Day 29 ~ Last Day of History

31. July

Today was a fun day! School was good, during language class we use these flash cards that have different stories using the different cases. The main character of the cards is Anton, and there are about 32 cards. They were fun at first but got more difficult as more cases were introduced. We are having a final exam on Monday for language class and we have to memorize the sentences on the cards, or the situations and learn the correct cases and endings. Well, to make my studying easier I took pictures of each of the cards. Anton can’t give me a hard time then! Plus, they are helpful to learn when to use the cases and the endings as well. The teacher noticed me doing this and said I was smart to use them to study!

In history class Stas continued his lecture about the war from yesterday by including another story. I mentioned that I went to the antique store yesterday after class, well Stas said that Andrew the dealer had gotten some letters from a soviet soldier in the war and had asked Stas to read them and determine their value.
Stas said that as he read them they didn’t have much information that would help understand the war any better, however, they showed how much this person cared for his family. Stas determined that the man was an auto mechanic. He was writing letters to his 10 year old son. The letters were a tool for the son to learn to read and write for the Father was expecting the boy to write back. Furthermore, you learn that the man was a pheasant or farmer because in the letters he kept asking if they had gotten the hay ready for the cow, or done this or that to take care of the cow. Apparently the cow was a very important part of the family.

Stas finally said that he believes in people and diplomacy. Furthermore, that exchange programs such as the one I am currently on are as useful as strong missiles. If one person can learn about a country and pass it on to others to perhaps change false opinions or impressions it’s worth it.

Personally, I think that these types of things are a great tool. I know that some people gave me weird looks and “Why Russia?” when I told them I was coming here for 6 weeks. Russia still receives negative impressions. It certainly has quite a past.
I certainly hope that perhaps my journey will broaden or change opinions about the country. It certainly has its faults but overall it’s a great country filled with lots of beauty amidst chaos and recovery. The country as a whole still has a long ways to go to recover from its past, but it’s not as bad as it seems. There is a lot to be learned from the perseverance of the Russian people.

Stas’ last lecture talked about the divided nature of the people of Russia, the Kosaks, and a little about the USSR. It was again a very interesting lecture.
Stas began by saying that for centuries the Russian people have been oppressed by the State. The law was first connected to the Vikings and then the Mongols. The people in Russia never respected the law and were never a part of it creation. Therefore the best thing to do is to avoid the law.

The ruling class was well aware of this fact and compensated via cruelty. It was only during Perestroika that the State was finally given to the people. Currently people still feel that the officials in government are not part of the people and have distrust for the State.

From here Stas talked about the Kosaks, for millions of current Russians are descended from the Kosaks including Andrew the antique dealer. The term Kosak is Turkish and refers to those who prefer to live alone form their clan. Kosaks were frontiersmen who had no connection with the government. They lived freely in the forest zone and Asia. They were a male community that had no wives or family, no jobs, nothing that would tie them down. They were not an object of anyone’s interest. To get by they would hunt, steal, or fish. They did produce salt and would sell that to make small amounts of money. They were Christian and Slavonic so they robbed mostly from Muslims. They created their own republic and their leaders were called Ottomans. To become a Kosak a man would have to proclaim that he was a follower of Christ and make the sign of the cross.

The characteristics of the Kosaks have become part of Russian mythology. They are seen as strong, powerful, brave men. In the 18th century the Kosaks became connected to Government.

The last thing that Stas talked about was the set up of the USSR and Russia. Russia is divided into Republics, Regions, and City of Federal Submission. Those cities are Moscow and St. Petersburg. There is the Region of Novgorod which is inside a republic.

The last part of class was open to questions, and Masha asked if the Dacha’s that many Russians have are private or public land. The Dacha is on private land with a tax of less than 500 Rubles a year. That’s almost 20 dollars. In soviet times the land for Dacha’s was municipal corporate land. ½ of Russians use the Dacha as just a hobby for growing things; others use it for making a profit and selling the produce as part of their living. The Russians would be very prepared for a crisis if one arose.

Stas ended by saying that the Russians can survive without the State and don’t need the State or the economy. For centuries the Russians have been surviving despite being controlled and avoiding government.

I certainly can see that this is true. The families that I have come across and met here are always happy, always have enough to eat, and don’t seem to be struggling. I know that many people make way much less than Americans, and the cost of living is probably less as well, but most people that I have met are happy and surviving.
The perseverance and will to live that is apparent has been apparently in the Russian people through the centuries is certainly something that is still seen today. Russia may not be in the best boat financially but you would never be able to tell. The people stick together and know how to survive. There is a lot to learn from Russia.

America is great and has lots of nice things but it is a land of convince, fast food, and getting what we want quickly. There aren’t many people in my generation that know how to survive like our grandparents do. It seems that even people my age in Russiaare still be learning these things from thier grandparents and parents but are also willing to learn. In America where you can just buy everything frozen and stick it in a microwave, or drive to a fast food restaurant, not many young people know how to make things or preserve things. We would not be prepared for a crisis like the Russians would be.

Heck, we’re too concerned if our iPods run out of battery or we can’t get our internet to work. In an age of technology I personally fear that we’re becoming too attached and dependant. Personally being without internet and cell phones and such for extended periods of time like I am here has been very nice. Personally I don’t mind it, and prefer a life free of being tied to electronics. Mom, you might be shocked to hear me say that, because I know at times I am attached to my computer or my telephone.

