Symbols of America

[peacetraveler22]

For the past few weeks, Ilya Varlamov has published posts incorporating photos from Moscow in the late 1980's - early 90's. I love these! Amazing to see how the country looked right before the collapse of the USSR. In today's post, I saw this photo from 1990. A massive queue to enter the first McDonald's in Moscow! I can't imagine such a scene, or how this fast food chain symbolized so much to people at that time. In 1990, I was 17. A senior in high school, getting ready to graduate and enter university, and closely following events overseas.

What other places, items and things did Soviet citizens associate with America before the collapse? My aunt visited Russia in the early 1980's, and she told me stories about locals asking her for bubble gum and wanting to buy her Levi's, straight off her body. This is no joke.

This is what makes Russia so fascinating to me - very rich and diverse history, constantly shifting and changing. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Not sure how most Russians feel about the current direction in which Russia is moving...I hope you feel for the better, because it's depressing and sad to live in a place where you feel absolutely no hope or prospect for the future. I have never once felt this way about my life in America...

Comments

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

"
most of us are not born into a wealthy life where we are free to pursue all of our desires and intellectual pursuits, with no financial boundaries.
"

But Socialism gives a chance to build a communist society in the future where everybody will be able to do the above!
The _intent_ of everything which was done during Soviet times was to satisfy everybody's basic needs.
Yes, this system was not strong in giving fancy or fashionable things to those who wanted them and we had a very heavy burden of keeping up with USA in arms race.
But there were no poor people and social lifts worked rather well.
(Not like in America where generations of blacks have no practical way out)

In fact, there was some aberration in minds of young people at that time.
Being protected and having all the basic rights - right to work, to have at least one month of paid vacations, right for free education and healthcare, they dreamed of fancy colourful things from the West, as I described in another comment.

So we got all these fancy things in market economy but lost (at least partly) the basic things we had.

Thanks God, not completely:
russos. livejournal. com/1166153.html

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I saw Russos post, I follow this blogger. Unfortunately, I also spent yesterday in the hospital. That's why I didn't respond to comments sooner. Getting X-rays and all kinds of treatment for my nerve injury. :(

Re: Вот это и есть ёбаный стыд о котором так много говоря

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

To be honest, i defended my country rather than you. I wouldn't want that my country and my people look like a bunch of rude barbarians. People here have gone through very bad times and will survive bad times again, it doesn't lead to politeness of society. Be forgiving please 8)

Re: Вот это и есть ёбаный стыд о котором так много говоря

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sorry, your efforts were futile. Because the last comment this user just wrote a few minutes ago was the most insulting of all. :((

Re: Вот это и есть ёбаный стыд о котором так много говоря

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

Sadly. Our demonic, smacking of sulfur chum Fitz acquired one more soul ;)

[krasnogorr.livejournal.com]

Ах, ну да. Политических в США нет. И даже рэперов не сажают за песни (Tiny Do). И нет Гуантанамо, где вообще без обвинений содержат. И не было никаких скандалов с секретными тюрьмами и пытками. И не сажают за политику рядовых и не преследуют прочих, типа Сноудена? Может нет и коммерческих тюрем, куда судьи за взятки отправляют невинных?

Да и я хочу напомнить, что разговор идёт об СССР, которому предъявляют то, что он был набит лагерями, но никто не винит за тоже самое США сегодня.

[g-kar.livejournal.com]

Back in USSR restaurants were MUCH worse :)

If we speak about now, I was comparing McD food safety mainly with cheap fast-food.

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

I remeber the taste of Hamburgers in that McDonalds they were very tasty.:) Unfortunatly I have never met that taste again in other McDonalds.

Re: Вот это и есть ёбаный стыд о котором так много говоря

[nucleosome.livejournal.com]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj4hxehkP4Y

А ведь мы же расссссссия! Подумать страшна великая страна

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

The official version - violations of sanitary norms.

Re: By the way

[fox511.livejournal.com]

History of cooperation between Boeing and Soviet (Russian) design bureaus began at mid-60s. Firstly it were unofficial half-legal meetings between engineers at "neutral territory" - in Europe. For example Joe Sutter (chief designer of Boeing 747) in his book describes one of this meeting. US designers told Russian engineers about pylon engine mounting at airplanes, our - about titanium details productions.

Main landing gear bogie of famous Boeing 777 was designed in cooperation with Tupolev Design Bureau. This kind of structure was already designed before 777 at Tu-154 airplane.

At state level, officially and permanent Boeing-Russia cooperation starts at the end of 1993.

At 1998 was opened Moscow Boeing Design Center. That 12th floor building, which houses about 1000 of Russian engineers, working at all modern Boeing commercial airplanes projects

Re: Вот это и есть ёбаный стыд о котором так много говоря

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What is this scene about? I can't understand the actors' Russian. :(

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Probably it was tasty because it was something new and previously forbidden. A trick to the brain and taste buds. :)

Re: By the way

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks for the Boeing history lesson as it relates to Russia. :) I very much prefer Boeing aircraft over Airbus. Esp. the 747! When I worked for United Airlines, I had the opportunity to sit upstairs on a 747 in business class for a long flight to Asia. So awesome!!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What about now? All of these iconic Western things are easily available all over Russia? Not just in big cities? For example, Levi's jeans? Because every time I visit St. Petersburg, my Russian friend wants me to bring him Levi's.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

I don't know about Russia, I live in Moscow and it's a different state :))

Yes, Levi's are available but the price is much higher than in the US.
Levi's jeans here cost about 5000 roubles.
This price is stable for last several years.
In Europe even in outlets it is not much less.

In USA 10 years ago regular Levis (not 501) were $29 and 501 were 33 if my memory is correct.
Don't know about now :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Now they are more expensive, but cheaper than Russia. Around 50 - 60 USD. :)

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

We visited a large outlet in Holland last summer when we were in Germany so now I have a stock of Levi's jeans and Lacoste T-shirts for the next several years.
But I wouldn't mind to visit one of American outlets.
Casual clothes are really cheap there :)

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

Maybe... There were only 4 types of food hamburgers, french fries, apple pie and ice-cream and the taste of all of them was fantastic.:) I also stood in that line with my parents. We never ate there because there were no any free tables and took everything to home.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Each time I've been in Moscow, the McDonald's have been very, very crowded! So I guess people still like to eat there. :)

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

But now it is not so crowded like in 1990-1992.:)

I remeber my mother broght McDonalds meal the first time. It was really wonderful. It was so strange - different boxes, posters.

I also remeber snickers and mars in the shop. They also were a symbol of a foreign life because of a bright packaging.

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

Now I also do not like it.:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Btw, did you see this post today? http://politichanka.livejournal.com/277129.html. What do you think of it? Do most Russians feel this way? :((

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

I think the same process was in Nazi Germany. The whole nation is going crazy. I can not understand why. Maybe because of TV-propaganda and alchochol. It is horribly.

As for me, I decided to move to another country. Firstly to Israel and secondly to Canada or the USA.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I traveled to Israel and Palestine in April. Interesting cultural dynamics there, and much warmer weather. :)