Posts Tagged "russia"
Yury: Return Home to Chaos?
Ilya was among a few Ukrainians that packed their bags in January 2014 and headed to XX in the UAE to serve at new, luxury hotel catering in large part to Russian speakers from the former Soviet Union. It was good timing…a few weeks later, the Ukrainian President was overthrown,
Moscow Woman Checking Her Looks
She was standing next to a kiosk not far from the Moscow Kremlin shortly before midnight. Aside from the kiosk worker, who was reading a book, and three police officers on the other side of the street, there was no one around. She was just standing there against the kiosk at first…three shopping bags at her feet. Probably in her 60s, she might have been homeless.
A Moscow Father
The soft, fluffy, snow was falling non-stop in Moscow on February 3, quickly covering my courtyard. I couldn’t pass this up, so I grabbed my camera and headed for the exit to take some photos. I wanted to capture people walking through the snowstorm – a typical Russia image. I ended up finding something that was not a ‘typical’ Russia image…though it is becoming one in my view.
Sakhalin Girls at Burger Joint
Angelina and her friend were sitting in a fast-food burger join, a sort of McDonald's equivalent for the distant island. Both were dressed in fashionable outfits, so they posed for photos outside the fast food spot. Angelina said the two study together at a local college and specialize in organizing cultural performances. Angelina said she would like to work in the modeling industry while her friend would like to sing. Her friend already sings on stage. I asked Angelina if she would like to leave Sakhalin. ''Maybe I will give it a shot in a big city and see how I do,'' she said. ''But, nonetheless, I would return to my native region. Sakhalin is a unique Island.''
Two Friends: Russian and Ukrainian
It was one of those days that Pushkin raved about in poems….a cold, sunny, winter day. The temperature was close to -16c (zero F) in this part of Western Ukraine as I passed two high school girls sipping espresso in the outdoor seating area of McDonald’s. I had to ask them why they were sitting in such cold.
Young Ukrainian Couple
Dima said many young Ukrainians are leaving the country and he and his girlfriend may soon join the exodus. He says officials are asking people to be patient and ”wait to 2020” when things will be better. ”But I have plans and I want to achieve them.” Among his dreams – the same I hear from Russians, Belarusians, and Americans – is to have a house and a car.
Alexei: Moscow Hipster, Apple Specialist
Alexei was holding a screwdriver, fixing some electronics equipment at a stand in a Moscow mall, when I notice the tattoos all over his hand. I stopped to chat with him. The 24 year-old said he went from bartending to becoming a certified Apple sales manager because he loves their products. ''I know all about Apple. It's not just my work, but my hobby.'' He said he got into repairing Apple products simply by watching Youtube videos. His first repair was an LCD screen. As for the tattoos, he said he has his parents, grandparents and brother's birthdays imprinted on the fingers on his right hand as they are the important people in his life.
Sergei: Tattooed Youth
Sergei was crossing the Moscow River near the Moscow Financial District via a pedestrian bridge when I passed him. He immediately caught my eye as his face and hands were covered in tattoos that he said he designed himself. Sergei said he was turning 18 next month, unemployed, but looking at any job offers. I asked what he would like to do, mentioning that the tattoos would limit the jobs he could find. ''I would like to become a model,'' he answered. He said chest and legs were also covered in tattoos and that his brother was living in Brooklyn....not far from my home.
Ruslan: Voronezh Barber
Ruslan has been working as a barber for several years, having first started in Moscow before moving to Voronezh. I asked how he got into the business. He said his mother's best friend was a hair stylist and recommdnded he give styling a shot.
Vlad: Fisherman in the Cold
When it is cold outside - like it was in Moscow today - you need to keep moving to stay warm. Thus, Vlad's weekend job as a Moscow street performer wasn't easy today - his goal was to pretend to be a statue of a fisherman and pretty much stand still over the course of a few hours. A metals trader who studied atomic power station construction, Vlad said he likes that his statue performance ''makes people happy and makes them smile.''
