Fair Warning: This post is somewhat graphic

Regarding the title of this post, I would actually advise those who don't want to hear something harsh to redirect their browser, so to speak.

Just to get it out of the way, everything with me and mine tonight was great - I taught tonight, wandered around the Red Square / Kremlin area with my peeps, had a g+t or two, accidentally patronized a hooker bar, and still made it home before the metro closed. So the troubling part of this post has nothing to do with me. Here goes.

So when we do orientation in DC, they basically tell us the cops in Russia are scum - avoid them at all costs, don't make eye contact, act suspicious or speak English near them, lest you be forced to pay a 'straf,' (basically a fee for being a foreigner) or be imprisoned. So needless to say, I thought nothing good could ever come from interaction with a Russian policeman.

This evening I got at least one example, though, of police doing what they were meant to - protecting people.

As I was making my last transfer tonight, I saw a blonde girl, my age, in a pink coat, completely smashed-drunkenly zig-zagging across the platform on the way to the stairs, and then literally vomiting over herself as she stumbled up the stairs. (this was the graphic part, and an image I won't soon be forgetting.) She was alone and clearly in pretty much the worst way one could be in. I stopped and watched her for a second, preparing in my head the Russian words I would need to help her get cleaned up, find out where she lived and take her home myself, when two young policemen came up behind her. I got even more nervous for her, and just barely turned the corner so I could watch without being watched back. I was sure the police would harass her, threaten her with fines or a ride to the station, or even try to take advantage of her. But instead, they both stopped and sat her down. They asked her where she lived, and told her she wouldn't be permitted to take the metro any further, but that one of the officers would take her outside and order her a cab home.

It's funny how shocked I was to hear this. I mean, in Denver, I would expect no less from a policeman who came across a black-out drunk 22-yr-old girl. I guess the lesson learned isn't necessarily that Russian police are all rainbows and sunshine, but that if one of their own (namely, a Russian as opposed to a foreigner) is in serious trouble, they will do what cops are supposed to and actually take control of the situation. So, cops.... well done? an ambiguous question, I suppose...