What Russian dessert is included in the world top 25, do foreigners like jellied meat and what, according to a foreigner, is strange about Russian pancakes?
Aspic
This dish traditionally occupies a leading position in the anti-rating of Russian dishes. Foreigners sincerely do not understand why making jelly unsweetened and using meat to prepare it. They are used to the fact that jelly is a dessert! If we mention that hooves and ears are used as ingredients in an already dubious dish, it will be almost impossible to convince a foreign guest that jellied meat is tasty.
“When I saw him for the first time (visiting an almost stranger, I couldn’t refuse), I thought I was going to die. I really love all kinds of fats, but this terrible thing looked simply disgusting. Then I realized that a lot depends on who cooks the jellied meat. I can eat it. But I haven’t reached the point of love, I eat for the sake of politeness,” writes Katerina Corbella, a foreign user of The Question.
Hot soups
First courses abroad are not in such demand as in Russia. In other countries, light vegetable broths or pureed soups are usually prepared. When foreign guests see such a variety of soups in our country, they are usually lost.
“What you mean by 'first' is nothing to us,” explains Frenchwoman Audrey Simone. - Soup must be in the form of puree, and nothing else. In France, for example, the Spanish gazpacho soup is very popular in the summer. We also love bread and garlic, so we add small croutons to the soup. But we even eat this puree before the main course and not instead of it!”
Felicity Curwen-Reid admits: “When I lived in England, I thought I didn’t like beets. But when I tried real Russian borscht, I found out that it was incredibly tasty.”
Okroshka
At the mere word “kvass,” foreigners’ faces change, and when they see floating vegetables and pieces of sausage in it, they believe that the hour of reckoning for sins has come. They don’t understand why pour a drink over the salad, especially sour water. Some are still ready to try okroshka with kefir and mineral water, but again, not all stomachs like it.
“One of my (Canadian) friends once gave a very good definition of okroshka: “They took everything that was on the table, including drinks, and put it in one plate.” Poor food, poor kvass, even poor kefir. Why do they need all this suffering? - writes foreign user The Question.
Shashlik
Although it is not a native Russian dish, many foreigners consider it as such. Most people agree that the main thing in Russian cuisine is meat. It is associated with Russia because of the cold weather. They say that to survive the Russian winter, you need a lot of strength. Where can I get them? In meat. Shashlik evokes great sympathy among almost everyone.
Artem Mishkin, a student at the European University of Cyprus, has been living on the island for several years. Therefore, I already tried to treat my friends with Russian dishes and noticed: “Cypriots love meat very much: lamb, beef are everywhere and in different versions. It's no surprise that they love all Russian dishes that contain meat, especially shashlik. But, somehow local residents no matter how much they loved it, on the island you don’t really want to eat kebab because of the intense heat. But once in Russia, the Cypriot will sweep it off the table before the owner even has time to blink an eye!”
Syrniki
In the top 25 best desserts world, compiled in 2015 by one of the world's leading news portals Business Insider, included Russian cheesecakes. Not all foreigners immediately understand how to fry cottage cheese, but after trying the dish, they are delighted with it.
Spaniard Javier Garcia visited Russia several times: “I always liked Russian soups and dumplings. But one day I realized that I knew nothing about Russian cuisine. A friend of mine said that Russians eat cheesecakes for breakfast. I liked this dish so much that I even learned how to cook it and now I only eat cheesecakes for breakfast.”
Pancakes
Pancakes are also a particular favorite. But for foreigners this is a dessert that should be eaten with jam, preserves or syrup. Pancakes with meat, caviar, fish or some other hearty filling seem very strange to them.
“When I first arrived in St. Petersburg, they took me to a cafe to eat pancakes. There I saw that they put caviar and fish on pancakes and wrap meat. Even then I thought: “Lord, people, you need to put jam, butter or chocolate on pancakes,” but out of politeness I decided to try pancakes with meat. Now this is my favorite dish. In four years, I only ate sweet pancakes once,” says Scotsman James Brankin.
Compote
In fact, this drink is widely known in European countries like fruit punch. Europeans just don’t understand why they boil it, thereby complicating the cooking process. It's more difficult for Asians. They don't have a similar drink.
“When Indian schoolchildren came to us for exchange,” says Irina Trefilova, an English teacher at the Lyceum in the village of Dolgorukovo, Lipetsk Region, “the cooks were surprised that the Indians did not drink tea at all. Then we decided to treat them to compote, and one of the Russian guys joked that it was cooked from meat. For a long time we could not understand why none of the guests wanted to drink it. When the reason became clear, they laughed for a long time. I had to explain that compote is boiled water, to which fruits and sugar are added.”
