Russian dress code?

From an article in today's issue of The New York Times:

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin has angered women’s groups recently with his comments about female modesty. At a December round table on interethnic relations, he said a woman wearing a miniskirt “can provoke not only a man from the Caucasus,” the predominately Muslim region on Russia’s southern border, “but a Russian man as well.”

“If she is drunk on top of that, she will provoke him even more,” he said. “If she is actively inviting contact, and then is surprised that this contact ends with a rape, she is all the more at fault.”

 Misogyny at its finest, isn't it?

Because men have absolutely no control over their own actions, and any consequences should be of the "provocative" women's wrongdoing...*

*obvious sarcasm

Back in the city.

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As much as I enjoyed my first semester of college, it wasn't as glamorous and adventurous as I might have made it out to be. As a matter of fact, I had minor emotional turmoils as I did in high school, except my gradually expanding wisdom helped me cope with some issues far better than I ever could as a high schooler. As the days got darker, my sanity began to spiral downward. Finals week was nearly my breaking point; I was basically hanging on by a thread.

But I managed. I dealt with the stress, the frustration, the cold. It was (and is) life, and that was all. It's all part of the beauty of living.

In 2010, I left school in a state that one may call a "hot mess." I overworked and under-slept, my ratty, unkempt hair was poorly hidden by beanies and berets, my eyeliner was purposely smudged in hopes that people didn't realize I just couldn't be arsed to actually do my makeup properly. All I wanted to do was...nothing.

And so for the last month, I had been doing nothing. Sitting at home, watching movies, baking sweets. I only left my house to go to work, and I only went out with my friends three times. My days were mostly spent lounging in pajamas, so bringing my wardrobe back home was of little use. For what it was worth, winter break was absolutely lovely.

That being said, I am immensely happy to be back in the city. It is time to come back to reality and start things fresh. It may be rather gritty and grimy, but this place is practically my home. I have a pretty decent outlook on this year, now I just have to act upon it.

In the middle.

In times of tragedy such as this, it really is not the time to be pointing fingers at each other. Both ends of the political spectrum are guilty of this. When life is merely hanging by a thread, it's best to mourn the loss and keep those hurt in our prayers. Unfortunately, events of this nature happens in our world. A step into transition can also lead to tragedy. One can only hope that violence can rectify itself. I've read many viewpoints on this event, some actually enraging me to the point that I can no longer look at the laptop screen. For once, can we all drop our political allegiances and just be human, if only for a few moments? 

I, like many other Americans, have my own political ideologies, of which I hold onto strongly. However, some things, such as the safety and vitality of one's life, are much more profound than the mirage of politics. 

First Class ticket via film

I haven't had the greatest social life since coming home for winter break. Granted, I've never had much of a social life to begin with, but rather than going out, my days and nights are spent watching movies through Netflix. After a crazy and thrilling first semester in college, a month of pure relaxation is much needed.

I have completely immersed myself in the world of Bollywood these past couple of weeks, and my growing love for Indian films has now coincided with my growing love for the Indian culture as well. Even though I've always been intrigued by Indian culture (as well as other cultures), my increased interest has possessed me to order vintage sari scarves. I love watching foreign films, whether they are from France or Brazil, it's always interesting to see the world through another culture's eyes.

I am a huge wanderluster. I always yearn to travel to faraway places, to experience the world, to learn more about other people. I find the idea of traveling the world very humbling. I want to be in a new place, a place much different than my own. It just shows that there is more to life than what I usually see, and that there is just so much more out there. Unfortunately, being a poor college student with academic obligations makes being a jet-setter quite difficult. But spending a few bucks to experience various cultures through the art of cinema contents me just as much for now.