Americans, Europeans and other foreigners about Russia and Russians
According to stereotypes, abroad Russia are a huge country with bears, vodka and endless winter. The writers of Hollywood blockbusters still use uncomplicated images from the Soviet era. Russian gangsters depict gloomy or impenetrable by the KGB/FSB that avoid displays of affection and tend to drink alcohol. Have you changed the image of Russia and Russians in the minds of ordinary people who get their information from films? .<url>” asked the young foreigners about what they think about us and our country to understand how different these views are from the times of the iron curtain.
Charlie Forray, USA
Like most Americans, I look at the world with an innate optimism. Depends on the fact that I was born a healthy white male with access to education. All these factors allowed me to attend College abroad. I chose Russia.
Everything in Russia is more severe than in the United States. In Russian culture it is felt some anxiety and skepticism, the doubt that the world was created in order to help you succeed. Watching the Russian and talking with them, I noticed that they take nothing for granted. And this doubt gave them a tremendous ability to adapt. When it comes to reach the heights and improve the quality of their lives, the Russians are showing incredible resilience and strength.
Overcoming all of these severe trials, ranging from frosty climate and ending with several world wars, the Russian have developed a special strength of character. I have the feeling that the pressure and stress of reality increase the value of communication with loved ones, their work and life experiences.
Those who literally hair manage to pull themselves out of difficulties, often fluent in several languages, choose my words carefully and laugh out loud. These tools help them to withstand the harsh reality. These are the strengths of young Russians, with whom I have encountered. I noticed their will power and desire to demonstrate its reliability before anything to ask. I also realized that the burden they carry on their shoulders, is one of the causes of alcoholism: they drink, to ease the burden.
Photo: Ilya Naymushin / Reuters
Those Russians whom I met, want to see the world, but then return to themselves to improve things at home. Youth in Russia imagines life as a ladder, to climb which is without assistance, knowing how many people already fell from her to you.
Reptile Saikon, UAE
I’m from Egypt but now living in Dubai. UAE is a multinational country, and it turns out that the friends I have almost the entire planet. While still a student, I encountered girls from Russia, they seemed to me not very friendly and even timid. But over time they revealed a totally different angle — was attentive and considerate, we were easily able to find a common language.
My initial ideas about the Russian exactly what they portray in Hollywood movies: rough and uncouth, all the time looking for benefits and booze. But I was faced with completely different people: smart, generous and hard-working, very attached to family. I have a fairly superficial understanding of Russian culture, but with confidence I can say that it has something to fascinate. First of all, I love your kitchen: love the dumplings and the soup. I hope that someday I will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge about Russia by visiting it.
Hampus Tottrup, Sweden
I went to study for a few months to learn Russian language. Remember, someone from admissions and asked in surprise: “are You Swedish? What are you doing here?” I said nothing, but the question I was harassed. My girlfriend is Russian, she taught me how to stand in line and introduced to the Russian bureaucracy.
Before going down into the subway for the first time I’ve heard of him — about marble, rich finishes, mosaics and sculptures. But I was most struck by the fact that Muscovites are sleeping in the subway. At first glance — it’s amazing how they do it in such a roar. After a while I relaxed and began to doze off on the road.
Photo: Dylan Martinez / Reuters
About what the Russian force, I know firsthand. To meet her I managed commuter bus outside Moscow. Went two drunk guys with bottles in their hands. In Sweden in the worst case, they would say: “keep it Down, guys.” And then the passengers took it by the scruff and dragged out of the bus without any conversation.
Gaia, Pometto, Italy
I graduated from University with a bachelor’s degree, taught Russian language. But my direct experience of exploring the country is limited to a three-day trip to St. Petersburg. Of course, for such a small time to get in touch with the locals I have not had the opportunity, but I was able to appreciate the magnificent architecture of the city. By the way, Peter something reminds me of rim: large square, a lot of churches. But I have met a lot of Russians and Russian speakers at home, in Italy. It is noteworthy that here all Russian — speaking- Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Estonians, Moldovans, usually stick together, and get along with each other. I believe this is due to the common historical past. Something similar I observed among South American students, so I don’t think this kind of thing is Russian.