Olivier
To this salad, which no one in Russia can do without New Year, foreigners have a wary attitude. Vegetables chopped almost into porridge and drenched in mayonnaise have nothing in common with European salads! Foreigners call Olivier “Russian salad”. However, many people eat it...
“The Spaniards have an ambivalent attitude towards Russian cuisine, but everyone likes Olivier. Only instead of chicken or sausage they put tuna in it, says Natalia Golubar, a graduate student at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. - At one time I rented an apartment with a girl from Venezuela. There is also a similar salad, but it is always prepared with chicken. Perhaps this is the only thing that makes our kitchens similar.”
“In Greece, salad is fresh vegetables, but in Russia it is something with mayonnaise that can be stored for a week. Our Olivier is a disgusting dish, but here this salad is very tasty. Probably the Greeks are copying something incorrectly,” says Greek Stratos Siourdakis.
Perhaps no nation in the world causes such close attention from others. Moreover, Russians, like no one else, are clearly divided into Russian men and Russian women. Russian men are melancholic and lazy. Russian women are charismatic and purposeful. Like two halves of one whole, they are only in a single bundle, an indestructible force.
Russian woman
There is divine power in a Russian woman:
Not remembering evil, not knowing boasting,
No matter how meanly life sometimes hits you,
Don't fall under the blows of fate.
And stand and be invincible,
And at the same time remain a woman
In Russian, kind, affectionate, beloved.
Store the hearth. Keep the house in order.
Throw a dinner party out of nothing
From the hatchet - a festive dinner.
Hug the children and reassure the husband,
Like, it doesn’t matter that there is no money in the house.
Like, we’ll live, we’ll be patient, everything passes,
This too will pass. Spring is ahead...
Spring! And again a miracle happens -
Nature awakens from sleep.
Spring! And people will cheer up again.
The sun will rise and the ice will melt.
And in every home bright holiday will.
And the stork will bring the baby.
@Lyubov Stepanova
Personal: a look from the inside
Having arrived for a year with my then-fiancé in Los Angeles, I felt first-hand what foreigners really think about us Russians. In general, let's talk about stereotypes about Russians abroad...
Russian attitude towards alcohol
Foreigners think that Russians spend all day clutching a bottle. Knowing this, I could never have imagined that this opinion would affect me too. But in vain. On my first trip to the supermarket, I noticed that my chosen one was quietly, but quite persistently, leading me away from the shelves with any alcohol. To my surprised look, he did not react at all. Some time passed, and I almost forgot about this incident, but as soon as we went with his friends to a restaurant and I ordered a glass of wine, I again caught the same condemning look. In the evening, an unpleasant conversation took place, from which I understood this: American men believe that all Russians have an alcohol addiction. At milestones, without exception! And as it turned out, it is sometimes impossible to explain that the “Russian” nationality indicated in your passport does not mean that you are an alcoholic.
Cooking
Another opinion - all Russian girls cook very tasty food. While the newly-made American wife is unable to cook anything other than store-bought canned goods. I could be wrong, but it sincerely seems to me that many Americans marry Slavic women precisely in the hope of hearty and tasty lunches and dinners, but, alas and ah... In principle, this desire of men is quite understandable; in America, most women really do not know how to cook. At all. The entire cooking process begins and ends with removing the film from the finished dinner and placing the tray in the microwave. After watching enough Russian films, my fiancé brought home a variety of products, the predominant part of which was flour, butter and cabbage. As my Russian ingenuity told me, this “set” was supposed to be pies with cabbage. I felt a little sorry for the love-starved and satiated American machos. They had to go out of their way, because they can get ready-made lunches from their missives.
All Russians want to go to America
Some time after arriving in America, I began to notice that among my husband’s acquaintances and friends there was an opinion that all Russian girls were dreaming and wondering when they would be able to enter the New Earth. And all such marriages are nothing other than convenience. Personally, I never dreamed of moving to the USA; on the contrary, it was difficult for me. Many times I caught myself thinking that with great pleasure I would return to my native, albeit dirty, noisy Moscow. In one conversation with an American woman of my age, I told her about my suspicions, to which I received the following answer: “Well, yes, if you were an American, you could express dissatisfaction, but be glad that you managed to settle in the USA.” Although this was said with a smile, I understood that, in their opinion, Russians have no right to be dissatisfied, since their husbands provided them with a unique opportunity.
