The New Moscow

[wxman]

Right about the good vodka! Just use the cheap vodka and OJ to make an effective mosquito repellent. Plus the added bonus of getting a cheap buzz, but not from the mosquito! 

[Hub]

  btw, an ill RW has all sorts of strange ideas regarding the origin and cure for rhinoviruses, but I digress on the cultural strangeness.

This is a very worthy topic to discuss some more.  I am always quite mystified how people from an otherwise seemingly intelligent culture can be little different from African tribes when it come to medicine.

How did FSU get stuck in such a rut regarding medicine?  They still act and try cures like USA in maybe 1890s.

Any of the physicians here have answers to this?

[wxman]

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how many OTC drugs sold in the US would fail a double blind test? Americans have come to believe that taking a pill will cure everything. I wonder how much of that is mental, and not really the drug.

[moscowdrifter]

Hey there! I'm enjoying your account of your current visit here in Moscow. I'm an American living here now for almost 2 years, and a good friend of Phil d'Amore and frequent visitor to SPB since 2000. Anyway, welcome to Moscow! This year has been very light on the 'squitoes, haven't seen hardly any where I live, and haven't had to break out the Raptor this year at all. And reports have been the same from most everyone else I've spoken to - so unfortunately you must have found some sort of 'squitoe haven where you're staying! Where is it? Now ther have been times in Peter in the past when they have been out in full force - and even the Raptor had trouble keeping up!
          Glad you're enjoying your time here and things are going well with your lady. Perhaps we can meet up sometime soon while you're still here - it might be nice to put back a few and chat!
         

[ScottinCrimea]

Hub,  As a physician who has spent a considerable amount of time in Ukraine, I have seen so many crazy ideas about medicine that it makes my head spin.  I used to try to explain the lack of logic in many of their ideas and home remedies, but I finally gave up.  If they are doing something that won't cause them any harm, I keep my mouth shut and hope for the placebo effect.  I've also been forced to submit to innocuous treatments just to avoid the debate.  It's only when I see true harm in something that I put my foot down.  It makes for much better relations with family and friends.  Fortunately, over time my wife has seen the wisdom in much that I have said and will defer to me on most things. but with the MIL, I don't even try any more.

[Gator]

DKMM, your comment about Russian health practices is not unique to your woman:

1.  Health is an important topic to most Russians, perhaps because they are not that healthy (longevity for men is around 60).  They toast to health when drinking, and ordinary conversations can sound like those in a geriatric physician’s waiting room. 

2.  Much of their beliefs are voodoo in my opinion, and if I criticize the lack of scientific plausibility, I am told that Americans don’t know.  This must really annoy physicians such as Scott as he described above. 

3.  I have been with two RW long enough to really know them.  They are as different as night and day with regard to medication. 
         a.  One takes medicine for every discomfort, definitely over-medicated. 
         b.  The other follows what seems to be holistic healing and she avoids medicine as much as possible.  And we can not get one of her medicines from the local apteka - it requires a drive for an hour to a remote sanatorium to buy a natural organic “elixir” from people wearing white lab coats.  Actually, she eats healthy and I appreciate the same.

[wxman]

Last time I visited Ukraine my fiancee was on a new diet based on blood type (A, B, O, etc) According to that diet people with certain blood types should eat more meat, less vegetables, while others less meat, etc. I didn't say anything as she was on the diet with less red meat and more vegetables.   I told her that her diet is something all people should have, but she did not want to believe that. Sad to say, they have the fad diets there, just as we do in the US.

[DKMM]

I've read enough RWD to expect the strange things I witnessed when she was ill.  Needless to say, I'm relieved its not as bad as some of what you guys put up with.

I too look forward to showing someone the diversity of where I live.  And even though our weather sucks, its much better than northwest Russia!

Vodka:  good vodka makes for better screwdrivers.  Good juice is just as important.  Mmmm mmm.  E does not drink vodka.  I told her that is like a Japanese not eating sushi.

I was on the 2nd floor near Tsvetnoy Bulvar fwiw.  The mosquito eater took care of the problem, and yes we both ended up with little red marks from the bastards.  I'm happy for you all there that don't have them but we definitely did.

I'm home now and I miss her.  The 4 sms's and 2 phone calls in the day I've been home don't replace even 10 minutes of walking down the street with her.  5 more weeks till I bring my brother and mother along to meet E and her family.  Should be interesting...

[Kuna]

DKMM,

I missed the first part of your latest TR because I've been OS (no, just work...    )  Great to see you back with your girl.

Seems mosquitoes are getting a bit of a run here so I'll add my .02. 

Yep, Dnepr has them and they found me every night.  I would wake up in the morning and show My Girl my bites and she'd giggle saying they must REALLY like me.  She was never bothered by them at all. 

Thankfully she doesn't think moving air will make her ill so she was OK with me directing the fan across the bed of a night and that seemed to be enough to keep them away most of the time.

I hope you have a great time with your girl.  Her working while you're there has it's advantages as I found out on my last trip.  You can live an "almost" normal lifestyle and if your trip is working out like mine did you'll learn so much during your time together AND your time apart.

Kuna

[SANDRO43]

I vaguely recall an article from many years ago in the Scientific American on the subject of mosquito attraction, stating that a major factor was the temperature gradient they sensed in the proximity of a human body.

Therefore, if you want to spend a quiet night, both you and your FSUW should take a cold shower before retiring.

Which would settle the mosquito problem, but maybe prove counter-productive otherwise .