As for bandits, all that was told to me in Italy, on examination proved to be untrue. I expected to meet people cold, and silent, prone to suspicion. While the Russians that I met, everyone is very friendly and cheerful. The Italians seem to confuse Scandinavian and Slavic temperament. Though and about Scandinavians, I would not say that they are cold and dark. Among my friends more than five Russian. It should be noted that due to the difference of cultures communication becomes only more interesting. Still, this difference is not so big, not to understand each other. My Russian teacher once said, “You cannot understand Russia until you love it.” Although I’m a big fan of Russian literature, and the country is so huge and diverse that you could spend years discovering it, I have not been able to fully follow his advice. This is probably because of the language. Too difficult.
Photo: Oleg Karsaev / “Kommersant”
Penny Fang, Hong Kong (China)
In Hong Kong about the Russians know little. With the proliferation of the Internet have become very popular videos about crazy Russian, who do unthinkable things — for example, get without insurance on the tops of skyscrapers. I work as a guide with Russian face almost every day. According to my observations, the Russian has much in common with the Chinese from the North. They are very emotional: five minutes ago, looking for a fight, and now you’re drinking together. The Russian did not bother to detail. Here’s a simple example: Hong Kong is quite far from Moscow, and, say I, going to a trip, it is good to prepare for the trip. But Russian it is the other way — they “catch the moment”. Wanted to the beach on a rainy day? The only way to go. The Chinese will think three times about all the consequences before something to do.
When you meet a Russian on the street, it is usually a facial expression like he’s going to kill. Such a combination of composure and strength. The Russians leave an impression of a very harsh people because you don’t smile — neither male nor female. Russian always Pokerface. Russian girls are very beautiful, but it’s such an icy beauty. My friends from Russia say this is because you have such a climate.
The Suburbs Of Krasnoyarsk (Eastern Siberia). Air temperature minus 24 degrees
Photo: Ilya Naymushin / Reuters
Maya Coianiz, Italy
I studied Russian in evening school for almost three years. The choice fell by chance, without much motivation. Trip to the country somewhat strengthened my enthusiasm. Twice I traveled to St. Petersburg from a purely tourism purposes: ate dumplings, pancakes, went to the ballet. Initially I thought that the talk about the fact that Russians drink a lot, no more than a stereotype. But here I found the opposite. A Professor from University called me to him, once when he was drunk to such an extent that the situation began to spiral out of control, and I had to run away from him in the middle of the night. Now I have a month in Moscow. Honestly, at night, here I don’t feel safe. Although the city itself I like. The people are very responsive and always ready to help. But there is an exception — grandmother in the subway and the museums, the real evil in the flesh.
Edith Perman, Sweden
In Russia I lived for six months when I was working in organizations, working on women’s rights. Before moving I was fascinated with the history of your country. Stereotypes about Russia and Russians is widely distributed worldwide, was curious to find out if they’re true. When I first got here, overall everything is a little different from my life in Stockholm. The impression produced people on the streets, not the most pleasant thing: all go sullen, just like in Stockholm. But then I noticed how dramatically change the tone of the strangers, if you ask them for help — anyone, beginning from the request to direct us to the choice analgesic in the pharmacy.
As I wrote, my work is related to women’s rights. For me it was a novelty the strength of traditional gender roles in Russia. It took me some time to get used to the fact that men are a certain way, treat me just because I’m a woman. Russian women are incredibly strong — probably stronger than all the other women in the world whom I have ever met. They are very much stand on their shoulders. Perhaps this is because of the strong pressure they face from childhood. But no matter how hard women in the country, 14 thousand of women killed by men annually, is prohibitive. Men drink a lot, and this is the cause of violence — on the one hand, and early death. Despite this, the Russian culture and friendliness shook me, and here I have a lot of friends.
Photo: Konstantin Chalabov / RIA Novosti
Andrea Romani, Italy
I feel comfortable with Russian. Of course, they are not exactly an ideal colleagues, because they often adhere to too rigid and inefficient standards in the industry. They almost never get to put yourself in the shoes of a foreigner and start thinking the European way. Exception — those who lived and worked in Europe. A few months are necessary in order to adapt to the pace of work in Russia, the bureaucracy and conservatism. In European countries there is no such. So the situation has changed, it takes time — young people born after 1985, is well aware.
Communicating with Russian get all or nothing. They are surly, special reserved first impression of them is very heavy. You go to the store — you don’t say Hello, go out, do not thank, do not hold the door open in the metro. But once you find this “armor” is correct crack, the Russian people suddenly reincarnate. And you are going to visit them, to the country, to the bath, where you are treated to homemade food, introduced to relatives. In these moments it begins to seem that you know them your whole life.
