Moscow again. So I've been here for 3 weeks now and it's been (insert Jennifer Grey 80's pseudo-swan diving into the arms of Patrick Swayze HERE) the time of my life. Embassy life is MUCH different than living with a wonderful yet slightly batty old Russian woman, both for the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not really. The ugly just means that I don't have any old Russian pointless arguments anymore, meaning that my language is starting to suffer. But there are definitely pros and cons of living on compound and working at the Embassy. So lessssss-go
Plumbing:
Pros: It works. I did a sacrificial goat slaughter to the Toilet Gods as soon as I saw the American toilet in our apartment. Then I did a jig-of-joy just in case. Also the refrigerator/dishwasher/washer/dryer are all completely functional and free for my abundant usage. It's like a little water-haven. Also, in the summer Russians turn off the hot water (the water system is collective in Russia and people don't have their own water heaters) for two weeks to clean the pipes. Lucky for this spoiled little embassy worker, the embassy housing on compound has hot water heaters, so we don't have to deal with the minor inconvenience of not showering for two weeks.
Cons: Because I don't have to brave the Plumbing Gods, I've turned a little high-maintenance. I get whiny when the shower doesn't have enough pressure and snippy when the water isn't just the right temperature. I miss the rugged individualism I gained when braving the twists and turns (harhar) of Russian plumbing. Each day was an adventure! Now I have succumbed to the monotonous life of a lazy Westerner.
Apartment
Pros: Dude, our apartment is huge. Two huge rooms, a dining room, huge kitchen and amply endowed living room (I got bored with the word "huge"). We practically don't know what to do with all the space. Of course, I've made my room more homey by strewing my clothes about the room with wild abandon. It's not at all like a tiny Russian apartment. Also it's located approximately 4 minutes from home-door to butt-at-desk, ergo I can roll out of bed at a health 8:45 and still make it to work on time at 9.
Cons: It's not at all like a tiny Russian apartment. Living with a crazy babushka definitely made life more interesting. Plus the house was cozy and cluttered, like a true home should be. It should have a slight funk to the air, instead of the sterilized embassy imported American ay-er, ay-ay-ayer. It was home-y. I miss it.
Food
Pros: I get to eat not-gross things when I want. I don't get yelled at about using the wrong utensils, and I can eat pasta with my hands if I want (it's been known to happen). If I want to eat those grapes with that soup, then by gollygee I will do so without being severely punished. Ah the luxury! The freedom! The power! On a same-same-but-different vein, I often get free food from the office. For instance, after a press-conference that the embassy just had at ITAR-TASS, a leading Russian news agency, we were supplied with a banquet. Delicious salmon dish perfectly cooked, and veggies and meats and fruit as far as the eye could see. And with the obligatory deluge of toasts, for which Russians are so famous, my wine glass was never empty. Also, the embassy community organization CLO does an excellent job of supplying all workers with food sporadically throughout the summer/year.
Cons: Munies. I have to purchase all of my own food, which starkly limits my food intake. I've grown accustomed to the delicious dinner of: a tomato. Sometimes two, if I'm feeling especially Hungry-Bear. And pasta. Delicious plain unseasoned pasta. It gets old quickly. Also, it was nice to not have to prepare food. I am, all-in-all, a pretty lazy individual. I will not eat for days just because I don't want to get up and boil some water for my pasta. Or go to the grocery store. I'm being left to my own devices, and doing so has kinda-sorta murdered any sort of healthy or regular diet.
Russian Language
Pros: I don't have to use it.
Cons: My Russian has definitely taken a hit by working at the embassy. Although I'm taking Russian classes, I function almost completely in English at work. Similarly, all of the friends I've been making have been Americans, so I don't have many opportunities to practice Russian. Luckily in Public Affairs we speak Russian more than the other sections. My desk-neighbors are all Russian, and they humor my attempts to speak as I violently murder the Mothertongue. Also I go out of the office a lot and organize things with Russians, so I get a little practice. Though it's nothing like a full-immersion experience, к сожалению.
Work
Pros: Oh-em-gee I love it here. I am so happy I chose U.S. Embassy Moscow over CLS Kazan. Not only do I get to be in Moscow, a place with which I'm very familiar, but I also get to work in one of the most hub-bubbing embassies in the world. It's huge, important, and the FSOs love giving interns responsibility, which is sometimes hard to find in internships. I go to wonderful receptions, hobnob with people from a wide range of professions, and work with brilliant, albeit sometimes bizarre, people. Also, the free ticket perks for the Public Affairs office only makes it that much better. So does the ever-flowing stream of alcohol on Friday afternoons. Embassies love to party, and to that I say "Let's keep this party going!"
