I am Russian. Ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Must you all always back the evilest regimes?
Assad, really?

And why the hate on the Chechnyians? And was there am operation Fatima? How do you fell about it?

I already answered about regimes and Chechnya; don't know what operation Fatima is...
Chechens - first, there were two wars and many terrorist attacks. Second, many Chechens coming to Central Russia are rude and obnoxious, consider Russian women sluts and are not afraid to say it loud and clear, and are notorious for their mafia.

What ethnic group are most Chechens considered to be? Are they pretty swarthy? Also OP, your responses are truly making one of the best Ask me anything threads ever...The african one back in May was also a DCUM high point.

Thank you PP! I really enjoy answering your questions guys. Please don't hesitate to ask even the most un-PC questions

Chechens are an ethnic group in itself; they are from the North Caucasus. some of them are of dark complexion, but there are quite a few fair Chechens (blue or green eyes, blond or fair hair).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do adults in Russia have regular healthcare checkups or do they only see a doctor when there is an emergency? I worked with an older woman from Russia and she did not know that people saw their doctors regularly for wellness visits even though she has lived in the US for a long time.

At some jobs you have wellness visits that are mandatory, i.e. teachers, childcare providers, some of the industrial jobs (at factories, etc). However, most people don't see any point in wellness visits. And honestly, I think here in the US you may be setting yourself up for trouble by such visits, because if something comes up and is documented, however minor, insurance price goes up, am I correct?

[Anonymous]

Do you have a problem with Jews?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a problem with Jews?

I don't, some Russians do, but not much anymore - there are Chechens to hate now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do adults in Russia have regular healthcare checkups or do they only see a doctor when there is an emergency? I worked with an older woman from Russia and she did not know that people saw their doctors regularly for wellness visits even though she has lived in the US for a long time.

At some jobs you have wellness visits that are mandatory, i.e. teachers, childcare providers, some of the industrial jobs (at factories, etc). However, most people don't see any point in wellness visits. And honestly, I think here in the US you may be setting yourself up for trouble by such visits, because if something comes up and is documented, however minor, insurance price goes up, am I correct?

But the point of a wellness visit is prevention rather than wait until it's too late and much more costly.

[Anonymous]

did your parents have it better under the Soviet Union or now?

do you regret that the Soviet Union fell apart? such a huge empire, the largest in human history I bet.

do Russians give Reagan his deserved credit for the fall of the Iron Curtain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do adults in Russia have regular healthcare checkups or do they only see a doctor when there is an emergency? I worked with an older woman from Russia and she did not know that people saw their doctors regularly for wellness visits even though she has lived in the US for a long time.

At some jobs you have wellness visits that are mandatory, i.e. teachers, childcare providers, some of the industrial jobs (at factories, etc). However, most people don't see any point in wellness visits. And honestly, I think here in the US you may be setting yourself up for trouble by such visits, because if something comes up and is documented, however minor, insurance price goes up, am I correct?

But the point of a wellness visit is prevention rather than wait until it's too late and much more costly.

I understand, but still

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a problem with Jews?

I don't, some Russians do, but not much anymore - there are Chechens to hate now

this is OP again. Actually, I have one problem with Jews Many of them claimed to be truly oppressed in the Soviet Russia, so came to the US seeking asylum and got their green cards in a snap. It is also easy for them to bring their parents here. Well, there was no life threatening oppression. Discrimination - yes, prejudice- yes. But not to the point of seeking and getting asylum. why do I care? because I have to work my butt off to stay in this country...

[Anonymous]

While I think most Americans would admit that we often don't live up to our national "ideals," I think it is also fair to say that we have a shared set of ideals of who we are (or should be) as a people, as established in our Constitution. As Americans we define ourselves by a set of ideas put in place by the Founding Fathers, such as the notion that "all men are created equal" and that all people are entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." We are a nation of immigrants, we are a democracy, we believe in the "American Dream" of working hard and creating a secure life for yourself and your family (complete with house surrounded by picket fence) and I think as a culture we respect the rule of law and our government institutions. I think we see ourselves as optimists, pragmatists, a nation of "doers" and innovators, and we value our individual independence. All of these are generalizations of course, but I think these are some of the things at the heart of the American narrative of who we are as a people.

