Posts Tagged "russia"
Igor: The ‘Prince’
Igor was sitting in the metro sporting colorful attire and huge sunglasses, the kind you might see a famous pop singer wearing. I asked him what his story was and he gave an unusual response: "I am a Prince. At least I feel that way." He said his family heritage included Italian descendents that were invited by the imperial family to design St. Petersburg buildings. Ironically, he continues that building heritage as a project design student.
Anastasia: Voronezh Cafe Social Media Director
Popped into a cafe/restaurant in Voronezh that serves burgers and unusual coffee drinks. As one local put it, a cafe 'for hipsters' where they show films on Friday nights. There I met Anastasia, a journalism student who works part time on the restaurant's menu and brochure design as well as its social media pages. She said she also gets to choose the films.
Mikhail: Protestant, Motorbike Lover
I was getting cold while walking around Voronezh, so when I saw a coffee sign, I popped in to warm up. The coffee stand was in the back corner of a florist shop and Mikhail was serving up the java. He said he got into making coffee when the young owner of a local coffee stand took time off to travel around the world and needed someone to stand in. Mikhail said he enjoyed making coffee that he took up the job in the florist shop when the traveling owner returned. Mikhail, who meets regularly with other protestant followers to discuss religion, said he hopes to open his own coffee shop some day not only for fellow believers, "but for everyone." Besides religion and coffee, his other passion is motorcycles. He hopes to assemble is own bike someday and showed me a photo of one that he liked.
Sergei: Voronezh Bartender, Tattoo Lover
Sergei, a bartender in Voronezh, had tattoos all over his body, including a butterfly on his neck, as well as some piercings, so I asked him about his background. He was born in Crimea, but grew up in the distant region of Chukotka, which lies near Alaska. He left in his late teens as saw no future there, moving to Voronezh, where his grandmother lives. He has continued to get tattoos and piercings since arriving in Voronezh many years ago, including splitting his tongue in two. Sergei said it took a while for his girlfriend to get used to his split tongue, while he has kept it a secret from his grandmother, who wouldn't take it well.
Volodya: Engineer Turned Barber
Volodya studied engineering at a military academy and took up cutting his comrades hair. After leaving an engineering job and moving to Voronezh, he took up the skill he honed during his cadet years and now works for a classy men's only barber shop.
Babushka Nina from Voronezh
Nina was sitting on the swing, reading a newspaper one a cold, damp day in Voronezh. As I walked by, she asked for the time, so I stopped for a chat. She said she was turning 80 and tries to get out every day for a walk, despite a bad foot. She said she had a stroke many years ago and refused to take her doctor's advice to just stay in bed. Nina said that determination to keep moving helped her recover. She said she worked as an accountant at some engineering plant for decades till the turmoil of the 1990s, when around age 60 she was forced to became a merchandise trader - traveling to Moscow to buy goods and selling them for a profit in Voronezh. She said she did that to help her children and grandchildren. She said she took up sewing after her husband died in the 80s and that skill came in handy during the tough 1990s, when she often made clothes for her family. That turmoil may have shaped her philosophy of 'live for today' rather than saving money for the future (which can become worthless in times of crisis as she most likely knows from experience.)
Igor & Nikita: Future Train Drivers
Igor and Nikita were hanging out in a park in Voronezh when I met them. They said they were studying to operate trains - either passenger or cargo.
Dima & Liza: Voronezh Highschool Students
I was walking around Voronezh around 10am when I saw these two having a warm moment on a swing. Dima at 195cm was taller than me and I asked him if he was a college student. He said he and Liza were 14 and in high school together. They were skipping class to hang out and chat. Dima said he plays basketball and dunks without much effort. Liza said she likes art and would like to study abroad. When I asked her where, her answer surprised me. 'New York School of Visual Arts.' I didn't expect a young teenager far from Moscow to be familiar with NYC universities.
Ruslan & Evgeny: Voronezh Barbers
The trend of opening men's barber shop has spread beyond Moscow to the regions and Voronezh is a good example, where at least two hip spots have opened in the past year. I visited Mr. Right barber shop, which opened exactly one year ago. Here is a photo of the two young barbers Ruslan and Evgeny that work at Mr. Right. The photo is taken through the window.
St. Petersburg Bound
He was sitting at the very hip Mr. Right barbershop in Voronezh reading a magazine as he waited for a friend. He said he was a barber himself, though he looked more like a model. I asked him about his future plans and he said he was likely going to move to St. Petersburg.
