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cyndy22 · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:23 pm Post subject: Words of Wisdom for El Casey

Lets keep this clean and positive. I just thought some of us or anyone might have some parting words of wisdom for El Casey who is about to embark on perhaps the biggest adventure so far of his life. First I think you are courageous El Casey for making this happen for yourself. I think it takes guts, strength, fortitude and opbviously you have all that.

That being said, lets all wish El Casey well and offer him good will, parting advice etc. OKAY I will be first...
Kind of like David Lettermans's Top Ten Send Off List to Moscow Smile

Be patient with yourself re learning to speak and understand Russian. Don't be too embarrassed by your limited Russian.. Your interest, sensitivity and attiutude will go along way to compliment and off set any language barriers.

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

With all due respect, where is wisdom in that message?

If he does not speak English well, he should keep $20 in his pocket so he can bribe police in case they start bugging him

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 2:27 am Post subject:

C'mon Spice lighten up!
If that was meant to be funny or wise, as the thread actually requested, than perhaps I don't get your humour. Actually do ya think $20 is enough!!! Smile

init6 · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 2:57 am Post subject:

Actually I, uh, speak English pretty well...

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

Actually, most of the time 200 rubles is enough. If he does not speak Russian well enough for a street conversation, he should not live in Russia. It's not a place where many people speak English.

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:38 am Post subject:

That's a little harsh Mr. Spice. I really hoped to make this thread upbeat and encouraging Maybe some others can share something worthwhile. Smile

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

Yes, deleted.

init6 · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:27 am Post subject:

And, with all due respect, MrSpice I'm not so sure you know what you're talking about. For one, the estimates are that 20% of Muscovites speak conversational English. And if you stick out like a touristy sore thumb then, yes, the cops will probably ask to see your papers and try to squeeze you for some cash. I'm not going to be walking around Red Square in orange bermuda shorts, a "Hawaiian" shirt and a neon green backpack! Furthermore, the whole reason I'm paying extra money to go "through" an agent is for support - even while I'm there. I have people meeting me at the train station, I have people available to answer any questions, I have people handling all OVIR issues (and they'd better - supposedly they'll have my passport for "several weeks!"); in short, I have people available to take care of almost anything I might need within reason.

I have contacts with a few people there already, as well as in Tver. I correspond with two other students who will be in Moscow at the same time as me (a French Canadian attending a different school and a Spaniard who is attending MGU and pursuing a journalism degree). Most importantly, I'm not leaving the US because I enjoy the reliability, predictability, "safety" and blandness of it. I want the antithesis of suburban America, and that's where I'm going. Moscow will bring out my best...or my worst. Just as it does for everyone else. What's the longest amount of time you've spent in Moscow, Spice?

I can't help but feel like you're almost angry at me for leaving, Spice. Laughing

Why is that?

Only · Frequent Guest Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 48

Casey

I believe - and I might be wrong - that Spice is not as much angry with you for leaving as much as actually worried that you won't like it there.
I do have this much faith in Spice.

It is a rather common trait, actually - to try and spoil one's expectations, but not to scare one away - more like making sure that then whatever happens - happens, there is still something left to admire, be it one's resolve, a possibility that if tried, situation might have turned out better than expected or at the very least a 'told you so' brand of self-congatulation for whoever has meted the advice out.

And no, I do not think that Spice is necessarily after the latest part: I think he merely wants you to see Russia through his eyes - i.e. eyes of someone who both loved it and left it.

Most immigrants miss at least something about their home; it is this feeling that often drives them to constantly reaffirm for themselves and everyone who'd care to listen that they did, indeed, made a right choice by leaving. Yet this same feeling would make them - us - fight if someone alludes that something about our home makes it intrinsically inferior compared to our new reality. After all, there are too few ways to deny where you come from.

I am pretty sure that then you spend enough time outside of your home culture, you will literally feel the same.

I just hope that you'll make an effort to realise that while such view may appear balanced, it is rarely fully reasonable. And I wish that in making this effort you'd do better than me; if your goal is to become a good journo, you can't afford having your judgments clouded even by your own good intentions.

...I think it came out way too somber. But a couple of parties with fellow MSU peeps & friends should compensate for this, hopefully Wink

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 741 Location: Moscow

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

Yes, deleted.

init6 · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:23 pm Post subject:

Well, the last part was a bit tongue-in-cheek. Despite our disagreements, we tend to agree on the "important" bits and I like the guy (Spice). I've mentioned many times that I have no doubts that I will both appreciate the US more and miss some things about the US once I get to Moscow.

Obviously I don't have ground experience yet, but I read ravenously about anything modern Russia from Soviet history to cultural history to the book about the eXile (which is a tome of knowledge about expats and why they go to Russia the likes of no other).

It just seems that, usually, those who criticize (or have done so in the past) what it is that I'm doing are the "American Ostriches" (i.e., heads in the ground, refusing to acknowledge any of US' problems) who don't like Russia (and in some cases, Russians) anyway. Once again, I'm not going to Russia because I want it to be like the US. More importantly I'm not going there because I think I can make a killing! I don't think everything is great there and that Russia is "on the right track," I merely think it's on a track. I don't want to go to a place where everything is great. I simply don't belong in "stable, prosperous" nations - I don't fit in because I'm neither stable nor prosperous! Laughing

That's not my goal. My goal is to live, not merely exist according to cute little neatly-packaged Western "standards." I am inherently saying "f*ck your standards" by making the move that I am making. And that's exactly what I want to say to the societal norms and so-called "social mores" of this country.

I also have no doubts that 99% of my assumptions about Russia will be cast aside within a month of arrival. But that's the case with almost any cultural change. It's not a big concern to me. I'll be successful there and survive - or I won't. It's just that simple. But things tend to work out for me onb important issues and, sadly, I have to continue to bank on that "luck" for awhile longer - but not for good.

And OSE, that figure was according to "Culture Shock: Moscow At Your Doorstep" co-authored by a native Muscovite. Moreover, I'm not moving into a kommunalka somewhere in the Center. I'm plunging straight into Russian academia, i.e. educated folks. They tend to speak English. That's not my concern, though. My concern is being able to surround myself with Russian speakers so I learn faster. I'm a pretty sharp guy, I'll pick up enough to get around with fairly quickly... Wink

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

Yes, deleted.

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:54 pm Post subject:

Gee I was kind of aiming for so called parting words for Casey to be a little more encouraging! Laughing

But none the less, this discussion is fascinating. Especially the psych-social attempt to understand the psyche of an immigrant vs. a temperary resident etc.

btw not everyone Case feels that life is bland in the states. And isn't it true that life is what you make it, no matter where you are? And Case when you are in Moscow, I will be content sitting by my pool, sipping an ice cold drink, watching the birds, taking a swim and watching the stars at night. How bland! Smile

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

cyndy: But frankly, sitting in the pool and sipping a drink is ineed bland. Does it seem like a huge party to you? Obviously, being in a big city is much more exciting than sitting in a pool in a "Small Town USA"

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