Modern Ninja :: Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk - Day 6 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:12:16 -0400 EST

Sorry I haven't made any posts since leaving, but understandably I am busy. Until this morning I usually wake up right in time to shower get dressed and then head up to the top floor of the hotel for eggs, bread a juice then downstairs for our ride to the office. However this morning I woke up a bit early, by around 2 hours. It's interesting how 10pm EST is 9am here.

So coming into the country wasn't so bad, the flights were all screwed up (thank you Chicago Ohaire) but we got here and that's what's important. On first impression Russians seem very mean and ill-tempered, it wasn't until yesterday I had it explained to me the chief cultural difference between westerners and Russians when it comes to the smile. Westerns smile and it's considered having good manners, but when a Russian smiles it means they personally like that person, a person like friends, family or that they just generally like. So to a Russian when I smile they are thinking "why are you smiling at me? Do I know you? I don't like you I don't even know you!".

Another major obstacle here is obviously language. However like many places just because a person doesn't speak english, doesn't mean they do not understand every word that is coming out of you mouth. I have proof of this! Friday evening one of the girls in the office was having a birthday, so there was a party. There was beer (piva), chips, fish jerky and these sandwiches with bread, cream cheese, sliced cheese, either ham or bologna and a thick slice of tomato. It was very good actually. Oh yes and juice and vodka (naturally). So once the drinks started to flow we began to play charades!! And they were very good at playing.

I have learned many many things about the people here and it's been a very eye opening and interesting trip that I have enjoyed. I have to thank the people here that have basically baby sit us, Ilya and Vadim they have taken great care of us and taught us so much and been very patient with all of our hundreds of questions. I'll try to post again before I leave.

Execution Time: 0.102259159088 seconds.

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