Posts Tagged "newyork"
Russia-NYC Photo Series 19
The skies opened up and rain poured down when I saw Mikhail in his Brooklyn shirt in Moscow. Neither of us had an umbrella, yet he didn't mind chating or being photographed in the rain. He said he grew up in the former Soviet republic of Moldova. While working at an Italian restaurant in Moscow, he fell in love with a co-worker ... though he didn't start dating her until he changed jobs. She is from the Moldavan breakaway region of Pridnestrovie. They are now married and will be having their first child soon. He says they will continue to rent in Moscow as apartment prices and mortgages (avg ~12%) are too expensive - an all to common complaint. On a separate note, this is the second guy I spoke with this summer who married a co-worker from a Moscow restaurant - both women were from Pridnestrovie.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 18
Both Vitali and Alexei are from Novosibirsk, the so-called capital of Siberia. Both attend Moscow State University, where I ran into them. Both are studying oil and gas engineering....and both are wearing NYC-themed shirts. Alexei, on the right, said he bought the shirt in Thailand, which is one of the top five foreign destinations for Russian tourists, attracting more than 1mln a year. It takes roughly the same time to fly to Thailand from Novosibirsk as it does to Italy (7hrs).
Russia-NYC Photo Series 16
I was exploring the back streets of Sochi one night this summer when I ran into Kristina and her dog Torik. Kristina, who was wearing a NYC shirt, moved with her family from Omsk, an oil town in Siberia, to the Black Sea town of Sochi because of the better climate. Kristina said she is into music, including rap, and was proud to have recently met one of her favorite DJs. Kristina said she wants to be a DJ in New York or Miami.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 15
Yana waa strolling near the boardwalk in Sochi near sunset time on day in August. She said she grew up in the Caspian Sea town of Aktau in Kazakhstan, and comes to Sochi every year as her grandmother lives there. Of the nearly 20 Russians I photographed in Sochi, three were raised in Central Asia. Yana said she will be attending university in Prague to study international business.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 14
When people in Russia bring up Harlem in conversation with me, it is almost always in the context of "a very dangerous place," as if they are picturing a scene from the 1970s film "The Warriors." So, I found it curious when Anna walked by me in Sochi wearing a shirt with Harlem written across it. I didn't get a chance to speak in detail with her and her boyfriend - they were tired from a near 7 hour car trip they made to Sochi for the weekend. Anna said she came from Krimsk, a town that was terribly damaged by flooding a few years ago, a tragic event that dominated headlines for several days.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 13
Russia-NYC Photo Series 12
Moscow has a reputation of being a cold city both literally and figuratively. I have heard people say on a few occasions something along the lines: 'Moscow is a place for earning money, not living.' But you will see many 'warm' moments that will convince you otherwise if you stroll through the city's parks on nearly any given day. This photo of a young guy in a Brooklyn shirt and his girlfriend was taken at the Moscow 'Color Festival' this summer ... though it may actually be a bit above a 'warm' moment on the temperture scale.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 11
As we exited the metro, I asked Roman if I could take his photo with the Bronx hat and he agreed. On the escalator ride up to the street, I asked him what kind of work he was involved in. He leaned toward my ear and whispered "I'm an artist."
Russia-NYC Photo Series 10
Roma, who lives in Moscow region, was wearing his Brooklyn Bridge shirt as he visited the Olympic Ski Resort Roza Khutor in Sochi with his family. His dad said Roma may want to serve in the armed forced when he is older, adding it has become "prestigious" again to do so. His father's words reminded me of an interview I had more than a decade ago with a former Russian officer, who said he left to work in business exactly because it was no longer "prestigious" to serve and moral low. Indeed, since that interview in early 2000s, salaries for the Russian armed forces have risen significantly and equipment/living conditions updated.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 9
I learned something new about Russian sports from my chance encounter with Mikhail, whom I saw standing next to Lenin's Tomb on Red Square in his New York hat and USA-flag shirt with Mickey Mouse. Mikhail, who lives about 200km from Moscow, was in town to visit his sister. He said he is a member of a stuntbike team, which is soccer (football) on motorbikes with the exception that the ball is much bigger. He said Russia as several stuntbike teams around the country. As for his t-shirt... It jokingly calls Mickey Mouse "America's version of Cheburashka," a Russia's cartoon character. Cheburashka was created in mid 1960s, whereas Mickey Mouse was created in 1920s.
