Today Dr. Vandiver sent us a list of suggested items to pack that she received from the director of our host agency, Dr. Pope. I was extremely excited about this list, until I started reading it! The first word that scared me...MOSQUITOES! Anyone who knows me knows that bugs, primarily mosquitoes, cockroaches, and ants, bother me tremendously! I am allergic to mosquitoes and ants and get giant red whelps anytime I am bit by one. I will definitely be taking bug repellent to Russia! Next I begin reading the list of suggested clothing to wear and the list discourages t-shirts and any jeans that are tattered, frayed, or drag the ground. Apparently these items will warrant teasing as being a "sloppy American." I can get over the t-shirt part, but I do not own a single pair of jeans that: a.) do not drag under my heel; b.) are not tattered and frayed at the bottom as a result of dragging the ground; and c.) I own "distressed" jeans, meaning I bought them with holes in them! Also, I would like to know who wears nice shirts with tennis shoes? I will be packing my Ugg boots, my comfortable tennis shoes, flip flops to wear in the hostel shower, and, apparently, now some type of nice, black flat. I was confident in packing until I saw this list. Now, I think I need a bigger bag! (lol) I will not be discouraged! I will make this work and even the scary packing list cannot quell my excitement! Для России!
I have a good friend from Russia who adopted two Russian children and brought them to the USA. She said that Russians don't like the "distressed jeans" look too much. She also indicated that in the winter time people ware black shoes, but in the spring and summer months they change to brown shoes. Seems sort of odd, but it is Russia.
ReplyDeleteSo, I would pack some comfortable brown shoes too.
Or, we could all just go looking like a bunch of out-of-place Americans who are clueless about Russian "style." Might be easier to pack that way...
oh wow, thanks for the tip about t-shirts. I would have never known NOT to take a t-shirt, lol
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