Russians are illiterate and illiterate
This stereotype is well founded. Remember how some of our compatriots behave on vacation abroad. Naturally, Americans (and Europeans too) have the opinion that we simply do not know how to behave adequately in public. Unfortunately, this is true. Outside the home, and especially on vacation, a Russian person sometimes behaves much worse than in his native land. Here it is normal to catch surprised glances when using a fork and knife correctly. It is very offensive and even in some sense insulting to think that Russians are illiterate, especially when it is said by a person who really does not know who won the Second World War.
All Russian girls are stunningly beautiful!
A very self-gratifying stereotype. Foreigners are sure that on the streets of Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Perm, Sochi, etc. Only sporty, model-looking girls go. Our beauty and femininity in the understanding of foreign men are personified by Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova. It's nice! But there is also the other side of the coin: they say about Russian women that we do not know how to choose the appropriate outfit for the time and place, i.e. and here the adequacy of our taste is debatable. If you believe the Americans, in Russia all women, without exception, go to a nearby store for milk in full dress: hair, makeup, lots of jewelry, expensive clothes, thereby losing precious time, and most importantly, recklessly spending their husband’s money. And this is exactly what they think is unacceptable.
Opinions: foreigners about Russian women
Some of them have never met Russian women, others are familiar with them. Thirteen users social network Interpals spoke about how they imagine our compatriots to be
John Fredericks, USA:“Meeting and communicating with Russian women left only a positive impression. They are some of the nicest and friendliest people I have ever met. They always amaze me with their sensitivity and responsiveness! I have never been ignored or disrespected. In general, I find Russian women to be nice and energetic in terms of communication. Appearance? Yes, I have never seen so many beauties in my life!”
Constantin Sorin, Romania:“How do I imagine a Russian woman? Frankly, I have never met them in real life, but I communicate with two Russian girls on the Internet. I imagine the image of a Russian woman through the eyes of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. These are women who have a huge impact on men's lives. I would say femme fatales who change destinies. They seem to me more practical than Russian men. They have strong character and the ambition to go to the very end, despite obstacles. A Russian woman is beautiful, educated and respected. She is a symbol of the Russian nation."
Ivan Pintor, Mexico:“There are a lot of stereotypes about Russian women that are spread through TV: tall, beautiful, blond girls whom you can meet at a marriage agency so you can take one of them away from chilly Russia as a bride. And the thing about Russians in general is that they drink a lot. From my personal experience I can say that I had a Russian teacher - a tall, slender blonde. To be honest, all Russians envelop me with some kind of spell. This is probably why I began to study this language. It’s great that in Russia, as in Mexico, for many people the mother comes first. By the way, I also have an image of a 70-year-old grandmother in long skirt, sweater and Pavloposad scarf."
James Langevin, Netherlands:“Whether correct or not, this is my opinion about Russian women, created by the national media and my interactions with them while traveling. Very wise. I would say that your women are pretty, strong in their mentality and surprisingly open to tourists from those countries that are not very friendly towards Russia. Russian girls have a stronger and firmer character than men. In terms of appearance, they are among the most beautiful women in the world, very feminine!”
William Millier, France:“How do I see Russian women? Hmm... good question! The first thing I think is that they are very attractive. In general, some kind of stereotypical image pops up: a blonde in sunglasses and a fur coat. Sometimes they can be or look a little superficial. When they want something, they will do anything to get it. They like luxury and beautiful things, so they are supported by those who have money, but in return they look after the house and take care of the husband and children.”
Craig Graham, UK:“I think that Slavic facial features are the most feminine in the world. The German ones seem a little rough to me, which doesn’t really suit women. I would call Russian women the most beautiful. And the Russian accent! He's very attractive. The Russian language has a hypnotic effect and I love that it is so different from English. Russians have a stronger sense of unity and community, which is why women are more virtuous than in the West. And also, it seems to me that many Russian women like to dominate and lead.”
Burak Topcu, Türkiye:“Russian women are the most beautiful women in the world. They have some kind of ideal beauty: some can be gentle and sweet, others can be sexy and sensual. Russian girls wear seductive clothes and pose relaxed in photos. It is also true that they drink a lot and love to party. But on the other hand, I have friends who took a Russian wife. And everyone says: “Thank you, Lord, for meeting us! She is the best wife you can imagine." In general, I have only a positive opinion about Russians.”
