Well that was unexpected!

So, you know how when you are sick, your mom has that special treatment for whatever ails you, whether is should cure you or not? Yea, I had not figured on getting the flu while I was here in Russia, but it happened. While it was horrible, I think it turned out to be ok, and I learned something from it. I have to make a digression quickly, however, to make my point.

When you live in a foreign country with a host family, there are things that are going to be different. It is to be expected. There are things that happen at the time, and you think, 'what the hell is this?' but later realize it wasn't bad, it was just different. (Yea, its my Rotary training coming through! ha ha) I had one of these such experiences in the first few days of my stay here. I sat down for dinner with my host mother, and she was bustling around the tiny kitchen making me food. At one point, she pulled out some fish (it looked kind of like salmon) and asked me if I wanted it to eat. I agreed, because I love fish. She then pulled it out of the package and put it on a plate for me. If you are not following thus far, it was uncooked fish!! I had assumed that she was going to cook it for me. What I later found out was that in Russia, one of their typical ways to eat fish is by marinating it for hours/days, and then just eating it, without cooking it. At the time, all I could think was "Dude, I didn't sign up for raw fish!" Since then, I eat it like I have always eaten it.

Now back to my point. When I told my host father that I needed medicine for the flu in my broken Russian (and with the assistance of my dictionary), he called his wife, and she went to the pharmacy before coming home. What I got for a medicine was the real surprise. I was expecting theraflu (yes, they have that here), or something similar. No, what did I get? I got activated charcoal tablets. Yea, its the same stuff they use in fish tank filtering systems. The pills look pretty sinister too. They are jet black, no shine what-so-ever, and might as well be something out of a movie used as a poison. I was so sick, however, that I didnt care. I was told to take 5, and I obeyed, and then went back to sleep. I figured, whats the worst that could happen, I already felt like death? To my pleasant surprise, however, when I woke up, my upset stomach was no longer upset, and I was feeling better. Again, at the time, I couldnt believe that activated charcoal was the cure for the flu, but now that I have done it, I will have no issue doing it again should the need arise.

Bums and Cops

This is an excerpt from my cultural journal that I have been keeping, and I figured that it was a good observation to share with all of you.

On Bums

So, I have decided that bums in Russia are scary. I suppose that they are scary anywhere, but when you don't understand them, then I think it makes them more scary. Only in Russia, though, would you get a cop with a grill (gold, no less) throwing a smelly (by that I mean PUTRID), drunken, belligerent bum off the train! What my tour guide told me over the weekend, though, was that they are not to be treated badly, but you should inwardly thank them for showing you exactly how not to live! Interesting outlook, no doubt! He also said that there was a study done by a British doctor, and he concluded that after living for 6 months on the street, there is a chemical change in the brain, and it prevents people from returning to normal life. This is terrible, but the guide told me that they chose that life, so not to feel bad for them. Plus, they get food, cloths, and papers (documents) from the government, but within 2 DAYS they show up again without any of these things. I suppose that its sad, but it is also good that the government is attempting to help these people. I guess its more than I would have expected.

An Attempt into Blogging

So, I have never been one for blogging, but my sister has suggested that I start one so that I can share my experiences. Its not a bad idea, as cultural learning is good for everyone. I am going to give it a shot, and see how I do, how I like it, and if I feel it is worthwhile. As I have to go to class soon, more will come later, pictures included. I suppose that this will give me an excuse to take more pictures, not just of the fancy, intricate architecture, but also of every day things, like the shops and people. It will give a daily portrait of my Moscow life!