What do foreigners think about Russian women? National character

News channels' versions are generally predictable, but here's what ordinary people think about our ordinary life? A selection of wonderful confessions that got lost on the World Wide Web.

About work

“What immediately catches your eye is probably punctuality, which does not exist in Russia.” Top manager from Germany.

“It was crazy to me that it was the Russians who worked so hard. They may stay late. They may arrive ahead of time. They can go out on the weekend.” Lead engineer from North Africa.

About the language

“You can’t understand a word, there’s not even an idea of ​​when a sentence begins and ends. I can’t separate the words from each other: one big chaos.” Meeri, Finland.

“Russian is very similar to Chinese. That's probably why you are nearby. What I hear is more like the sounds made by a sick bird. It sounds like this: cherek shchik chik cht chtrbyg.” Girl from the USA.

“Russian is almost the same as the language of the minions.” A young man from Germany.

About the broad soul

“Russians do not know how or do not like to make superficial acquaintances. For them, people are divided into “strangers,” with whom it is not customary to talk, and “friends,” whom you can wake up in the middle of the night and dump all your problems on them.” John, Ireland.

“It’s funny that on the streets the smile of a passerby for no reason alarms Russians, but in online communication they abuse emoticons. Not a single Irishman, for example, will put three emoticons in a row after a simple phrase like “I’m at work.” And the Russian will deliver. And the girl will also stick a heart on it.” John, Ireland.

“Russian men are real gentlemen. They open the door and help me take off my jacket. It's amazing". Ploychanok, Thailand.

“Russia is an inhospitable society. Russians are generally very aggressive by nature.” Banker from the USA.

About girls

“Your girls are very beautiful, but it seems to me that they don’t know their worth! With us, such a beauty would sit at home and wait for the prince to woo her!” Behrouz, Iran

“I was amazed by the abundance of pure women's companies in expensive karaoke clubs: dressed up girls come in groups, order a table, a minimum of food and sing.” Deisel, South Africa

“I came to Russia eight years ago, and my first impression was that there was a competition to win men.” Patricia, Germany

About food

“In Russian cuisine, the main thing is meat. Russia in general looks like a big piece of meat. Tough weather, serious people." Pedro, Chile

“I fell in love with buckwheat so much that even when I go home, I take it with me.” Sulma, Colombia

“Your borscht is somewhat similar to undercooked gazpacho, I like it that way.” Daniel, Ecuador

“I like your dairy products best. Also milk soup is a very unusual dish.” Francis, Australia

“I hope that in Germany they will learn how to make anniversary cookies.” A chocolate candies There's no point in you." Dennis, Germany

We call Olivier “Russian salad”: it’s a disgusting dish, but here it’s very tasty. Perhaps the Greeks are copying something incorrectly. Stratos, Greece

“It’s a completely barbaric custom to drink strong alcohol with soda or juice!” John, Ireland

About cinema

"The Diamond Arm": « Does anyone know where I can find the lyrics of that song that Nikulin sang in a restaurant when he got drunk? Alienbychoice, New 3land

"The Adventures of Pinocchio": « I was not prepared for how idiotic and at the same time serious he turned out to be.” Bobs-9, USA

“Station for Two”: “You know, this should be just an incredible movie! Because five people who don’t know a word of Russian (one of whom completely hates this language) watched this film without subtitles, and not just once, but three times!” Ajigasawa, Japan

“Morozko”: “Some kind of silly fantasy about a boastful guy turned into a bear, an eleven-year-old autistic girl whom he wants to seduce, an idiotic house with legs, a dysfunctional family of ugly Russo-Finnes, a killer kitten, a long-bearded ugly grandfather who freezes trees and kills birds, a sleigh in the shape of a pig, a mushroom-shaped gnome...". TV viewer from the USA

“Viy”: “A very interesting, strange and meaningless story. The special effects are amazing for 1967. I dare say that the whole story is a little crazy. Probably, the Russians understand it somehow in their own way - after all, it is based on their folklore. But I think true horror fans will be pleased." Claudio, Brazil

“The Moscow metro is the best in the world. Trains every 1.5 minutes during rush hour! Inexpensive tickets and no division into zones! At the same time, there is a whole class of Muscovites who, out of principle, will never take the subway, even if they are late for an important business meeting.” From the BBC blog “Russia Country”.

