I've run into quite the quandary in my time in Russia.
I knew that I would need to walk a lot when I first left, so I invested in what I was sure would be great walking shoes-- which they have been. For the most part. However, there was one fatal assumption that I didn't factor it: if you bring a pair of shoes to Russia, 9 chances out of 10 that they're going to be utterly destroyed by the end of the time that you leave.
Not only that, but wearing flats makes you somewhat stick out (if you're a female, like I just so happen to be), especially considering 9 out of 10 women wear heels. However, I have next to no experience wearing high heels (being the sort of American female who generally values comfort over style), so hobbling through the streets can be an excruciating process (ending in multitudes upon multitudes of blisters).
What is the solution to this quandary? How will I ever be able to walk without blisters? And furthermore, how the heck do Russian women do it??
I personally am currently working on killing the nerves on my feet (though I took a hiatus from doing so after my disastrous first encounter with my commute), but what I think might be a game-changer is the fact that I do not stuff the toes of my shoes. It's a shame, since there are a couple of pairs of shoes where the shoe would prefer that my pinky toe not exist.
As for the shoes themselves, invest without investing too much. Diversify. If you only have a couple of pairs of shoes that you walk regularly in (like I have had), they're probably going to die by the end of your second month in Russia (at least, that's my current prediction since my shoes are in the agonizing process of dying now). There will be no shortage of places to buy shoes; Russian women seemed to be addicted to all things fashionable, and I swear, there are so many shoe stores that even within one block, you can choose which one of the three or four shoe stores you want to go to. The point is, you can stylishly abuse your feet in the least painful way possible.
I've just failed to do so, so I can learn this painful lesson for you.
Because it was totally on purpose.
I'll end this post now.
I knew that I would need to walk a lot when I first left, so I invested in what I was sure would be great walking shoes-- which they have been. For the most part. However, there was one fatal assumption that I didn't factor it: if you bring a pair of shoes to Russia, 9 chances out of 10 that they're going to be utterly destroyed by the end of the time that you leave.
Not only that, but wearing flats makes you somewhat stick out (if you're a female, like I just so happen to be), especially considering 9 out of 10 women wear heels. However, I have next to no experience wearing high heels (being the sort of American female who generally values comfort over style), so hobbling through the streets can be an excruciating process (ending in multitudes upon multitudes of blisters).
What is the solution to this quandary? How will I ever be able to walk without blisters? And furthermore, how the heck do Russian women do it??
For those who are interested:
The Policy I Have Wanted to Apply, But Have Not Yet Had the Chance to Do So
As it turns out, Russians are more like ballerinas than would meet the eye. This has nothing to do with the Bolshoi Ballet, or the fact that most of them have the perfect body type for dancing (and pretty much anything ever). No, this has to do with the fact that, like a ballerina with toe shoes, they are trained from a very young age, kill most of the nerves in their feet, and use padding at the toes to dull even the most unbearable pain.I personally am currently working on killing the nerves on my feet (though I took a hiatus from doing so after my disastrous first encounter with my commute), but what I think might be a game-changer is the fact that I do not stuff the toes of my shoes. It's a shame, since there are a couple of pairs of shoes where the shoe would prefer that my pinky toe not exist.
As for the shoes themselves, invest without investing too much. Diversify. If you only have a couple of pairs of shoes that you walk regularly in (like I have had), they're probably going to die by the end of your second month in Russia (at least, that's my current prediction since my shoes are in the agonizing process of dying now). There will be no shortage of places to buy shoes; Russian women seemed to be addicted to all things fashionable, and I swear, there are so many shoe stores that even within one block, you can choose which one of the three or four shoe stores you want to go to. The point is, you can stylishly abuse your feet in the least painful way possible.
I've just failed to do so, so I can learn this painful lesson for you.
Because it was totally on purpose.
I'll end this post now.
Well, Hot Stuff, at least we have two new pairs of amazing shoes that won't make your feet scream as loud and will help save what little you have left of your walking shoes. I know both pairs of boots I brought with me, will probably be in the garbage bin by the time I leave for home. Sadness. We will go to the store tomorrow and fix the problem. Plus, I will help fix our jackets and your sweaters.
ReplyDelete