Category: Russia

Tonight, Katya, Evgeny, Grisha, Masha and I all went to a restaurant to let me taste some Russian sushi. It was quite good! Evgeny is not happy because today his company car has been changed from a decent Hyundai to a Lada. A Lada is a Russian-made car, that basically looks, sounds, feels, acts like a metal box on wheels. Add that plus 30 years of use, and you have our new corporate car for the family :) It does make the experience all more Russian for me, because sometimes now I can forget where I am since there are so many upscale malls, bmw’s, bentley’s, mercedes’, all around us. It’s definitely a paradox to see such a separation between classes.  It’s still not snowing, but it is freezing, and there’s lots of ice on the ground, that walking home tends to be a slip and slide. Which reminds me of something funny from the kindergarten. The weather is unusually warm for Russia and to not have snow for Christmas and New Year’s is very odd. So during the children’s song and dance, when santa asks, and what do we throw in winter?? The children apparently all yelled ‘stones’ rather than the expected ‘snowballs’. Guess they’ll have to wait a little longer for more snow to come..

This morning, we all got up and Masha and I took Grisha to his Kindergarten party. All the children were dressed up in different costumes, and Grisha was a little clown. It was interesting to see what customs they have for the kids at Christmas, and who knew, Santa in Russia has an illegitimate granddaughter, Snegurochka. Unlike how in the US, we have Santa and Ms. Clause seen posing together in things, here, it’s the old man and the young girl wearing a triangular hat–with no Ms. Clause in sight. The granddaughter character was the host of the party this morning. After the party, I headed to Kurskaya to meet Evgeny for lunch. He’s had to go into work this week more because of some issues happening due to end of year. After lunch, I went to Red Square and watched figure skaters. They had a performance on the ice rink that’s set up on the Red Square for the winter. I also went by St. Basil’s Cathedral, and then over to Church of Christ of the Saviour. After getting a chocolate crepe, I headed back to the metro and went to Arbatskaya to wander around. I can’t believe how Moscow has changed. Being the 3rd time, each time I have seen such differences compared to the last. The biggest impressions was the emergence of such new upscale shopping areas, clothing outlets, and just newness over all that I hadn’t seen before. Impression #2, men are wearing a lot of dark colors/black (due to winter) and the women are wearing more fur than I’ve ever seen in my life. The good Russian hats are still popular than I’d ever imagine (seems so cliche!) After a walk here, I decided my legs had had enough and I took the metro back to Novogireevo.

Today, Masha and I took Grisha to the pediatrician. It was quite an interesting experience to see what the doctor’s office looked like, and how they have documentation for his visit. Apparently in Russia there are districts that you are part of, and as such, you are assigned a specific doctor. So you have to wait for your specific district’s doctor to see you. She also had a book that had all these stamped documents of information about his shots, background, etc.  After the pediatrician’s office, we came back home and had lunch. After lunch we headed out to take Grisha to a New Year’s party at Red Square. Here I met up with Evgeny and we walked around while Masha and Grisha were at their party. We then came back for a good dinner at the house and Katya joined us for the evening. It was so great to have everyone together and chat about everyone’s lives. We’re still waiting for the snow!