“One day I found myself looking at the shoes of people passing by and thinking: “Clean, clean, clean, cool shoes, clean.” This is impressive." Nacho, Spain

“I have always said that Ecuador and Russia are very similar. The only difference is that the poor steal from us, and in Russia it’s the other way around.” Luis, Ecuador

“People here are not as dependent on political correctness as in Europe. They say what they really think, they are interested in what you say and what you think. This is wonderful". James, Scotland

“For example, in our country, if everyone drinks, it means there is some reason. Here it’s not necessary.” Chris, Cameroon

“The silence in the metro was a pleasant shock. You go down into the subway, you are surrounded by thousands of people, but it’s quiet there.” Bruno, Israel

“Here people continue to use things even if they are broken. The bombs have a completely crazy system for opening and closing doors. If the table is wobbly, then most likely they will slip a piece of paper under the leg rather than fix it.” James, UK

“When for the first time in a minibus a man put money in my hand, I looked at him in surprise and returned the money to him. He started shouting at me: “What are you doing? What are you, a fool? Money passes through people’s hands, over people’s heads, change comes back - for a Spaniard this is incredible.” Sergio, Spain

“When the weekend comes in St. Petersburg, people discuss which play or ballet to go to and which opera to listen to. Russians are very smart people" Ellen, Brazil

“In Russia you can be a bit of a hooligan, walk down the street drunk and make mistakes. In Europe you can’t do this: if you take risks, it means you’re crazy. But here it’s just fun.” Leo, France

“People here constantly live in tension, you get used to it, and then it’s difficult to get out of the habit.” Charles, USA

“I've been to 54 countries, and nowhere is there such nightlife, like here. People act like it's the last night of their lives." Thomas, USA

For foreigners, not only the Russian soul has always been mysterious, but also its appearance. They paid attention to body structure, skin color, hairstyle, clothing, which were very unique among Russians.
One of the first descriptions of Russians is given to us by the Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon, characterizing the Kyiv and Novgorod prince Svyatoslav Igorevich. The Byzantine saw Svyatoslav sailing on a Scythian boat in the company of his entourage, from whom he, according to the historian, was no different.

“He was of moderate height, not too tall and not very low, with shaggy eyebrows and light blue eyes, a snub nose, beardless, with thick, excessively long hair above the upper lip,” continues the Deacon. - His head was completely naked, but a tuft of hair hung from one side of it - a sign of the nobility of the family; strong back of the head, wide chest and all other parts of the body are quite proportionate, but he looked gloomy and wild.”

It should be noted that Leo the Deacon could well have been shocked by Svyatoslav’s appearance. For the Byzantines, a man with a haircut was associated more with a jester or a magician, but not with a grand duke.

Meanwhile, the “Svyatoslav haircut” was very popular on the Taman Peninsula, and was later inherited by the Cossacks. The Hungarian Dominican monk Julian, who visited here in 1237, wrote that local “men shave their heads bald and carefully grow their beards, except for noble people who, as a sign of nobility, leave a little hair above their left ear, shaving the rest of their head.”

The Arab traveler Ibn-Haukal spoke about the habit of some Rus to shave their beards; the rest twisted and braided it, “like the mane of a horse.” Another Arab, the writer Ibn Fadlan, who made a trip to the Volga in 922, reported: “I saw the Russians when they arrived on their own trade affairs and settled on the banks of the Atil (Volga) River. And I haven't seen people with more perfect bodies than them. They are like palm trees, ruddy and red.”

Modern scientists are confident that Ibn Fadlan had every right compare the Rus with palm trees, since according to anthropological data the “glades” made up the majority of the population Kievan Rus, significantly exceeded the height of the Eastern Slavs.

Gustav-Theodor Pauli in his “Ethnographic Description of the Peoples of Russia” notes that the formation of the Russian nation, fundamentally Slavic, took place under the powerful influence of outside influences. The inhabitants of the provinces of Great Russia, according to Pauli, are predominantly people of strong constitution.

“Those of them who live in the remote northern or eastern provinces, as well as in the former Polish provinces, descendants of fugitive peasants, have kept intact ancient type“They are tall, strong, athletically built, they have large expressive eyes, noble, pronounced facial features,” notes the ethnographer.

