Russian Rituals, Customs and Traditions about Death

RUSSIAN RITUALS:

Cultural Clues for Death and Family

Death is something that is inevitable. Every culture has its own rituals, customs and traditions for death. The University of Washington Medical Center has published End-of-Life Cultural Clue, an informational guide about Russian terminally ill patients and their families for doctors.

Are you Russian? Do you agree with their perception of your cultural rituals? If you are not Russian, how do these rituals relate or differ from your own?

From the University of Washington End of Life Cultural Clue for Russians:

"Don’t be surprised if you come across the following rituals related to death and dying: This list includes some of the rituals that your patients may practice. Always ask your patients and family members about their customs, as there are variations among individuals, ethnic/religious groups, urban and rural practices, and socio-economic status."

• Russians tend to be cheerful with the dying person to avoid distressing the patient.

• Family plays a major role in supporting the sick person. Usually there is a family member nursing day and night at the bedside. Continuous death watching is a widespread phenomenon in Russia.

• Relatives and friends are all expected to visit the patient. Usually people bring food and may include gifts for the clinicians. Often visitors sit for hours visiting with the patient and one another to catch up with all the news. Prayer may or may not be part of the visit.


• Patients who practice their religion may consider prayer as an important and powerful healing tool.

• For Russians in general, and in particular for Russian Jews, nutrition is the primary determinant of health. The family may be happy when the patient is able to eat.

• For some families it is customary for the dying person to offer a blessing by laying hands on their family members’ heads.

• Religious icons may be brought in the room depending on the religion and the level of practice of the people involved.


• The earth is considered sacred. Even today, people who have left Russia sometimes keep pots of Russian soil in their adopted homes.

• Depending on the denomination, it may be desired by the family to have a pastor, priest, or rabbi present at the moment of death.

• The patient and family may want all mirrors covered during the time of death.

• You may see the Orthodox priest say a prayer and light a candle right after the death.

• The family may close the eyes and mouth of the deceased; otherwise, it is considered a bad omen. The family may want to place coins on the eyelids and a roll of cloth under the deceased’s chin.


• The family may desire that the coffin be taken to the patient’s home on the way to the funeral service, so that the deceased can visit their home for the last time.

• Wailing and other displays of grief may be reserved primarily for expression in the home.

• The family may have some specific practices for washing the body after the death. Ask about preferences and try to accommodate.

• Your Russian Orthodox patients and their family members may decline cremation.

• In accordance with the Jewish tradition, Russian Jews want to bury the dead within 24 hours, except when the death occurs on Friday after sundown, on Saturday, on a Jewish holiday, or when waiting for family members to arrive.

Source: http://depts.washington.edu/pfes/PDFs/End%20of%20Life%20Care-Russian.pdf

Russenorsk Russian-Norwegian Pidgin Language

Руссенорск (Russenorsk)

Руссенорск (Russenorsk) or 'Russo-Norwegian' was a pidgin language originating in the Arctic.

Russenorsk drew upon both Russian and Norwegian in order to form a dual-source pidgin. It developed as a result of interaction between Russian traders and Norwegian fisherman. The language has not been actively used for more than two centuries, nonetheless, it is still fascinating to read about. Look at the following example of Russenorsk dialog below:

Example dialog in Russenorsk:

Норвежец: Драсви, гаммель гу вен по моя. Твоя фиск купум? (Здравствуй, мой старый добрый друг. Ты покупаешь рыбу?)

Русский: Да. (Да)

Норвежец: Kак прис? (По какой цене?)

Русский: Эн вога мукка, со ту вога треска. (За вог муки два вога трески.)

Норвежец: Эта мала. (Это слишком мало)

Русский: Шлик шлаг, эн о ен хальв вога треска, со эн вога мукка. (Такого рода. Один с половиной вог трески на один вог муки)

Норвежец: Эта грот дюр. (Это еще слишком дорого.)

Русский: Но давай по кают ситте нед со докка лите чай дринком. Икке скаде. (Спускайся же в каюту и попей чаю. Это не повредит.)

Норвежец: Kак прис? (По какой цене?)

Examples with English explanation:

• "Moja på tvoja" - "I speak in your language" (wordwise: "My (R) in (N, R) your (R)")

• "Kak sprek? Moja njet forsto." - What are you saying? I don't understand. (How (R) speak (N)? My (R) no (R) understood (N).)

• råbbåtom - to work (R: rabotat’)

• klæba - bread (R: khleb)

Note: "R" marks Russian origin, "N" marks Norwegian.

Sources:

* Wikipedia: http://j.mp/3rtT7J (Russian) http://j.mp/2IAijh (English)
* "РУССЕНОРСК" Каролине Серк-Ханссен. Перевод с норвежского: Анастасия Гортер, 2003 г. http://biarmia.narod.ru/library/russenorsk.htm

Vodka - Russia's Secret Home Remedy

РУССКАЯ ВОДКА

Russian Vodka - Not just for drinking?

Russia has made vodka famous around the world. Vodka is known for its clear appearance, high alcohol content, and intoxicating effect. In reality, vodka is much, much more. Besides consumption, it can be used in a number of useful ways.