Michael Jenner, Germany:“Most Russian women are remarkably educated (there are women engineers, women doctors, scientists or economists, etc.). The Russian women I communicate with virtually and whom I have met in real life have completely different values than the German ones. For example, prestige and appearance seem to mean a lot to them (perhaps due to remnants of the Soviet past). Some Russian girls are more cold than warm in terms of behavior and their views. By the way, I want to note that they are very patriotic!”
Ale Sanroman, Spain:“From the experience of communicating with Russian girls, I realized that they have a practical and rational outlook on life. But at the same time, they are very romantic people, so they often have the following thoughts: “Yes, life is sometimes unfair, but an amazing thing will definitely happen to me.” romantic story because I deserve it." They combine depth of thought, ambition and sensitivity."
Juha Graaf, Finland:“Russian girls played a very important role in my life. But I can only talk about girls from the Northern capital. We often come to St. Petersburg: we perform in local clubs, drink, have a blast. Russian girls are absolutely crazy, if they go into a break, then it’s for a long time and to the fullest. They know no limits in anything - neither in alcohol, nor in love. Very feminine, passionate, very beautiful, very vulnerable.” Juha was twice married and divorced, his second wife is from St. Petersburg. He has a two-year-old son with his beloved girl from St. Petersburg; the couple does not live together.
Heinz Schulze, Germany:“Russian girls know their worth, at least Muscovites do. (Heinz has lived and worked in Moscow for more than 8 years - author.) Of course, for them money plays a paramount role. And they are looking for a husband with an apartment, a car and a bank account. Russians dream of going abroad because they think it is better there than here. And the men are richer, and the air is cleaner, and everyone has a home with a picturesque garden. Russian wives are wonderful housewives, they cook well and tasty, they are hospitable, but not economical. But when choosing a wife, we are not looking for a housekeeper, and differences in mentality hinder relationships. Russians are too extravagant, too unpredictable, they like everything to go according to their script, they like to boss men around, they raise their children very strictly, they are unpunctual, unnecessary, and capricious.”
Peter Kaulitz, 21, student, Rostock:“I know many students from Russia. They are all very, very similar: both in appearance, and in the way they talk about the future, and in the kind of men they choose for themselves. They look down on their peers unless it turns out that they have respectable parents. They choose men 7-10-15-20 years older, it is clear that everything here is explained by finances. Russian girls are beautiful, but cold, and very calculating, at least the ones I know.”
Jonas Lindström, Sweden:“Russian girls are very interesting and educated interlocutors, ready to support just any topic of conversation, much more interesting than Swedish girls, who already have an open mind. Russians love themselves very much, so they are always smartly and beautifully dressed and made up.”
Martinas Polch, Switzerland:“Russians are smart and beautiful, they know how to emphasize their strengths and hide their shortcomings. Russian women strong in spirit, ready to do a lot for the sake of love and family, ready to forgive a lot, vulnerable, sensitive. Real women, the standard of femininity.”
Justine D'Ore, France:“Russian women are very feminine and luxurious. You want to carry such women in your arms, dress them in furs and fulfill their every desire. Unlike French women, they are more relaxed in relationships, they often take the first steps themselves, they are touchy, but easy-going, they are fun and easy, every day is like a holiday. True, this holiday does not last long, Russians are fickle.”
Anders Hendriksson, Cyprus:“I had to communicate a little with Russian girls. I received impressions from a trip to Moscow in 2004. Russian girls, painted like nesting dolls. Very bright, elegant, plump, rosy. It’s immediately obvious that they are healthy and happy, they probably eat pancakes with honey and caviar and drink vodka, that’s why they are so beautiful. An acquaintance told me about a Russian girl with whom he fell in love, but she turned out to be a swindler. Now he says that all Russians are very calculating, dangerous, insidious, they think through everything carefully, but I don’t believe it, Russians are very easy to talk to and cheerful, they love to have fun, Russian drunkenness is something!”
There are so many people, so many opinions, and foreign men judge us mainly by Russian girls whom they knew personally, whom they met on vacation or worked.
In any case, everyone agrees that Russian girls are very beautiful and feminine, cheerful and stylish, good housewives and passionate lovers, and the demand for Russian wives abroad is increasing every year.
