Today as I was making the trek to class, I noticed that a security perimeter had been set up surrounding the university. The road was blocked and there were police stationed all throughout the area. On each side of the street there were pairs of cops who were stopping people at random to ask where they were going. I'm not sure what was going on today.. they usually shut down the area around the university when someone important or famous comes, so maybe that was the case. At any rate, as I was walking up the hill I tried to avoid the gaze of the policemen, listen to my music, and mind my own business. But as I looked up I met the glance of one of the police, and he started to walk toward me. He asked me where I was going, and I told him the university. He asked why, and I told him that I study here. By now they must have figured out that I was a foreigner, #1 by my accent, #2 by my outfit, and #3 because I probably looked nervous that they stopped me. So the next question was where are you from? I told them America, and that I was here studying Russian as an exchange student. At that they both became very interested, started smiling, and began to talk to me more. (Just what I wanted as I was on my way to class... to have a conversation with some cops on the street!)
Do you like living in America or Russia better?? I tried to think of the best way to answer this question (as I was talking to law enforcement) and decided that "I like living in both places" was the safest answer. One of the cops then went on to tell me a story of how one of his friends went to Israel and came back to Russia every two months to renew his visa. People didn't understand why he was doing this.. if you like Israel, stay in Israel! And if you like Russia, stay in Russia! But he told them it was the journey that interested him, and so he liked going back and forth. I smiled, nodded, and said oh that's neat. He looked at me after this story and again said "so you're really American, huh?" And I assured him that yes, I am a real American. I thought it was funny. Maybe the first one they had ever met? Then they asked me if I lived in the dorms. I told them that I don't. I live in an apartment and rent a room from a Russian woman. They asked me if I came alone or with anyone else, and I told them alone. (I thought about telling them I previously had friends in Kazan, but decided that wouldn't be such a good idea, and wanted to avoid any more questions, so I kept quiet about it). Then they asked me where I lived. I didn't want to give them the information, but they were cops, and you can't just evade them! So I gave them the general area. The first cop then asked "what building number do you live in?" At this, I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't want to tell them (as I have no idea who they are, and they don't need to know) and so I didn't say anything for a couple seconds. Thankfully the second cop started talking about something else, and so I didn't have to answer his question (thank you Lord!)
The first cop (the one that had originally stopped me) asked what I was doing after my studies. I thought he meant in general, and so I told him that I'm going back to America in July. Apparently he meant today. So I said, well I'm going back home. He said, Oh you should come over to our place for a visit!! At this point I was thinking, ok I really have to get to class, I don't want to give you any more information, and NOW you're inviting me over for a visit?! I told him, no I can't, I can't! And after a little while of me probably looking uncomfortable, he said oh I'm just kidding, and laughed it off. However, I will always secretly wonder if he was really kidding, or not... alas, we shall never know. Culturally, I didn't know how one is supposed to interact with police. Was I supposed to stand there and talk to them until they told me it was ok to go? Or could I just leave on my own? I decided to try the second option. I began to walk away and said thank you (after they told me that my Russian was good) and they said no problem, have a good day!.. and just let me leave! I walked up the rest of that hill as quickly as I could without looking back.
I have heard stories from other people in my class who have had less than friendly encounters with law enforcement, and ended up having to pay bribery money when all was said and done. So I'm glad that these policemen were friendly, and I didn't have any problems. All in all it was an interesting experience, and now they will be able to say that they met a real, live American.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Copyright Laws? What are Those?
A few weeks ago I bought several movies in Russian to watch and practice listening. One was Sherlock Holmes, and tonight I decided that it was time to watch it. As I take it out of the case, I notice that written very clearly on the disk is: "WARNING: All Reserved. For home, use only. Unauthorized public performance, broadcasting or copying is a violation of applicable laws." You know, the usual disclaimer. The menu pops up, and all is normal. I press play, and I notice that the sound all of the sudden got really funny. There was a really annoying ringing noise, and the picture starts shaking a little. That's right folks, the movie I bought was a copy of someone holding a video camera in the theater. I guess that's what I get for paying $1.50 for a new release movie. So much for copyright laws! I can get a ticket from the police for jay walking, and yet buy these basically anywhere I want. Haha love it.
