Thank you Sarah, where did you get the list? Whoever wrote it is brilliant! I would add a 26th way in one's agreeing with and knowing the truth of with every one of the 25 ways. All my best, Mark ps Responses to Kou were spot-on. The thread of helpful spots, as Paul and Nick suggested, is essential as Google and "guides" are anything but (helpful.)
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:17:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Sarah Watterson Subject: Expat List 25 ways to know you have been in russia too long To: The Moscow Expat List Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Pretty amusing: 25 ways you know that you have been in Russia too long .. 1. You answer the phone with a deadpan "allo-a." 2. When crossing the street, you sprint. 3. In winter, you choose your route by scanning for icicles. 4. You look at people's shoes to determine where they are from. 5. Your day seems brighter after seeing some goon's Mercedes broadsided by a pensioner's "Moskvich". 6. You are thrown off guard when the doorman at the nightclub is happy to see you. 7. Seeing a car cruise by on the sidewalk is no big deal. 8. Your not sure what to do you when the GAI only asks you to pay the official fine. 9. You give a 10% tip only if the waiter has been really exceptional. 10. You plan your vacation around those times of the year when the hot water is turned off. 11. You develop a liking for beets. 12. You know seven people whose favorite novel is The Master and Margarita. 13. You change into tapichki and wash your hands as soon as you walk into your apartment. 14. You start thinking of black bread as a good chaser for vodka. 15. You have to identify all the Olga's and Vladimir's in your mobile phone by: Olga friend, Olga work, Olga teacher... 16. You wear a wool hat in the sauna. 17. You are rude to people at the airport for no reason. 18. 'Remont,' 'piva' and 'hatchapouri' become integral parts of your vocabulary. 19. You are curious as to when they might start exporting Baltika beer to your home country. 20. Cigarette smoke becomes 'tolerable'. 21. You don't even notice padded doors anymore. 22. You never smile in public when you're alone. 23. When you know the Moscow Metro better than the subway system back home. 24. You catch yourself whistling indoors and feel guilty. 25. The elevator aroma seems reassuring somehow. _________________________________________________________________ Can you find the hidden words? Take a break and play Seekadoo! http://club.live.com/seekadoo.aspx?icid=seek_wlmailtextlink_______________________________________________ Expat mailing list [email protected] http://www.lists.ru/mailman/listinfo/expat http://www.expat.ru/forum/