Stay-tuned for: the crazy-fun "best weekend ever" post about my rompings in Vladimir et Suzdal
Plumbing:
Pros: It works. I did a sacrificial goat slaughter to the Toilet Gods as soon as I saw the American toilet in our apartment. Then I did a jig-of-joy just in case. Also the refrigerator/dishwasher/washer/dryer are all completely functional and free for my abundant usage. It's like a little water-haven. Also, in the summer Russians turn off the hot water (the water system is collective in Russia and people don't have their own water heaters) for two weeks to clean the pipes. Lucky for this spoiled little embassy worker, the embassy housing on compound has hot water heaters, so we don't have to deal with the minor inconvenience of not showering for two weeks.
Cons: Because I don't have to brave the Plumbing Gods, I've turned a little high-maintenance. I get whiny when the shower doesn't have enough pressure and snippy when the water isn't just the right temperature. I miss the rugged individualism I gained when braving the twists and turns (harhar) of Russian plumbing. Each day was an adventure! Now I have succumbed to the monotonous life of a lazy Westerner.
Apartment
Pros: Dude, our apartment is huge. Two huge rooms, a dining room, huge kitchen and amply endowed living room (I got bored with the word "huge"). We practically don't know what to do with all the space. Of course, I've made my room more homey by strewing my clothes about the room with wild abandon. It's not at all like a tiny Russian apartment. Also it's located approximately 4 minutes from home-door to butt-at-desk, ergo I can roll out of bed at a health 8:45 and still make it to work on time at 9.
Cons: It's not at all like a tiny Russian apartment. Living with a crazy babushka definitely made life more interesting. Plus the house was cozy and cluttered, like a true home should be. It should have a slight funk to the air, instead of the sterilized embassy imported American ay-er, ay-ay-ayer. It was home-y. I miss it.
Food
Pros: I get to eat not-gross things when I want. I don't get yelled at about using the wrong utensils, and I can eat pasta with my hands if I want (it's been known to happen). If I want to eat those grapes with that soup, then by gollygee I will do so without being severely punished. Ah the luxury! The freedom! The power! On a same-same-but-different vein, I often get free food from the office. For instance, after a press-conference that the embassy just had at ITAR-TASS, a leading Russian news agency, we were supplied with a banquet. Delicious salmon dish perfectly cooked, and veggies and meats and fruit as far as the eye could see. And with the obligatory deluge of toasts, for which Russians are so famous, my wine glass was never empty. Also, the embassy community organization CLO does an excellent job of supplying all workers with food sporadically throughout the summer/year.
Cons: Munies. I have to purchase all of my own food, which starkly limits my food intake. I've grown accustomed to the delicious dinner of: a tomato. Sometimes two, if I'm feeling especially Hungry-Bear. And pasta. Delicious plain unseasoned pasta. It gets old quickly. Also, it was nice to not have to prepare food. I am, all-in-all, a pretty lazy individual. I will not eat for days just because I don't want to get up and boil some water for my pasta. Or go to the grocery store. I'm being left to my own devices, and doing so has kinda-sorta murdered any sort of healthy or regular diet.
Russian Language
Pros: I don't have to use it.
Cons: My Russian has definitely taken a hit by working at the embassy. Although I'm taking Russian classes, I function almost completely in English at work. Similarly, all of the friends I've been making have been Americans, so I don't have many opportunities to practice Russian. Luckily in Public Affairs we speak Russian more than the other sections. My desk-neighbors are all Russian, and they humor my attempts to speak as I violently murder the Mothertongue. Also I go out of the office a lot and organize things with Russians, so I get a little practice. Though it's nothing like a full-immersion experience, к сожалению.
Work
Pros: Oh-em-gee I love it here. I am so happy I chose U.S. Embassy Moscow over CLS Kazan. Not only do I get to be in Moscow, a place with which I'm very familiar, but I also get to work in one of the most hub-bubbing embassies in the world. It's huge, important, and the FSOs love giving interns responsibility, which is sometimes hard to find in internships. I go to wonderful receptions, hobnob with people from a wide range of professions, and work with brilliant, albeit sometimes bizarre, people. Also, the free ticket perks for the Public Affairs office only makes it that much better. So does the ever-flowing stream of alcohol on Friday afternoons. Embassies love to party, and to that I say "Let's keep this party going!"
Stay-tuned for: the crazy-fun "best weekend ever" post about my rompings in Vladimir et Suzdal
