If you haven't had a chance to check out this blog yet, I highly recommend The Accidental Russophile for anyone who has yet to travel to Russia (or who's been there and wants to read more).

It's the blog of Wally Shedd, an American engineer who has professional and personal ties to Russia. He apparently does contract work there quite often and he is engaged (perhaps married, at this point) to a Russian woman.

The blog is immense, as he's quite a prolific writer and he updates it often. I'll give you some highlights as I see them.

First is this post on food. In his January 2006 posts (scroll down past the first 2 posts) he gives a veritable dictionary of common foods encountered in Russia, complete with definition, Russian word, and his experience with the food item.

His most current post calls attention to the marvelous wildlife photography of Igor Shpilinok. Russia would be a gorgeous place to photograph. Waly points out that most people consider Russia a place of oil spills, Chernobyl, and pollution (and indeed, it is) but there is so much land over there - beautiful, unpopulated land - that there is also much beauty. My husband is a nature photographer as well - maybe someday we'll get to go there on a photography and cultural trip.

He also has a post entitled "If You Are A Russian..." which I found very amusing. He tries to describe the average Russian without stereotyping. I have no way of knowing if he succeeds or not since I don't know very many Russian people, but it's certainly an amusing read. Here's the beginning of it:

You believe that all politicians and wealthy individuals had to cheat, lie, or steal to rise to their position of power. This might make you a bit jealous, and certainly permits you to take a little extra for yourself if you see an opportunity. Everybody does it. Where’s the harm in that? The wealthy make enough already.

You are familiar with Cheburashka, Koshei Bessmertnii, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Baba Yaga, Ivan Grozny, Ded Moroz, Snegurochka, Ivan Durak, Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears (Moskva Slezam Ne Verit), With Light Steam (S Legkim Parom), Eralash, Ivan Susanin, Santa Barbara, Nu Pogodi, Terminator and MTV.

You know how football (not that American stuff) and hockey are played, especially if you are a man. And you likely follow figure skating also. Everyone knows Russians are the best at it. You probably tried basketball in physical education class. Baseball? It is incomprehensible and reminds you of the game that you used to play at kindergarten and in primary school and which is called Lapta.

You get 24 vacation days a year, along with many holidays. Plus tea-breaks ... and smoking breaks during the day. After all, I will pretend to work, if you pretend to pay me. Although it seems more and more they expect you to work to make even a little money.