was great! It consisted of several nationalities and points of view...which makes for great discussions and ideas.
The room belonged to 2 Georgian brothers, then there was the Russian girlfriend of one and her friend (monopolized by whichever single young man could get to her), 2 more Russian guys who spoke English and were quite intelligent fellows, a Chinese gentlemen, and a Ukrainian (a psychiatrist who proclaimed himself to be part of the fascist movement).
It was quite interesting to be asked about what I thought of the "niggers" and "Asians, no offense to the one in the room."
It wasn't the best response for me to explain that some of my best friends are Africans and that Russians used to call me a "white nigger."
[It's often forgotten that in most European languages, because of Latin, the word 'nigger' refers to the color black. In Russia it only refers to people, but for us Americans and Europeans it's still a slightly uncomfortable and rude word.]
I am still inclined to think the fellow was just a little drunk. I mean, we are still all included in his jokes (and he was the blunt of many of mine which wasn't very nice but he is a psychiatrist after all). And despite what it seems he is saying (something that many other people in the room kept asking me if I understood because they hoped I wouldn't be offended) he was actually a nice guy.
[I didn't agree with him, but he was quite respectful and certainly not threatening (much). He also invited us all to his house in the country which might be fun and I actually liked the guy. Although, I still don't think racial killings in Russia are actually the FSB trying to make the fascists look bad.]
Actually, rather than being 'fascist,' I think he was actually just very nationalistic. There's a pretty fine line between the two, but respect is definitely only on once side of that line...the other attains respect only with violence and power.
In other news, my house has been conveniently re-arranged to reduce my level of privacy. That's always nice. It also led to the realization that I'll have to be an open asshole around my house...since it was leaked in Russian via telephone conversation in the other room that it may be March now before the MIL and SIL move out. I do know there are workers now painting and putting crap into their flat...or at least will start soon.
This has led Sky to go job hunting again. Sveta concurs and unhappily understands that I am quickly losing respect for all in my home--as I receive very little. From here on out, the flying brown mush that smells like borscht will be coming from a fan that I will be holding.
Even better, I found another cool-ass company to work for. I can't say know and I've still only applied, but I can say that I have looked at joining this company for a few years as their work is interesting and their function is to do things I like. I'll elaborate later if things move forward.
I told Sveta that I may be moving out before her family...even if it's just across town.
She's definitely not happy...but they leave little option.
Anyway...I'm in a good mood. I wrote a few articles today and don't feel like editing this blog. (Not that I don't want or don't feel really, it's just that I need to go to work and eat and shave and all in about 20 minutes.)
Check out TimesRussia.com in the next two days. There will be some interesting articles about the cost of living in Russia (as apposed to the US).
Actually, their's a fun article about Ford Motor Company for mynameisnotreal already there. I would love for you to leave some comments as it was an area you have some knowledge about.
Talk to everyone soon and I'll be catching up on my reading. :-)
I haven't posted and I haven't had a chance to read up on most of your lives.
Bad me!
I haven't lost any friends just yet though. That may even be surprising since my blog has turned into a bitch fest forum for my indentured servitude.
Well, the MIL and SIL are still here. This weekend was killer. I had a nice evening with alex_j. We shot a few games of pool, drank a few beers, ran of to the Russian dormitory at the single university that I attended here. [I was always told that the foreign students' hostels was better than the Russian hostels. Well, that was bullshit! Although, this place wasn't so nice, it was better than the other.]
There we had some more beer...some wine...refused to start on the cognac and decided that was an opportune time to go.
The group was great! It consisted of several nationalities and points of view...which makes for great discussions and ideas.
The room belonged to 2 Georgian brothers, then there was the Russian girlfriend of one and her friend (monopolized by whichever single young man could get to her), 2 more Russian guys who spoke English and were quite intelligent fellows, a Chinese gentlemen, and a Ukrainian (a psychiatrist who proclaimed himself to be part of the fascist movement).
It was quite interesting to be asked about what I thought of the "niggers" and "Asians, no offense to the one in the room."
It wasn't the best response for me to explain that some of my best friends are Africans and that Russians used to call me a "white nigger."
[It's often forgotten that in most European languages, because of Latin, the word 'nigger' refers to the color black. In Russia it only refers to people, but for us Americans and Europeans it's still a slightly uncomfortable and rude word.]
I am still inclined to think the fellow was just a little drunk. I mean, we are still all included in his jokes (and he was the blunt of many of mine which wasn't very nice but he is a psychiatrist after all). And despite what it seems he is saying (something that many other people in the room kept asking me if I understood because they hoped I wouldn't be offended) he was actually a nice guy.
[I didn't agree with him, but he was quite respectful and certainly not threatening (much). He also invited us all to his house in the country which might be fun and I actually liked the guy. Although, I still don't think racial killings in Russia are actually the FSB trying to make the fascists look bad.]
Actually, rather than being 'fascist,' I think he was actually just very nationalistic. There's a pretty fine line between the two, but respect is definitely only on once side of that line...the other attains respect only with violence and power.
In other news, my house has been conveniently re-arranged to reduce my level of privacy. That's always nice. It also led to the realization that I'll have to be an open asshole around my house...since it was leaked in Russian via telephone conversation in the other room that it may be March now before the MIL and SIL move out. I do know there are workers now painting and putting crap into their flat...or at least will start soon.
This has led Sky to go job hunting again. Sveta concurs and unhappily understands that I am quickly losing respect for all in my home--as I receive very little. From here on out, the flying brown mush that smells like borscht will be coming from a fan that I will be holding.
Even better, I found another cool-ass company to work for. I can't say know and I've still only applied, but I can say that I have looked at joining this company for a few years as their work is interesting and their function is to do things I like. I'll elaborate later if things move forward.
I told Sveta that I may be moving out before her family...even if it's just across town.
She's definitely not happy...but they leave little option.
Anyway...I'm in a good mood. I wrote a few articles today and don't feel like editing this blog. (Not that I don't want or don't feel really, it's just that I need to go to work and eat and shave and all in about 20 minutes.)
Check out TimesRussia.com in the next two days. There will be some interesting articles about the cost of living in Russia (as apposed to the US).
Actually, their's a fun article about Ford Motor Company for mynameisnotreal already there. I would love for you to leave some comments as it was an area you have some knowledge about.
Talk to everyone soon and I'll be catching up on my reading. :-)