I am Russian. Ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about the fact that so many Americans adopt Russian orphans?

I think its great! Notwithstanding many scary stories that are, to my mind, exaggerated in terms of being typical (have you heard about many happy families? I haven't, either).
I also think it is a great opportunity for many white Americans to adopt a child of their own race.

I know of probably more than a hundred happy families, including us (twice over). Just wondered what you thought.

I was sure there were plenty out there! I meant they aren't much publicized, unlike the unhappy ones. I am sorry if I offended you, did not mean to. I think you did a great thing! Unfortunately orphanage children have zero chance to succeed and be happy in Russia

Do many of the children have fetal alcohol syndrome? Is there discrimination against Asian babies in Russia?

OP, you didn't offend me. Thanks for the compliment. Given what I've learned about Russian orphanages, I agree, but was interested in your perspective.

PP, yes, many have FAS, including one of mine. It is more unusual to be able to adopt problem free child than one with problems. And, from what I near, there is discrimination against certain races. One of mine is part Tajik and supposedly that posed a problem for him for domestic adoption. Many American families prefer Asian kids from Russia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed that Russians frequently mention their mothers but not their dads. It seems like the dad is often either a drunk, dead, has left, or is some combination thereof. Is this true, and if so, is it changing with the younger generation? I know Russia lost an unholy amount of men in WWII, so I wonder if that is a factor in the whole thing. It seems like Russia has long been operated by women, at least in the trenches. I hope my question does not sound rude, that is not my intention.

On another note, do you like Plevin? I find his stuff is pretty interesting.

This is an interesting question! ( and by interesting I don't mean weird )
Dads are definitely much less involved in Russia. It is also easier to avoid paying child support. I see some changes with the younger generation, but not much. My DH is much less involved than many American dads I see around us.
As for rule of women, I don't think so. Politics and business are mostly men. Women rule in the families but that's it
On WW2 - it started much earlier, with WW1, revolution, then the civil war, then Stalin's rule...many good men have vanished, and so have their genes...

On Pelevin - I used to like him, but now I think that a lot of his stuff is a clever and easy "remake" of someone else's philosophies... but that's not a big sin, right?
I think some of his books are pretty accurate descriptions of Russia- Generation P for example - but much of this is already not the case, things are changing so much...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My stupid Mac won't post in Russian. OP, I was trying to type Spla-ceeba (thank you). Russian always sounds like Klingon to me. I think the inventors of Klingon probably intended that.

Ne za shto - you are welcome
I am not a big fan of Star Trek but I think there were some allusions to the US-USSR tensions in the original, 1960s series, but Klingon as a language was not invented until the later, 1990s series, no? So I am not sure about intensions...maybe subconsciously

For a non-fan you know your stuff. I'm a fan--but I just realized that I don't remember hearing them actually speak klingon until the 90's series. You're good.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of Putin?

I don't like him, but I think he did some good things for Russia. Like renegotiating oil contracts with Western companies. However, generally all he cares about is him and his clique, and he is ruining the country...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you get annoyed by stupid questions, like why do the Russians support Assad? Especially when it comes from people whose government has a long history of supporting evil regimes?

No, its fine! I am on my mission to enlighten people (hehe, just kidding).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about the fact that so many Americans adopt Russian orphans?

I think its great! Notwithstanding many scary stories that are, to my mind, exaggerated in terms of being typical (have you heard about many happy families? I haven't, either).
I also think it is a great opportunity for many white Americans to adopt a child of their own race.

I know of probably more than a hundred happy families, including us (twice over). Just wondered what you thought.

I was sure there were plenty out there! I meant they aren't much publicized, unlike the unhappy ones. I am sorry if I offended you, did not mean to. I think you did a great thing! Unfortunately orphanage children have zero chance to succeed and be happy in Russia

Do many of the children have fetal alcohol syndrome? Is there discrimination against Asian babies in Russia?

FAS - in orphanages, yes. Discrimination - yes, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do Russians have trouble with other races? Someone once told me that E. Europeans are the most racist white people.

Yes, there is a lot of racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about the fact that so many Americans adopt Russian orphans?

I think its great! Notwithstanding many scary stories that are, to my mind, exaggerated in terms of being typical (have you heard about many happy families? I haven't, either).
I also think it is a great opportunity for many white Americans to adopt a child of their own race.

I know of probably more than a hundred happy families, including us (twice over). Just wondered what you thought.

I was sure there were plenty out there! I meant they aren't much publicized, unlike the unhappy ones. I am sorry if I offended you, did not mean to. I think you did a great thing! Unfortunately orphanage children have zero chance to succeed and be happy in Russia

Do many of the children have fetal alcohol syndrome? Is there discrimination against Asian babies in Russia?

