The New Moscow

[jb]

LOL wxman,,, I think I've encountered those same New Yorkers myself.

I/O,,, thankee kindly for the nice words.  I've always like AU, from the first time I visited back in the early 60's.  Then I did an R&R there in the late 60's, it's a nice country you've got there.

[TigerPaws]

DKMM,

I am glad to hear things are going well for you in Moscow and that you are experiencing and learning about the people, lifestyle and culture, As man have said time and time again on this forum there in no substitute for spending time in country.

Your trip reports are interesting please keep them up,

TigerPaws

[groovlstk]

I have never encountered that reaction from Ukrainian Russians I have met in Ukraine or from Ukrainians. I have always had great conversations and never did I feel any negative attitude towards the US. Could it be the attitude of some of the people from the large cities? This isn't exclusive of Moscow.

This is something only the rudest bumpkin will tell you to your face, most people will be polite. When my wife told her colleagues and friends that she was moving to the US to marry me, she was met with a chorus of "you'll be back here in three months" along with the usual litany of stereotypes about Americans (they care only about money, they are superficial and boring, etc.). One of the things she's anticipating when she returns to Moscow for the first time next month is thumbing her nose at the naysayers 
[/quote]

Seems like many people from New York City act the same. I have met some New Yorkers who like to put down us folk from the smaller cities of the midwest. They think that we are simpletons, and that we are not cultured enough. Lucky for us though, we have the large mosquitoes that like to devour New Yorkers. 

What? There are cities in the Midwest? 

The biggest and meanest mosquitoes I encountered were in Dnepropetrovsk, the Dnipr is a mass breeding ground for them. They were hardy and larger than the variety I see here. I still cringe thinking of getting bit by those suckers, felt like a hypodermic needle!

[Gator]

DKMM wrote,

having  this opportunity to be alone while she works gives insight into what it will be like when she comes to America and I have to go to work.  I see now that its important to keep her occupied with something.

You are correct.  I have never met a lazy RW - they all seem driven to do something productive.

There is a difference, however, in that she will be very busy adjusting to her new life in America.  You, in contrast, do not intend to build a life in Moscow.  If you were, you would be doing different things than you are now doing.

[Gator]

Attacks on America -  Russia is regaining its pride as its economy improves, and the government is instilling more patriotism as well as limiting criticism of itself.  Perhaps, the anti-American talk simply reflects this change.  The Russians and Ukrainians I have met over 5 years never criticized America.  They may have questioned our President, but that would put them in the majority.  One way to prompt anti-American comments is to brag about America or to give the impression that one is criticising Russia.

Mosquitoes - I have spent over 90 days in Moscow, often in the summer with open windows.  I have probably been bitten once or twice.  In St. Piter - there were many.  Little devils, smaller than our American examples and their bite is not as irritating, but a nuisance nevertheless. 

[I/O]

it's a nice country you've got there.

Yeah...probably a pitty it is full of halfarsed cynics like me.

I/O

[Wayne B]

 Mosquito's.....Here in south east Texas, if you get caught outside after dark....you will have an idea what it feels like to make love to a porcupine

[Jazzyclassy]

oi we have such a crazy weather today raining all day , all mosquitos are probably  drowned already:)))) such a humid air though

I think Moscow has changed its climate really I miss hot summers and warm warm sun , I feel like I never had any summer this year, crazy weather

Moscow really did change of course as any other large city, that's normal , yeah many moscovites are rather prudish of who they are and what they achieved , though I do not think they hate or criticise America that much , if they do why the h-ll they copy all those american features , such as music, fashion, words right now we have in use this word Foreign Office, in russian it will be Форин Офис , sorry when I was at school we did not have such huge borrowings from English.
Then another thing when somebody went to America like for a holiday they are like wow I 've been to that Grand Canyon (sorry might make huge mistake in spelling have no time to check it up in the dictionary:P) it is such a great thing and bla bla bla

then my sister's relatives from her hubby they are in America living right now  close to Boston and they are in delight they are so glad to live in America they even called their russian new born daughter Melissa I think I told that already somewhere, so they are totally becoming americans and they love it , so I do not think many people hate America, it is more of a fuzz than true to it.