In his notes “Curious and new news about Muscovy,” published in 1698, the French diplomat Foix de la Neuville strengthened the opinion of the Russians as barbarians, a people lagging behind Western Europe, but also on the other hand, unlike Europeans and not understood by them.

According to de la Neuville's descriptions, Russians are not very attractive in appearance. Men, he believes, dress like Poles, and women dress like Turkish. The recklessness of the latter “goes to the point that they paint their faces, shave their eyebrows, the places of which are painted in various colors,” the Frenchman marvels.

Neuville also draws portraits of Ivan V and Peter I, who were in power at that time as co-rulers. “Tsar Ivan, despite the fact that he is completely paralyzed, spends his entire life visiting shrines,” writes the diplomat. “He is terribly ugly and arouses only pity, despite the fact that he is only 28 years old, so it is difficult to look at him.”

Neuville also portrays Peter as not very attractive. In his words, the king “is very tall, well built and quite handsome in face. His eyes are quite large, but wandering, as a result of which it can be unpleasant to look at him. Even though he is only 20 years old, his head is constantly shaking.”

Over the centuries, little has changed. For foreigners we are just as original and mysterious, but they appreciate us for the most part on its territory. The time of the Iron Curtain has long passed; many of us have adopted the European style of clothing, mastered foreign languages, but Russians abroad will still be recognized.

How do they figure us out? The Italians say, according to gold. Russian gold, due to its high copper content, has a reddish tint, which gives us away. Any experienced souvenir seller, taking one look at the jewelry, will immediately speak to us in Russian.

We differ from modern Europeans not only in gold, but also, as before, in our appearance. One journalist from the Czech Republic once remarked that the facial features of Russians seemed to him “more rounded and softer” than those of Western Europeans.

At resorts, Russians, according to the observation of foreigners, are usually distinguished from other tourists by their well-groomed appearance, brightness, flashiness, and “inconsistency of attire with the place and time.” Only a Russian girl, they say, can go down to the pool after breakfast in stiletto sandals and evening makeup. It is curious that “Russian fashionistas” in Italy are women who dress tackily and tastelessly, not only Russians, but also Italians.

German resident Wolfgang Röhl always watches visiting Russians with interest, and in particular, Russian tourist buses. He knows that they will definitely turn out to be girls with long legs and short skirts.

But Röl characterizes a typical Russian man as a man of short stature and strong physique with the constitution of a T-34 tank. His hands are like those of a prize fighter in a booth, and his ankles are like chimneys in a taiga hut.

“On the bear’s neck is a heavy gold chain from which hangs a massive gold cross. This guy starts drinking in the morning and falls asleep on his lounger after lunch. It smokes like a Siberian bathhouse, always and everywhere, even – and precisely – in the dining room,” the German sneers.

And yet, Russian girls have always enjoyed great popularity in the West, outperforming representatives of other countries in this regard.

“The beauty of a Russian woman is the country’s innumerable capital,” notes Alexander Lats. This is how the Frenchman describes his meeting in Russia with a migration service employee: “There is Gioconda, there is Monica Bellucci, and there is also the head of this district FMS, who completes the trio.”

“I saw that the beautiful creature chatting on the phone had a delightful body: long legs And beautiful shapes, continues Lutz. “Hung with jewelry, the head of the Federal Migration Service seemed like an oriental princess. WITH French point"She was the epitome of corruption with a capital C, evil at its finest."

Latsa’s compatriot, 45-year-old Frederick, also points out that Russian women “bother about appearance", and even very strongly. “Some people get eyelash extensions, while others don’t use makeup, but obsessively follow the combination of colors in their clothes. We also have such ladies, but there are fewer of them,” notes Frederic.

“I easily recognize Russians on the street, and it’s not about blond hair,” continues the Frenchman. The main thing is a blush like your nesting dolls. This is a sign of health."

29-year-old Swedish car mechanic Anders Hendriksson had similar impressions from a trip to Moscow in 2004: “Russian girls, painted like nesting dolls. Very bright, elegant, plump, rosy.”

Robert, a 37-year-old English teacher from Australia, was driven crazy by the beauty of Russian girls. At first, he said, he fell in love two or three times every trip on the subway. A Russian woman definitely knows how to look classy anytime, anywhere,” says the Australian.

