A Creature of Beauty

I've often wondered at the fact that, to a human eye, no animal is ugly. Of course, all of us have our preferences, but, nevertheless, unless the creature is distorted by some illness or genetical disorder, it is pretty much O.K. Some people, like artists or those really into Biology, are actually fascinated by the way animals move, their habits and looks. My question is: why is it different with humans?

We always perceive our own species' appearances differently. Men enjoy pretty women, girls like handsome guys, but we do not really comprehend the beauty of the human body and face. Anyone can appreciate the grace of a cat or the refinement of a horse on the run. But you won't look twice at another human being for elegantly sitting down. Some people would, painters or just those who have, as they say, "an appreciation for beauty".

But not the general masses. You might say: the general masses don't admire cats and horses either. True, they usually don't, but it's kind of embedded into their brains that a running horse is something to look at, and a sleek feline is admirable. Th
ey simply never have the time or the opportunity to notice that. But, when it comes to looking at other people, we don't even care to appreciate the natural beauty they have.

We focus on their features, their body types, their hairstyles, their clothes, so on, so fort. We don't take in the whole picture. That's why we don't notice what's good about us and tend to criticise each other. Try to get thinner - and thinner - and THINNER, and pull our skin until it rips, because God forbid we get wrinkles. And no one cares, how exquisite your posture is, how you move, how you turn your head.

There was a time when humanity appreciated itself. Actually, two periods of time: Antiquity and Renaissance. The body was a wonder in itself, and, while there were ideals to aspire for, the human form was considered to be immaculate. Why can't we have that now? Why alter everything? Why let anyone dictate, what we should or shouldn't look like? Why is strong and healthy no longer enough? Why can't people see that they are, in fact, creatures of beauty, each and every one of them?

I'll tell you, why. Because, with the animals, as well as in the past, humanity appreciates and appreciated only one part of the picture: the form. We don't perceive animals as creatures who can think (not counting the cat that says: "I love you". Or was it the dog? It was so long ago, I don't remember). Ancient Greeks thought valued the mind, but a beautiful body definitely compensated for the absence of the former in their eyes.

This isn't another rant on how people should be loved and admired, no matter what they look like. Because that would never work - we are and forever will be judged based on our appearance. That's not going anywhere, so it's better if we just learn to live with it. But, still, I can't help wishing that humanity stopped being this artificial. We've been to space, people! We should be striving for more than a D-cup!

It seems that humanity has lost the will to evolve. What I mean is, our technical progress is headed in the direction of making life as simple as possible, but it has turned away from real scientific achievements, from aspiration for knowledge, for trying to get where nobody's ever been before. This actually hurts, because, after all, what makes us human?

Not our strong bodies. Because, no matter how buffed that guy is, he'd still be powerless against a tiger. And not our beautiful faces. Because a face (and a D-cup, for that matter) can only get you this far. And by "this far" I mean some rich guy's bed or a pretty picture in a magazine. No, not that. It's our mind. Our mind is what's truly beautiful about us, and we should learn to love ourselves and others for it.

Not everybody seems bent on actually using it, but that's their choice. And, again, I completely understand that a really-really-really "plump" woman, even if she's a genius, will probably attract less attention and admiration than a hot dummy, but, in my opinion, it's never impossible to be both. I don't mean that you have to alter yourself surgically or not love yourself for who you are.

What I mean is: if your mind really is powerful, it must have enough power for you to control yourself and get in shape. Be healthy. Be strong. A human being is capable of so much, one of us actually INVENTED a hot-dog, I'll never believe that another one can't say "No" to eating it. And this goes both ways! If you've trained your body to perfection, do the same to your brain. Read. Think. Learn foreign languages. Never stop working on yourself.

And then you will truly become a Creature of Beauty.

You're so smoking...urgh!

So much is going on…people are flying into space, scientists are doing wonders with stem cells, Breaking Bad and Dexter are over…civilization seems to be at its peak. Well, almost.

Because, while the cure for cancer and the sniffles is just around the corner, when you leave any building in Moscow and head into the city, there they are: the smokers. Standing there, huffing and puffing their lungs away. And maybe it’s just me, but it seems that there’s more and more of them every day.

Honestly, I can see why people smoked tobacco in the 15^th century – it was a “thing” back then, it was new, and there was pretty much nothing else to do. Well, except die or discover something. Then, through the ages, cigarettes and cigars have been altering their status – at first, being something that only the rich could afford, then a symbol of emancipation for women, then just a stress-reliever that allowed one to meditate while picturing his or her life in the ringlets of smoke.

But, seriously. And I mean, SERIOUSLY. How dumb do you have to be to start smoking in the 21^st century? Everybody knows how bad it is for you! You smell disgusting, your teeth look horrible, you spit…everywhere! I’m not even going to say anything about the money you’re literally burning through.

The whole world is fixated on being healthy and beautiful. And Russia has 22-yearolds beginning to smoke! I understand the elderly who just can’t give up this habit, but the young people? What is that about? The government passes new laws, limiting the number of places where you can do that, but do I see a policeman writing out a ticket for smoking at the bus station? No. That means, the laws aren’t working. DUH.

 So what might be the reason? Some say, it’s the stress. “Oh, my teacher is so mean to me, I’m so stressed out, I need a smoke”. Oh, really? You want that teacher to see you smoking outside and treat you like even more of a loser? Then, by all means, go ahead.

For others, it’s the lyrical beauty of the visualised air leaving their lungs, only to dissapear, leaving a faint smell…you know, the touchy-feely types. Guys. No. Just…no. And this smell…not that faint. Go, paint something. Or listen to some music. Smoking hasn’t been associated with creativity in ages.

