meaning of " ochered' "

[Margarita Orlova]

if you're staying in line for too long a time, the staying creates a  
culture of its own. So, the ochered' became the name of that culture,  
actually.

I guess Russians are too self-critical, their lines often are full of  
fun (though there can be violence as well as rudeness and belligerence  
there, too). In Russia, people talk to each other when staying in  
lines, get connected, ask for help, create networks, live their lives.

In the USA, people stay in lines at USPS offices only (Staying in line  
is typical way of life for gov. institutions in any country, probably).  
In lines, Americans do not dare to talk, look depressed and bleak. Once  
I asked a young guy to help me use a selling machine next to our line.  
He was surprised. He told me that in South Korea, where his parents  
came from, people talk freely when in lines. It was his pleasure to  
talk to me when wasting time in line, anyway.

Margarita

On Sunday, January 13, 2008, at 11:46  PM, Prof Steven P Hill wrote:

> Dear colleagues and Prof Chapman:
>
> Please pardon a very elementary question. Does the term " ochered' "  
> here
> mean simply "standing in line" in the literal sense?
>
> Or in this context has it acquired some very particular meaning?
>
> S Novym godom,
> Steven P Hill,
> University of Illinois.
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Date: Mon 14 Jan 01:29:55 CST 2008
> From: <LISTSERV at BAMA.UA.EDU>
> Subject: Re: GETPOST SEELANGS
> To: "Steven P. Hill" <s-hill4 at UIUC.EDU>
>
> Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:59:11 -0600
> From: Andrew Chapman <ac007j at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject: Texts on the ochered'
>
> Dear Seelangers,
> I am working on the topic of the ochered’ and am looking for  
> suggestions on
> texts that depict the ochered’ in Soviet culture.  I am interested in  
> all
> genres and areas (literary works, films, art, songs, anecdotes,  
> memoirs,
> jokes, etc), ranging from texts centered on the topic, as well as  
> instances
> and references.  Any texts dealing with lines outside of the context of
> queuing are also welcome.
>
> Suggestions for secondary sources on the ochered’ as social/cultural
> phenomenon would also be greatly appreciated.
>
> Please reply off-list at ahc12 at pitt.edu
>
> Best,
> Andrew Chapman
> University of Pittsburgh
> ______________________________________________________________
>
> Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:14:45 -0500
> From: Alina Israeli <aisrael at AMERICAN.EDU>
> Subject: Re: Texts on the ochered'
>
> I presume you know Sorokin's book "Ochered'". The beginning of
> "Sennaja ploshchad'" by Nina Katerli has a rather funny moment. In
> "Nedelja kak nedelja" there is a cute episode in the line.
>
> Alina Israeli
> LFS, American University
> Washington DC. 20016
> (202) 885-2387 fax (202) 885-1076
> ________________________________________________________________
>
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