Tag Archives: Moscow School

Dec 08 2012
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Daily Post, Portrait, Stranger

Moscow graduation

Saturday 8th December 2012, 5.00pm (day 471)

Moscow graduation, 8/12/12

Here we are at another of the repeating events of my year; this took place on 10th December 2011, but it’s the same day, in essence. And I say the same things I said back then regarding wishing these people well and admiring their achievement.

Incidentally the woman on the left here is from the Russian high Arctic, where they still literally live in yurts and herd reindeer: the very fact that I can somehow, however indirectly, be responsible for someone like her getting a Masters’ degree (in Cultural Management) makes me feel at least partly positive about what I do for a living. Hell, that’s education for ya. One reason, perhaps, why moronocracies across the world claim to be in favour of education but actually aren’t. Good for her.

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Dec 07 2012
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Daily Post, Friend, Portrait

Sasha, in someone else’s office

Friday 7th December 2012, 2.00pm (day 470)

Alexander, 7/12/12

This is Alexander, stood in an office that he is making look his own – but is not his own.

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Dec 10 2011
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Daily Post, Interior Gallery

Graduation ceremony, Moscow

Saturday 10th December 2011, 2.10pm (day 107)

Graduation ceremony, 10/12/11
Today I was the University of Manchester’s representative at the graduation ceremony of our partner, the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. Like all graduates these guys have worked very hard. Like all of us they face an uncertain future, but hey, that’s what futures are. Good luck to them all. This was a good day.

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Oct 27 2011
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Daily Post, Interior Gallery

Before the exam board, Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences

Thursday 27th October 2011, 11.00am (day 63)

Moscow School colleagues, 27/10/11

My last morning in Moscow today – though I’m returning in 6 weeks. I post this while awaiting my flight back to Manchester in Heathrow’s terminal 5. (‘Sympathy for the Devil’ is on the stereo, which makes the wait more bearable.)

I realised I had got through all my time here without a single actual person (Russian or not) appearing in the pictures so tried to rectify that today. Russians are a paradox. When you don’t know them – the severe woman who checks in your coat or bag, the guy who approaches you and hassles you on the street – they can be phenomenally rude. But when you know or work with them they are among the friendliest and most helpful people I know. There is something deep in their national psyche that closes up to strangers, I guess, and you should feel privileged to be admitted to the bosom. It probably explains a lot about their national history.

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