Lesson learned: Buy legit copies of movies to have an enjoyable movie experience.
Lesson learned: Buy legit copies of movies to have an enjoyable movie experience.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Kirov "International" Conference
A couple of weeks ago my Friends Sasha and Ksenia from Kirov (a city in another province of Russia) told me that Ksu's mom was in charge of an international conference on gender equality at the university in Kirov. The only problem was that the only international student they had going to the conference was a girl from China. They asked me if I would be able to come to the conference so it would be more international. I agreed, and thus begins the adventure...
Sunday, October 17 - Margo and I meet at the train station at 5:30pm and start to get all settled in. I'll do my best to try and describe the inside of the train. First of all, there are a bunch of bunk beds but no doors, which means no privacy. (On a side note, I have come to notice that privacy and personal space is definitely a foreign concept in Russia. My room door doesn't have a latch on it, There is always room for 1... wait make that 100.. more people on the buses and elevators, it's not uncommon to have someone almost on top of you in the grocery line, etc. So for the Russians not having doors on the train is no big deal.) There are little "cubes" for lack of a better word that jet off the left-hand side of the walkway. Each cube has 4 beds, 2 on bottom and 2 on top. They are like little rooms, but without the doors. There are probably 10 of these cubes on each train car. Then along the right side of the walkway there are two beds opposite each cube. Just chillin there, parallel to the walkway, out in the open. This is how I got to sleep my first night on the train! Literally on the walkway.
Margo's aunt had packed us a big bag of food because she said there's nothing else to do on the train except eat! So for a couple of hours Margo and I ate, drank tea, laughed, talked, etc. Other passengers were looking at us like we were nuts. Russians tend to be a more reserved people (especially in public) and those of you who know me and Margo know that we are almost the opposite. For example, we put pringles in our mouths like duck beaks and were making quacking noises while taking pictures. But we didn't care, because it was fun :) Once we couldn't eat anymore we decided to go to sleep. This was rather difficult because it was so hot on the train. 50+ people on a train car for 16 hours and windows that don't open isn't exactly the recipe for a comfortable sleep, but that's ok because in the morning we arrived in Kirov!
Monday, October 18 - We spent the day with Ksusha and her 4 month old baby David... so adorable!! I hadn't seen her in several years, so it was really nice to be able to spend some time together again. Her mom got home around 10 or 11 at night and came in and said... so are you ready to speak at the conference tomorrow? WHAT?!?! I thought I was just going to attend this conference to increase the amount of international attendees. Apparently I was there to bring the American viewpoint of gender equality to the discussion. Great. So I talked with Margo about it a little bit, and figured out what I was going to say. We were under the impression that it would be either a booth, or round table discussion where I would be asked questions and answer from an American standpoint. But.... Rule #1 in Russia: There is no such thing as "should happen," "probably will be" etc. Things just happen as they happen.
Tuesday, October 19 - Conference day! The first part of the day we spent listening to mini lectures of each of the speakers on what they would be talking about. Gender equality, differences, problems, etc. Then it was time for lunch. We ate in the special room with the speakers who had come from various regions around Russia. I felt like this little out of place American student who is not any type of expert on gender studies, and had to explain why I did not want vodka with lunch. After lunch there was a "concert" which was actually really neat. There were various traditional cultural songs, dances, and poems. Then it was time for a debate about gender equality.
I was sitting in the audience watching the professors, teachers, priest, and psychologist be called out and take their place on the panel. Then I heard my name called to be on the panel. What? They had put me on the debate panel?! Surprise!! So Margo and I made our way to the front table and waited for what would come. At this point, I really had no idea what to expect and was just hoping that I would be able to come up with a reasonable answer quickly when someone asked a question. And here came the question:
"We found an article online that states that Arnold Schwarzenegger passed a law in California that makes it illegal for parents to buy books for their children promoting marriage and families between a man and a woman because it discriminates against gay couples. What do Americans think about this law, gay marriage, and people who want to have a sex change?"
