Art Class

13. March Today, in place of an excursion to a local museum, we had our very own art class.  An artist, who makes papier-mache, lacquer boxes, as well as works in a theatre, came to give us a brief lecture on the history of the lacquer box.  Then, we all had to paint our own bells.  Unfortunately, I am not very artistic.  Drawing and painting are not skills I was blessed with.  I painted the "Four Swans" scene from Swan Lake on my bell.  Despite my lack of skills, the artist knew what it was without asking.  He looked at it and said, "лебединое озеро," which of course, in Russian, means Swan Lake.  

Although I am not a natural artist, I had thoroughly enjoyed the art class.  Once I got passed the thought that I "cannot" draw, I just started drawing and it turned out ok.  I'll have to post a picture when I get a chance.  Most importantly, it was a great experience.  I love learning about Russian traditions, from Russians.  Plus, creating art is very relaxing.  At least I found it to be.  

12. March Every week we have a meeting with students from a Russian university to discuss the differences between Russia and America.  Often I don't attend.  However, today the topic was feminism and I just couldn't resist.  I wasn't surprised that Americans and Russians don't agree on much when it comes to women.  The women in Russia do everything.  They cook, they clean, they raise children, they work - they are the reason that Russia survives. I have never met anyone stronger than a Russian woman.  However, as they informed us (and we already knew), they are only so strong because they have to be.  The men here just aren't very responsible by American standards.  They are expected to work, lay on the couch, drink too much, and cheat.  

Furthermore, living in Russia is a bit like living in the 1950s.  Women and men still have societal roles based upon their gender.  Women are expected to have children, and prepare meals.  Men are expected to work to provide the income to "feed the family."  When a women works in Russia, which she usually does, the money she earns is "her" money.  It doesn't get contributed to the family pot of funds.  It is the man's job to feed the family, so his family is the family income.  The women's income (which is rarely enough to feed an individual, let alone a family) is hers to spend on cosmetics and clothes.  I like this practice :)  Unfortunately, I also detest it, because it is very important to me that women be able to provide for themselves. Someday, I want to prove to myself that I can provide for myself.  

After the discussion, I talked a little with the Russian woman who teaches English at the university.  She had mentioned that women wanted to stay home and have a baby.  She didn't understand why a woman would want to for instance, drive a metro car (this is just one of the many jobs women are forbidden to do in Russia).  I mentioned that I didn't want to have my own child, that I think I would prefer to adopt.  I asked if everyone in Russia really wants to have a baby and furthermore, their own baby.  She told me that of course they do, and that I only don't want one because I'm young.  She explained that having a baby, a person that smells like you, is part of you, is the best thing in the world.  I thought that was such a beautiful way to put it.  I still think I need to adopt.  There are so many orphans in Russia.