Posts Tagged "Moscow Street Portrait"
Alexander: Dog Owner, Security Guard
Alexander, 54, can often be seen around University metro station in Moscow. He said he grew up near Saratov on the Volga to a Jewish mother and Russian father. Alexander said he served in Afghanistan and now works as a security guard. ''There are three nations you can't conquer: Afghanistan, Vietnam and Russia,'' he said, as he discussed global politics.
Anton: Practicing Irish Dancing
Anton, 19 and a law student, attended the St. Patrick's Day parade in Moscow with his friends. About 190 cm tall, he was sporting a black leather coat, faded black jeans and black boots. Were it not for the Irish flag colors painted on his face - and Ireland t-shirt - you would think he was dressed for a rock concert. When asked why he came to the event, Anton said he liked Irish culture and added he has been taking Irish dance classes for the past three years, but admitted it isn't easy. ''I find it difficult to tap to the rhythm,'' he said.
Danil & Alexandra: Historical Reenactment Fans
Danil, 23, and Alexandra, 24, brought their daughter Katya to Sokolniki Park in Moscow to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Danil was dressed in a quilt, socks pulled up to his knees, while his wife sported green pants and a scarf in the Irish colors. The couple said they grew up in the same neighborhood in Moscow and love historical reenactments of the middle ages, occasionally taking part in such events. Alexandra said they like Irish culture and clothing while Danil joked that Russians and the Irish are similar in spirit as well as in their love of drinking and companionship. ''It isn't important in what country people are born,'' Alexandra said on a slightly more serious note. ''There is a lot that unites them, such as common interests. People can speak different languages, but still understand each other.''
Victor: Married on St. Patricks Day
Victor, 26 was hanging out with his friends and wife at Moscow's Sokolniki Park, where St. Patrick's Day was celebrated. He said he was a physics PhD student, which he joked was a ''family business'' as his father is a physicist and his mother an electrical engineer. Victor, who likes to home brew beer, said he first celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Moscow three years ago at a bar with a friend. Victor said he saw a girl there that he liked and got up to dance with here. A year later, Victor married that girl - an English teacher - on St. Patrick's Day. They celebrated their honeymoon in Scotland, where Victor bought his current St. Patrick's Day outfit.
Max & Stanislav: Brothers from Moscow Suburbs
Max, 21, and Stanislav, 24, are brothers from Moscow region. Fans of folk music and rock music, they attended the St. Patrick's Day parade in the Russian capital with friends from their town. Max was wearing an unusual metallic chain around his neck that looked like a sword or anchor. He said it referred to pagan Slavic religions and that he adheres to Wotanism. Max said his favorite musical group is Arkona, a pagan Slavic metal band. According to wikipedia, Arkona was the last pagan Slavic city-castle, destroyed in 1168. Stanislav also said that organized religions like Christianity is not something he feels comfortable with. He said he prefers Slavic pagan religions as well as druidism. ''I try to live in such a way that my descendants will be proud of me,'' Stanislav said, explaining why he chose such religions. ''I try to live in agreement with nature and harmony with myself.''
Sofia: Korean Language Student
Sofia, 20, was among the few thousand attendees at a St. Patrick's Day celebration in Moscow. She was standing near the entrance of Sokolniki Park in a green scarf, green shamrock hat and with a shamrock painted on her face. She was holding a sign that said ''free hugs.'' Sofia said she is studying English and Korean at university and has visited Korea twice. She said she wanted to take an oriental language as she already knew French well. Sofia said she comes from a family of doctors and dreams of being a medical translator of Korean-Russian and English-Russian. I asked why Sofia why she didn't follow in her father's footsteps to become a doctor if she enjoyed the medical industry so much. ''I have problems with physics and chemistry, but no one said you can't be a medical translator.''