I am Russian. Ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

Central Asian women are hot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, if OP comes back maybe she can elucidate for Americans the difference between "russkii" and "rossiianin," which would clarify a bit some of the confusion expressed about the sense of ethnic identity in Russia.

Not the OP, but "russkii" is nationality and "rossiyanin" is any person who has Russia as their place of residence (there's a place in the passport that shows where u reside"

[Anonymous]

Thank you!
Estonian women are hot! That's the main reason I got the hell out of there- didn't want to be the ugly one.
The only reason many haven't heard about Estonian women is that there are only 1 million Estonians in the world.
If you do google "Estonian mail-order-bride", you get women from Estonia but who are ethnic Russians.
Rather copy paste:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/girlmodel/infographic.php#.UWomGsqT6DD
I know, I know, models might not be your type, but women walking on Estonian streets are simply beautiful.

[Anonymous]

OP here, glad to be back on dcum (did not come here for a while) and thanks for the compliments! I am happy this thread is useful. I will now go back and try to reply to each "new" post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about the Russian guy who owns the most expensive yacht ($1.5 billion) in the world?

I think he did not acquire his wealth in a fair and responsible way. To put it straight, he robbed Russia and its people when he had this opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have skimmed through this post.... lots and lots of questions and answers! I am American, currently living and working in Russia. This is my third work/living experience in Russia. I first came here as an exchange student in the early 1990s. In total, I have lived on and off in Russia for about 10 years of my career.

I'll chime in with a few things:

1) Leningrad Cowboys: Someone asked about the rock band "Leningrad Cowboys." They aren't Russian. They are Finnish, although they have been known to used the Russian Army choir for backing vocals. They are funky and fun, often doing covers of classic American rock songs in their own way. You can YouTube them and find them singing "Sweet Home Alabama" with backing by the Army Choir that then morphs into the "Song of the Volga Boatmen." They also did a roadtrip movie - "Leningrad Cowboys Go America" - a long time back. It is hilarious! Actually, I found the entire film on YouTube.

2) Russian Women: I have a number of Russian female friends who are very contrary to the stereotype. They range in age from 25 - 35, and those with whom I have the strongest friendships do not fit the stereotype many Americans have of Russian women. They aren't all beautiful in the conventional sense - although a number of them are quite stunning even in their mid 40s. However, I chalk that up to a combination of genes, diet and athleticism. They are very career oriented. Those who are married are very centered on providing a comfortable home life for their husband and their children. One thing I find amusing, though, is the amount of tolerance they give to cheating, layabout Russian men. A number of the women I know would seem to rather tolerate a bad husband than divorce, and if they divorce they are looking to remarry b/c there is a lot of social pressure for women to be married and have a family. In fact, they would seem to get a good portion of their sense of identify as women from being married. I have one good friend here - she would be quite a catch (gorgeous, smart and funny) if she were interested in getting married for a third time. She says there is societal pressure to be married, but she pushes back against it b/c it is better for her career. She has grown children that she had very early. OP may have other things she can chime in on.

3) Russian Stereotypes of Americans/Anti-Americanism: Many Russians have stereotypes of Americans as dull, shallow, uncultured, lacking spiritual depth, etc. Gone are the days when Americans were seen as rich. However, outside of the top echelons of official circles there is very little day-to-day anti-Americanism. American businesses are doing well here. I think programs like the U.S. Summer Work and Travel that bring young Russians to the U.S. do a lot to give young, adventurous Russians a truer experience of America - both good and bad - than they get from either Russian information sources or from American popular culture and movies. A hilarious book on Russian stereotypes of Americans is "In Search of Melancholy Baby" by Vasilly Aksyonov.

4) Russian Culture and History: OK, for whatever reason, I studied Russian language and literature in college. I got the bug in high school when we read "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I've since read, of course, Tolstoy (Anna Karenina, War and Peace - it is truly the greatest novel ever written!), Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov (Master and Margarita - my favorite Russian novel - and the White Guard), Pasternak, Solzhnitsyn (August 1914, Ivan Denisovich). Many of my favorite classical composers are Russian - think Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Rachmaninoff, Prokoviev, etc. And the history is grand and tragic at the same time. My favorite books on Russian history: "Empire of the Tsar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia" by the Marquis de Custine (OK, more of travel journal and maybe a counterpoint to DeToqueville's "Democracy in America; "A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution" by Orlando Figes; "Beyond the Urals: An American in Stalin's City of Steel" by John Scott and "Journey Into the Whirlwind" vy Evgenia Ginzburg (mother of the aforementioned Aksyonov), which is her account of her time in the Gulag. My favotire book that takes place in Russia but is not by a Russian author is "The Fixer" by Bernard Malamud. There's probably countless other stuff I cannot even recall.

5) Russian Foods I Like: Bliny, Pirozhky, Pelmeny, Varenniky. I will add to this virtually any Georgian (I know not Russian) cuisine, esp. Khachapuri. I've always thought khachapuri and some other Georgian treats might make good food truck fare in America. Anyone else who has experienced it, give me a second!

