Advertisement
Published: October 6th 2006
Today Liz went with me to Izmaylovskii park to buy a Russian coat.
When we got there they were having a huge festival to celebrate "Gold October". They had a stage with Russians dressed up in the traditional clothes of old Moskovy. They sang, played an accordian, and danced. It was really fun to watch.
Once I picked out the coat I wanted, we half an hour bargining for it. They originally wanted 8,000 roubles for the coat but we managed to bargin it down to 2,200 ($85). It's called a dublanka, is extremely warm, and comes down to my knees. It's gray leather with white lining and a huge hood. You can't buy anything like it in America.
Liz did most of the bargining. She is almost fluent in Russian and is sooo good at barginning. The guys working the stall were from Turkey and Uzbekistan. Meaning that they hit on us a lot as we bargined (guys from those countries always hit on white women). They really wanted to know where we are from and to get our phone numbers. Liz told them "We're simply foreigners. We'll tell you where we are from if you give us
the coat for 2,000 roubles." The guys originally blew off the 2,000 roubles, saying it was nothing to pay for a coat like that. But they were still very interested to know where we are from "Latvia?" asked one. "Poland?" asked another. "England?" another asked. But we didn't tell them. After barginning forever and completely leaving the store three times (each time with the guys chasing after us offering us a better deal) we finally agreed to 2,200 roubles.
After that, as we exited the market, a guy came up to Liz saying he would give her a real good deal on coats. 1,500 roubles (which we found out was for a really cheap and poorly made coat). But she ended up finding a coat she really liked made out of black leather and real fur. She bargined even harder with the guys there. A policeman was standing around the area and found watching us to be very amusing. He stood outside the kiosk for the whole half hour we were there, with a grin on his face. He was about 70 years old and was a cute old guy. Once Liz told the guys that they were asking
My new room
I sleep on a pull out couch but it's still comfortabletoo much for the coat and that we wanted to go get something to eat. At which point they gave us tea and doughnuts and made me sit down on the stool. Liz noticed that the policeman was still there and asked why he was there. The guys said the policeman was there to make sure they didn't harass us. The old guy continued watching us, seeming very amused. Liz said, "maybe the policeman would like some tea and doughnuts too." The guys laughed, then called out, "Hey policeguy have some tea and doughnuts!" The policemen just shook his head.
After over a half hour of barginning Liz got the coat for 3,500 roubles.
It was such a fun day. The best I've had in a long time.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.202s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 5; qc: 44; dbt: 0.1243s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
mom
non-member comment
We are happy to learn that all is going well with your new babushka. She seems genuinely interested in you, your friends, and your activities. I am so sorry that your experience with your first host family was so difficult. It is unfortunate that their expectations were so different from those that the program advises. It must have been so very difficult to be the object of their verbal assault. I am grateful that you were able to leave without any further negative offense. It is good that you were able to share tea and a somewhat reconciling dialogue with your host mom before departing. Your professors are wonderful to have been so supportive during this most difficult time. Dad and I are busily preparing for our departure next Thursday. We can't wait to see our precious devotchka!!!