My flights yesterday went really well and were quite easy. Business class in Lufthansa was really nice. There was a remote control for my seat that actually made it lay out completely flat, and it even had a massage in the back of the chair! The movie selection was good as well, and I ended up staying up the entire flight mainly because the time of the flight was all day for me. Business class was pretty empty, and almost everyone sat by themselves (they’re usually pairs, meaning no one sat next to anyone, including myself.) Flying into Frankfurt was very beautiful. All the trees had been dusted with snow and it was a winter wonderland. I walked around the airport, found the showers, and had a nice hot shower to feel better about being on the plane for so long. I then had some bratwurst and sat at the ‘Goethe’ Bar and lounge and spoke to some people. There was a guy that randomly sat down next to me and he was from San Francisco as well. Throughout the airport, I felt like a poor american–our dollar has sunk so low that no one even wants it anymore. My bill at the Goethe bar was 6 euro, so when I said that I needed to pay in US$, they upped the price to a grand $15. I couldn’t believe it. For a currency that started off completely equal to US$ back in 2001, to seeing that now I was being charged almost double was gross! I then waited around until my next flight for Moscow was to leave, and I wrapped my gifts to be brought into Russia :) By this time, I was definitely tired, so I dozed on the 3 hour flight to Moscow. After we deplaned, we went to the passport control, and there were queues that looked endless. I chose a line that I thought would move fastest, and I could not believe how slow my line was. Not only was it the SLOWEST line, but I ended up being the absolute LAST person through–after 1:40, I finally made it through, which was fine, because Evgeny had been caught in traffic. At around 8pm, Evgeny and Katya came to pick me up, and we started our long journey back to their flat. I was energized by the excitement of seeing them, and I was so happy to be here again. More soon. (PS> I got through customs in a breeze).

So yesterday I spent all day tidying up the apartment so I have a nice clean apartment to come back to in the New Year. I also went around town today doing my last minute shopping/errands etc. So today I’ll get to fly to Russia and see Evgeny and his family/friends and spend Christmas and New Year’s together with them. Evgeny and I have written to each other since we were 12, and I remember letters saying I must experience a Russian Winter, so here I am, getting all my handwarmers/toe warmers etc ready for my journey to a Russian White Christmas. Stay tuned for our exciting adventures together!

The day after the wedding, I spent getting packed, and doing some souvenir shopping. I found a nice watercolor painting of St. Basil’s that I bought. After the shopping and eating McDonald’s for ONE LAST TIME, we made it to the airport to begin my journey back to San Francisco. It’s amazing how different it feels to travel. Whether it’s because it’s such a part of my life now, or because I enjoy it so much, it feels less and less surreal each time I go. It IS part of my life, and will continue to be, as I pursue my experiences abroad.

The days qiuickly went by and Saturday was right upon us. The day of Evgeny’s wedding. So, Mom, Dad, Katya, and I all went together to meet Evgeny. Evgeny had his suit on, and I had my shirt and tie on. We then got his friends, decorated cars, and got prepared to get the bried. The bride was on the 7th floor in their flat getting prepared. To get into the flat however, you must answer quiz questions and pay money to go up to the top. Guarded by her friends, the entrance to the building was the first obsticle. He answered various questions and then was allowed to pass. We all followed him upstairs to where the door of the hallway was blocked by Masha’s aunt. There were more questions, and then the most difficult of the tests. There was a sheet of paper that that had all the girls’ kiss marks on them. He had to pick which one was Masha’s, before he could enter the flat. Good thing, he picked hers in only 2 tries! Then as we entered the flat, she was standing on a chair in the living room with her bright red and purple wedding gown. Before he could get her down, his friends had to lift him up to her face to kiss her. After the kiss she was able to get down and join Evgeny. It was so cool to witness all the festivities for the wedding. We all got in cars and drove to some city registrar that will update your passport with the name and info of your new spouse. Yes, Russians must carry a passport for intracountry movement, that contains information about their address, their children, marriages etc. So, after a quick 10 minute ceremony that resembled our weddings, the bride and groom said ‘da’, and moved to another room to sign the license.

After the wedding ceremony, we went to famous places in Moscow for pictures and enjoying being outside before the restaurant. The reception was held in a restaurant just in front of the Bolshoi Theater, named Alcapulco Mexican Restaurant. This was Russian-Mexican, so no tacos, but more like potatoes and salso :) There was dancing, music, food, more food, then even more food, and toasts! There were gifts given, mainly money, but I did see a blender and coffeemaker too! This was an opportunity to spend with his friends and enjoy the banter of a Russian wedding. I had a lot of fun, and I am so glad I was able to go.

