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Published: December 18th 2006
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I've been back in America for over a week now. It is so wonderful to be back.
I'm glad that I went to Russia-I learned so much and had a bunch of irreplaceable experiences. But that said, I feel no hurry to return to Russia. Life in Russia is not at all easy and is completely different than America in just about every way. Perhaps someday I will return. I would love to spend more time visiting small towns in Russia. I would particularly love to visit Irkutsk, the Kamchatka peninsula, and Vladivostok. Moscow would be fun to visit too, but only to visit. I could not imagine living there. The daily metro commute, the unfriendliness of strangers, the great disparity between rich and poor, the sexual harassment, the frequent crime, and many other things would make Moscow a very tough place to live. I've heard that other, smaller cities are much friendlier and better places to live. Moscow is great to visit to see the sights. The Kremlin, the many churches, the incredible decorations inside the metro, and many other places make Moscow a wonderful tourist place. But, in my small group, one person was drugged, robbed, and left unconscious
on the street in 20 degrees Fahrenheit (thankfully Russian police found him and brought him to a hospital). Another had her purse slashed on the metro and lost all of her money. Another was thrown up against the wall in a metro as thugs searched his pockets. Another was tripped by a skinhead. Many nonwhite students were racially insulted. The list goes on.
That being said I'm still happy that I went to Moscow. I have learned so much. I've learned that the transition to capitalism hasn't made life better for all-the elderly all say that life was better under communism. With the coming of capitalism, the elderly’s pensions were drastically reduced and now they live off almost nothing. Many live on the street. Life is better for the younger generations, but the elderly struggle. I've also learned that world opinion is very much against President Bush. When I've talked about politics with Russians they have without hesitation said that they think Bush is one of the worst Presidents America has ever had. Russians, as far as I can tell, are unanimous in thinking that we should have never have invaded Iraq.
Besides political things like that I've also learned
to appreciate everything I have so much more. I appreciate my family and friends, my home, American food, Ann Arbor, strangers smiling at me, free water, etc. much more.
The plane trip home was rather long and strenuous. All of us were so excited to go home. Only 22 out of our original 26 stuck it through to the very end. All of us were more than ready to leave when the time came. It was a very challenging 4 1/2 months.
Alex posted this on his face book towards the end of his visit when he was in a particularly bad mood:
"Don't go to Russia. Ever. It's a bad place and Russians are bad people. Except for Nadia and Anya. There are real life Borats here. Hundreds, even thousands of them. Russians will drug and rob you the first chance they get if the mosquitos and skinheads don't get you first. Moscow is the place where dreams, civil society, morality, fair play, infrastructure, racial diversity, common sense, happiness, warmth, and puppies to go die. What kind of sick fucked up cosmic joke let these people have atom bombs? Only come to Moscow if you want to get
drugged and robbed, catch AIDS or herpes, get attacked by wild dogs, bribe corrupt cops, and freeze your fucking balls off in the middle of the coldest, bleakest, shittiest winter of your life. You will not get to fuck Madonna. Trust me. If I couldnt do it after drinking gallons of absinthe, it CANT BE DONE. There is nothing romantic or redeeming about Russia. Do not come to Moscow. Stay away from Russia. Run for your fucking life! I wanna come back though."
Alex is thinking about getting an internship with the Moscow Times and returning to Russia. He's one of the only ones talking about returning to Moscow any time soon. Which I think is rather suprising because he was the one who was drugged and robbed.
Really the only sad thing about leaving when the time came was saying goodbye to everyone. Everyone but Alec and I are from California. I will miss them.
When I arrived at the airport Wendy, Sam, and my parents were there to greet me. It was so wonderful to see Wendy and Sam. My plane was hours late so I never expected to see them.
The day after I
got back we had a huge welcome home party too. It was great to see everyone but I felt pretty out of it. I wasn't adjusted to the time difference yet and everything just felt surreal. I've since adjusted to the time difference. I've spent the last week mostly taking it easy at home. Reading, watching ,movies, hiking, working out at the club, ect. Most of my friends don't get out for Christmas break until a week from now. It has been nice taking time to just relax though. I've needed it.
So my journeys have come to an end. I'm home now.
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Jan Arno
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Christmas Greetings
Welcome home, Genna! I appreciate each of the insights you have shared. Hope you will offer more as you reflect on your journey. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and New Year! Jan Arno Fort Thomas, Kentucky