The word vodka was first recorded in 1405 in court documents of Poland. It is believed that vodka first originated in Russia during the 14th century. The word водка is thought to be derived from the Russian вода or 'water' as a diminutive.

The history of this alcohol spans many centuries. Over this time, many uses for vodka have been discovered.

Here is our list of twenty alternative uses for vodka:

1. Use as local anesthetic to disinfect and treat an open wound
2. Treat poison ivy to remove urushiol oil from the skin
3. Painlessly remove a bandage
4. Clean your eyeglasses
5. Treat an earache to kill bacteria in ear
6. Treat vomit stains
7. Use as an astringent for clean skin and to tighten pores
8. Add to shampoo to clean the scalp, remove toxins and stimulate hair growth
9. Kill bees or wasps with a vodka spray
10. Clean bathroom caulking to kill mold and mildew
11. Freeze water with vodka for refreezable ice pack
12. Use as your own mouthwash for rinsing
13. Apply to a cold sore to dry it out
14. Treat hair dandruff and flaky scalp
15. Prolong the life of razors and prevent rusting
16. Relieve a fever with vodka-soaked cloth on chest
17. Treat foot odor
18. Alleviate pain and disinfect a jellyfish sting
19. Remove cigarette smoke from a room
20. Numb a toothache

Now take part in our official Russian Vodka Survey!

Let us know for what purposes you use vodka.

We will post the official results in an upcoming post!

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodka

http://www.divinecaroline.com/33672/45476-uses-vodka

Living A Communist's Life - Collective Housing

I live in a Soviet-era apartment building and not just any. It was built as housing for the worker families of the ХимЗавод, or chemical factory, of Vladimir. My host mother's family moved into the apartment shortly after its construction, in 1935. She has lived here her entire life... and so many others lived here too. During the Soviet times, the Communists decided that they wanted to collectivize life for its citizens. This ensured the equality of life.

In the collectivization of housing, many families would often live in the same apartment, as mandated by the government. For example, in the 3 room, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen apartment I presently live in, 2 families consisting of a total of 10 people would live together.

To realize that my room is intended to house a family of 4 is shocking. I estimate the total size of the apartment to amount to no more than 1000 square feet. While the room is large, I wouldn't expect more than 2 people to live in it at any one time.

While it was an era of communism, there still was not true equality for all during the Soviet times. I was surprised to find the director of the chemical factory, himself, used to live here in this very room. I was furthered surprised to find this was one of four rooms he was allotted for his family.

Collective housing also had other advantages for the Bolsheviks. Living in close quarters allowed the different families to make sure that everyone was a devoted communist and would not think or say anything to the contrary. For example, under communism, most churches were closed and the Bible was outlawed. Possessing the Bible was a serious offense, possibly resulting in your sudden disappearance.

In a time where disobeying the will of the government could result in you being sent to the gulag, a series of working camps mainly located in Siberia where many people were worked to death, you would be taking a serious risk in possessing the Bible. Also, to speak ill of Lenin or Stalin was considered blasphemy because for all intents and purposes of the Soviet people, Lenin is God and Stalin is his disciple.

To further describe the apartment in which I live, at the time of its construction, there was no hot water, no gas, no central heating, no washing machine and no refrigerator. These were installed only later.

Water had to be heated on the stove. Since there was no gas, in order to use the stove, you had to use another fuel source, such as wood. To this day, there is still no central heating for the apartment itself. Hot water is routed from a central city water heating plant that closely resembles the structure of a nuclear silo and transported to apartments across the city using a series of above-ground pipes. This hot water is delivered to apartments not only for use by its inhabitants, but also fed through a series of water radiators which keep the apartment warm.

On the radiators in my apartment, there is no way to regulate the temperature of the radiator. If there happens to be a problem at the central water heating plant of the city or a repair needs to be made to one of the many pipes supplying hot water to your apartment, you are without hot water. This has already happened to me twice, once in fall and again in winter. During these times, it is important to keep the windows closed tightly and use an extra blanket. If bathing, you need to heat water on the stove and take a bucket bath.

Clothing had to be washed by hand. In most Russian apartments, a special rack can be found in the bathroom. While this may look like a towel rack, it is actually much more. Its structure is actually a series of pipes through which hot water is running. This can be useful in order to dry your clothes more quickly. If you have a lot of clothes, you can also use your radiators as another location in which to dry your clothing.

Food had to be kept on the window sill to stay cool during the winters or preserved to be kept during the summers. While there were not the many luxuries that you would find in the West during this era, there was, however, electricity and indoor plumbing.

Arborescent Study Abroad

The study abroad experience is like being a tree. You arrive to the country as a small sapling, planted in a foreign environment. You began to grow roots and become acclimated to your surroundings. Your branches grow and extend as you reach out to the world around you. You begin to sprout leaves in order to photosynthesize as much nourishing knowledge as possible as you can. You hope your broadening trunk will give you a firm grounding to weather the storms that may come to impede your development. With time, your core also grows and distance between the rings indicates the growth you have made. Once you have become established in your environment, you find it difficult to consider existence somewhere else. You don't want to be uprooted and forced to acclimate once again. No matter where you are, you can always look back at the your rings and remember the growth you made during that time.