Everyone who lives in Russia will agree that this is amazing country, with its own traditions, national dishes and rules of conduct. The TV channel “My Planet” has launched a wonderful photo project, in which its authors walk the streets different countries, asking local residents what they think about Russia and Russians. This time, the channel’s correspondents went to Stockholm to continue their photo project “Foreigners about Russia”. According to an already established tradition, the authors of the project approached the residents of the country with a single question: “What do you think about Russia and the Russians?” You will find answers to these questions in the captions to the photographs.

Johanna, flirt consultant, 32 years old

Caviar, luxury, cold and lots of snow! People who walk around the city wearing furs and hats that look like crowns. Rich people living luxurious lives.

Donya, schoolgirl, 14 years old

Figure skating, cold, Moscow. Your country is large, but not at all densely populated. Especially in some areas. Although in cities such as St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well as in Stockholm, there are, of course, more people.

Sandra, specialist in working with people with FEV, did not indicate age

My associations are probably traditional. Big country, vodka, Putin! And then, of course, the World Championship. In general, I'm not a football fan, but I like the players. They're cute, aren't they? As for the rest... I'm not sure, this is a Russian dish? Borsch?

Eric, retired, 70 years old

I speak Russian! I was trained at a military school, and we learned the language there. But even in high school, I studied Russian in order to become a translator or diplomatic officer. I like Russia, its beauty, and I have visited you many times.

Larika, student, 18 years old

Borsch. THE USSR. And a church that looks like an onion (St. Basil's Cathedral - author's note). Red Square and the Kremlin. I remember the revolution of 1917 and the Bolsheviks, about Lenin. And about the Cold War period. We studied this at school. But I started my memories from the kitchen because I cooked borscht myself. I don’t know if I chose all the ingredients correctly, but I liked the taste. I think it is much more interesting if you add sour cream to it. Or, as a last resort, natural yogurt.

Robert, economist and financial analyst, 27 years old

I bought real estate in Russia. I think about Siberia and its frosts. And I also know about Russian fish, the name of which I don’t remember. And about bears. They catch this fish in lakes. By the way, I have a friend from Russia. She told me something. From Russian words I know this: “ beautiful eyes" Also “hello”, “cheers”, “come on”, “Kalashnikov” - this is a basic set of Russian words, in my opinion. And I also think that you are very proud of your nation. Not like the Swedes. Our people are very modest, even too modest.

Ahu, writer and traveler, 61 years old

Gorgeous lovers beautiful women and cold. I have never been to Russia in reality, only in my imagination. But I think your country is even more beautiful than I imagine it to be. When I was little, we were sometimes told: “Get ready, the Russians are coming!” But then I grew up, made Russian love and Russian friends. By the way, I’ve heard your folk music and Russian rap. I like it. How do I imagine Russia? I see her ascetic, somewhat stern. But! Everything works there. Everything is possible.

Emre, salesman, 30 years old

Soccer World Cup. Russian cinema. Unfortunately, you will not find Russian goods in my store, although I know about your chocolate. About caviar. About vodka. I don't know if there is a difference between Swedish and Russian vodka, but when I see Russians, I notice that you can drink more.

Boel, pensioner, 72 years old

Putin. He knows what he wants. And of course, I know about communism, Stalin, Lenin, the Gulag... Beautiful Russian cities: St. Petersburg, Moscow and others. Your country is huge. Different climate. It would be interesting to see her. In particular, I would really like to visit the Winter Palace. My mother was in St. Petersburg several years ago, so I know about some things.

Freya, administrator and graphic designer, 22 years old

Architecture, multinationality, pine trees. Huge spaces. Stalin. I, of course, heard about him. Was he a dictator? I think yes. Caps of Russian churches. When I was in Helsinki, I saw many Russian-style architectural structures there. I also remember fur hats when I think about Russia. Ushankas. And if we talk about people, I see Russians as direct, honest and fast. I sometimes think about getting a visa and visiting you for the weekend.

Sam, student and creative person, 28 years old

Vodka, strong interpersonal connections. Brotherhood. You support each other unconditionally. But if you are not a citizen of the country, it may take longer to become one of your own. To be honest, I don't know much about Russia because we simply don't have enough up-to-date information. But I remember your wrestling and hockey. Macho culture. Your man is an alpha and a dominant. And a woman is a woman in the full sense. If you compare it with Sweden, it’s not quite like that here, and even at home, for example, we equally share household responsibilities. You may be a guy, but you wash the dishes and wipe the dust.