OP, you didn't offend me. Thanks for the compliment. Given what I've learned about Russian orphanages, I agree, but was interested in your perspective.

PP, yes, many have FAS, including one of mine. It is more unusual to be able to adopt problem free child than one with problems. And, from what I near, there is discrimination against certain races. One of mine is part Tajik and supposedly that posed a problem for him for domestic adoption. Many American families prefer Asian kids from Russia.

Many Asian babies from Russia don't have problems as severe as white babies - because of the circumstances of how they ended up as orphans I believe? many of them are there not because their parents are drunkards, but because say a white teenager got pregnant and her racist relatives did not want the asian baby...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Assad thing really is beyond the pale. HA! Wasn't the original Pale that things were beyond somewhere in the old Soviet Union?

It certainly is disgusting, but history is full of civilian massacres by western-backed governments as well. In the end, governments put their own interests first regardless of moral issues.

Wikipedia says:

The Pale, a demarcation line in Ireland while under English dominion; a usage associated with the phrase "beyond the pale", meaning unacceptable behaviour.

I'm not the OP, but is it ok if I answer the "Pale" question? (I am Russian by birth, though I've lived here most of my life).

The Pale of Settlement (cherta osedlosti) is a line limiting Jewish settlement in tzarist Russia. If you've seen Fiddler on the Roof, at the end where the villagers are being kicked out - that's when the Pale was originally instituted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of Putin?

I don't like him, but I think he did some good things for Russia. Like renegotiating oil contracts with Western companies. However, generally all he cares about is him and his clique, and he is ruining the country...

Wow! you are so frank it is refreshing. If you are posting from Russia though, I am afraid for you. I don't want you to be disappeared! Once when I was single and living in an apt building near the Cathedral I had a plot of land in that gardening commune off of New Mexico. My neighboring plot was tilled by a Russian national (the russky embassy is just up the street.) Well, after working the soil, planting, building little structures there with my fellow gardeners for half the summer, I struck up a conversation with my Russian neighbor. She was pleasant and casual and we exchanged names and I told her where I lived. (this was pre-internet era.) Well, later in the summer my brother travelled to Russia with his girlfriend and conducted some business there with a russian company. My gardening neighbor and I were just chatting and then with a very curious look just asked me how my brother liked his time in Russia...I was stunned into silence, until I just stammered an answer--but it was really scary. She had tracked me through some diplomat channel and she wanted me to know it. Just saying. Putin (Big Brother) sees and hears all!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Assad thing really is beyond the pale. HA! Wasn't the original Pale that things were beyond somewhere in the old Soviet Union?

It certainly is disgusting, but history is full of civilian massacres by western-backed governments as well. In the end, governments put their own interests first regardless of moral issues.

Wikipedia says:

The Pale, a demarcation line in Ireland while under English dominion; a usage associated with the phrase "beyond the pale", meaning unacceptable behaviour.

I'm not the OP, but is it ok if I answer the "Pale" question? (I am Russian by birth, though I've lived here most of my life).

The Pale of Settlement (cherta osedlosti) is a line limiting Jewish settlement in tzarist Russia. If you've seen Fiddler on the Roof, at the end where the villagers are being kicked out - that's when the Pale was originally instituted.

Thanks PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of Putin?

I don't like him, but I think he did some good things for Russia. Like renegotiating oil contracts with Western companies. However, generally all he cares about is him and his clique, and he is ruining the country...

Wow! you are so frank it is refreshing. If you are posting from Russia though, I am afraid for you. I don't want you to be disappeared! Once when I was single and living in an apt building near the Cathedral I had a plot of land in that gardening commune off of New Mexico. My neighboring plot was tilled by a Russian national (the russky embassy is just up the street.) Well, after working the soil, planting, building little structures there with my fellow gardeners for half the summer, I struck up a conversation with my Russian neighbor. She was pleasant and casual and we exchanged names and I told her where I lived. (this was pre-internet era.) Well, later in the summer my brother travelled to Russia with his girlfriend and conducted some business there with a russian company. My gardening neighbor and I were just chatting and then with a very curious look just asked me how my brother liked his time in Russia...I was stunned into silence, until I just stammered an answer--but it was really scary. She had tracked me through some diplomat channel and she wanted me to know it. Just saying. Putin (Big Brother) sees and hears all!!

Oh, not to worry, I am in the US but even in Russia - you are free to express your opinion, however anti Putin it may be, as long as you don't aspire for something like an opposition movement, i.e. no real concern for the government.
People who get in trouble for their political views, have either become too strong to be tolerated, or have breached some "business" agreements or interests...ordinary people dont' go to jail for this!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.