Assignment #3

To change or not to change...

When I first came to Russia I thought that I know so much about the country and the people - due to the fact that my culture and upbringing is very similar - but this is not so. To be honest I did not think that I would personally change so much.

A part of my culture is kissing people close to you, like friends and family, when saying greetings or saying goodbye. Here, this also takes place. Bartering does not work at shops, but when at market places, I definitely do my best (Unfortunately I am not very good - I can manage to get about a 10-15% discount).
Oh...funny story - I was looking to buy a Manchester United, Ronaldo T-shirt for my cousin in Lithuania and I seen a teenage boy wearing it, so I asked: Where did you buy your T-shirt? He answered: In Azerbaijan. That was a loss of hope for me, so I left his stand. About 5 minutes later, a man approached me and said: Go and ask him for the T-shirt, he will sell it to you! I found that a little weird - that a person is willing to sell the T-shirt off his back to me!!!

Anyways back to the changes.... Now during rush hour, I stand very close to the "yellow line" when I wait for the subway, and once the train arrives I push through other people to get inside. You have to do that here, you have to be assertive so that people dont push you around - otherwise you will have to take the next train.

When I walk into a store, before standing in the line, I wait and decide exactly what I want, then I tell the cashier clearly what I want (because they tend to be inpatient when you are indecisive and take a long time to order). Before I used to speak more softly and very polite- now I am am more assertive in the langauge that I use, I speak loud, clear and straight to the point so that there will be no misunderstanding. I think this a very good quality that I have obtained.

In the beggining, I used to come to work looking very professional, but the environment here at Oxfam is very relaxed and not soo overly sophisticated, so I began wearing nice jeans and t-shirts (The look that I am used to and feel most comfortable in).

Digging deeper...
Effective communication is so important in life. In the beginning at work, I was not getting much feedback so I decided to ask for feedback instead of waiting for it. Sometimes, it was negative feedback and I learned to take it in and work with it. Other people around us see our negative side much more than we do ourselves, so feedback is a large part of the personal growth process. I learned to look at my actions and my work more critically, considering all possible outcomes and consequences of my actions at work and outside.

I learned to accept Russian people and the culture here. Before, sometimes people seemed rude, irritated, and cold at times. But I was able to look beyond that and I realized that sometimes this is just the way they are, this is their norm and I must accept that.

I am very attached to my family and my life in Canada. A lot of people do not realize what they have until they do not have it anymore. My experience here made me think about how lucky I actually am to have what I have and all of the possibilities that lie for me in my future.

Future sucess lies in the ability to learn, and change from your mistakes and from others. This is what I am working with, and will continue to work with in the future.

Seliger 2009

On July 19-20 my fellow co-workers and I have attended “Seliger 2009” which is a Russian national youth festival and camp. The theme of the festival for that week was “technology of good” which can be interpreted as “doing good deeds for people and the society as a whole”. Russian youth presented various social projects that they are currently implementing in their home towns and regions as well as their ideas for future activities. The social projects that were presented were based on many issues such as - the struggles of the disabled, elderly, those living with HIV/AIDS, and environment and climate change. Their projects also promoted healthy citizenship and the development of a strong civil society in those spheres.
One of the most important issues in the world today is one of climate change and the environment. There has been much contemplation that Russian youth do not care about environment and climate change. In reality this is not so. On July 19, over 500 Seliger participants came to see Pushpanath Krishnamurthy – the global campaigner of Oxfam’s Climate Change campaign, speak about climate change. This number shows that indeed, Russian youth are interested in climate change and environmental problems, and that they want to do something about it. The energy and passion which filled the room was incredible! You could see their concern and urge to learn more, especially when they were presented examples of climate change consequences in regions of their own country. Many people in Russia do not realize that there are changes happening in Russia, they believe it happens somewhere else in the world – a remote place which they have no concern for. Pushpanath Krishnamurthy explained to them that it is happening “here and now” and that it is their duty to be the “pilots” of the planet for the future. It was an interactive conversation almost, where young people were able to ask a global campaigner, a person who had seen climate change consequences with his own eyes, questions and get some answers to help them understand the severity of this issue on a much more advanced social level. Pushpanath became the “local celebrity” for the two days – he listened, motivated, and showed much support towards Russian youth. Young people were constantly coming up to him for advice and consultations on their projects, ideas and barriers that stand in the way of their implementation.
Overall, such dialogue was not only important for Russian youth but for the Climate Change program coordinators as well. In fact, they were able to find out more about what Russian people actually know about the issue, and how they could coordinate future climate change programmes in a more effective manner that would be the most beneficial and informative for the general public.
It is truly amazing that through festivals such as Seliger, young Russian people may thrive and learn more about the key issues that are happening in society and become more motivated to participate and change the world for the better.

There is a really big problem with rats in the city of Moscow. Here is one trying to eat some left over marinade!

Me, Pushpanath Khrishnamurthy (Oxfam GB Global Climate Change Campaigner) and Eugene from Ecowiki (Oxfam GB partners.

Here is me translating for Pushpanath Khrishnamurthy during a press conference at the WWF Russia office.

Me helping some Seliger 2009 participants brainstorn ideas for their climate change short video clip.

Me and my co-worker, Andrey, at the Seliger 2009 Festival.

Pushpanath Khrisnamurthy speaking about Climate Change during Seliger 2009.

Entrance to the exciting Seliger 2009 festival. It was highly secured and posters with quotes from Mr. Putin and Mr. Medvedev were everywhere!

Meeting with Pushpanath Khrisnamurthy - he is such an inspiring speaker!

Me inside the Kremlin at one of the cathedrals, it is enormous and so beautifull inside!

Entrance to the Kremlin.

One of the beautiful churches located inside the Kremlin.

At the office.

One of my amazing co-workers, Jemma, she is one crazy accountant with that paper clip in her hair!

Park Pobedy - dedicated to the WWII veterans. St. George monument.

St. Petersburg - St. Issaac's Cathedral.

Moscow - Aleksandrovsky Park. Monument to the WWII veterans, with eternal fire burning.

Peterhof, St. Petersburg. So many gold plated statues!

Oxfams Health Day!

Peterhof, St. Petersburg.