All about Russia: your opinions and thoughts.

[Paralm]

There is a suggestion that in Russia bears walk on the streets, people drink vodka and wear ushanka all the time. Also, many think that the climate in Russia is very severe. And what do you think about Russia and Russian people?

[Samis]

Lol who thinks that in Russia bears walk on the streets and people wear ushanka? (What is ushanka?) Never heard those stereotypes (oh, greetings from Finland! )..well the vodka thing, yeah, that I've heard.

I've never been to Russia so it's quite hard for me to say anything, let me think. Ah! I've used to work in a gas station on my Christmas breaks and I've seen quite a few Russians. So if I have to stereotypically say something I'd say that Russians seem quite rich. (We also have a souvenir shop in the place where I've worked and I've seen a lot of Russians buy expensive wool shirts and stuff.)

I also know that you don't have Santa Claus, you have..Frosty? Snowman? Something? And in a way you're celebrating christmas when we're celebrating new year?

(Oh and t.A.T.u. is from Russia too, love that band!)

(Oh and Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, my close-to-favourite composers!)

[OrphanPip]

My parents, being the good socialist that they are, toured the Soviet Union in their youth. They quite liked Saint Petersburg and Moscow, they didn't approve of the treatment of the locals in Kazakhstan.

Personally, I don't approve of the current politics in Russia and I think there is a lot that could be improved in terms of civil rights and democracy. Russia's foreign policy leaves a lot to be desired too.

I'm sure most of the people are quite nice.

[Inchante]

It is a large country, so it has both temperate and arctic climates. Russia has gotten a wrap for having a bad climate because of the failed invasions by both Napoleon and Hitler. Russia struggles with corruption as most other countries, though it seems to be more prevalent there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15972326

The Russian GLBT movement also struggles against an institutionalized old Soviet belief that homosexuality is the result of western decadence.




Supposedly, though I don't know how much credence I give it, there is a shortage of "decent" men for women to find husbands there.

http://www.mercatornet.com/demography/view/9012

That is what I have heard. There are also many great artists, writers, dancers, and composers from Russia/The USSR. Russia has manned space flights, which we in the United States have discontinued for the time being. Russia continues its policy of Nuclear disarmament as does the United States. Russia often sides with China in the U.N.
In my own PERSONAL experience, which counts for very little, I have found that Russian men as well as other Slavic men tend to have a sense of entitlement when it comes to their place in society and their interactions with women.

I don't know. I find it best for people from other countries and cultures to clue me in rather than vice versa. As I have found frequently when people describe the people and politics of my own country, misinformation is more prominent than one would like. I cannot help but think that such a scenario is true with my own perspective as well.

Shostakovitch String Quartet No.8, II

[dfiant]

Yeah the Vodka thing persists in Australia, but never heard of bears or the watchyamacallits.

I have always had the impression that Russia, or more particular Moscow is just a typical modern City, but for a long time the rest of the world really didn't know much about Russia because of the Communist state, and it wasn't until the 1980's when the Iron Curtain fell that Russian and Russians revealed themselves to the world, and I hope it stays that way

[jbd555]

I was in Sheepshead Bay/Brooklyn NY a few years back and met a few Russians. All the signs along the docks are half Russian language/ half English. Every person I met was nice and quite talkative. In town here in Sarasota I spoke with a lady who speaks with a Russian accent. I asked her where she lived when she first immigrated to the US and she told me Sheephead Bay!!!
Growing up pre 80's it was spy vs spy between the US and Russia. Many movies were made on this concept including one called Russkies in the 80's. The movie dealt with the tensions between our countries and how the people of Russia really aren't so different from us. To me Russians are kind, very friendly, outgoing and proud.

[matty7]

great poets and writers - ive just had to buy my 17 year old nephew 2 books by "Vladimir Nabokov" , i love the language and have been trying to learn it just as a challenge to myself - i think the vodka thing is definatley something that western media puts on russians maybe a little more than they should - although u may say diffenrent mate - i work with a russian called Yuri, great guy, strong as a bull and very polite. always helpful too

as for bears walkin the streets - russia has forrests covering an area larger tha the USA so i think they have somewhere to be rather rather than "Пушкина улица " i hope that says "Puskins Street" as i typed it into google translate sorry if not

[East]

This super straight really religious Russian guy who me and my partner know well is one of our favorite people...we both love his accent and he is so funny...he wants to marry us and give us away to each other at a wedding HE is planning for us...we dont' even want to get married. He also has a potty mouth which is funny as hell...so based on our friend Alex I have a nice feeling about Russians:biggrin:

[zeon]

hello,
Russia hasnt done no harm to me so i dont have any remarks about russia... I find any action russia would take to do id not blame on the people but the goverment like every country shit slides downb hill

[Paralm]

What is ushanka?

I also know that you don't have Santa Claus, you have..Frosty? Snowman? Something? And in a way you're celebrating christmas when we're celebrating new year?

An ushanka (Literally "ear hat") is a Russian fur cap with ear flaps.

Yes, we don't have Santa. We have Ded Moroz (or Father Frost). He's a real dude! He lives in Veliky Ustyug.