A Week of Russian Cuisine

Day 1: FRIDAY
Breakfast: сырники (curd fritter / cottage cheese pancakes), бутерброды с маслом и сыром (open-faced sandwich with butter and cheese), виноградный сок (grape juice)
Lunch: суп (soup); хлеб (bread); огурцы с лукой; (cucumber and onion salad); курица (chicken), капуста (cabbage); блины с яблоками (Russian apple pancakes); пирог (pie)
Dinner: сосиски с кетчупом (hot dogs with ketchup), капуста (cabbage), сырники (curd fritter / cottage cheese pancakes), пиво

Day 2: SATURDAY
Breakfast: гречка с молоком и сахаром (buckwheat porridge with milk and sugar), бутерброды с маслом и сыром (bread with butter and cheese), виноградный сок (grape juice)
Lunch: суп с фаршем, лукой, картошкой, морковью (soup with meatballs, onions, potatoes and carrots); хлеб (bread), огурцы с лукой и майонезом (cucumber and onion sald with mayonnaise), курица с кетчупом (chicken with ketchup), блины с фаршем и маслом (meat and butter pancake wrap), чай (tea)
Dinner: макароны с мясом (pasta with meat), соленья (pickles), бутерброды с мясом (open-faced sandwich with meat), чёрный хлеб (black bread), торт (cake), пирог (pie), пиво, водка, яблочный и апельсинный сок (apple and orange juice), чай (tea)

Day 3: SUNDAY
Breakfast: rice puffs с молоком (with milk), бутерброды с маслом и сыром (open-faced sandwich with butter and cheese), виноградный сок (grape juice), чай (tea), печенье (crackers)
Lunch: картофель печеночный с сыром (baked potato with cheese), пепси (Pepsi), суп с фаршем, лукой, картошкой, морковью (soup with meatballs, onions, potatoes and carrots); хлеб (bread), винегрет (beet salad), мясо с рисом и острым соусом (meat with rice and hot sauce)
Dinner: пирог (pie)

Day 4: MONDAY
Breakfast: пельмени со сметаной (meat dumplings with sour cream), апельсинный сок (orange juice)
Lunch: салат с помидором и огурцом (tomato and cucumber salad), лапша (noodle soup), пицца (pizza), пирожки (pastries), чай (tea)
Dinner: суп с фаршем, лукой, картошкой, морковью (soup with meatballs, onions, potatoes and carrots); хлеб (bread), огурцы с лукой и майонезом (cucumber and onion salad with mayonnaise), мясо с рисом (meat with rice), чай (tea)

Day 5: TUESDAY
Breakfast: каша с бананом (hot cooked cereal with banana slices), бутерброды с маслом и сыром (open-faced sandwiches with butter and cheese), апельсинный сок (orange juice)
Lunch: щи с острым соусом (cabbage soup with hot sauce); хлеб (bread); две кутлеты с рысом, маслом и острым соусом (two meat cutlets with rice, butter and hot sauce); пирог (pie); чай (tea); вода (water)
Dinner: суп (soup), корейские моркови (korean carrots), куриная котлета (chicken cutlet), картофель-фри с острым кетчупом из чили (french fries with hot chili ketchup), круассаны (croissants)

Day 6: WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: каша (hot cooked cereal), бутерброды с маслом и сыром (open-faced sandwiches with buter and cheese), апельсинный сок (orange juice)
Lunch: винегрет (beet salad), борщ (borscht beat-soup), гуляш с макаронами и острым соусом (goulash with pasta and hot sauce), пицца (pizza), пирог (pie), сок (juice), чай (tea), вода (water)
Dinner: суп (soup), овощи: помидоры, баклажан, перцы (vegetables: tomatoes, eggplant, peppers), курица с острым соусом (chicken with hot sauce), круассаны (croissants), чай (tea)

Day 7: THURSDAY
Breakfast: каша (hot cooked cereal), бутерброды с маслом и сыром (open-faced sandwich with butter and cheese), апельсинный сок (orange juice)
Lunch: салат из капусты (cabbage salad), щи с хлебом (cabbage soup with bread), картофельное пюре (mashed potatoes), котлета (meat cutlet), вода (water)
Dinner: суп с хлебом (soup with bread), курица (chicken), картофель-фри (french fries), чай (tea), вода (water)

Note: Every aforementioned reference to hot sauce with food is my own personal twist on Russian cuisine and is not typical. In hopes of making Russian food more flavorful, I've eaten it with three different hot sauces and well as curry powder. I found that hot sauce with щи (cabbage soup) isn't as tasty as I would hope, although when hot sauce is added to meat cutlets and rice, it is a match made in heaven.

Russians generally find hot sauce to be too spicy. The hottest food they eat is usually Georgian food, specifically шашлык (shashlik kebab) with a spicy sauce.

I have had two different homestays during my time here in Russia. Not every Russian family eats all of the typical Russian foods. In my first homestay, I never ate каша (hot cooked cereal) or пельмени (meat dumplings). In my present homestay, I have never eaten плов (pilaff rice dish) or чёрный хлеб (black bread).

