journey into another world? - Frank Hildebrand What are you thinking at the word Siberia, first a ? Well, most would probably answer here " snow " . And there are certainly many false ideas that they cherish the so called west to the area beyond the Urals. For in Siberia is not only snow. On the contrary, when we arrived on 01.08.2008 at 3 clock in the morning we had a comfortable 21 degrees Krasnoyarsk about zero.
this report is to tell of the experiences and impressions in Krasnoyarsk and this show, with what false ideas you came.
First impressions
The very first indentation I have received from Russia, was the car of the friendly young man who took me from the airport into the city. That the steering wheel in some of the moving car right here and on other left it for now is funny. The fact that many vehicles on roads in Russia have significantly sheet damage does not surprise me, however, I knew these pictures yet yet from my visit to Ukraine. There was thus no different. One problem is the agency apparently stowing my luggage, had since the first gas can be changed in the trunk. After getting me the driver pointed with a gesture: "No Seat Bells." Now I was a little nervous, because I knew the driving style of the Ukrainians and strongly doubted that it was different. Was of course not. This phenomenon, however, should accompany me during my trip even more often.
front of the house where I now live the next ten days so it should arrive, which scared me a little run-down facade. The apartment, however contrary to the exterior of the house completely. Beautiful decorated rooms, without Carpets on the walls, comfortable furnishings, just very comfortable. A real home, what these four walls in the coming days thanks to the Russian hospitality and parental care of my hostess Galina should also be for me.
The city
Krasnoyarsk is a very contradictory city. Between the signs of modernity, openness and global trade, such as those found in western cities, but surprised the seemingly omnipresent president of the Soviet Union. Whether it is the Lenin monuments now or one of many symbols, such as hammer and sickle and red star. Apparently, The Russians understood it better to take that part of their history in their new identity, as we in the former GDR. And we find here no offense because the three main streets in the center of Krasnoyarsk Lenin street, road of peace and Karl-Marx-Strasse hot. The house of the pioneers still bears its old name. When we ask our manager Lena for the reason, she responds as Of course, "It would cost too much money to the house to give a name other money that the city can better use elsewhere.." A lack of appreciation of this decision so no trace. Everything normal. Artifact, it is also apparent that in the three main streets all day music. The local stations of the city, as I explained Galia.
seem unusual to me the many unfinished buildings in the city where not worked obviously. You, the skeletons of huge skyscrapers in the streets and wait, often for 20 years, on its completion. Also structurally Krasnoyarsk is full of contradictions. In addition to new buildings and the obviously more recently, the 380th Birthday of the city, renovated facades of the city is in the residential areas of the city probably arrived long no more money for the repairs. As I said, many houses from the outside look older than they actually are. The roads are many places in a deplorable state. True to the motto "hole at Hole holds and yet were "removed broken road, parts of a length of several meters often only up to the base layer, but not resealed. As a member of our group told me, is this practice in parts of the city so pronounced that the taxi slalom these potholes is moved around.
people and life
it is striking that the people of Krasnoyarsk somehow never seem to have time. Life in the city, the talks, everything goes very quickly. The statement, which gave me Galya for this haste seemed to me quite plausible. "spare time, wherever you can. The more time you have, the more you can do on the day. In this way you miss nothing in life. "This sentence I heard in the following context: After washing I wanted, as it were I come from just usual is also dry the same and everything put away Galja grabbed the towel from his hand." The dry but also on its own. And while its one can already do something different. "In Krasnoyarsk, keep to just not bother with irrelevant Nebnensaechlichkeiten. In general, the Russians are very busy. Galya goes every day at 8:00 clock in the house and often comes only 12 hours later completely home exhausted. She takes her work very seriously and the phone is their constant companion. It could be that a colleague needs help and they reach wants. So one thing is to teach the Russians have no work. But so many could learn from them what.
course there are also examples in which there are obviously a different mentality in the Russian phrases. Will it work somehow, I did not come today, I'm morgen.und Let's see what, if need be, we must to rethink the situation. clearly to the fore. Typical German reactions, such as: It was planned but different. And that would surely be able to clarify before. there are pre-programmed, but do not change.
traveled As mentioned, the Russian hospitality is unparalleled. The Guests are pampered betuddelt and may help not just and it is only good to leave. It shall want nothing, especially not on food. Every evening aufgetafelt breaks up the table. Two different hot dishes, salads, bread with different documents, all in a mass that instead of the four people seated at the table well and would like to fill eight to ten. One is ultimately not for poor people. If you really do not because unlike many prejudices modern Russia is by no means a poor house. As in every society there are also richer people, people with what they get on well and poorer people. And even if it is in the streets of Krasnoyarsk is one or the other beggars and old women sell their garden products to the market, so no indication is for a nation of hunger disease. However, I added a fact about Russian food very frightened - the price. Bread is cheap, but cheese, sausage and fish here are at least as expensive as in Germany. Such high prices for staple foods, I would have expected. Sure, something like that, given the prices then for many is not absolutely necessary. Saturated one is also from better things. And sick of the Krasnoyarsk.
And another cliché was, at least in my case, not served. Russians celebrate not left out with a lot of alcohol. On the contrary. At the birthday party of a hostess, to which I was invited to ate and played. The mood was good. Then they took a guitar we sat by candlelight on the floor and sang songs whose character also was not the happiest and most atmospheric. So there was a quiet round of the songs the entire night was a drop of alcohol was flowing.
The image of the poor, lazy, forever and always drunk Russian yesterday, which is drawn into the world often was during my trip for MCIH dissolved completely and it is nice to be able to say that I find this changes have myself experienced it and now knows better than media and stereotypes suggest. For your own shame, I must even admit that we are compared to few to garkeine prejudices existed. Wherever you went, whether in the camps that we visited or the aforementioned birthday party, was a rarity as a German, to which the interest and curiosity of all those present focused. You had a lot to talk and answer endless questions. They met in fascination, but never with disapproval. Whether it would have probably been in the opposite case, too? I do not know, but I would be pleased to know.
One can, however, anyone who reads my small contribution to be said. You can read more and see, but you have to have experienced myself to really believe it. I can only invite everyone, this fascinating city and his open-minded people to visit.
