USHANKA SHOW

My mother feeding a hedgehog. Film: ORWO Chrome Slide. Camera: Kiev-19 SLR (of course😊)

16 hours ago | [YT] | 264

USHANKA SHOW

My late father usually smoked KOSMOS cigarettes in Kyiv and cheap VATRA in the village.
Soviet cigarette brands and smoking in the USSR:
https://youtu.be/SBQDqp9RtoY

3 days ago | [YT] | 455

USHANKA SHOW

American Diaries 1997:
While exploring the shelves of American grocery stores, I came across yet another surprise in a bottle: "Russian" dressing. The irony wasn’t lost on me: naming a dressing after Mother Russia, where the concept of bottled dressing basically didn’t exist, was the ultimate level of ignorance. Russian people typically added nothing more than a dollop of sour cream or a drizzle of sunflower oil to their simple salads.
“Well,” I mused, “I had already discovered the White Russian cocktail here, a drink with no connection to Russia whatsoever. Therefore, why would I be shocked by Russian salad dressing in America?"

5 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 435

USHANKA SHOW

1993, highway near Chelyabinsk, Russia. Grandma's road stands selling coffee, hot Dogs, and meat pies.
"How We Survived the Collapse" story:
https://youtu.be/dej6eZpAsUM

5 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 274

USHANKA SHOW

Recycling glass bottles and jars was an important for every Soviet citizen. With bottle deposit between 10 & 20 kopeks and an average salary around 150 rubles, every bottle counted.
Bottle recycling in the Soviet Union story:
https://youtu.be/0gVpQD4gDgE

1 week ago | [YT] | 415

USHANKA SHOW

Soviet students helping a collective farm harvesting carrots.
https://youtu.be/lmXOLn0oawk

1 week ago | [YT] | 282

USHANKA SHOW

"...and then, Comrade Brezhnev, you point the gun at a bad guy and tell him 'Go Ahead, Make My Day" 😎

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 330

USHANKA SHOW

From my "American Diaries 1997" manuscript:
This time, I was determined to get it right, and my heart was set on Levi’s. For me, Levi’s were more than just denim; they were the ultimate, unattainable symbol of coolness during the Soviet days. I recalled stories about desperate fools who were willing to pay 300 rubles — two monthly salaries — for a pair of smuggled American Levi’s. I stared wistfully at the neatly stacked dark-blue jeans bearing the iconic Levi’s Strauss & Co two-horse brand patch and a price tag of $35.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 49

USHANKA SHOW

Scanning some Uncle Bill's slides from his trips to Moscow in 1973 and 1982. Some good stuff!
Uncle Bill's World Travels Playlist:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 317

USHANKA SHOW

Another New-Year photo of Comrade Sergei. This one is probably from 1975. I'm holding the bag with candy - my New Year present. The gnome's outfit was made by my mother. Happy New Year!

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 408