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Life in Russia
by Donna Chisholm - New Zealand
Well, Russia sure ain't like anything on earth - I have travelled a lot and it has been a new experience for me.
I boarded the plane fill of excitement and a little bit of nerves but a wise man once said fortune favours the brave.
I did feel like a bit of an explorer - heading into the depths of the Russian autumn waiting for the minus 30 wind to bite into my sunburnt legs.
Russia is...
Big, yet small. There are little communities well established amongst those towering skyscrapers. Imagine growing up in a town of two thousand people then living in a building complex with the populus in one building.
Russia is...
Dirty, yet clean. It is mucky and muddy and stinky and icy and cold and windy and there is litter everywhere. The metro is grimy, but then each morning I look out my window and the leaf sweeper is out doing the job. Sweeping with a birch broom, moving the leaves into a pile clearing away the concrete path for everyone to walk to work.
Russia is...
Communist, yet modern. The architecture is impressive. The metro palace is amazing, marble, gold, chandeliers, skyscrapers, flashing lights hidden amongst Nike, Mega, Coffee bean, Hard rock cafe, Macdonalds.
Russia is...
Unfriendly yet kind. People ignore you on the bus when you cause a fuss. People walk past you when your shopping has split on the ground. People walk past you when you ask for directions...yet when you are in a queue ordering Macdonalds and the sales clerk asks you something in Russian the person behind you begins to interpret what the request is. And when you go to find beer and no one understands what you are saying - and your kind assistant has text a phonic version through on your phone - when you approach a sales assistant they shut their kiosk, put on their outdoor shoes and take you straight to beer vendor.
Russia is...
serious yet has a sense of humour. People ignore you when you try and act out complete with sound effects - where can you buy an umbrella? Yet when late at night you jump into a car and say Dobre uttra - the driver laughs and says how much Russian do you know?
Russia is...
Russia. There is no explaining it. You just have to experience it. A kind women once said "over every horizon, and in every new town there is a new friend waiting. Go forth and met those friends waiting to share fun and laughter with - create memories so you will relish the stories in years to come.
oops...forgot one important thing.
Russia is....
Cold, yet, well, it's cold - no surprise there!!!!
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