The next few days, either Katya and I, or I myself went out to enjoy Moscow. We did the sightseeing things, but the est thing th tI hadn’t seen my first trip was the Faberge Egg collection that is on moving display. This was really lucky becuause usually this display is elsewhere, and for my luck, Faberge had it’s display in the Krem=lin this month. So, I went to this. Very interesting and ornage eggs were made by a frenchman who lived in Russia, and made these eggs as gifts for Easter for the Czars. What makes them so famous is that they would contain a unique toy inside that were so minute in detail. It was really intersting to see.

I did see Lenin’s body again actually, and it is so funny to see what my imagination had done with the interior of the Mausoleum. I mean, my memory resembled what was actually there, but in my mind, the wall decor was really quite different. Funny how your mind can make you believe different things. Anyhow, to disappointment, the grand St. Basil’s Cathedral was practically all covered by scaofolding, so Iit wasn’t as impressive to see Red Square this time around. Very disappointing. I wanted to mainly take some cool photographs with this in the background.

Today, we all went to Red Square and did a little bit of sightseeing. Since this was my 2nd trip to Moscow, I really didn’t HAVE to see much, as I had seen quite a bit my first trip here. So, we shopped some, ate, hung out, got to know each other better, and just enjoyed being in each other’s company. It was a lot of fun, a d a nice relaxing time.

So on Labor Day, Monday, 2003, I began my journey to Moscow. Since I got a great deal on British Airways, I decided to stop over in London, as I had not visited there yet. So, my plan was to take a 2 week vacation–1 week in London, and 1 in Moscow.

Upon departure, I found myself so excited to return to the family I had written to for more than half my life. I rememebered clearly how exciting it was to receive the packages and letters from Evgeny, telling me about his life.

When I arrived in Moscow from London, Evgeny and Katya and Alex were there to greet me. Katya had grown from the 9 year old shy girl who couldn’t speak any English, to a 16 year old fiesty, English-speaking girl! Evgeny looked very much the same, and, I felt completely at home with them. It’s so strange with how you can hardly ever see a person, but really feel like you know them.

After our drive into the city, we began looking for my hotel. I wasn’t tired, as I had been in London for the week previous, and had no jetlag. We were driving really slowly, and made a couple of U-turns, when a Police officer pulled us over. Wow. Moscow is really full of scandal. To get out of getting a ticket from making an illegal turn, the driver, Alex, Evgeny’s friend from school, had to pay him a mere $15 to be ‘released’. This is very common as Evgeny explained. So, we found my hotel, Hotel Sputnik, and it was a typical Russian hotel, all with it’s grand customer service. When we were checking in, Evgeny explained that I couldn’t speak Russian, and asked who there spoke English. She said, no one. How can no one here speak English, you’re a hotel. Nope. No one. (no smiles, typical Russian demeanor for anything remotely resembling customer service). So, I offered tritely, how about Spanish?, German?, Japanese?, Swedish?? I mean come on! So, after this worry, the man next to us goes, “I need to have a taxi, can you call one for me?” The clerk next to our clerk said, “to what destination,” or something like this. My ears perked up, and we just looked back at the clerk, and Evgeny said, what about your coworker there.. it sounds like she can speak English. Then without smiling, the hussy said, “it was a joke.” Har Har. Funny.

So I was given the key to my room and we went to check it out. Dark and dismal, it was still quite homey with the most comfortable bed. I even had MTV Russia! So, nights were fun catching up on the music scene. After checking out the room, Masha was to come meet me. Fragile and delicate, Masha was greeted by Evgeny with a kiss and introduced to me. I felt so happy to be part of this wedding. Masha was very shy, and didn’t want to speak English, but this all changed in the next couple of days.

We tried to find something to eat, but didn’t have any luck, so I went back to my hotel, and Evgeny, Masha, and Katya all went back to their flat.