All is well really:)

[SANDRO43]

they are so glad to live in America they even called their russian new born daughter Melissa

A bit out of fashion:

In 2006, Melissa was the 117th most popular name in the United States dropping steadily from 2nd in 1977. It was in the top 10 most popular names for girls from 1967 through 1984

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa)

"A nymph, daughter of King Melisseus. She is thought to have fed the infant Zeus with goat milk and tought humans the use of honey. 'Melissa' was also a title for the priestesses of Demeter and Artemis."

However, Mελισσα ("honey bee" in Greek) seems to be used occasionally by FSUW, too. Here's one from Kaliningrad .

[Mir]

bite is not as irritating, but a nuisance nevertheless.  

As such the mosquito bite(and only females bite humans) is totally painless. This is because they are so kind to inject a local anaesthetic (and an anticoagulant) before they feed! The irritation comes when the body starts reacting to the anticoagulant or anesthetic, so by the time one gets the irritation mosi has long flown. Not everyone gets this reaction and those who get it can react with different severities. So some people(who don't react to the bite) have the misconception that mosquitoes don't bite them, they bite everyone, but some never realize this.

[Rvrwind]

Well the skeeters here ain't nothing. They are the size of nats & merely an anoyance.
For the Russian mosquito I recommend the following....

[Rvrwind]

However for the Yukon & Alaskan Mosquito, which have been know to have four of them pick up a volkswagon with people inside & go on a picnic, I recommend this little devil...

[catzenmouse]

LOL Richard! I was just going to tell Groov to take a trip to Northern Saskatchewan to see what a "REAL" mosquito looks like! Yep, those Far North varmits are mighty scary. They compete with the grizzley's for the local food supply... 

Ken

[ScottinCrimea]

Mir, Not entirely true as attraction to mosquitos does vary from individual to individual depending on a lot of factors.  We all don't get bitten equally.

[SANDRO43]

Mir, Not entirely true as attraction to mosquitos does vary from individual to individual depending on a lot of factors.

... including Limburger cheese, and alcohol :
- http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/ar/archive/feb00/mosq0200.htm
- http://apt.allenpress.com/aptonline/?request=get-abstract&issn=8756-971X&volume=018&issue=02&page=0091
- http://www.mosquitocontroltrap.com/mosquito_science

[Rvrwind]

Mir, Not entirely true as attraction to mosquitos does vary from individual to individual depending on a lot of factors.  We all don't get bitten equally.

Very true.I very seldom get bitten.My poor Valya however gets eaten alive.
The little beggers have never been a problem for me other than buzing around my ear & annoying the hell out of me but getting bit is something I have very seldom experienced.
Too much Vodka in my blood stream maybe, LOL.

LOL Richard! I was just going to tell Groov to take a trip to Northern Saskatchewan to see what a "REAL" mosquito looks like! Yep, those Far North varmits are mighty scary. They compete with the grizzley's for the local food supply...

Yep, Ken, the skeeters here are midgets!!! Bring over a few of those Yukon devils & the skeeters here would run for cover!!!

[BradSTL]

For those of you living in Russia . . .

There is a trick we use in America to REDUCE (not entirely eliminate) mosquito bites.

If you take Vitamin C supplements on a regular basis, it produces an odor and a taste in the skin and blood that are repulsive to mosquitos.

Those mosquitos that are starving will bite you, but the unmotivated mosquito will decline an easy meal from you.

Remember, take Vitamin C supplements with your meal.  See if that gives you a little relief.

[BradSTL]

Then another thing when somebody went to America like for a holiday they are like wow I 've been to that Grand Canyon (sorry might make huge mistake in spelling have no time to check it up in the dictionary:P) it is such a great thing and bla bla bla

Jazzy--- I hope you get a chance to visit Grand Canyon (excellent spelling BTW).  Its impressive!   

