назад в СССР!

[peacetraveler22]

I'll never know or experience life during Soviet times, but during some of my visits to Russia I feel like I'm transported back to that era, or even another century. The road trip is coming to an end, with the final stop today in Yaroslavl. Along the way, I explored many small towns and spent an entire day and night in a village, talking to the locals in their homes, eating freshly prepared meals, and sleeping alone in an old house in the forest! But that will be the topic of another post. Yesterday in Soligalich, I entered a small meat shop and discovered this woman. I don't know for certain, but this blue uniform looks very Soviet, especially the hat. However, the most interesting thing in the provincial shops was...can you guess from the photo? :)

The object below! I became so confused when the shop owner started moving the balls, and thought she was offering to play some type of game. Then, my Russian travel companion informed me this is the shop's "calculator" or cash register, to add up the total cost of your purchase. How does it work? I still don't understand, but I was always bad at math. :)



The woman in the cheese shop next store was wearing this same blue outfit, but she is progressive! She had a normal adding machine, and even modern day scales to weigh the cheese.



I think it's always good to preserve your culture, including some old customs. But, yes, I was shocked to enter many small shops in Russian provinces and see no cash register, but this wooden contraption to calculate sales. Not just one or two shops, but a lot. Is it normal for a "modern" country? I think not. But maybe older people are so tied to tradition that they don't even want to purchase a basic calculator, which I assume is inexpensive in Russia. Progress in thought, technology, infrastructure...all signs of a healthy nation and culture in my view.

So many other things to write about, but I have no time on the road. :( On this trip, I've  met a lot of friendly Russians, and experienced no hostility based on the fact that I'm American. I'm very happy about both of these things! More to come soon...

Comments

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

How is it more useful? I think a basic calculator is more useful, regardless of whether it's being used in a big city or province.

[me-frai.livejournal.com]

principles of work performance of digital calculator and wooden one are not very different. Usual simple operations like addition, diminution or multiplication - it's not more difficult to manage them by wooden device in comparison with digital one. If you add to this factor power of habit and really existed poverty of remoted settlements in russian province - you will get equality of complicated new and primitive old under such conditions.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Okay, it is a logical and reasonable explanation you gave. You almost convinced me it's normal to use the abacus. :))

[bab-ush-ka.livejournal.com]

Skateboard wasn't invented when we used abacus for scating... just turn big one upside down

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Cool! :)

[volgota.livejournal.com]

Just for hitting sommebody's nagly morda with them:)

How is it more useful?

[elgreco.livejournal.com]

Самый сложный для обучения (которое занимает 10 лет в школе), но самый простой для использования интерфейс в мире:



Заменяет собой компьютерный процессор, принтер, стилус, тачпад, и несколько программ ценой в тысячи долларов (начиная с MS Office и заканчивая AutoCAD-ом). Помимо этого, обладает психотерапевтическим (обратный кончик карандаша можно грызть зубами) и лечебным (развивает руки и воображение, особенно у маленьких детей или стариков для восстановления после инсульта) эффектами.

А вот этот, состоящий из 400 деталей, калькулятор использовали американские автогонщики для расчёта правильного угла и скорости поворота на виражах. Вычисления делались руками, "на ощупь", не глядя на устройство, прямо во время быстрой езды:

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curta)

:-)))))))))

Re: How is it more useful?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're a fan of NASCAR, American racing? :)