I am curious about whether Russians have a shared sense of ideas/ideals that define who they are as a people. In other words, what do they teach you about as children in your schools about what it means to be Russian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:did your parents have it better under the Soviet Union or now?

do you regret that the Soviet Union fell apart? such a huge empire, the largest in human history I bet.

do Russians give Reagan his deserved credit for the fall of the Iron Curtain?

Parents - better under USSR, no doubt.
Regrets - I don't regret the fall of the empire, but I do miss some of the stuff I remember as a child. but then I don't remember much, I was born in 1976.
Reagan - no way! Right now the fashion is to hate everyone - Gorbachev, Yeltsin...and Americans are thought to have played their role in the fall of the USSR, in their interests. So this is a funny question in a way

[Anonymous]

does the Russian media and state talk a lot about the birthrate and declining population? HAVE SOME MORE BABIES!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I think most Americans would admit that we often don't live up to our national "ideals," I think it is also fair to say that we have a shared set of ideals of who we are (or should be) as a people, as established in our Constitution. As Americans we define ourselves by a set of ideas put in place by the Founding Fathers, such as the notion that "all men are created equal" and that all people are entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." We are a nation of immigrants, we are a democracy, we believe in the "American Dream" of working hard and creating a secure life for yourself and your family (complete with house surrounded by picket fence) and I think as a culture we respect the rule of law and our government institutions. I think we see ourselves as optimists, pragmatists, a nation of "doers" and innovators, and we value our individual independence. All of these are generalizations of course, but I think these are some of the things at the heart of the American narrative of who we are as a people.

I am curious about whether Russians have a shared sense of ideas/ideals that define who they are as a people. In other words, what do they teach you about as children in your schools about what it means to be Russian?

Thanks for this question PP!
Unfortunately, the loss of national identity (as phrased by the media) is a big problem for Russia right now. there was a set of ideals centrally developed by the Soviet government, it was not shared by many people, but still many believed in the "moral code of Communism builder". Now the old doctrine is gone and the new one is not there. For some time (in Yeltsin era), things like entrepreneurship, individualism, working to earn good money were in fashion. Now the Putin government is trying to revive some of the old Soviet ideals, but I think this is just stupid and sad. How can a former KGB person truly believe in any ideals???
Also, religion is on the rise, and parts of Orthodox Christianity are brought into national ideology. I have my problems with that, since this is not the only religion in Russia, and since many priests are openly corrupt and double-faced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:does the Russian media and state talk a lot about the birthrate and declining population? HAVE SOME MORE BABIES!

Yes, there's plenty of talk about this. But for Pete's sake, when did the talking manage to lift the birth rate?? We have a long maternity leave, that's true and its a good thing. Every family with a second child gets some money (about 10K) called "motherhood capital". But maternity leave is not paid very well; housing is outrageously expensive unless it was inherited from parents; childcare is cheap, but there are huge lines to get into daycares (and private ones are expensive to most); schools are getting worse; higher education is becoming expensive...Fix it, Mr Putin, and we will have more babies!

[Anonymous]

Why do so many Jewish Russians send their kids to private Jewish schools for free, collect free clothes and food from the JCC, send their kids to camp for free, not pay synagogue membership or contribute anything towards cover charges for events if they can afford to wear name brand clothes?
Oh and why do they celebrate Christmas if they're Jewish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do so many Jewish Russians send their kids to private Jewish schools for free, collect free clothes and food from the JCC, send their kids to camp for free, not pay synagogue membership or contribute anything towards cover charges for events if they can afford to wear name brand clothes?
Oh and why do they celebrate Christmas if they're Jewish?

First question- I think they are taking advantage of naive Americans. But- fool me twice...
Second question- it is actually interesting, Jewish in Russia is ethnicity and not religion, so many Russian Jews are orthodox Christian!