Amanda's Moscow Re-Impressions

It was good to be back in Moscow! Since I spent some time there last summer, my "first impressions" are slanted all over the place.

Anyhow! The city is large, fairly austere, and at first glance very unfriendly. No one talks on the metro, smiling person = foreigner, and there's no "please and thank-you" in everyday conversation. Evidence of inequality is everywhere. There are drunk school kids riding the metro next to professionals in $2000 suits. It's a harsh reminder that Russia has a lot of developing to do.

Despite all that, however, I'm still charmed by the city. I love the parks, the bizarre Soviet architecture, riding the very efficient metro, and short to-the-point conversations like:

"Young lady, what do you want?"
"A sausage."
"This one?"
"No that one."
"Here."

I was even starting to get used to the hilarious "old lady knows best" culture: "Young lady, you don't want sausage. You want this one." And of course they're right. It was, however, pretty hard not to get irritated when Ilana was told not to sit a certain way. Yikes. It's hard to keep your pride tucked away THAT much.

Also, I'm glad to be shedding my "translator" duties. Few people in Moscow really speak English, so getting around can be a little rough. But we made it.

I'm nuts. I can't wait to go back.