The dirt...

So, people told me that Moscow is a dirty city. When I think of a dirty city, I think of trash everywhere, etc. I didn't know they meant something different. Moscow is just plain filthy, and not because of litter. Everything is just covered in a layer of black, soot-like scum. It's disgusting. I feel so bad for the people who have to mop floors here--it's a never-ending job. Cars are disgusting, too. Anyone who buys a car that's not black/dark gray is a moron. You can't even read license plates sometimes. Cars will be COMPLETELY black from the tires to the windows. It's like someone took a can of black spraypaint and just laid it on thick. So gross. Everyday I come home and I wash my face and hands and the water runs gray. My pants are FILTHY after wearing them once. And I never really understood why people got shoe shines until I came here. Now I wish I knew how to efficiently shine a shoe. It's so ridiculous. I can't believe I breathe this air 24 hours a day. Фу! (Fu!, trans. "Yuck!", "Ew!")

Today for the first time I saw a woman wearing yoga pants. Like, those atheletic pants made out of t-shirt material with 2 stripes running down the side. All of the sudden I realized I hadn't seen someone wearing them on the street since I was in America. So weird.

So, you may have thought I was a little harsh about the dogs in a previous post. Well, I forgot to tell this story. My friend Justin told me he was walking home one day by this market that sells meat. Well, old women usually buy meat for the stray dogs that live near the market, but it was late and the market was closed and therefore there were no old women hanging around. So, the dogs started following him and when he didn't give them anything they started attacking him. One bit right through his pants and into his hip! He still has scars from it! Another time a stray dog bit him in the arm. This is why I don't like the dogs (hence "Kill them all."), and why I get very nervous when one even seems to be remotely heading in my direction. I don't want to have to get rabies shots while I'm in Russia. A girl that I work with was walking in the Red Square and some guy with a pet monkey came up to her and put it on her arm. She just put her other arm up to steady it and keep it from falling, and it bit her! So, she had to get rabies shots. None of these are Russian experiences I think I need to go through.

So, I am very lucky to live at the last metro stop. Doesn't seem intuitive, does it? However, this means that I get to sit for the entire length of my metro commute (45-60 mins). If I lived two stops down I'd be stuck standing the 40-55 mins. Everyone wants to sit, so this means at my metro stop we all just wait for the next train if the current one has no seats left. But the trains don't stop at the exact same spot every single time. So, even if you were standing in front of the doors when they shut on the last car 30 seconds ago, you might not be in front of them now. One day I was in the second row of people waiting and I think that something like this happened. The people in front of me went in, so I followed, and a girl to their left (not in front of the doors, but still in the first row) slides in behind me, meanwhile PUNCHING ME in the back. This is completely uncalled for. It's not my fault that this train didn't stop in the same spot it stopped last time. I mean, she was a girl and I have a very puffy winter coat, so it's not like it hurt; it's just the principle of the thing. What person punches another person over the order of getting in the metro car? I mean, we both got seats. She was only 5th instead of 4th. And it's not like I was cutting on purpose. Ugh, ridiculous.

Anyway, I should be studying for my culture class (The Language of Films and Theater). I have to prepare two presentations and study for the exam. For tomorrow. Which I have done nothing for. Oops. :-)