Vladimir, Russia - KORA Center for Russian Language

In case your curious about what I actually study while I'm here in Vladimir, I'll break it down for you.

I take seven classes, which total to 20 hours of study per week. All classes are conducted entirely in Russian.
Грамматика (grammar): 5 hours per week
Фонетика (phonetics): 2 hours per week
Практика Речь (speaking): 5 hours per week
Русская Истрория (Russian history): 2 hours per week
Художественный Текст (literature): 2 hours per week
Искусство Письма (writing): 2 hours per week
СМИ (current events): 2 hours per week

Our Russian study center, KORA, is located in a technikum. The program rents out a number of rooms on the third floor of the building, which we use as our study space.

Lunch is included by the program. We dine on authentic Russian food in the cafeteria of the technikum.

On Friday, we have excursions to points of interest both near and far. Some of the excursions this semester include Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Murom and Sochi. It is mandatory that we speak Russian at all times while on excursions and all guides speak only Russian with us.

In addition to classes and excursions, there are extra-curriculars. Folklore is an extra class conducted every other week to expose us to Russian culture through dance and music.

Kruglii Stol or Russian-American club is a round-table discussion with our Russian counterparts at the linguistics university about prearranged topics.

Internships give us on site experience in various Russian organizations.

Basketball is played with the Russians every week as a good way to get out some extra energy and exercise.

We are allotted two personal days every semester, which can be used for personal travel. This is a wonderful way to see more of Russia that you otherwise wouldn't have the chance to see with the program. Combined with a three or four-day weekend, these days provide a great opportunity to travel throughout Russia.

Russian Dangers

Since my arrival this January to Russia, it has been quite cold here. For example, the high for today is -12 Celsius [5F] (or -19C [-3F] windchill factor). Tomorrow's forecast doesn't look much better, -14C and -21C windchill. Due to the sub-zero temperatures, there has been a build up of ice everywhere. I have had a recent sense of paranoia of being impaled by an icicle. I keep flashing back to a number of horror movies I've seen where people are impaled them. With some of them being over two feet in length, hanging from the rooftop edges many stories up, one can understand why I might want to be a little more careful. I now choose to walk at least a few extra feet out, away from the building as I make my way about the city.

Drivers in Russia are as crazy as in winter as they are in summer. They still drive far too fast. On the walk to my study center today, one driver slammed on his brakes two times, skidding each, after realizing he was plowing through a crosswalk. I'm lucky I was paying attention. The coup de grâce of all my horseless carriage stories is from Moscow. While crossing the street in a crosswalk not more than one block from my apartment, an ambulance came barreling out of nowhere and nearly struck me. What was the driver to do, hit me and then put me in the back of his vehicle?! I know that there is an economic crisis, but do they need business that badly?

So far I've successfully avoided both of the aforementioned dangers. While the various dangers of Russia might seem bad, they are relatively easy to avoid if you pay attention and keep your head on straight.

Vladimir Weather Information:
http://www.accuweather.com/world-index-forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&locCode=ASI|RU|RS087|VLADIMIR&metric=1

I Wish You A Merry Christmas

I Wish You A Merry Christmas (С новым годом!)
I have a friend in Russia who just loves to sing (quite well I might add). They previously asked me to help them find the lyrics to some popular American Christmas songs. I found the most perfect gift to bring them from America. I decided on a book of traditional American carols (it even came with a CD with the music to all of the songs!) After giving it to them, they excitedly opened it up and were curious as to how the tune went for each carol. Of course they could just go home and listen to the disc that came with the book, but it is not the same and they would have to wait to listen. In America, I might be more reluctant than to open up right there and begin to sing on the street, but in Russia, I could care less. People seem to be less judgmental here. My friend was so pleased with the gift and enjoyed listening to me sing the various carols. I had fun seeing that they were so pleased with the gift and sharing a part of my American culture. Being here is not only about me learning about Russia, but about Russians learning about America. It is a bilateral cultural exchange.

Alcohol

According to Walking on Ice, by Frederick Andersen, 5% of Russians are alcoholics (p.45). While this figure may be less shocking than you expect, the following statistics are. "On a national average, each adult drinks the equivalent of over 38 liters of 100 proof vodka a year. Take out many women and a surprising number of men who drink a little, if at all, the rest must have it running in their veins. With populist politicians pushing for cheap or free vodka, it seems as if some politicians would like to keep the people forever in this debasing form of self-imposed slavery. To me it is more than a fraternal thing, but a way to pull the others down so all are equally dead." (Walking on Ice by Frederick Andersen, p.44)

While drinking in moderation is one thing, drinking in Russia by some individuals can be taken to excess. Walk around a Russian city and you will son tons of бабушки (Russian grandmothers), but where are the men? Life expectancy for males is shocking: 59.19 years. Compare it with an average life expectancy of 73.1 years for females and you realize that there is something wrong. Where are the дедушки (Russian grandfathers)? Wouldn't it be great if they were there to nurture and support their families, provide wisdom or to tell their grandchildren how lucky they are with the abundance they now have as compared with the Soviet era. Of course every country has its own problems. In order for Russia to continue to grow and prosper, it may finally need to deal with its alcoholism.

