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

[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. :)

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

Yes, they really hate the USA, not only the Government, but also common people.

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

I think it is a new ideology panphobia - the irrational haitred to all other nations.