Russia

Moscow

1996 • Boris Yeltsin's reelection was the background noise for 6 months in a still-staggering post-Soviet Russia. He disappeared in the final stretch of the campaign—either a massive heart attack or stroke—yet that drunk old clown still managed to win by a huge margin. Most people rolled their eyes at the whole thing because democracy and free-market enterprise hang on Russia like an ill-fitting suit. Stayed the whole time with Jon and Arline, and worked at the Moscow Times as a copyeditor and Reebok Russia as an English teacher. Even with two jobs and no rent, I came back to the U.S. deep in the hole. Highest cost of living I've ever experienced.

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