I have also finished my first week of Russian language classes. This is by far the hardest course I am taking. I have also found it difficult to learn any language, and this - of course - is no exception. But, I am trying my hardest to learn as much as I can. I also have a Russian tutor, who is helping me. My tutor is exceptional, and I know I got lucky compared to my 11 colleagues. While most tutors are Russian college students who aspire to teach language or make a few bucks on the side, my tutor teaches German and English at Moscow State University. She spent 2 hours with me on Tuesday having me recite over and over again words that I just started learning the day before. It was very helpful, but also very humbling.
On Thursday, after four days of instruction, I became excited when I was hurrying through the Metro and discovered myself reading the Cyrillic signs as to the stations I needed to head toward. Thus, I can now see
Китай Пород
and know that it is the Kitay-Gorod station, which is the station that I go to when I head to the university. However, I'm still not quite sure what these Cyrillic words are advertising:
I know the first letter of each word is a D, (the Delta symbol) but I'm still not sure of the rest. Maybe later I'll have some coffee and work on my translation.
I am currently writing / illustrating my experiences this week of the city in several themed postings. I am on sensory overload and don't know where to being or end, so as I finish them, I'll publish one at a time.
Yesterday I took a beautiful trip down the Moscow River, which winds through the city. (More on this in a future post. Prior to boarding, Коко-Кола was promoting its affiliation with the World Cup by giving away small cans of Coke in the area of a public fountain. Being a hot day, the free soda tasted great, and best of all, it was the coldest beverage I have been served since arriving in Russia. No drinks are served with ice, and most are a few degrees above room temperature.
Ahhh! The small joys of capitalism thriving in Moscow. I, along with all of my colleagues enjoyed a free Coke prior to touring the Moscow River on Friday, July 2. While soda is readily available, I haven't seen many Russians drinking it. Popular non-alcoholic drinks are Nestea, water, lemon-flavored water, and Quas, (Kvas) which is a drink made of rye and malt. It tastes like unfinished beer soaked in bread.
Side Notes:
Lenin: I am getting ready to visit the Lenin Mausoleum at Red Square this morning. Since I was in high school I've always considered this display of Lenin's body as somewhat of a freak show / side show. And, I actually have mixed feelings about this because of how the Russian authorities "force" you to be respectful. While I'm excited to see his body as a mere curiosity, in a way I am lending credence to his botched attempt at controlling the world by shuffling past his remains. I will be lined up next to another person and allowed to walk (and keep walking) around his body, which lies on top of a sarcophagus in the mausoleum. I will not be allowed to wear a hat, bring a camera, talk, point, put my hands in my pockets, laugh, etc. I'll report on what I feel about this experience tomorrow.
Coffee: Since leaving DC I haven't had a cup of coffee. I've been OK with this. Russians like a lot of their coffee instant, which I find strange especially with the influx of Western coffee shops: Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. (This may be changing if the marketers have their way.) All of sudden this morning I am having a coffee craving. Where I live is too far from a good coffee shop to purchase a cup for about two hours when I ride the Metro downtown. The shops across the street from my apartment only offer instant. I'll wait...Maybe.
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