Before heading off for a day of work today, my roommate, Chris, and I ventured out into the frozen tundra in search souvenirs to lug home in our already ready-to-bust suitcases.  The day before, while driving to work, we saw a few folding tables piled with Russian wares set up on the side of an overpass.  It didn't seem too far away from our hotel, and the shopping was limited to maybe fifteen or less tables, so we figure we'll be able to shop for at least a little while in comfort before nee...
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 A generous dose of Xanax is highly recommended for anyone wishing to visit the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.  Among the themes featured in the Russian art are disease, flooding, derelict architecture, drowning, war casualties, funeral processions, and death in general.  One especially uplifting image entitled "Inconsolable Grief" depicts a widow dressed in black holding a handkerchief to her mouth to stifle back tears as she adds yet another bouquet of lilies to the blooming collectio...
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I smell the sweet sent of roasted almonds drifting from the nearby park as I crane my neck to look up at the vibrantly painted onion domes of the Church of Our Savior on Spilt Blood.  Our cast has lovingly named it “the Ice Cream Palace” and although I’ve stopped by at least once everyday since we arrived in Saint Petersburg, I’m no less awed by its stunning façade.  

 

A couple dressed in 17^th century clothing poses for photographs with tourists near the exit of the church (for a ...

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The first night after I arrived in Russia, I slept like a baby through the night.  Unfortunately, ever since then, bedtime has been a different story.  Last night I forced myself to stay awake until 11:00 pm, and drifted to sleep, which I enjoyed until the ripe ol’ hour of 3:00 am.  Hooray for jet lag.  Actually, as annoying as it is, being awake for hours on end does have it’s advantages. 

For example, this morning, after lying in bed with my eyes permanently fixed open, I decided to ...

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On our way home from work, our bus trudges over the snow covered bridge across the Neva River, St. Petersburg’s main waterway.  Looking quite different from the swiftly rushing river it was just days ago, the water is now at a complete standstill, jutting up in frozen ridges across the bumpy surface.  

A member of our security team told me the other day that we are lucky we’re visiting during the off season because when the river is thawed, the bridges are only kept down for a certain ...

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Laughter comes in so many different forms.  There's the nervous laughter that comes when you attempt to explain yourself away to someone you care about.  There's the laughter that covers tears that comes when you put on your brave face.  And there's even that evil laughter that comes when plotting revenge.  But the best variety of laughter by far, is that true laugh that starts off deep in your chest and comes out in the most obnoxiously wonderful sound through your mouth and ears and eyes.  ...
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Alongside an article in The St. Petersburg Times describing the death and destruction of a fire at a local nightclub ignited due to negligence of fire safety rules during a pyrotechnics show, I read about a movement started by a former St. Petersburg cop to expose corruption in the Russian police force.  Alexei Dymovsky release a You Tube video in which he speaks out against police quotas for prosecutions, and low wages, which he says ultimately leads to evidence fabrication and police abus...

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I think this flight attendant seriously needs to rethink his profession if he ever plans on smiling, laughing or partaking in any other enjoyable activity again.  The distain with which he throws the packet of exactly 12.5 pretzels onto my tray makes me incredibly envious of the passengers on the other side of the plane who are greeted by the gracious smile of white-haired, somewhat plump Kathy-who loosely resembles my childhood friend’s granny.  

The fact that I actually know Kathy’s ...

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Today is our first day in Tianjin.  Eger to explore, I bug Chris as she unpacks her suitcase to leave everything in reckless abandon and walk around the city in search of adventure.  For the first half an hour or so after the hotel staff hands us our room key, Chris likes to organize her toiletries in the bathroom, arrange her snacks on top of the TV and acquaint herself with the little room we’ll call home for the next week. 

I, on the other hand, consider myself domesticated if I de...

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