My sister once posted on Facebook “You haven’t walked up the stairs until you have walked up the stair of an escalator in Moscow.”
This. Is. True. The escalators we walk up are most acute. The 90 degrees the escalator moves at a medium to slow pace. The are two lines formed, on side on the right rides up the elevator and the space left on the left is for rushing people. It is quite the experience.
Metros are different than Holland. Depending on the time of day it can be scarce or packed. By pack I mean pack as in you can barely move your arms much less your head. You find yourself hoping you are not underneath someone’s armpit or next to a woman fur lined coat hood. It has happened to me. Fortunately, people smell good, but it is just plain awkward. As for the fur hood which was tickling my nose to which I would wrinkle it hoping I wouldn’t sneeze. It was a painfully slow process to inch my hand to swipe away the feathers. Nearby a Russian lady chuckled seeing the predicament I was in.
Yes. Indeed, rush hour I have decided boils down to a science. In the ways of metro if you go the opposite way the traffic is going not only will you cause harm to yourself, but you end up looking exceedingly silly. The phrase “stand out and go against the grain” does not belong in the metro station. In fact if during the time of the zero personal bubble space on a metro you are too close to the door, odds are you will be shoved out. Were it not been for Kate I would have known what the Black Friday stampede would have felt like. Fortunately, as I was trying to stay in the metro while being shoved out this almost being thrust most violently to floor she caught my wrist. Yes. Taking the metro during the rush hour mob is a science. In fact I recount these adventures with great delight. It sounds terrible, but once you get used to it and learn how to maneuver through it is quite the adventure. It is actually a time of my life, well save for the almost thrown to the floor part.
Before you think Russian have no feelings, let me correct you. It is just how things are. They are dears most of them. Kate and I have found them to be helpful, kind, and most of the time friendly. I say friendly which is true, but their friendly differs from American way of thinking. I like it.
They tend to be, at least in this season of winter, more reserve and then really open up as they get to know you.
One of Kate’s Russian student told us, in winter everyone is sleepy. In summer everyone is happy. As I look
around even now I see the truth. Everyone is sleepy, wanting to go home, and shrug off their heavy coats and boots. I find myself also wanting that. Though I still find myself smiling and on occasions laugh at the nonsensical little things.
The metro when it is not jam pack full has usually three to four types of people. One group reads (often standing up), in fact it is not uncommon for someone to read on the escalator. Another group struggle to stay awake and usually fail to keep their eyes open, while a similar group stares vacantly at no particular spot. The last is they look at their phones most of them reading, some of them playing games, and others like me trying to type on my phone.
While they have been a few, when Russians laugh you can’t help but join them. They have a deep heart felt laughter. Many do not immediately show outwardly emotions, but the ones we have come to know have started to open up.
The Russian men are incredibly gentlemanly. It reminds me almost of back in time when the word chivalrous applied to most men. I haven’t met all of them, but the majority we have met are encouraging and kind. The ones our age or older, whom we have met, know the word well in action. I have been pleasantly surprised. That is something I noticed right off the bat though. Many of Russian men are protective over their women from what I can tell in a good way. This example is not as usual, but I have seen it down- they will stand up and offer a lady their seat. This one is more likely- they will step aside to let you pass, escort you to the metro near 10 o’clock at night, and frankly many of them just know how to treat someone with respect.
It is just a touch dicey though when they find out you really only speak English. They (the general company) are split down the middle it seems, either they’ll like you or they don’t. If they find out you only speak English two course of actions will happen they’ll wave you off or attempt to converse. One thing for sure they are blunt, you know what they want and how they want it or you eventually figure it out. Someday I’ll tell you of the adventure of shopping only a in Russian language store.
All this I have observed or been apart of the action. In a couple of weeks I am interested if what I have observed to be correct.
We have both working hard and we have yet to really explore Moscow. It is only here and there, that we have explore. Not for lack of trying though, but the first week we would end up so lost we drag ourselves home wearied and turned around. We still saw beautiful sights just haven’t taken the time to enjoy it. But we have a solution and it will go into effect next week. At any rate, Kate is taking me on a photography spree. She is so good and I am so happy to be doing something that I love.