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| Spring goes through stages. There is quite warm weather where most of the snow melts, followed by cooler weather where some more snow falls. This can be a treacherous period where there are snow covered icy puddles that you can punch your foot through. People have wisely walked around this puddle. We have all bought gum boots to get us through this season of the Spring of Water. |
In Soviet times the rhetoric of the political system was founded in Socialism. Socialism was fact, but Communism was an ideal to be attained. Communism was "just beyond the horizon." Various political programs were put into action in an attempt to reach the horizon of communism. In the early days circa 1917, electricity and the light bulb were a growing luxury in Europe, but not in Russia. So the Soviet Union decided that if electricity and the light bulb could be brought to all far reaches of the Union (Russian Empire) then surely Communism would have been attained. The neat formulaic maxim was born: Socialism + Electrification = Communism. I like to joke that as are still some villages in Central Asia that don't have electricity, this is the reason the whole thing fell apart. But you will be hard pressed to find a home even in the most isolated village in Siberia that does not have electricity. Running water of course is still a luxury in those parts.
In the 1970s the same mentality was applied to television. Moscow hosted the 1980 Olympic Games. Therefore the goal was that every home in the Soviet Union would have a television by 1980, so that everyone could witness the glory of the USSR displayed before the world. The new formula: Socialism + Television = Communism. If the Soviet Union were around today it would surely be Socialism + Internet = Communism. Alas, Communism was never attained.
This puts our own activities here into perspective. Life constantly feels like we are waiting for something to happen. Our goals seem to be beyond the horizon. "When we get this idea or project off the ground then we will have success, etc, etc." It probably isn't a good place to be in. It's hard to get things off the ground. Ideas can come and go. I have so many ideas, but often I don't feel that I can implement them all by myself. It's a hard thing. Family life is a high priority, but it certainly does slow things down. How great it would be to have a few single people come and join our team here. We could provide support, infrastructure and ideas, and of course work with them, but they could provide so much more of the energy.
It's hard to play footy when the surface is like this. Probably still a couple weeks away. (But the snow is once again melted, today is +9 and sunny.)
Still, I won't give up on my ideas, I just hope they don't become formulaic maxims. I am still wanting to get some Aussie Football happening. The weather hasn't turned right just yet. The sports fields are still covered in frozen, but melting puddles. But the time is fast approaching. Do I have the courage and gumption to find people to play and befriend on my own? Fear of failure is multiplied numerous times when wandering the streets and dorms alone. Next semester I intend to offer my services as an English tutor to University students, another great idea that I hope does not become a maxim.
Today I am off to the local English club "International Food Day." Melody found some already prepared hardened cake in the grocery store that is perfect for making lamingtons. Perhaps some people will want to come back to my place after the club to watch the footy on Eurosport.
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