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

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

The idea of McDonald's is for Americans to feel everywhere at home.

Once, in Milano, I skipped the lunch in the proper time. I was in a strange part of the city. I felt very hungry and could not find a good place to eat. Then bingo! there was a Wendy's. I confidently wen in and had the same as at hometown. (Not to say that I never visit fastfood at home).

The Russian cuisine has been destroyed by Communists. I only know about it from the classic Russian literature. The eateries that existed under Communists are undespicable. Even expensive restaurants did not serve decent meals. There purpose was to serve costly booze and get the customers stoned. This was called "chic".

So the first McDonald's presented Russians decent food they could have the first time in their lives.
The second reason was what the Communists officially called "cringing before the West"

Russian cuisine has been destroyed by Communists

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

What do you mean under Russian cuisine? Dishes served at beau monde or at common people - teachers, doctors, and even peasants? In restaurants or at homes? There was and there is big difference between them even in France that is a well-known country by its attitude to delicious food

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This is the mentality of my Russian friend when we travel overseas. He's always searching for McDonald's because he "knows what to expect there," no matter where in the world the McDonald's is located. Personally, my stomach can't handle this food at any time. So, I usually force him to stop at a local market and I simply eat fruit while he eats Big Mac's. :) About Russian cuisine, well you know how I feel. I don't like it, and have written about it numerous times. In each post about Russian food, I receive so many insults and rude comments. I can't really understand why. It's simply a personal preference about what tastes good and what doesn't please the palate. Not an insult on a nation.

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

I can realize that people shouldn't like every cuisine. We are always different. I just meant by answering that previous comment that "haute couture" cousine is something different than daily one.

I mixed up myself:))) I thought you answered mine comment)))) Sorry)))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No problem! I'm communicating with so many people here, that I often get confused also. :)

I keep reading:)

[klava-17.livejournal.com]

" I receive so many insults and rude comments. I can't really understand why"
That's so true about me as well. I see those in my journal all the time. I can't understand why they're so rude either. It looks like this is a part of a Russian culture nowadays.