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 short, 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; later it was 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 traveled to the Volga in 922, reported: “I saw the Rus when they arrived on their trade business and settled down 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 to 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 preserved the ancient type intact: they are tall, strong, athletically built, they have large expressive eyes, noble, pronounced features faces,” 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 evaluate us mostly on their own 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 high content copper 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 “more rounded and softer” to him 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 a 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,” Lutz continues. “Hung with jewelry, the head of the Federal Migration Service seemed like an oriental princess. From the French point of view, she was the embodiment of corruption with a capital C, evil at its best."
Luts’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.”
An English teacher from Australia, 37-year-old Robert, can be said to have been 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.
A couple of years ago, one fine day, Michal Sobolev went out onto 86th Street and asked the non-Russian-speaking residents of the Big Apple the following question: "What do you know about Russian-speaking residents of the USA?" Supplemented with photographs found on Google upon request "Typical Russian"
Ethan(Manager, 46 years old): Among the Russian-speaking population of the United States, there are very few law-abiding people. Of course, you do not create criminal groups, as representatives of the Latin American diaspora do, but you are directly related to the famous Russian mafia. The Russians have put their hands into all major government organizations. Their influence is growing every day.
Andy(Student, African American):
I can't stand Russians. Every year there are more and more of you. Soon all of America will speak Chinese, Spanish and Russian. You are ready to do anything to achieve your goal. And your goal is to snatch more money. America is a country of civilized and cultured people, not beggars. You have neither conscience nor honor. Thieves, bandits and quitters, in a word... By the way, your president is not at all better than all of you. The same...
Heidi(Bank employee, Puerto Rican American):
Russians? Russian vodka, Russian mafia, bears, the Kremlin, communism. This is the first thing that comes to mind.
Russians are a very closed diaspora. You have little contact with people of other nationalities. You live like in the Soviet Union, cut off from the whole world. Russians also really don’t like it when people make comments to them; you won’t get an apology from them.
Do you want to say that your behavior is influenced by the previous way of life in the USSR? Cubans also came to America from totalitarian state, but they are completely different - more sociable, relaxed and friendly.
Ashraf(Taxi driver, came from Egypt 7 years ago):
Russian immigrants are a very noisy people. They love to have a lot of fun, sing songs, and have noisy feasts. They can be understood, because they all came from a country where the main national symbol is vodka.
Russian speakers are unpredictable. They can drive around in taxis all day and not leave a cent in tip. At the same time, they are absolutely sure that they are doing the right thing. Very strange people.
Joey(American, 36 years old):
Russians can live in America for 20 years and not speak English. They sit in Brighton, drink tea, and get insurance. I can't even understand what they are doing in America. The Chinese vegetable stalls, restaurants, laundromats, the Arabs have small shops, the Italians focus on restaurant business. But the Russians... You can’t be seen, you can’t be heard, and when you get into the metro, there’s no way through. Are you all on welfare? Or are you engaged in an underground business?
Kamal(Salesman at grocery, came from Pakistan 11 years ago):
What do I know about Russian-speaking New Yorkers? Most of them are very rich people holding prestigious positions in large companies. Russians are taciturn and do not like to be asked questions. In this they are very reminiscent of the Poles and Yugoslavs. I completely agree with the statement that Russian-speaking girls are some of the most beautiful in the world. But they prefer to meet exclusively with Russian men (laughs).
I also know your Alla Pugacheva, a world-famous singer. I like her voice.
Said(Leather clothing seller, came from Turkey 4.5 years ago)
The Russian diaspora is one of the largest in the United States. There are no areas left in New York for a long time that the Russians have not chosen. You can’t even imagine how many Russians now live in Istanbul. Soon there will be more of them than the Turks themselves. By the way, Turks really love Russian girls. Don't believe me?! Come to Antalya (the largest Turkish resort - author's note) or go to any Turkish store in New York (laughs).
I really like Russian cuisine, especially dumplings. Turkish beer is very reminiscent of Russian beer. In general, our peoples have a lot in common, despite the fact that we are Muslims and you are Christians.
Jamal(Landlord, came from Morocco 9 years ago)
Russians almost never say hello and very rarely smile when interacting with other people. Based on these features, they can immediately be distinguished from the multinational crowd of immigrants. This is probably due to the fact that the Soviet Union had a very strict totalitarian regime. Lenin, Stalin, then Gorbachev... The Russians at one time suffered greatly from the communists. I also heard that among your immigrants there are many former employees KGB...
Kiki(Waitress in a Chinese restaurant, came from China 2 years ago):
Don't be offended, but, in my opinion, Russian immigrants are very lazy. They will never work hard for a few dollars. Russians are very arrogant and love everything that is expensive - from clothes to cars. Moreover, even a very rich person may not leave even a dollar tip in a restaurant.
