Stray dogs

There are stray dogs here every where in Moscow. I feel pretty bad for them sometimes as its beginning to get quite cold. Some are fairly clean and I just want to go up to them give them a big hug and pet them to let them know someone cares - much like the first time I went to Guinea. I did think about it though for about 10 seconds and realized that they might bite me and I could end up with rabies in Russia - not something that I think would be a very good idea.

These dogs are crazy though - the move in packs sometimes, and sometimes are alone. Some are always in the same place, same time everyday. Some like to hang out at metro stations, and some apparently even take the metro - not sure where they would be going but they are more alert than the drunk guys. I do wonder how they get through that metro gate though?- maybe they know to jump over at the correct height while passing through?

Anyway, I just thought it was interesting and thought a few people might find it funny, particularly the fact that they take the metro.

Interesting observations

I'm going to keep a list of interesting observations, in no particular order. Just remember what number was there the last time you looked and you can begin reading from that point again. I've stolen this idea from Nasty's blog as it seemed like a pretty good idea. If you want to check his out its at: http://2yearsinkiwiland.blogspot.com/

I mean no harm by any of these remarks. If I offend anyone in anyway I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I'm just being my honest self. I actually really love this place and all of the people here.

1. The bank line: Russians are not typically good at waiting in line. At the bank there are always people standing around and presumably they ask each other who's next in line when someone new comes in. Usually this moves me back another person.

2. Lines in other places: There's a lot of place holding. At a cafe someone may hold the spot in line for friends, or at the supermarket friends will stand in multiple lines and then all congregate at the person who got to the register first.

3. The supermarket checkout: This is always chaos. You have to bag everything yourself, which typically shouldn't be a problem but it is. For some reason no one starts bagging their stuff until after they pay. I try to bag while my stuff is being scanned and I strategically shop and place my groceries on the belt so that they are pre-grouped for bagging but I can never get to bag until the person before me is done doing so because they take up so much damn space doing whatever they are doing. After that person is done bagging I can begin, but then I have to pay, and they will never just take 1,000 roubles. They always ask if I have a frequent shopping card or want smaller bills and coins. After getting the payment I have to bag as quick as I can before the next person's items start ending up in my pile.

4. Supermarket: When buying fruits/vegetables you have to get the items weighed in the produce section where they put the price on it. This is a great idea because it speeds up the final checkout line. The effect on 3 above is limited though.

5. Walking straight: People generally do not walk straight here. I feel like when I'm walking, especially behind someone carrying bags in each arm, that I'm a NASCAR driver and they are weaving to keep me from passing. The problem is they don't realize they are doing it - completely unbelievable.

6. British English: I realise that at one point we Americans were of the British flavour and we can thank their naval programme for moving people to America - but come on. I wish they would all do me a favour and start utilising the "Z" and drop the "U." (This does bother me, but I felt obligated to point out the short-comings of other cultures as well rather than purely pointing out flaws in Russia.)

7. Metro: The metro is awesome. I don't know how I will ever assimilate back into a society without a metro.

8. Russian Girls: They are hot. In Pittsburgh I would say that less than 10% of females are attractive (sorry to offend the other 90%). In Moscow it's closer to 20%. Within PwC Moscow it may be more than 30%.

9. Russian girls: They are still girls so the saying still applies, "Women - can't live with them, can't shoot them!"

10. Golf is expensive here: There's only one course I know of in the Moscow area, the Moscow Country Club and I understand it's approximately $300-400 per round to play. I won't be golfing while living here.

11. SIM cards: When will the States get with the program? They have them in Western Europe, Russia and even Guinea and China.

12. Business trips: When I go on a "business trip" (as opposed to "out of town") for work I have to take a paper which the client must sign and stamp a few times to prove that I actually went on a "business trip" for work. In addition I have to turn in all boarding passes and airline paper tickets.

13. Expense reports: Similar to 12, there's a lot of paperwork to fill out for an expense report - three forms actually and every receipt must be turned in with it.

14. Gypsy cabs: I can hold my hand out on just about any street and a car will pull up to me. I just have to offer a price and name a metro station that is close to where I want to go and then negotiate a price if my original offer wasn't good enough. I often just hold out 200 roubles to make things easy.

15. Travel time: It takes 30 minutes to get anywhere in this city. Minimum.

16. Flying: People clap when the plane lands. Bizarre.

17. Language: I'm not going to be a hypocrite - I need to learn Russian just as much as any immigrant to the USA needs to learn English.

18. Beer: Beer is often cheaper than water. The beer is good.

19. Drainage: With all of the brilliant engineers educated in Russia it blows my mind that not one person considered installing some type of drainage system within the city to reduce the amount of puddles when it rains. It rains a lot here. I can only imagine these puddles when it actually gets cold in Moscow and they begin to freeze.