I only wish I knew how to cook as well as Olga, how to can fruit and vegetables, or use plants to make herbs (as well as many other things). I realize I am still young and people such as my parents and Olga have learned through many years of experience. I see the people in Russia surviving as they do, and I know that I am ill prepared for any type of disaster!

Anyways, the lecture certainly got me thinking. Overall history class has been very good. Stas is a very knowledgeable man who loves to tell about his country, especially to foreigners. I appreciate his want to pass on his wealth of knowledge in a very balanced way.

After school a bunch of people went to the Army store in Novgorod where policeman and others get their uniforms and badges, apparently the public can come here and buy certain things like badges and such. Well I really didn’t feel like going, so Doug and I took the bus to main department stores, Rus and Vulna. Doug was looking for a book in one of the bookstores so I went along. I hadn’t been in Vulna before and only the first floor of Rus. The two big stores are what we would consider a mall. They have small shops in them that sell all different types of things. The bottom floor in Rus is a big bookstore, like a Borders store at home. Anyways, Doug found the book he wanted, and so we wandered around a bit more. The Rus has 6 floors I think with small hallways. Nothing like American malls where the walk ways are as wide as the stores themselves. There certainly isn’t enough room to leisurely stroll here and there with benches and trees and fountains here and there like in America. There was one small place in Rus to eat, but nothing like a food court.

Doug mentioned that this is probably because in America the malls are seen as a public space where people go to hang out when they are bored or spend an afternoon. However, in Russia the public spaces are things like the Kremlin and the various parks that are all over the place. Russia has a lot more open space and trees and open public areas. The department stores are there for just shopping. You go in and get what you want and leave. It is nothing in America where you spend a whole day shopping in the mall. Personally, I would prefer more open land and parks and trees in America and less malls, I don’t like shopping that much anyways.

After walking around I went to my internship and played with the kids. We colored and played on the playground. It was a normal day.

Don had invited a bunch of us to his host Sasha’s for a get together. If you remember Sasha was the person who cooked the food at the American Style cookout and whose house we went to that evening.

Lena (Francesca’s host) showed me how to get to Sasha’s house. On the way we ended up talking about Russian weddings and the American idea of engagements. Apparently in Russia there isn’t really an engagement period. It’s becoming a little bit popular since foreigners come to Russian and also from American movies. The idea traditionally is that people date and then get married. They set a date to sign papers and they can also do the whole Church thing if they want too. Russian tradition says that in the morning the couple goes and signs papers and then in the afternoon drives around the town and stops at various places of their choosing to take pictures. This would explain why there are always people walking around various places in Novgorod taking pictures at monuments and then a whole caravan of cars all decorated driving around in procession around the city.

On our walk I noticed a bunch of rice and coins on the ground in front of a restaurant. Lena said this is another tradition. Throwing money at the feet of the couple to wish them a prosperous marriage and rice also so they have a long and happy marriage.

I eventually met up with the group which included Don, Masha, Steve, Adrian, Jim, and Matt. The group went to get beer and Don and I waited for them on a park bench. We started talking about how many little children there are in Novgorod. Everywhere you turn you see someone pushing a stroller here and there or dragging a toddler behind them. There are little kids running around everywhere.

The children in Russia are all so adorable and really cute! Lucky for me, hopefully I have some cute Russian kids. Anyways, Don said that he asked Sasha why there seems to be so many little kids and Sasha says that the government is paying couples so much per child. Apparently the population rate is low and families were having only one or two children, so the government is promoting people to have more children by paying the parents. It was interesting.

Another interesting story from Don, the other day he was walking on his way home with his family when they noticed a bunch of police cars and when they got closer Don said he saw a tarp with a body of a women that had been hit by a car. Needless to say she was hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street and thrown 50 feet or so and did not make it. Don said he could see her limbs sticking out from the tarp. It was quite an interesting story. Living in Russia makes you quite a savy and smart street crosser that’s for sure. I am always nervous to cross the street, especially in front of the university and department stores. I usually just wait to cross with other people so I know the cars will defiantly stop. You definitely have to be paying attention!

Anyways, we all made it to Sasha’s and all had a good time. Sasha cooked sausage and served us some of the most amazing bread I’ve ever had. It reminded me of Italian bread from home, although it had quite an amazing crust. Check out the pictures!
We spent some time discussing some of the silly mistakes we’ve made in our speaking. Steve has had quite the mixups. Instead of saying “pretty square” he said “pretty horse” and instead of telling his host family he “I have a part later” he said “I have a vulgar later”. Sasha the other day called the Declaration of Independence the Declaration of Underpants. Weather trying to speak Russian or English it’s nice to know that we’re all having difficulties with each other’s languages.

It started raining when we were hanging out. I don’t know if I mentioned that our hang out spot is a pavilion in Sasha’s yard, although you could probably gather that from pictures. Anyways, one thing about rain in Russia, when it rains, it pours. That’s not a joke. It always pours, and for a good amount of time. It was pouring for about a half an hour or so and it was late too when it was raining so by the time we were on our way home at 12 am we called a taxi. Steve had a bit too much to drink so he stayed over because he might not have found his way back otherwise. Masha was going to spend the night anyways so she and Steve and I all bunked out in my room. It was quite the evening, but it was fun!

Tomorrow, Saturday, last weekend with the whole group so we’re going to find something to do!

Love,
Sasha