Here are 10 random observations we’ve made since our arrival in Russia that didn’t really fit with any of our other posts, but that fit together as highlighting some unexpected cultural differences.

1- Shoe covers– we quickly learned about shoe covers-disposable plastic covers lined with elastic that Russians wear on their feet when coming in many buildings like schools and doctors’ offices. The covers are controversial at our school, with parents and local staff preferring their use and expat staff advocating against their use for environmental factors. Some surprising times that shoe covers were required were on the trampoline in the park and on the yacht ride we took in Sochi on the Black Sea. At the bowling alley, I was given shoe covers to wear between my socks and the rental bowling shoes. It was weird to bowl somewhere that didn’t smell like a mix of sweaty feet and shoe spray. Also, when the alley ran out of shoes, you had the option to wear shoe covers on the outside of your own shoes. Thus half of the bowlers had inner shoes covers and half were outies. We also met a grandma in the forest wearing shoe covers to protect her shoes from the mud.

2- Flowers everywhere– you can buy flowers seemingly anywhere in Russia- subway stops all seem to have a flower shop, markets and malls have flower stands, grandmas sell bouquets in the pedestrian walkways, and there are countless flower shops around the city. Russians gift elaborate flower bouquets for every occasion. Our school even has an after school “Floristics” class where kids can learn the art of flower arranging.

3- Got Lingerie?– Need some new lingerie? Just head to the subway stop to buy some new lacy undies, bras, or something sexy for your hot date. Busty mannequins don hot looks in the windows of the underground shops that you can find in most subway stops in Kazan. With lingerie and flower shops, the subway is a one stop shop for all your date night needs.

4-Double denim– Alden brought with him his acid washed jeans that we bought as part of his Weird Al costume. He can wear them unironically here, as denim in all shades is quite popular. We like to keep our eyes out for “double denim”- people simultaneously rocking denim tops and bottoms. We were especially intrigued by the double-double denim couple on the train seen below. We went to a fancy restaurant in Sochi where the server attire was all denim. Our server in addition to wearing a denim top and jeans was rocking an acid washed fanny pack. Sadly all denim is banned in our school’s staff dress code- even colored denim and jean skirts are disallowed and casual Friday is a foreign concept.

5- Burger gloves– at most restaurants in Russia when you order a burger they come with a side of….latex gloves. Alden likes to eat the burger American-style, sans gloves, and take the gloves to go so he can act like a “weird creepy mime.” Mila tried them out last night, but she didn’t like having icky stuff on her gloved fingers either. Also note the brand on the burger. This is something we’ve seen on more than one occasion, specifically on burgers, though it wasn’t quite quirky enough to warrant its own entry.

6- Warm drinks for kids– prior to this adventure, when I imagined drinks for school lunch I pictured one thing- milk cartons. Here in Kazan, milk is only available at breakfast, only on days when cereal is served, and comes in a yogurt-style cup. For drinks, kids choose from tea, juice-like compotes made from various dried or fresh fruits, chicory (which my students call ‘coffee for kids’), cocoa, or kisel (a hot pink drink that looks like Pepto Bismol but is a fruit drink thickened with corn starch). All of these are served warm, as apparently hot and cold beverages are not ideal for children’s health.

7- Blankets for outdoor dining and fire drills- The first time we saw people bundled in blankets on a patio it was August and in the 60s. Many restaurants with outdoor seating offer blankets for guests’ comfort. I was surprised to find a basket of IKEA blankets in my classroom that we use during fire drills to keep students warm. It makes sense that we need them when it’s freezing out and we unexpectedly go outside. It was a little comical on the warm fall day when we had a practice drill to see all the students out there in their matching grey IKEA blankets. Here is Mila in her blanket at a restaurant in Krasnaya Polyana.

8- Shoe horns-In America, I would say that the shoe horn is a poorly utilized tool. For one, most American shoe horns are about 8 inches long. In Kazan, the median length of a shoe horn is more like 20 inches long. The longer length allows you to use the tool without bending your back, which for us 40+ers is quite a nice perk. I saw a student pull a shoe horn (granted it was an 8-incher) out of the small pocket of his backpack while changing shoes at school. I love that even 6-year-olds pack a shoe horn in this town.

9-Concern for the underdressed– As we mentioned in an earlier post, people here love to bundle up. Even when it was a sunny, warmish fall day, kids were wearing puffy jackets, hats, and gloves. Now that it is cold, my class is fully bundled in snowsuits, scarves, hats and mittens. I have never had a single student show up without all the needed gear and at recess they may not take anything off, even if they are sweating.

Mila has embraced the outerwear fashion culture, proudly boasting “I look like a Russian!” when she dresses to go to school. Alden, on the other hand, likes to fight us about what he needs to wear, trying to sneak out in a thin jacket, no hat, no gloves, even shorts and wet hair. On truly cold days we force him to bundle, but on warmer days when we’ve let him skip the hat and gloves, we’ve received parenting-advice from concerned strangers. The other day I had a colleague approach me concerned that she saw Alden AND Simon outside on the 1-minute walk to school without hats.

A couple weekends ago we were walking with some other families from our school and while we waited to cross the street, a stranger approached one of the kids, took her hat out of her jacket pocket, put it on her head, and zipped up her jacket while scolding her in Russian. Last week, some teachers were playing rugby and one of the teachers was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. A man was standing outside the school fence shouting in Russian “That man’s going to be sick! That man’s going to be sick!” People are genuinely concerned for the well-being of the underdressed here in Kazan.

10 – Photo shoots- Seemingly anywhere you go, there is a high probability of seeing a photo shoot in progress — from the more traditional wedding couple capturing some intimate outdoor moments to the casual glamour shots at a park. We’ve seen our share of settings, costumes, and themes in the most unexpected of places. This happens in a non-official photo shoot setting as well. Just about any time a woman is getting her picture taken in public, she strikes a pose like she’s on the cover of Vogue.

Perhaps due to the high demand, a photographer is on staff at unexpected places. In the states, one might try to sell a photo of you splashing into the water on an amusement park ride or some other similar thrilling pose. Here, we have had offers of photos at places such as kids’ zones, bowling alleys, museums, and river cruises to name a few.

If you are of Russian-descent or have visited Russia, feel free to comment on other quirky cultural differences you have noticed…