1. If you're foreign, Moscovites will know at a glance... and will stare coldly.
2. Only Westerners wear stylish glasses or shoes that are not dark.
3. Moscovites spit... a lot. Anywhere outdoors is a free-for-all minefield of green mucus.
4. Rush hour is every hour.
5. The rich are extremely rich.
6. The Soviet generational gap is obvious.
7. There are no lines - only herds. This may play out in many ways. For instance, it will not matter if you arrived at a waiting spot (bus stop, McDonald's, Metro, even the grocery) first; you will be cut.
8. Like 7, there is a generally unorganized feel. For instance, besides the Metro, every bridge or street or building seems haphazardly thrown together. Everyday I pass the construction of a bridge. There are scrap heaps of wood and beams and scaffolding everywhere, and every section of the bridge is at a different stage of completion. It seems as though a few workers simply show up everyday and choose what to weld when they feel like it.
9. Anything concrete is also a favorite spot for graffiti.
10. There is a general mistrust everywhere. Many places like the Metro and even street corners post a guard to simply watch for "mischief," which is usually targeted at dark skinned and homeless people. Even grocery stores hire guards to walk around and just watch people shop.
Below is a picture of Tchaikovsky's house (and statue). It was the last residency at which Tchaikovsky lived, and he wrote his last piece at this location four days before leaving the house for the last time. It is also said to be the only residency of Tchaikovsky's that is still in existence.
2. Only Westerners wear stylish glasses or shoes that are not dark.
3. Moscovites spit... a lot. Anywhere outdoors is a free-for-all minefield of green mucus.
4. Rush hour is every hour.
5. The rich are extremely rich.
6. The Soviet generational gap is obvious.
7. There are no lines - only herds. This may play out in many ways. For instance, it will not matter if you arrived at a waiting spot (bus stop, McDonald's, Metro, even the grocery) first; you will be cut.
8. Like 7, there is a generally unorganized feel. For instance, besides the Metro, every bridge or street or building seems haphazardly thrown together. Everyday I pass the construction of a bridge. There are scrap heaps of wood and beams and scaffolding everywhere, and every section of the bridge is at a different stage of completion. It seems as though a few workers simply show up everyday and choose what to weld when they feel like it.
9. Anything concrete is also a favorite spot for graffiti.
10. There is a general mistrust everywhere. Many places like the Metro and even street corners post a guard to simply watch for "mischief," which is usually targeted at dark skinned and homeless people. Even grocery stores hire guards to walk around and just watch people shop.
Below is a picture of Tchaikovsky's house (and statue). It was the last residency at which Tchaikovsky lived, and he wrote his last piece at this location four days before leaving the house for the last time. It is also said to be the only residency of Tchaikovsky's that is still in existence.
Ha haaaa thats great, I was cracking up at 3 and 7 =) Thats so cool about Tchaiky! I hope you are doing well and having a good time teaching. I miss seeing you.
ReplyDeletei bet the mistrust thing is a little creepy! unless you like it when people watch you buy produce :)
ReplyDeleteIf you like to talk to tomatoes,
ReplyDeleteif a squash can make you smile,
if you like to waltz with potatoes,
and get watched in the produce isle...