Being cool. It is NOT cool, how old are you, honestly? Don’t tell me about peer pressure, the smokers are usually loners, and you know, why? Because it is not cool!

Your parents smoke. A pretty legitimate reason, I have to admit, but seeing that you are a rebel in everything else that you do, why single smoking out?

This leaves us with one reason alone. Adolescents and young adults smoke because they have nothing else to do. Even if they have a busy schedual and live a full life. If they smoke – they’re not busy enough. They still have time to stand around doing nothing. Smoking is just there to give them a feeling of importance.

So, smokers, this part is really for you. Nobody can make you quit. It’s up to you. But, girls, no matter how hot you look, most guys that are worth dating will not even come up to talk to you. Guys, no matter how intelligent and sharp you are, girls who don’t smoke (and are, therefore, more healthy and good-looking than their burned-out rivals) are really sensitive to the smell of fumes you produce. Not saying how much this habit limits your job opportunities.

Like I said, it’s up to you. But please, stop. Seriously. Stop.

My Summer Job

This summer, I worked as a city-guide for English-speaking tourists visiting Moscow. I took down some notes after each tour, in case I needed help remembering this stuff later, and I've decided to share those notes with you. So...here we go!

D’Andrea Daniel David, USA

A very optimistic, happy-go-lucky guy who went out drinking the minute after he arrived to his hotel at 3 AM. I probably should have told him how risky that might be, but I didn’t. After all, he only had a couple more days in Moscow, and I had no intention of making it scary for him. So I ended up taking him for a long walk, telling him all about our capital, and then – escorting him to the Vorobjevy Gory metro station.

He works as a teacher in Shanghai, and has actually been living there for the past 8 years. He is married to a Dutch woman, and was leaving to Kopenhagen to meet her in three days. He travels a lot during summers due to his profession, but his wife doesn’t always get to go with him. He wasn’t exactly too happy about the Chinese, because he wanted to teach the children about recycling, and all the locals thought that compost heaps were dirty and disgusting.

He told me that when talking about cafes, restaurants and shops, it’s better to say “chains” and not “networks”, and I think I’ll remember that.

No tips from him, but, come on, he’s a teacher. And a really nice guy. So who cares?

John Robinson, Australia

My biggest tipper so far – 500 roubles. But that’s not the best thing about this guy. Despite his age, he was wonderfully energetic, and a great fan of Russian history and music. He loves Tchaikovsky, and also a composer I do not know, Ippolitov-Ivanov. So I had to help him (through e-mail) find the latter one’s grave, and he was determined enough to manage to do that. I got many thankful e-mails from him, and my self-esteem went through the roof, because he kept praising me so much.

He also needed help mailing his things to Australia and to Ireland, and despite having wasted some time on trying to do that through DHL, we realized pretty soon that it would be cheaper for him just to take it on board and pay the excess rate. All in all, we enjoyed each other’s company very much, and he left Moscow with nothing else to wish for.

Catherine and Joseph Russel Southam, UK

I was to interpret a guided tour around Kremlin for this elderly couple. But I forgot the tickets at home. That was. Horrible. I’ve never been this mortified. I didn’t think we’d be able to get in, so I called Olga, and asked her to help, but I ended up having to talk to the administrator in the ticket office and buying the tickets myself anyway.

The tour itself went fine, though. The old lady and her husband warmed up to me after a while, and we had a nice chat afterwards. No tips – but I understand that, considering that they had a .0001% of the stress I had. It must have been tiring for them. Catherine is Scottish, and very strict, and Joseph is British, but he lives in the Middle East, so they have to commute. They’ve recently sold a house in Cyprus to a Russian couple, so we also had a talk about that.

Jayne Amanda Adams and John Philipp Revill, UK

Two wonderful people (husband and wife who have a daughter, Rachel, from what I’ve gathered) whom I’ve spent three days with. I met them at the Leningradsky train station, took them to the hotel. The next day I showed them around Moscow, and that went all right, but on Saturday I was supposed to interpret a guided tour in Stalin’s bunker, but a pipe broke in there, and we ended up spending the whole day hanging out in some kind of a fair, and then walking through the Izmailovsky park; eating Osetian pies at Chistie Prudi and drinking Irish cider in a bar next to the Metropol hotel. The day was filled with talking and sharing opinions, emotions, everything.

John is a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, a really witty guy, with an opinion about everything that goes on in the world. Actually, I think my conversations with him might have been even more fulfilling if his wife either wasn’t there or was interested in things as much as he. But she was there, and she looked bored, so I had to go back to talking about down-to-earth things, but that was also pretty good, and I finally slid into the British accent. Just as well, considering how much they want us to have it in my university. If they actually care.

Anyway, no tips here either, but they took me out to lunch, and, it seems, it’s not all that customary for the Brits to tip anyone. And, again, the experience was so much worth it.

Ambroise Boulain and Marion Lambert, France

A French couple, both very young, only five years older than me. There’s not much to tell, nothing out of the ordinary happened during the tour, but they were the first ones to tell me that my accent was British. I didn’t take that too seriously, since they were French, but it’s been a while after anyone’s told me that, so I still paid attention to their words.

Our tour ended in the Gorky Park, which they were pretty excited about, since it had free Wi-fi. We’ve been comparing Moscow and Paris a lot, and they turned out to be very much alike, which is actually pretty funny, considering the difference in languages and the ways of life.

No tips. Pretty understandable – young couple, besides, I didn’t do anything all that special for them, so why would they give me any? The guy was unbelievably handsome, the girl was a little less impressive, but she spoke English better than he did.

There were more people, but you probably won't read till the end, anyway. Hope some of it was enlightening, though.