Life Expectancy Statistics Source: CIA World Factbook - Russia
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html

A Better Way of Life?

"Some Russians are amazed that Americans work so hard and so long. To them, we work hard to earn lots of money so we can spend it on entertainment, eating out, traveling, buying things. Money is king. The American weekend can be a hectic time. In Russia it is quite different."

"My friend and his family, for example, spend their weekends outside of Moscow in their dacha, their country cottage that they rent for sixty-five dollars a month (in 1995). They pump water at the community pump and bring it to the house in a bucket and go to the toilet in the outhouse forty-seven steps out the back. They raise tomatoes and lettuce, and it is so quiet, he says you can hear the vegetables grow. There is no phone for disturbing phone calls from friends and they are out of range for cell phones. There is electricity, but not enough, so time to fix shashlik over an open fire and enjoy it with friends and talk about important or frivolous things without the intrusion of a television. It is the way life should be, at least on weekends."

"Quality of life is not about things, it is about friends and the time to enjoy them."

I think that last line really sums up the Russian way of life. The emphasis of quality over quantity is something I have really grown to appreciate about the Russians and I have taken it to heart myself. We should appreciate those around us and make sure that it is known to them and not focus on the acquisition of possessions that is all to prevalent in our capitalist society.

Excerpts from Walking on Ice: An American Businessman in Russia by Frederick Andersen, p.50

T-Shirt Love

I've come to realize that I'm a big fan of T-shirts. I never really thought of how many I actually have, but from looking in my dresser and closet, I've realized I have quite a few. After browsing through my many photos albums, I found a recurring theme in the T-shirts that I wear. A lot of my favorite photos are ones in which I am wearing a T-shirt referring to a geographic location I have visited or its emblem or logo. The irony of the situation is that I'm never really wearing a T-shirt depicting the exact location I'm in at that moment. Maybe it's that I don't want to look like a tourist. Maybe there is a longing inside me to return to the location depicted on my shirt and the shirt reminds me of the good times I spent there. Maybe it's a little of both or even something else. Anyways, feel free to browse through my photos and see for yourself!

In Moskva, Russia wearing my NorCal T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30523797&l=4b499&id=22500885

In Moskva, Russia wearing my Sevilla NO8DO T-Shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30555931&l=95d79&id=22500885

In Lisboa, Portugal wearing my NorCal T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30253965&l=3690f&id=22500885

In Gibraltar wearing my Spain T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30226418&l=fc6d6&id=22500885

In Grinnell, Iowa wearing my San Diego T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=12087294&l=6b5a2&id=22500885

In Sacramento, California wearing my Moskva T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30555162&l=6a744&id=22500885

In Grinnell, Iowa wearing my Washington, D.C. T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=12080272&l=e45a4&id=22500885

In Sevilla, Spain wearing my Spain T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30278219&l=39b74&id=22500885

In Des Moines, Iowa wearing my NorCal T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30233162&l=2fa7f&id=22500885

In Sacramento, California wearing my Grinnell T-shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30126784&l=37d89&id=22500885

In Washington, D.C. wearing my Sevilla NO8DO T-Shirt
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30539979&l=a3eb8&id=22500885



Me at the California State Fair
in Sacramento, among corn stalks
like you would find in Grinnell,
Iowa, wearing my T-shirt from
Moscow, Russia.

Dome Architecture Around the World

After my travels around the world, I have grown to appreciate different types of architecture. Of particular interest to me have been the dome structures of churches and government buildings.

Here I would like to contrast a few structures that I have encountered first-hand and others that I simply find intriguing.

Here are some questions for you to meditate on as you go through the images:

• What do you think? Which buildings do you find to be most similar?

• What other dome-style architecture do you know of that seems similar to the forthcoming?

• Do you have a favorite? Which styles and periods of architecture do you prefer?

Des Moine's Iowa State Capitol, Photo 1 of 2

Des Moine's Iowa State Capitol, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Capitol

Saint Petersburg's St. Isaac's Cathedral, Photo 1 of 2

Saint Petersburg's St. Isaac's Cathedral, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Isaac%27s_Cathedral
Inspired by Villa la Rotunda of Vicenza, Italy


Villa la Rotunda of Vicenza, Italy, Photo 1 of 2

Villa la Rotunda of Vicenza, Italy, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_La_Rotonda

California's Auburn Courthouse, Photo 1 of 2

California's Auburn Courthouse, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn,_California

San Francisco City Hall, Photo 1 of 2

San Francisco City Hall, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_City_Hall
Inspired by Les Invalides of Paris, France

Les Invalides of Paris, France, Photo 1 of 2

Les Invalides of Paris, France, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Invalides
Inspired by The Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica

The Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica, Photo 1 of 2

The Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Basilica

Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral, Photo 1 of 2

Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Basil%27s_Cathedral

Suzdal's Transfiguration Cathedral, Photo 1 of 3

Suzdal's Wooden Dome Architecture, Photo 2 of 3

Suzdal's Wooden Dome Architecture
Suzdal, Russia, Photo 3 of 3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzdal

Bogolyubovo's Dome Architecture, Photo 1 of 2

Bogolyubovo's Dome Architecture
Bogolyubovo, Russia, Photo 2 of 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogolyubovo

Once again, here are the questions I posed at the beginning of my post:

• What do you think? Which buildings do you find to be most similar?