If you are in this part of Northern Arizona... try to remember this... a short journey from the northern rim/edge of the Grand Canyon... is Bryce Canyon National Park.  The colors in the rock, the rock formations, are among the most beautiful on the planet.  Bryce Canyon is in Southern Utah--- if you ever visit Bryce Canyon--- YOU WILL * NEVER * FORGET IT!  I hope you get this opportunity.

[Jazzyclassy]

Thank you:)I hope I 'll get yhe opportunity to see it, even if I wont , I can always imagine it:)

[wxman]

For those of you living in Russia . . .

There is a trick we use in America to REDUCE (not entirely eliminate) mosquito bites.

If you take Vitamin C supplements on a regular basis, it produces an odor and a taste in the skin and blood that are repulsive to mosquitos.

Those mosquitos that are starving will bite you, but the unmotivated mosquito will decline an easy meal from you.

Remember, take Vitamin C supplements with your meal.  See if that gives you a little relief.

How about the best of both worlds? Richard's vodka and Orange Juice with lots of vitamin C!   

[I/O]

vodka and Orange Juice

Commonly known here as "Screwdriver" What a waste of good Vodka.

I/O

[Rvrwind]

Ditto!!! A horrendous waste of good vodka. Watered down vodka just ain't the same!!! 

[DKMM]

Nu horosho,
I'm glad people are getting some use out of this thread.  I mostly started it to pass the time while E was at work.  Now she's sick so I'm back here bored as ever thanks to the aforementioned crappy weather in Moscow.  but its okay, because this is normal life and not like a vacation.  btw, an ill RW has all sorts of strange ideas regarding the origin and cure for rhinoviruses, but I digress on the cultural strangeness.

Not to drag on about the weather here, but when it rains in Moscow, it is very unpleasant to be out in it.  Their sidewalks and streets present many obstacles to drainage and as such you end up with soaking feet no matter the size of your umbrella.   Also, gutters from 1917 don't  really function all too well anymore.  We had more  rain in the past 3 days than we get in a whole summer where I live so its quite an adjustment.

Gator, you are right, she will have some things to do adjusting to the new life.  btw, that "come to jesus" moment you predicted very much came true just last night.  its amazing how much you can read into Russian women...  jazzyclassy has helped me out in a big way too, so maybe she should start a RW relationship business or you two could do one together.

I do think one week wonders are crazy!!  Its a far better use of your time to take longer to learn about someone before getting engaged.  I probably lost  six months off my life from the stress... but its all worth it now that we came through.

Carry on about the mosquitoes, its quite interesting.  The lil bastards are dying now after I got my Fumi Toks.

[ScottinCrimea]

As one who grew up in Utah, I can vouch for the beauty of Bryce Canyon.  There is also a lesser known area called Cedar Breaks that is no less amazing. I showed pictures of this area to friends in Ukraine and they questined whether this was real. I am really excited about showing my wife the diversity of the US and especially Utah, as Ukraine, other than Crimea, is pretty homogenous

[Phil dAmore]

Mosquitos:
 
The worst night of my life was when I broke down in the middle of Atchfalyalya swamp freeway in Louisiana (AKA 20-mile bridge) on a hot, muggy August night.  It must have got up to 110 inside my truck but there was NO WAY I was opening the windows.  As it was, the 'skeeters were trying to crawl through the air vents from outside...

Scenery:

Bryce Canyon:  Absolutely lovely.  But my favorite stretch is through Virgin River Canyon as I-15 cuts a tiny little corner of Arizona.... Then it's a straight shot to Vegas.  The only thing that ruins it is that damn golf course built on the state line.

Vodka: 

The key word here is a waste of good vodka.  The cheap stuff is just fine for mixing with OJ... I do it often.  The good stuff I save for special occasions.