Jun 1, 1996 | Moscow

Visited Russia during the summer when Boris Yeltsin was running for reelection. In the final stretch he disappeared from the campaign trail (thanks to a massive heart attack or stroke, per rumors), yet he still managed to win by a huge margin. Most people just rolled their eyes at the entire process, because democracy and free-market capitalism hang on Russia like an ill-fitting suit. Stayed 6 months with my good friends Jon and Arline and worked as a copy editor at the Moscow Times newspaper and as an English teacher at Reebok Russia. Even though I was working 2 jobs and not paying rent, I still returned to the U.S. deep in the hole. Highest cost of living I've ever experienced.