Chisinau, Chisinau, Chisinau

I live in Chisinau. While it's the capital of Moldova, it lacks many of the amenities that any capital city should have. Which is not to say that it's not great, just that it's more like ... well, if a place like Cleveland or Pittsburgh were the capital of a country.

The first major thing it lacks is a decent, non-disco/dance/whatever music venue. There used to be two decent clubs, so i've heard: the Black Elephant and Yellow Submarine. Now, i'm forced to go see really bad 'free jazz' acts in a boarded up fast food resaurant (seriously). It reminds me of my youth, when i used to go to punk shows in basements in north Oakland (not Cali, my friends ... Pittsburgh) and to random firehalls. I always found it funny how punks would rent out various halls from the VFW, Knights of Columbus, etc. ... decidedly un-punk. But i digress...

SO, Chisinau is all about outdoor cafes and discos. Any night of the week the flesh will be on full display at any of the 4 or 5 discos. I prefer 'Military Club' for the simple reason that for me there is no 'feis control.' Perhaps i exude that oh so pragmatic yet stobbishness that only foreigners do. All i know is that while they kick out drunk moldovans in turkish suits, they welcome chumps like me in flip flops, camo shorts, and faded t-shirts that are decidedly unfashionable nor ironic.

Military has a converted tank (it's now a fancy table which you can rent for about $10); they also play the soviet anthem every night, as every club in the former USSR should. Yet they still play the same crappy music that is on the radio, mostly bad pop and cheezy dance remixes of anything and everything.

My dancing style is that of a drunken master: without style but with an urgent flair. Needless to say it hasn't won me many accolades, but merely stares and grunts.

Back to Chisinau... so, I spend my days at the French cafe reading/studying, at the internet cafe surfing, spend the evenings in the park or conversing, etc.

maybe the next entry will be about research. I wouldn't want to bore you...