6) Russian Foods I Don't Like: A lot, but esp. kholodets and anything with pickled herring in it.


OP, would love to hear what you have found surprising, amusing, shocking about America. What stereotypes hold true? Which are false?

PP, thank you for a very interesting post, I think you got many things right!
Just wanted to add re: your female friend who you think would be quite a catch if she wanted to get married- the problem is that the catchers are so feeble! I mean, there are very very few Russian men who are over 30, not married, and financially stable with an attractive personality. All the good guys are either married or divorced and may have suffered financially as a result.

As for your question on my impressions of America- I have bern exposed to the culture and American ways for a while now so I forgot what surprised me back when I came here for the first time, but some things still surprise and amuse me...I am a SAH now so lots of those things have to do with raising kids, for example, how lightly kids are dressed on chilly days (think t shirts and shorts) while their caregiver would normally wear a jacket.
Popularity of sleep training is also a bit shocking for me, honestly.
I will try to think of more
As for stereotypes, I think the only one that holds true is that Americans smile a lot, regardless of their feelings, and a large degree of political correctness, sometimes to the extreme (people are confused if they should use AA or black or whatever term, for example). At least these are stereotypes I still have

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does shubina mean

It's a last name; derived from a word meaning "fur coat"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are a rusian women so hot?

Are they? Good to know, thanks
I think this has to do with a lot f emphasis placed on looks (for women); to attract the right husband is almost like a career for many women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do most Russians feel about Americans adopting
Kids from Russian orphanages?
Do most Russian citizens agree with the US adoption ban?

Unfortunately according to the polls lots of Russians support the ban (over 60%)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am a Jewish American. I was bat mitzvah'd in about 1989, at a time when Russians were not allowed to practice religion, and there was a lot of hatred for Jews in Russia. My temple was part of an organization that matched American jews with Russian jews. I got bat mitzvah'd for a Russian girl. I have her name and that she's from Odessa. Would there be any way to find her?

I think the best way is to google and look her up on social networks. I think there's a good chance she is in Israel, US or Germany now. Odnoklassniki.ru is a Russian version of FB, you may want to try it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you against the break up of the soviet union? Do you think the baltic nations are entitled to their independence? Was conquering them an injustice and a tragedy or an act of kindness in your eyes?
I mean is that land that Russia is entitled to?

And the siege of Leningrad? Who do you think is to blame? I have heard reports of the evacuation being halted. Do you think history is being taught honestly?

Breakup- I don't know how one can be against it, it's not good or bad in itself, but I think it was in the interests of a small group of people in the USSR (national elites who were close to the top but not quite the top, and wanted to gain more power and wealth) and of course in the interests of opposing superpowers... Ordinary people did not win anything.
Baltic nations- yes, I think they have a right to independence, conquering them was neither kindness nor injustice but rather a natural at ate of affairs in politics where the stronger and bigger nations unfortunately feel the right to occupy the smaller and weaker countries.
In no way is Russia entitled to the Baltic land, but it makes me sad how miserably the Baltic states are using their independence... Europe sucked them dry just as Russia did before, and even worse - destroying the many industries inherited from the USSR. However they gave the Baltic nations the right to come to Europe and work as bartenders, wait staff, cleaners, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you against the break up of the soviet union? Do you think the baltic nations are entitled to their independence? Was conquering them an injustice and a tragedy or an act of kindness in your eyes?
I mean is that land that Russia is entitled to?

And the siege of Leningrad? Who do you think is to blame? I have heard reports of the evacuation being halted. Do you think history is being taught honestly?

Sorry. Forgot about the second part of your post.
Stalin is to blame for the siege no less than Hitler. As well as for the whole WW2, at least it's impact on Russia.
And I don't know a single society where history is taught "honestly".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am a Jewish American. I was bat mitzvah'd in about 1989, at a time when Russians were not allowed to practice religion, and there was a lot of hatred for Jews in Russia. My temple was part of an organization that matched American jews with Russian jews. I got bat mitzvah'd for a Russian girl. I have her name and that she's from Odessa. Would there be any way to find her?

Ohh- careful. OP indicated earlier that she doesn't buy the "not allowed to practice religion, and there was a lot of hatred for Jews in Russia" and says Russian Jews used their Jewey wiles to get preferential treatment in the US when really, no one had any problem with them in the USSR when they weren't being too Jewishly sneaky.

I am sorry but there was never 'hatred' for Jews, except maybe a shameful anti Jewish campaign in the 50s. And all Russians were not allowed to practice religion, not just the Jews.
Too bad Russian are not allowed to seek asylum or refugee status on the basis of having been oppressed by Stalin, Hitler, being robbed by Gorbachev, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have skimmed through this post.... lots and lots of questions and answers! I am American, currently living and working in Russia. This is my third work/living experience in Russia. I first came here as an exchange student in the early 1990s. In total, I have lived on and off in Russia for about 10 years of my career.