Christopher, musician, 35 years old

Big, strong, beautiful country! And people worthy of respect and admiration. Siberia... I don't think we have anything similar in Sweden. I believe that those people who live in such conditions are special. Russian composers - Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov. Unfortunately, you won’t hear modern pop music from Russia on our radio. It would be interesting to meet her. From Russian cuisine, I have definitely heard something about borscht. But I heard more about Smirnov vodka.

Gabriel, massage therapist and skater, 24 years old

IN gym I heard many stories about Stalin from my Russian partner. I also know that Russian architecture is beautiful. I've seen a lot of photos and I'll say one thing: it's stunning. What you have in St. Petersburg. I also have a couple of Chilean friends, and they traveled along the Trans-Siberian Railway. They told me it was best experience in their lives. And they are like me. They like Australia New Zealand, but they really didn't expect Russia to be so amazing. It blew their minds. They now want to go back. So you guys just have to tell the whole world about yourself.

Jovan, owner of a natural cosmetics brand, 43 years old

Russian music. I'm a fan of Russians classical composers. Rich culture. The third thought is about people gay, in Russia the attitude towards them is different than ours. If we talk about vodka, which many probably remember when talking about Russia, then I will notice that we have famous brand“Absolute” and we actively export it. So far I have only tried this Swedish vodka, but not Russian yet. I also know that the organic cosmetics sector is becoming increasingly popular in your country. If we talk about beauty, I know that two trends are currently relevant in Russia: complete naturalness and minimal makeup and, conversely, baked powder on the face and bright lips. The latter is more in demand among young people. I think this is how things are now both here and around the world. When a woman looks like a delicious cupcake.

In general, after talking with representatives of the United States, I realized that the citizens of this huge state have a very rough, and sometimes completely erroneous, idea of ​​​​what is happening in our country.

What do Americans think of Russians? Well, I would say that in general they think no more about the residents of our state than about any other nation in the world. Although, of course, it should be noted that Russia, due to the scale of its territories, last years is becoming more and more popular tourist destination.

Section 1. What Americans think about Russians. Where we live

For the most part, people in the United States believe that we all live in a huge, politically and economically strong country. In addition, our military might may well be considered a source of pride.

However, in their erroneous opinion and geographical illiteracy, it is a huge refrigerator, in which it is not just cold, but terribly cold. And, in general, Americans believe that the words “Siberia” and “Russia” are simply synonymous.

Then it’s even more interesting: ask one of them to name several Russian cities. I’m almost sure that you will hear in response: Moscow, St. Petersburg, well, maybe also Kazan and Kaliningrad. Although, probably, there is nothing to be surprised at, because now one has only to travel outside of large cities, and even we get the feeling that civilization, and with it high-quality roads, street lighting and places common use, just end.

How surprised they really are when, having finally visited Moscow, they realize that bears do not walk on Red Square. A local residents are by no means forced to earn a living by hunting, dressing in ugly sheepskin coats, earflap hats and felt boots.

What Americans think about Russians. What are we like?

Interesting and unusual. In general, we can say that the attitude of Americans towards Russians is very ambiguous. For example, many consider us to be a very hard-working nation, for which it is simply unnatural to sit idle: men are constantly making something, and women are regularly engaged in cooking or needlework.

Women dress beautifully and elegantly, even while shopping at the nearby supermarket. Men, on the other hand, actively engage in sports, meet with friends and buy impressive cars.

But, nevertheless, unfortunately, we have gained the reputation of drinkers and that is why the Russian people in foreign literature and the movie very often depicts people being drunk and holding a bottle of vodka. Is it really a shame?

What Americans think about Russians. Our compatriots in the USA

Before you reveal this topic, I would like to clarify that the concept “Russians in America” in most cases does not mean specifically Russians, but all people from former USSR who consider the great and powerful to be their native language - Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, Tajiks.

When coming to America, Russians, as a rule, try to adhere to their traditional way of life. They often go on visits, send their younger ones to Russian-language kindergartens and schools, organize lavish feasts, relax on a grand scale, prepare food on their own, without succumbing to the temptations of fast food restaurants.