• What other dome-style architecture do you know of that seems similar to the aforementioned?

• Do you have a favorite? Which styles and periods of architecture do you prefer?

Remarkable Russian R & R

It was the last week of my fall semester studying abroad in Vladimir. I took Thursday off to travel to Moscow, spend time with my friend, Natasha, and visit some of the remaining sights I had not seen yet. She cooks so well. Every time I visit, I feel like I am at home, eating my grandma’s cooking. I enjoyed a delicious casserole she prepared and then went about my business. I had to travel across the city by metro and walk about 1.5km to get to the Armed Forces Museum. Making a wrong turn, I was pleasantly surprised to end up on Pushkin square and see a beautiful Christmas tree. Orienting myself, I easily navigated to the museum. It was impressive. The museum was built during the Soviet times to commemorate the accomplishments and history of the military. The museum continues to function today with limited additions pertaining to post-Soviet armed forces activity. My favorite exhibition was the wreckage of the American U-2 spy plane which was shot down in the 60s.

Natasha and I met again and we decided to go ice skating. We went Gorky Park. At first she was hesitant to skate, fearing that she might fall, but I assured her that I would not let that happen. After enjoying a brief snack, we headed out on the ice. The first time around was slow, but as time went on, it was no longer so difficult. During my visit, there were a number of coincidences, perhaps the most surprising being that Natasha happened to see a student from her University group that she had not seen in over 5 years! Heading back home, it was late. We had big plans for the following day. I wanted to visit the Tretyakov Gallery again. Since my last visit, I had greater exposure to Russian art and I also knew that the religious icon of Vladimir was located in the Tretyakov. Natasha later joined me there later on. It was great sharing our knowledge of the artwork and learning even more. We left the Tretyakov to eat dinner. We ate in an upscale mall not far from the American embassy and listened to a pianist.

After dinner, we left for the Gosudarstvii Teatr Kinoaktiorov. This theatre is famous for its actors, many of which are also TV and movie stars. We watched a comedy that was set in the 19th century about marriage between different economic classes. The language used in the play was fascinating. They used a special form which adds an “s” to the end of certain words in a sentence to denote respect when speaking to others. This style of speech was typical of the era. Seeing an advertisement for a special hot wine at the skating rink, we had decided to prepare some of our own at home. It reminded me of a more delicious apple cider. We stayed up late talking and enjoying each other’s company.

Early the next morning I returned to Vladimir. For the first time since summer, I decided to travel by bus since there was not a train leaving any time soon. I prefer the train because in summer, I once spent over 7 hours on a bus from Moscow to Vladimir due to traffic jams. The bus was only 32 rubles cheaper than the train and it was packed. I sat uncomfortably for four hours, ineffectively sleeping for brief spurts of time. I had to return to Vladimir on Saturday because I had my oral proficiency interview to evaluate my level of spoken Russian.

That evening, some of my friends and I wanted to celebrate the conclusion of our program so we gathered and split a bottle of Putinka. We also had delicious Russian crackers, caviar and cake. After our little gathering, I left for the center. With perfect timing, my coworker had called me and invited me to go clubbing with her. We went to a small discotheque in the center. The DJ there was playing my favorite music, Eurodance. We toasted with champagne and hit the dance floor. I’m glad to know such wonderful people here in Russia. It makes it just that much harder to fly home to America.

Multilingual

Right now I feel that my brain is like a hard drive. It has been partitioned into two parts: one partition with what is the English language and the second with what is 'the other'. Until recently, 'the other' had been Spanish. When studying the Spanish language, I learned new grammar concepts, rules and vocabulary as if they were simply what was not native to me. For example, when speaking Spanish and thinking of the word for 'basketball', initшally my mind might think of the word in my native tongue and since this was not what is was looking for, it would revert to what is 'the other' and choose 'el baloncesto' instead. Previously, this was not an issue, but since I've started learning Russian, this system has not been functioning as well. It is no longer an option for my mind to alternate between two languages, for it now has a second foreign language option to contend with. To continue with the hard drive analogy: what I've noticed is that my mind will seemingly overwrite the words I've previously learned in Spanish with the equivalent in Russian. Of course this is not the case. My Spanish listening and comprehension skills are as good as they ever were. After memorizing a new word in Russian, it's Spanish equivalent becomes more difficult to recall. When I wish to speak in Spanish, my mind has difficulties switching from Russian to Spanish and back again with ease. A former Russian professor of mine has described this phenomenon as Russian eating other languages. She had previously studied French and Spanish. After an intensive study of Russian, the language burrows deep into the mind and consumes what other languages that may reside there. I'm going to everything in my power to keep that from happening!