Well, I've never heard of this law before... I don't even know if it's really true or not. I have no idea where they even got the information from. Luckily it's such a big debate in our country that I was able to approach it from that angle, formulate a somewhat intelligent (i hope) response, and it all ended up working out in the end. After my few minutes of talking, they didn't ask me any more questions. And that was it, my part of the conference was over. I'm glad I was able to help them, even if just speaking one one topic. But the debate was actually very interesting, and I'm really glad I went!
Later that night we left to come back to Kazan on the train... it was probably the most interesting experience of the trip. Our bunks were in the very last cube of the car. Right next to the door that led to the bathroom and smoking room. We were surrounded by all guys, and the first conversation we had with the guy sleeping next to us was him asking "do you mind if I change my pants here?" Margo said we don't mind. Why hello texting and hallway, it's nice to see you!!! Then all of them started drinking. And one guy was already drunk out of his mind. For the first couple hours he sat talking to himself, going up and down the hallway talking to everyone, and almost got kicked out of the train by the staff. Then when he found out I was American he came over and sat on the bunk and started talking to us... for hours. At one of the stops he bought us ice cream and two giant bottles of beer and tried to share them. We told him we didn't want any and he was bummed because he bought them to share. I was praying for an opportunity to share Jesus with him, and it came.
Margo was able to share the whole gospel with him, and I don't know how much of it got through because he was so drunk, but the other guys who were in our part of the train heard it too. It was so awesome to be a part of sharing my faith here (even though Margo did most of the talking). I pray that the seeds that were planted will grow, and that these men will someday come to know the savior.
Then in the morning when I woke up he said really loud "oh the American woke up!" and he came over to talk again. He went on about how the Americans didn't do anything in World War II, that jeans were invented during the great depression, it's weird that my pants have holes in them, he wondered if there homeless people in the states, and he doesn't understand why Barack Obama is such a big deal because there are "Barack Obamas all over the streets of Russia.. in fact there goes one now" (as a guy walked past to use the bathroom).
All in all it was a whirlwind of an experience in three days, and I'm thankful that I was able to be a part of it.
Sunday, October 17 - Margo and I meet at the train station at 5:30pm and start to get all settled in. I'll do my best to try and describe the inside of the train. First of all, there are a bunch of bunk beds but no doors, which means no privacy. (On a side note, I have come to notice that privacy and personal space is definitely a foreign concept in Russia. My room door doesn't have a latch on it, There is always room for 1... wait make that 100.. more people on the buses and elevators, it's not uncommon to have someone almost on top of you in the grocery line, etc. So for the Russians not having doors on the train is no big deal.) There are little "cubes" for lack of a better word that jet off the left-hand side of the walkway. Each cube has 4 beds, 2 on bottom and 2 on top. They are like little rooms, but without the doors. There are probably 10 of these cubes on each train car. Then along the right side of the walkway there are two beds opposite each cube. Just chillin there, parallel to the walkway, out in the open. This is how I got to sleep my first night on the train! Literally on the walkway.
My train bunk
Margo's aunt had packed us a big bag of food because she said there's nothing else to do on the train except eat! So for a couple of hours Margo and I ate, drank tea, laughed, talked, etc. Other passengers were looking at us like we were nuts. Russians tend to be a more reserved people (especially in public) and those of you who know me and Margo know that we are almost the opposite. For example, we put pringles in our mouths like duck beaks and were making quacking noises while taking pictures. But we didn't care, because it was fun :) Once we couldn't eat anymore we decided to go to sleep. This was rather difficult because it was so hot on the train. 50+ people on a train car for 16 hours and windows that don't open isn't exactly the recipe for a comfortable sleep, but that's ok because in the morning we arrived in Kirov!
