Cultural Observations

We lived in Moscow for years, but since it is a big busy city, I think I have come to agree with the Russians living here in Krasnodar...

Moscow is not Russia.
Or at least it is a Russia that is VERY different than life everywhere else in Russia. So, even now as we celebrate 9 years living in and out of this country, I have learned more about the customs here this year than were ever noticable in Moscow.
American holidays start at Thanksgiving and basically stick around through Christmas and end with a bang on New Years. Well, here they are just getting started when we are all tuckered out!
Our city of a million people shut down on New Years and remained very quiet for well over a week. Quiet in the sense of the regular hussle and bussle of life. The malls and our new McDonalds, however, were full to overflowing the whole time! Speaking of overflowing...

This is a photo of our local dumpsters. There are about 5 within these walls where anyone can dump their bags of garbage, but as you can see, 5 is just not enough at New Years. I am not sure how many days the garbage men are given for vacation, but you will be glad to know that they have since gotten it all cleared away.
We are still hard-pressed to find our regular products and produce at the grocery stores, as they are struggling to fill the shelves after the frenzy of shopping for New Years.

As you may have read in a previous post, we had erratic internet service for the last few weeks.
Catching cabs and marshrutkas (minivans that work like public buses) was a challenge since the drivers were all at home sleeping off their hangovers (which we appreciate, by the way!).
So, to sum up, we have learned that next year, we will need to stock up for the lull after the New Years and that way we can enjoy the calm and recover from the holidays before picking up life's daily routine once again.

Men's Retreat

Men's Retreat!

Steve joined this International group of men (Russians, Americans, Australian and Brit) for a day of hiking and shashlik (Russian version of grilling meat over an open fire). They traveled about an hour from our home and arrived in a region that is part of Russia, and yet all its own. It is called Adigeya. The people who live in this region are primarily Muslim. Their homes, towns and way of life are different than the Russians living just right across the river.

Steve said they had a great time and would love to build a house right there in the middle of the woods! Ironically enough, about twenty minutes from this site, IKEA has bought land and has taunted us with promises of thinking about building on it in the next two years.