I believe I've determined the solution to this quagmire. As I've stated previously, it's like my mind has been partitioned into two parts. What I need to do is create a third partition. I need to focus on dividing what is 'the other' or foreign in my mind into two parts. While I wish that this was as easy as partitioning a hard drive and then loading my data on to it, it is not that simple. My solution is to forget English altogether, for the time being. I will focus on going back and forth between Russian and Spanish in my mind until it is as fluid as the change from Russian to English and back. I've purchased a Russian-Spanish categorical dictionary to help me accomplish this. Thus far, this method has been a success. I'm learning new Russian words based upon my understanding of the Spanish equivalent. I'm even learning some new Spanish words that I only previously knew in Russian! I only hope that during this partitioning process, my hard drive doesn't crash! We'll see how it goes. Until then, до свидания and hasta luego!

A side note - when listening to Russian radio, it's always exciting to hear a Spanish song. They are played here frequently. I don't always immediately notice that the music is not Russian! I'm excited for the day to come when my Russian is as good as or even better than my Spanish! In any case, I know that both languages will continue to be an important part of my life for many years to come!

Library Complications

Earlier in the semester, I went to get a library card at the central library here in Vladimir. I remembered that I had yet to actually go and get some books because I already have my collection of favorite Russian reference books with me. Since it was a rainy Sunday afternoon and I live on the same block where the library is located, I decided to see what it was like. Upon arriving to the library, I immediately proceded to the front desk and presented my library card. They in turn handed me back my library card as well as a slip that documents which rooms of the library I am in and for what time duration. Continuing on to the second floor, I enter the room of books for foreign language study. I begin to browse the selection, but I am stopped by the librarian who states that I must present my documents in order to be in the room. I do so and everything is in order. I proceed to the Russian as a foreign language section to look for books. As I browse, I am stopped by the librarian and informed that this area is off-limits and that I must proceed to the other part of the room. I do as I am told and then inquire as to how I am to find books. I ask if I may browse the electronic or card catalogs. The librarian tells me that they don't keep these books on record because they are so seldom used. The other librarian then proceeds to take me back to the off-limits section where I was just minutes earlier and let me browse at my leisure. After finding three books that suit my fancy, I returned to the front desk. I was informed that I would have to pay 200 rubles as a deposit for the books. Furthermore, I would need to fill out a series of forms with my contact information: name, birth year, address, phone number; all information that I had previously given them when applying for my library card. After a series of signatures for each of the books, the deposit given and the transaction in general, I was allowed to proceed out of this room. Arriving on the first floor, I presented my documents and was given clearance to leave the building.

While the Russian system may seem complicated, I give it credit. I favor it to the Spanish library system at the Universidad de Sevilla. There I was not allow to browse the books and simply restricted to an archaic card catalog system and a seemingly nonsensical electronic search database. Even, after all of the paperwork, this Vladimir libarary functions effectively and the librarians there are generally very friendly.

Burger Time

Continuing in my theme of firsts from my previous blog post, upon my return from Волгоград, I was really craving a hamburger. While I really try not to indulge myself with foods from home while abroad, it was late, my hostmom was asleep and I knew that there was a 24-hour burger joint around the corner. I layered myself up with coats and headed out into the cold. Seeing the menu at Мистер Гамбургер, I was delighted to see familiar names, although they were written in Cyrillic. I decided to go for the чизбургер (cheeseburger) and a coke. In typical fast food fashion, the fine people at Mister Gamburger give me my tray and I'm off. Sitting down at a nearby available table, I hastily unwrap the burger. While the bun looks a little strange, that doesn't stop me from biting right in. What do I think after my first bite?: This tastes nothing like a hamburger! There is something known as бутерброд in Russian, which is roughly equivalent to an open-faced sandwich. This чизбургер tasted nothing like a grilled burger loaded with deliciously unhealthy American cheddar cheese, but more like a toasted bun with provolone cheese and a slice of deli meat. While the latter description may sound appetizing for some, the taste left something to be desired. There is another burger chain in town, MacKing. While I am really craving a good burger right now, I don't know if I want to risk my life on some unholy pseudo-fusion of McDonalds and Burger King at МакКинг. I guess I'll just have to wait another two months before I have my big, fat, juicy cheeseburger... maybe even with bacon and avocado!

