Festival, Television, Politics

Our teachers were asked not to give us homework so that we could spend as much time as possible at the festival this weekend. Acquiescing, they instead decided on tests and quizzes. Still, we were able to spend a lot of time at the festival, which had a lot of intlatables for children, a lot of food stands (the best of which was the shish kebab), a loat of souvenir kiosks, and plenty of authentic and non-authentic Russian entertainment on the three stages that were set up on either side of the river. Unfortunately, Vladamir Putin did not attend, as was rumored. Still, on the sand along the river, there was the unexpected presence of a volleyball tournament and a sand-castle building contest.

Before wandering around one night we bought a bottle of cheap vodka to split six ways. I, being twenty years old, am unable to purchase vodka in America, but am informed that it costs about a third of what it does in America. Previously, when my host-family had a visitor, we each had a shot of vodka, which they had flavored with slices of lemon. Delicious (I mean that sarcastically).

As for Russian television, there are a few popular news stations, a few stations that are like abc or cbs or nbc, a few stations that play music videos, a lot of movie stations, a fashion channel, nickelodeon (which is surprisingly well dubbed), and a collection of discovery, animal planet, history channel, etc. I mostly watch the music video channels, and can relate two interesting observances. The first is that commercial breaks will sometimes contain only advertisements for ringtones that you can text for, and each of the companies advertises the same set of songs. Second, one station has an incredible show that is essentially an amatuer hour, where against a white back drop untalented and talented people of all ages attempt to perform. It is not a competition, just a chance to do something on national television. Among the funniest acts have been a girl singing a Pussy Cat Dolls song, a woman making various animal noises, and an out of shape guy wearing black leather and a batman mask slowly and seductively stripping to rock music. I am trying to find a clip of the last one online, but thus far no luck. My host-mother especially enjoys soap operas, which are on at 7 and 8pm, so that all of the working women can return home in time to catch the show. Finally, the film channels love American movies that show Russia in a favorable light; Enemy at the Gates was on for four consecutive days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_at_the_Gates).

Finally, I want offer a few quick thoughts on Russia as it relates to America in a political sense. Please read this as my own assessment, and not as well researched fact. President Obama is reaching out to the Russian President Medvedev because he seeks Russian assistance in pressuring Iran to abandon its aspirations of obtaining nuclear weapons. There is also a policy goal of mutually reducing American and Russian nuclear missle stocks. The EU and NATO often view Russia in an advisarial light; the EU has a policy goal of reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels, as well as, with NATO, assisting several states, especially Georgia, resist Russian soft power (indirect/non-military influence). It seems that Russia's main policy goal is to prevent the US from intalling missile defense systems in Eastern Europe.

Happy Fathers' Day, and also thank you to those of you who have sent me compliments about this blog, it is much less cumbersome to write when I know it is being read.

P.S. the speel-check is not working