It is no secret that many Chinese consider Russians to be thieving and dishonest. You really like to stand out from the crowd and show your importance. In addition, Russians smoke and drink a lot. Little attention is paid to sports and healthy image life.
Louis(Born in the USA, parents came from Puerto Rico, tattoo parlor worker):
It is very pleasant to work with Russians. Two years ago, a girl from Russia had an internship in our salon. I think she was from St. Petersburg. A very modest, charming and hardworking employee. With her manners she reminded me of the local Italians. They have something in common in temperament.
I know that Russian culture goes back many centuries. The Russian people can confidently be called great. After all, in the end, it was you who were able to defeat Hitler.
In their love of drinking, Russians are akin to the Irish - they are ready to drink anything until they fall off their feet.
Sonya(Manager at a supermarket, came from Korea 7 years ago):
I associate Russian culture with Pushkin, vodka, tanks and your current president Putin. That's probably all I can say about Russian immigrants. In appearance, they are practically no different from Native Americans. Austrians, Irish, French, Italians are very similar to each other. After all, New York is a city where all kinds of cultures mix. I know that Russians are very fond of figure skating and skiing.
Johnny(Owner of an alcohol supermarket, came from China 16 years ago):
Russians drink a lot. Moreover, they can drink everything - vodka, whiskey, wine, tequila, without giving preference to any one drink. And if representatives of other diasporas drink alcohol only on holidays in small quantities, then Russians are ready to drink at least every day. It seems that the passion for alcohol is inherent in them at the genetic level (laughs). Apparently this is how Russians relieve stress. I'm surprised that so few of you are chronic alcoholics.
I would especially like to note that Russians are very grateful people. They will never regret a hefty tip if they see that the person serving them deserves it.
Marta, a housewife, came from Italy 16 years ago
Absurdly, Americans feel an involuntary fear of Russian immigrants and at the same time reverence for the Russian culture that is so widely represented in America. It is difficult to communicate with Russians, because they always expect some kind of trick or deception from you.
There is also a myth that Russian women are very frivolous and are ready to do anything to marry a rich American. Russian-speaking Brighton Beach also enjoys a bad reputation. A very dirty and cramped area, reminiscent of Manhattan's Harlem.
Greg(A Polish grocery store employee arrived from Poland 7 years ago):
Russians and Poles have a common Slavic basis, so our peoples can be called fraternal. The character of Poles and Russians has a lot in common. Moreover, our national cuisines are largely identical.
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that in America Russians are often ashamed of their nationality. There are a lot of young people who come from Soviet Union, try to pass themselves off as Italians, Romanians, Bulgarians, even Poles, carefully hiding their real roots. Perhaps Russian people are simply ashamed of their nationality.
Chris(dry cleaning worker arrived from Ghana 6 years ago):
I have been dating a Russian girl for two and a half years. I often visit her parents and talk with her friends. Every Russian is a mystery. To fully understand the mysterious Russian soul, you need to become half Russian yourself (laughs).
There are a lot of brilliant and gifted people in your community. At the same time, Russians love to fight and brawl. Especially when they drink. I happened to witness several drunken showdowns in one of the Russian restaurants. The sight, I tell you, is not a pleasant one. The main thing that Russians lack is a sense of proportion.
John(23 years old, Chinese restaurant worker)
Oh, you're from the newspaper! This is my first time communicating with a journalist in America. What do I think about the Russian-speaking diaspora? (speaks in clear English– approx. ed.) Are you Russian yourself? Sorry, I don't understand English at all.
Talif(11 years in America came from Iran):
Russians - good people. They just don't have enough patience. They are always in a hurry, nervous, and worried. I was in Russia once, in the mid-80s. But the people there were completely different. Not like here. I know that you love beer very much. It’s also quite common to see you driving drunk (laughs). At police stations, the majority of detained motorists are Russian. By the way, you don’t know how to drive at all (laughs again).
Based on materials from Mikhail Sobolev.
News channels' versions are generally predictable, but here's what they think ordinary people about our ordinary life? A selection of wonderful confessions that got lost in 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. This is 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 struck by the abundance of all-female groups 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. Another milk soup is very unusual dish" Francis, Australia
“I hope that in Germany they will learn how to make anniversary cookies.” A chocolates You have no fucking luck." 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
"Diamond Hand": « 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 who 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, as a matter 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, but 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’re 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