What You WILL Find In Russia

What You WILL Find In Russia:
McDonald's
Churches
Starbucks
More churches
Hard Rock Cafe
Yet even more churches
Carl's Jr.
Cbarro
Шуарума
Hot dog stands
American Diner
Pepsi
Coca-Cola
Лимонад
Miller Beer
Budweiser
A limited selection of American (Californian) wine
Кефир (mildly fermented milk drink)
Квас (mildly fermented bread drink)
M&M's
Mars chocolate bar
Snickers
Чёрный хлеб (black bread)
Beets
Lay's Potato Chips (Flavors including: bacon, cheese, sour cream & onion and шашлык kebab)
Газированная вода / вода с газом (carbonated water)
Медовуха
Путинка Vodka
Шампанское
$8 пиво that tastes like something one eightieth that price
Балтика 0-9 & Невское Светлое Пива
Hockey fans
Футбол
Hookah bars
Smokers
Чай
Instant Coffee
The most expensive city in the world
Recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkazia
Georgian restaurants
Ford Focus
Нефть (oil)
State-owned majority stakes in companies of key industries
1 копейка coin worth $0.0004 (at an exchange rate of 25 rubles per dollar)
Dial-up internet
220V electrical outlets
A new time zone
Cheap, legal DVDs
PAL Video Format
Satellite and Cable TV
A city that never sleeps
Beautiful Питер
Eurodance radio stations
Foreign TV shows dubbed in Russian (with the source-language track still played)
Torrential summer downpours
Белые ночи (white nights)
Large mosquitoes
Отчества
Futons used as beds year-round
Матрёшки
Superstition
Worries of becoming sterile from sitting on cold concrete
Paganism
Штрафы милиции
Xenophobia of Caucasians
One sixth the land mass of the earth
Lake Baikal
Monasteries
Дурак, the card game... of course
Cell phones without contracts
Билайн рекламы
Cheap cab rides
Inexpensive public transportation
Trans-Siberian Railroad
Stray dogs that seem to know how to use the metro and crosswalks
World-class musicians playing in the depths of the metro
War memorials
Tatars, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Georgians, Armenians, etc.
More war memorials
A mummified former leader
Yet even more war memorials
Temperatures below zero
Businessmen in Armani suits
Women in D&G (authenticity disputable)
Homeless people
Handicapped missing all but one limb
Скинхеди
Цыганы
Chinese tourists
German speakers
American embassy
Тимати
Дима Билан
Men with "mullet" or "rat-tail" style haircuts
Baths from water heated off of the stove (when the city hot water pipes or plant are under repair)
Abundant medicine available without prescription (including antibiotics)
Memories of a fallen society
Dreams of a promising future

Periodically speaking... / Where did this TV come from?

So I've bought my first comic book ever. (My former roommate, Nay, a comic book-addict is now tickled pink.) Any guesses as to what it might be? Yes, 90% of you are right in that I bought a Simpsons comic. While many of you may know that I don't think too highly of comics, since they are generally a waste of time, but I figured it would be fun to give my Russian a run for its money, putting it in the context of a Russian-language Simpsons comic. My general impression of the comic is overall positive. It's as if it's its own self-contained Simpsons episode. Since the can't seem to make episodes fast enough for me to watch, this was a fun new way to get my Simpsons fix.

On a related note, I am dismayed to hear that the РФ will soon be pulling the plug on The Simpsons in Russia. The cancellation is rumored to occur sometime during the next two months. As a diehard Simpsons fan, I am sad to hear that the Russian population will be missing out on what millions people around the globe enjoy on a daily basis, often in their own native languages.

After returning from my long trip of the semester, a cruise down that Volga river, I was surprised to find a TV in my room. It had been at the dacha of my hostmother. While I normally don't watch much television and the two month gap with one was hardly noticed, I do appreciate having a TV while in Russia. It's nice to have that extra opportunity to expose myself to spoken Russian and test my listening comprehension skills.

My other new purchase was a Russian National Geographic Magazine. It looks just like the American version with the golden border, although it is all in Russian and the articles are differently, mainly pertaining to Russia. As I had mentioned earlier in one of my photo album captions, one of the clubs I frequented in Moscow was featured in the National Geographic. This just happens to be that very issue. In case you're curious, the club is called Propaganda.

Reflections on Russia - To Pee or not to Pee

Reflections on Russia - To Pee or not to Pee
Shortly after arriving in Russia, you will notice one striking different after visiting "the facilities." This WC is nothing like what you've seen in America. If you have to go to the bathroom in Russia, you had better cross your fingers, pray to God and hope for the best. Once you have finally managed to locate a bathroom, you'll be surprised to find that this facility utilized for a basic necessity of human existence is not бесплатный. Oh no, you will have to pay a small fee to use the bathroom, usually ranging from 10 to 20 rubles. While this is less than a dollar, it is an added inconvenience. Once you pay, you expect to get your money's worth. You imagine a clean stall, with seats covers, toilet paper, a sink with hot running water, soap and maybe even some papers towels to dry your hands. Not so fast! From experience, I would have to say the average bathroom stall is dirty than expected. The toilet seats are often made out of cheap plastic, if you are lucky enough to have a toilet seat at all and seat covers are generally out of the question. Many times you will find that the bathrooms don't even have toilet paper, so be prepared and bring your own just in case! On occasion, there is only cold water to wash your hands with and there is no guarantee that there will be soap or something to dry your hands on. If you are lucky enough to be in a city with Western restaurants such as Starbucks or McDonalds, you are in luck! While I advice eating as much Russian cuisine as possible while abroad, these restaurants often have nicer restrooms than many of their Russian counterparts. My Moroccan friend once described McDonalds to me as being the "American embassy." For those seeking a bathroom meeting their Western expectations, in these "American embassies" you can find your own slice of America and go about your business as usual. Next time you use the facilities in America, be grateful. You have no idea how bad it could actually be. Postscript: It could be even worse than this, in places such as Morocco and China, you may not even have a toilet at all, but just a hole in the ground!