Life doesn't always turn out as rosy as it might seem at first glance. Because of this, it’s not immediately possible to find a way to enroll in a university or even go to a driving school.

In fact, the first years of living in the USA are very much like running in circles; many people return, but only the most resilient and purposeful remain.

MOSCOW, April 6 – RIA Novosti, Igor Karmazin. Coming to Russia, foreigners no longer expect to meet bears with balalaikas on the street and KGB agents in every closet. But the Russians still know how to surprise. A German, an Italian and an American told a RIA Novosti correspondent what exactly.

Tino Künzel, Germany

I moved to Russia in 2004, I work as a journalist and edit the Moscow German Newspaper. Russia has always been interesting to me. It seemed like such a mysterious country that no one understood.

Foreigners are often afraid to move here. And on the spot, many are surprised that life here is much better than they thought. For example, I came to Russia in August 2004. And within a month there were two terrorist attacks in the country - first, two planes exploded in the air, and then a school in Beslan was captured. My friends in Germany at that moment thought that there was danger on every corner, but I did not feel any threat or fear, the streets were calm.

At the same time, people in Germany have a better attitude towards Russia than the German media. Newspapers and television paint some kind of demonic image, “Putin-Putin-Putin” is constantly heard, but people want to hear more balanced, diverse opinions. The standard situation in the German media: comments on publications about Russia are directly opposite to the mood conveyed by journalists.

At first, some things puzzled me. For example, Russians clearly separate personal and public space. What is common is necessarily not mine; someone else must be responsible for it. This was visible from any entrance. When you go to visit someone, you go up a dark, smoky, dirty staircase. You think: “What’s there in the apartment?” And the inside is clean, cozy... In Germany they treat this differently, there people look after not only the apartment, but also their entrance and yard. This also affects the quality of your life.

In my homeland it is also customary to say hello to your neighbors. This habit even irritated me a little: you say “Good afternoon” to everyone, even those who mean nothing to you. On the other hand, it somehow unites. Here I saw for the first time how people pass by each other without even raising their heads, as if you did not exist at all.

However, the situation is changing. In recent years, Russians have been watching their entrances more and have become friendlier. I attribute this to the fact that the standard of living has increased. Previously people They were only thinking about how to feed their family, but now they can look around.

I don't have a car, I travel by public transport or use a taxi. Drivers, having learned that I am German, begin to demonstratively curse Russian roads and show me potholes. Here to me different roads came across. There are excellent routes, for example, the toll highway from Voronezh to Moscow. There are terrible roads - say, in Saratov region. I did not have any consensus on this matter.

The standard idea of ​​foreigners about Russians is that they smile very little. I’m not original here; at first I really missed smiles. A smile not only expresses positive mood, she also emphasizes that you accept your interlocutor, talks about your attitude towards him. Once, when I was in Belarus, some kind of unknown woman and smiled widely. It was so rare that I still remember it. Although there are changes here too: the faces of Russians are no longer so stony, there are more smiles, people are more relaxed.

In general, in recent years Russia has become more understandable and rational. Prosperity is growing, people are traveling abroad more often. The country I came to and the one I live in now are radically different. People are now more polite, more welcoming, more friendly. Changes are taking place not only in Russia. There are similar processes in Germany. Germans travel more to southern countries, and the order at home is becoming less formal. In 2006, we hosted the FIFA World Cup, and we were very proud that our strict, disciplined country was able to create an atmosphere of global celebration.

Amedeo Cijersa, Italy

I started learning Russian in the mid-1990s, when relations between our countries were actively developing. Then it seemed to me that with knowledge of Russian I would have many opportunities in life. I came here on business trips, had acquaintances here, so I already had an idea about the country. In 2005, he finally moved to Russia.

Of course, there are differences in character. Italians are more temperamental. In this sense, Caucasians are close to us. Russians are not so open, especially those who live in the North. At first, I worked at an enterprise in the Komi Republic, where I was received with caution. Without knowledge of the Russian language, I would hardly have established contacts with people at all. But in the end I got very Good friends, I still communicate with them.

