Stories and pictures--not necessarily about the same things...

Continued the consumptive pattern of an American all weekend! Did get the desired hairdryer, and discovered that the camera was working after all. I had AA batteries, but apparently they weren’t AA camera batteries—who knew? Great sales clerk pointed it out at the mall. And it was a real mall! Built in the suburbs, as Marina B. said it was a shopping and entertainment complex. Her 10 year old son met a friend there, and they spent the time playing games up on the top floor. I never got up there to see the food court or the arcade area, but hope to as I am very curious. The rest of it was definitely mall in layout and arrangement. The cornerstone store—big store—was Mos-Mart—yes, like Wal-Mart only from Moscow. VERY much the same in layout and inventory, including a huge grocery store where we could get things like parmesan cheese, Societe brand blue cheese, and other items not seen elsewhere. I assume it was cheaper (except for the specialty items), but not necessarily.

Wandered around a lot with Hannah recently, which is great. I can’t remember where, but in some public area we saw a bunch of photos of hunters in the area—looked a lot like SD, everyone had their little orange vests on over plaid hunting jackets. All were with trophies, looked like mostly deer.

I know there’s much about Russian society that I am missing—that is, there are distinct differences in approach that are hard to define, and aren’t always clear to me. Hopefully that will clear up in time, or somewhat? The problem is everyone is trying to show me what they have which is like what we have, so it’s almost too easy to think we’re just the same—same malls, same kabillion stores, same specialty groceries—although I have to say their shoes are definitely better, even if most of them are heels that I wouldn’t/couldn’t wear!

Teachers here have very involved and complex schedules. The courses don’t necessarily follow a regular semester calendar—instead the “curriculum” drives the calendar rather than the other way around, as in the US. Consequently, courses can last for one month, or two months or a year or whatever it takes to deliver the information. My course is an oddity in that it has regular days for an extended period of time. The students also have to adjust to course times and days changing through out the term, as well as rooms because as the schedule changes, so do room assignments.

Teachers are hired for a base number of classes, but the pay is very low. Therefore, almost all teach more classes—either at the university or elsewhere in the community—to raise their pay. It seems that language teachers in particular are paid quite low, but perhaps I just know more about them. I think that someone like Marina, who is dean of the faculty, is paid a better amount, but she is very busy too, and I think she does some teaching, but I’m not sure. It really is a little muddy for me, and I don’t quite understand the system.

I learned today as well that the term “college” here means vocational school. Consequently, for them to hear that I teach in the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences was very confusing and more than a bit shocking. They use the term “faculty” to refer to BA degree and above level study, so they would say I’m part of the ABS faculty at the University.

Went to the zoo yesterday and it was quite cold! Misty rain most of the time quite a wind. We went with Marina and Farida (pronounced FariDA), and actually had a great time! Most of the animals were sleeping or tucked inside away from the cold, but we actually had a great time exploring and then warming up with tea and coffee and just talking. Farida told about when they were children in school in Soviet Russia, they had to learn how to dismantle a kalashnikov rifle. She reported she was the best in her school—she could do it in 9 seconds. Marina said it took her 10 seconds. I am confident that it would take me much longer...

No red-haired people’s festival, although we found out it’s kind of a British ex-pat thing anyway! The mayor of Izhevsk had heard of it in Yorkshire England, and started one here about 3 years ago. Just too far away and too cold! We thought perhaps pictures of cold, damp, red-haired people weren’t really what we needed for our blogs….

Speaking of pictures, I hope to add some here at the end of the post, but haven't been successful yet, so you may have already seen them!

There are almost no houses in all of Izhevsk. The vast, vast majority of residents live in apartments buildings of various forms and sizes. Some the buildings are new, some are older. There are many backroads into these large blocks of apartments, and more people are beginning to own cars so some of them are very crowded. Most people do not own cars, however.

Marina B. talked about living in a "Kruschev flat"--when leader, Kruschev introduced a number of austerity measures, including the construction of many, many one room flats. She has bought the flat next to her, and is now in teh process of putting two into one--very, very expensive, she says and I don't doubt it...

The great chocolate Alianka/Olianka standoff. the small chocolate shows the face of Alianka, the poster girl for the Red October chocolate factory in Moscow. When Ukraine split from the USSR, they started producing Olianka chocolates (the big bar). I guess it was a way to keep brand loyalty and independence!

BTW, Russian chocolates are great and, perhaps unfortunately for me, readily available everywhere.

Despite creepy camera eyes, these students did a nice job of presenting Udmurt native dress, song and a little bit of dance for the reception for all the international students.

At the "zoopark", Farida, myself and Hannah....It just got colder, so we're looking quite chipper as yet. Unfortunately, Marina is the one taking the picture, so still need to get her in a shot soon.