On another related note, I am currently reading the historical fiction novel "Rasputin's Daughter"by Robert Alexander, author of his more popular book "The Kitchen Boy." Grigori Rasputin was a Russian mystic, widely believed to be a psychic or a faith healer. He worked closely with the royal family, as young Tsarevich Alexei suffered from hemophilia, and they were desperate for help. Because of Rasputin's significant influence over the family, especially over Tsarina Alexandra, a devout believer, it is no wonder that rumors of his personal and political influence spread. Rumors of a sexual relationship with the tsarina were widespread as well as rumors of his political intentions. His involvement in the court, unappreciated by the elite, was seen as a threat to the empire, and his very public lifestyle was eventually used to discredit the Romanov family, as a factor, which is said to have lead to the eventual abdication of the throne by Tsar Nicholas II. On December 16, 1916, a group of nobles murdered Rasputin. The exact details of this murder are still a mystery today, which brings me to the point I eventually wanted to make here.
In October 1939, Winston Churchill, in a famous quote, claimed that Russia is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." Russia's future actions and even its past events, as evidenced by Rasputin's mysterious murder, cannot be predicted or told. I like to think that this two month trip I am about to take is of the same token; I really can't say what's going to happen. In a week I will be in Moscow, and right now I can't predict what's in store for me there. One thing I am sure about is that there will be moments whose details will confound me for years. And these are the moments I look forward to the most.
My goals for this blog are not only to keep people at home informed of my whereabouts during this study abroad, but to attempt to unravel a bit of the mystery that is Russia.
Great now that song is stuck in my head... hahah kidding!
ReplyDelete