My Italian friends often ask about life in Russia. There is little real information in the Western media, but a lot of stereotyped messages, so the country is of interest. There is a set of stereotypes: for some reason everyone thinks that there are long lines in stores, everything is very gray, there is little sun, it’s cold. I tell you how people actually live here, but it is much better if a person comes and sees with his own eyes. Italian tourists It’s amazing what a modern, developed, huge city Moscow is. It turns out that cultural exchange is the best cure for stereotypes.

In fact, life in both Italy and Russia is ordinary people similar Exactly the same in major cities high pace, everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere. In villages life is more relaxed. In the same way, everyone works, goes to stores, and raises children. There are, of course, everyday features, differences in climate, but basically people’s goals are the same.

Maxwell William, USA

I have been in Russia since January 2016. I've been teaching for the last six years. English language outside the USA. Before that, he worked for three years at South Korea. Now I not only teach, but also do translations.

Before traveling to Russia, I had standard ideas about your country that are broadcast by the American media. Now it seems funny, but then I believed that someone was constantly watching me, I expected that I would be interrogated at the airport, and that my phone would be tapped. I thought Russia was kind of like North Korea. I won’t lie, there was a certain amount of fear.

On the spot, everything turned out to be not quite right: either the FSB works so well that I don’t notice them, or they understand that I a common person who wants to join Russian culture. In any case, I did not encounter the special services. Although I like to joke that I'm a spy. Think, free man can afford such humor.

Because of my profession, I also pay attention to how people speak. Here I realized that the Russian accent is not at all the same as it is portrayed in Hollywood films. I don’t notice any special Russian accent at all; it could rather be about the peculiarities of the voice of each individual person. Another stereotype: Russians don’t smile much. Well, there is some truth in this.

At first I lived in Yekaterinburg. I arrived in winter, and I still remember how cold I was then! It was minus 35 degrees outside, it seemed to me that my eyelids were about to freeze and would never thaw. They gave me several pairs of felt boots; it is still a mystery to me why these shoes are so warm. In general, I don’t have the best memories of Yekaterinburg, probably because of the climate.

Quite quickly I moved to St. Petersburg, and it inspires my admiration. I grew up in a small town in Michigan in the Midwestern United States. As a child and teenager, I always dreamed of living in an old European city. You know those dreams about walking through the markets under open air, you look into a bakery in the morning, sit in the park in the evening with friends and drink wine? In St. Petersburg I live something like this. The city is large but comfortable. The center can be reached on foot, I often meet friends on the street. Compared to Seoul, which was simply huge, St. Petersburg is ideal for me.

In communicating with Russians, I noticed one interesting feature: Friends are very close to each other, but people on the streets are usually a bit dry. If someone comes up to you and asks a question, you do your best to answer as quickly as possible. In America, when a passerby asks for directions, the conversation can drag on for several minutes. Russians perceive a familiar person differently. For example, on New Year a woman who works in a store near my house gave me two bottles of champagne just like that.

There are also peculiarities in driving behavior. In America they can eat a hamburger with one hand and talk to passengers. It is believed that for safety it is enough to simply stay in your lane. In Russia they drive as if there are no lanes at all, so you need to very carefully monitor all road users.

For a long time I was also surprised by the behavior of people on the subway or buses. Passengers seem to follow some unwritten rules: do not talk loudly to each other or on the phone. No one attracts the attention of others. I think it's a sign of respect. Americans are louder. I remember one day talking to my sister on the phone on the bus. I didn’t seem to be shouting, but the elderly woman reprimanded me. I didn’t understand Russian at the time, but I felt embarrassed. I got off the bus at the nearest stop, continued on foot, and never spoke on the phone on the bus again.

In general, I think I still don’t understand Russia. In some ways, the country is very similar to the United States; I tell my friends about the similarities, because our media does not mention it. But there are also differences. Russians feel calm in a situation of chaos and crisis. For example, several of my friends worked in the same coffee shop in the center of St. Petersburg. One day they were not allowed there, then it turned out that the premises had been taken over by someone. Apparently, ownership has changed hands. They did not show any indignation or surprise, they simply moved to a new place. Of course, in the USA this would not be accepted so calmly. There would definitely be a scandal, a lawsuit.

In America, people don't like it when things get out of control. In Russia there is less unrest about this. The currency may rise in price, wages may fall, winter may last forever, but Russians will remain friendly and calm. I haven’t explained this to myself yet, but this is my perception of the country.