A few days before it “happens” the notices go up in the lobby of the building you live it. Then the flurry of vacation requests are put in at work by everyone and then everyone tries to leave for the dachas while it “happens.” The poor wretched few that hang around to endure the results of that notice in the lobby of the building, suffer greatly and life hangs in a balance between death and misery. It is the “Happening…”
The excerpt above you just read is from a typical western stranger to Russia who experiences his or hers first “Happening…”
I guess you could be asking yourself right now, “What the hell is he talking about?”
Good question…
Today is the famous and internationally known day of having our hot water shut down for two weeks (at least in our area), as they do something or another to work and clean the pipes and hot water system. They can not do it in a few days, but they work like rabid turtles and take two weeks to achomplish what I am sure that I could do in two days or maybe two hours…
Then I grew sad! I thought about a newcomer to Russia (like Edward Snowden, the famous NSA whistle blower,) and wondered how he will survive in such a cruel world as Russia presents to westerners. I mean we even have our hot water shut off for two weeks a year. That has got to be one of the most brutal inhumane punishments known to man. No seriously – if you never had hot water like some parts of the world, then it is no big deal. You don’t miss what you never had. But to have such luxuries and life enhancing aspects and then have them ripped away at the whim of a “Rabid Turtle” who seems to have no desire but to execute misery upon your soul by taking as long as possible to clean the hot water system. Why Snowden may not survive the horrors of it all…
Then I heard that Snowden had friends helping him in Moscow and that even some expats where helping him from America. So I will not worry about how he will survive with out hot water. I will worry about myself and for that reason I wrote this blog article…
I want to make sure that everyone in the world knows about how terrible life has become and that I have been led to a balance of “death and misery” as I have no hot water…
Then I remembered: Why I have a hot water pot and can heat up cold water anytime I want to. Then I can apply that hot water to various functions of life and life is good again. Why I can even drink a cup of coffee if I want to…
Then life became better and I no longer hung at the balance of death and misery. I really just said all this so that as you hear stories from expats who have just come to Russia and they are horrified of the prospect of the “Happening!”
You can tell them over the phone call they make to you complaining, “Just heat up water in that kettle thingy that all Russians have and use what ever you want to satisfy your misery. Then have a cup of tea…”
Yes a cup of tea (or coffee in my case) solves all problems, even the “Happening!”
Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…