Pringle Ducks
Monday, October 18 - We spent the day with Ksusha and her 4 month old baby David... so adorable!! I hadn't seen her in several years, so it was really nice to be able to spend some time together again. Her mom got home around 10 or 11 at night and came in and said... so are you ready to speak at the conference tomorrow? WHAT?!?! I thought I was just going to attend this conference to increase the amount of international attendees. Apparently I was there to bring the American viewpoint of gender equality to the discussion. Great. So I talked with Margo about it a little bit, and figured out what I was going to say. We were under the impression that it would be either a booth, or round table discussion where I would be asked questions and answer from an American standpoint. But.... Rule #1 in Russia: There is no such thing as "should happen," "probably will be" etc. Things just happen as they happen.
Ksenia, Margo, and David
Tuesday, October 19 - Conference day! The first part of the day we spent listening to mini lectures of each of the speakers on what they would be talking about. Gender equality, differences, problems, etc. Then it was time for lunch. We ate in the special room with the speakers who had come from various regions around Russia. I felt like this little out of place American student who is not any type of expert on gender studies, and had to explain why I did not want vodka with lunch. After lunch there was a "concert" which was actually really neat. There were various traditional cultural songs, dances, and poems. Then it was time for a debate about gender equality.
I was sitting in the audience watching the professors, teachers, priest, and psychologist be called out and take their place on the panel. Then I heard my name called to be on the panel. What? They had put me on the debate panel?! Surprise!! So Margo and I made our way to the front table and waited for what would come. At this point, I really had no idea what to expect and was just hoping that I would be able to come up with a reasonable answer quickly when someone asked a question. And here came the question:
"We found an article online that states that Arnold Schwarzenegger passed a law in California that makes it illegal for parents to buy books for their children promoting marriage and families between a man and a woman because it discriminates against gay couples. What do Americans think about this law, gay marriage, and people who want to have a sex change?"
Well, I've never heard of this law before... I don't even know if it's really true or not. I have no idea where they even got the information from. Luckily it's such a big debate in our country that I was able to approach it from that angle, formulate a somewhat intelligent (i hope) response, and it all ended up working out in the end. After my few minutes of talking, they didn't ask me any more questions. And that was it, my part of the conference was over. I'm glad I was able to help them, even if just speaking one one topic. But the debate was actually very interesting, and I'm really glad I went!
Later that night we left to come back to Kazan on the train... it was probably the most interesting experience of the trip. Our bunks were in the very last cube of the car. Right next to the door that led to the bathroom and smoking room. We were surrounded by all guys, and the first conversation we had with the guy sleeping next to us was him asking "do you mind if I change my pants here?" Margo said we don't mind. Why hello texting and hallway, it's nice to see you!!! Then all of them started drinking. And one guy was already drunk out of his mind. For the first couple hours he sat talking to himself, going up and down the hallway talking to everyone, and almost got kicked out of the train by the staff. Then when he found out I was American he came over and sat on the bunk and started talking to us... for hours. At one of the stops he bought us ice cream and two giant bottles of beer and tried to share them. We told him we didn't want any and he was bummed because he bought them to share. I was praying for an opportunity to share Jesus with him, and it came.
Margo was able to share the whole gospel with him, and I don't know how much of it got through because he was so drunk, but the other guys who were in our part of the train heard it too. It was so awesome to be a part of sharing my faith here (even though Margo did most of the talking). I pray that the seeds that were planted will grow, and that these men will someday come to know the savior.
Then in the morning when I woke up he said really loud "oh the American woke up!" and he came over to talk again. He went on about how the Americans didn't do anything in World War II, that jeans were invented during the great depression, it's weird that my pants have holes in them, he wondered if there homeless people in the states, and he doesn't understand why Barack Obama is such a big deal because there are "Barack Obamas all over the streets of Russia.. in fact there goes one now" (as a guy walked past to use the bathroom).
All in all it was a whirlwind of an experience in three days, and I'm thankful that I was able to be a part of it.
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