Walking around Moscow at night was very fun as we have not been around much when it is late. Sparrow Hills was pretty active and the view of the entire city was very nice, although the Russians kept telling us how much of a shame it was that the old Olympic stadium was not lit up as it is being renovated. I also learned some history of that area and more about Napoleon's invasion of Moscow. France seems to play a major role in Russia's culture, with a slew of words being integrated into the language and France's military history being very prominent in Russia's own history. It seems odd to me that something as destructive as Napoleon's invasion left such a strong impression on Russia in a positive way whereas Germany's invasion has done nothing of the sort.

History and the Olympics

I got my fill of history for the week going to Tsaritsyno and a tank museum not far outside of Moscow. Both places were very interesting as I actually know something about these time periods and could draw on some knowledge. The Olympics have also been fun with Canadian, French, Russian, and American fans all in one room watching events. The hockey game between the USA and Russia was by far the most lively night we've had here so far. It'll be interesting if there is another match between the two later on during the finals.

The Kremlin

Being a history major, the Kremlin was very intriguing as I got to hundreds of years of Russian history fused together in one place. I thought the it was interesting to see how the artwork differed from other parts of the world I've been to in the way figures were portrayed. It seems as if in every nation their own "image" comes as the standard, or the most relatable, and greatly affects the way everything is created. Especially in a nation as diverse as Russia, it will be interesting to observe if any ethnocentric patterns towards a specific group becomes evident through various cultural aspects.

 The admiration of old Soviet buildings is interesting as the perception of them is very different from what the stereotypical American view of how people lived during the time. Many of the positive aspects such as job stability, equality, and cultural exchange in Moscow are talked about without ignoring the atrocities committed by Stalin. Rather than saying that democracy automatically leads to a better life, the difficulties that come with a highly competitive society are much more easily understood when the remnants of a completely different way of life surround you. Some of the problems Russia is portrayed as having on the international scene could be attributed to a quick transition to capitalism after the fall of communism. I think that being in a place with such an infamous reputation in America does a lot to show how most of the problems between the two nations stem from governments, not from people themselves.