In 1992, when the iron curtain fell, kiosks appeared in Moscow. They were boxy, aluminum sided units with a door on one side and a glass front. The kiosks appeared on sidewalks, near metro stations and anywhere they could. They were everywhere, they sold everything and I miss them.
The kiosks rapidly spread. Many were set…
Skilled toastmasters in Russia wait until one or two other people have made a few toasts, allowing the competition to be sized up. Make yours when no one is expecting it, after the guests at the table have had time to empty their plates and recovered from the previous toast. Get everyone’s attention by slowly…
On a hot June day, I visited the tax office here in Moscow to clear up a fine. The receptionist at the tax office looked a little like a military man, standing behind a big desk. He could have been a train conductor, or a customs official. His uniform was a size too small, his…