The Russian way

What a beautiful day in Ufa! I had not expected warm temperatures and sunshine so today was a bonus.  We spent the morning completing tasks around the apartment, emails, research preparation, etc. We still needed some basic supplies, so decided to test the local transit system. Ufa, unlike St. Petersburg or Moscow does not have a subway, instead it has trams, trollies, vans and buses.  We decided to take our map and walk to the main bus stop near the university and ask someone for help.  It worked.  After just a few minutes we found two young girls to assist.  Their English was very limited but they were willing and helpful. We caught a van to take us to another part of the city to the new IKEA store, and once on the van we crossed our fingers that we could get there and back.  As we left the city center on the full van, not a word was spoken...no chit-chat, little eye contact and I believe you could have heard a pin drop.

We were dropped off on the side of the road near the shopping complex and walked down a dirt path to the parking lot near the store.  What a store, and it is said to have had more interest than any other when it opened in Russia! We made all of our purchases in one stop and managed then to catch another van back into the city center with the overall price of 40 rubles (just over $1.00 each). Another interesting system-you pay as you exit the van, not as you enter.  Although Ufa is a city of over 1 million people, it often feels like a big town.
The Russian way is to ALWAYS take your shoes off as you enter a home (and even some other places-thanks Courtney :).  You are expected to wear "slippers" when at home or at the home of others.  I am quite comfortable in the Birkenstocks I brought along, but John insisted on purchasing himself Russian "fuzzy slippers" today at IKEA. Once home, he realized he had purchased the wrong size so now I get to wear the new slippers and I love them. Everyone should had a pair. The Russian way feels good.
*Tonight's Dinner story...we decided to repeat a restaurant as John didn't feel like "negotiating for dinner"in Russian. We decided on a restaurant where the staff now recognized us and were able to provide an  English menu. As we entered we give our best Russian greeting and were escorted to our table and handed two English menus.  After having  a reasonable time to review the menu, the waitress returned to our table with a troubled look and handed me a cell phone.  I panicked...WHO would be calling me at this restaurant...was it my mom, kids, state department, sponsor??? As I weakly said hello...a man on the other end said "may I take your order" in English?  LOL, now THAT is service!