I'll chime in with a few things:

1) Leningrad Cowboys: Someone asked about the rock band "Leningrad Cowboys." They aren't Russian. They are Finnish, although they have been known to used the Russian Army choir for backing vocals. They are funky and fun, often doing covers of classic American rock songs in their own way. You can YouTube them and find them singing "Sweet Home Alabama" with backing by the Army Choir that then morphs into the "Song of the Volga Boatmen." They also did a roadtrip movie - "Leningrad Cowboys Go America" - a long time back. It is hilarious! Actually, I found the entire film on YouTube.

2) Russian Women: I have a number of Russian female friends who are very contrary to the stereotype. They range in age from 25 - 35, and those with whom I have the strongest friendships do not fit the stereotype many Americans have of Russian women. They aren't all beautiful in the conventional sense - although a number of them are quite stunning even in their mid 40s. However, I chalk that up to a combination of genes, diet and athleticism. They are very career oriented. Those who are married are very centered on providing a comfortable home life for their husband and their children. One thing I find amusing, though, is the amount of tolerance they give to cheating, layabout Russian men. A number of the women I know would seem to rather tolerate a bad husband than divorce, and if they divorce they are looking to remarry b/c there is a lot of social pressure for women to be married and have a family. In fact, they would seem to get a good portion of their sense of identify as women from being married. I have one good friend here - she would be quite a catch (gorgeous, smart and funny) if she were interested in getting married for a third time. She says there is societal pressure to be married, but she pushes back against it b/c it is better for her career. She has grown children that she had very early. OP may have other things she can chime in on.

3) Russian Stereotypes of Americans/Anti-Americanism: Many Russians have stereotypes of Americans as dull, shallow, uncultured, lacking spiritual depth, etc. Gone are the days when Americans were seen as rich. However, outside of the top echelons of official circles there is very little day-to-day anti-Americanism. American businesses are doing well here. I think programs like the U.S. Summer Work and Travel that bring young Russians to the U.S. do a lot to give young, adventurous Russians a truer experience of America - both good and bad - than they get from either Russian information sources or from American popular culture and movies. A hilarious book on Russian stereotypes of Americans is "In Search of Melancholy Baby" by Vasilly Aksyonov.

4) Russian Culture and History: OK, for whatever reason, I studied Russian language and literature in college. I got the bug in high school when we read "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I've since read, of course, Tolstoy (Anna Karenina, War and Peace - it is truly the greatest novel ever written!), Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov (Master and Margarita - my favorite Russian novel - and the White Guard), Pasternak, Solzhnitsyn (August 1914, Ivan Denisovich). Many of my favorite classical composers are Russian - think Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Rachmaninoff, Prokoviev, etc. And the history is grand and tragic at the same time. My favorite books on Russian history: "Empire of the Tsar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia" by the Marquis de Custine (OK, more of travel journal and maybe a counterpoint to DeToqueville's "Democracy in America; "A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution" by Orlando Figes; "Beyond the Urals: An American in Stalin's City of Steel" by John Scott and "Journey Into the Whirlwind" vy Evgenia Ginzburg (mother of the aforementioned Aksyonov), which is her account of her time in the Gulag. My favotire book that takes place in Russia but is not by a Russian author is "The Fixer" by Bernard Malamud. There's probably countless other stuff I cannot even recall.

5) Russian Foods I Like: Bliny, Pirozhky, Pelmeny, Varenniky. I will add to this virtually any Georgian (I know not Russian) cuisine, esp. Khachapuri. I've always thought khachapuri and some other Georgian treats might make good food truck fare in America. Anyone else who has experienced it, give me a second!

6) Russian Foods I Don't Like: A lot, but esp. kholodets and anything with pickled herring in it.


OP, would love to hear what you have found surprising, amusing, shocking about America. What stereotypes hold true? Which are false?

PP, thank you for a very interesting post, I think you got many things right!
Just wanted to add re: your female friend who you think would be quite a catch if she wanted to get married- the problem is that the catchers are so feeble! I mean, there are very very few Russian men who are over 30, not married, and financially stable with an attractive personality. All the good guys are either married or divorced and may have suffered financially as a result.

As for your question on my impressions of America- I have bern exposed to the culture and American ways for a while now so I forgot what surprised me back when I came here for the first time, but some things still surprise and amuse me...I am a SAH now so lots of those things have to do with raising kids, for example, how lightly kids are dressed on chilly days (think t shirts and shorts) while their caregiver would normally wear a jacket.
Popularity of sleep training is also a bit shocking for me, honestly. I will try to think of more
As for stereotypes, I think the only one that holds true is that Americans smile a lot, regardless of their feelings, and a large degree of political correctness, sometimes to the extreme (people are confused if they should use AA or black or whatever term, for example). At least these are stereotypes I still have

Oh, the kids in shorts and short sleeves in winter while the Moms are in parkas just drives my Russian wife nuts! I mean, is your child somehow able to generate more warmth than you? Don't know what is sleep training.

I did find it weird when my DD was born in Russia that she ended up with some weird green stuff on her lips. But she is now a happy, health teenager, so I guess it did no harm.