How are things in russia
How are things in russia
8 things that surprise foreigners in Russia
1. Transport system
«Stations are big and some of them look like palaces»
Many foreigners are surprised how clean and organized the public transportation in the major Russian cities is. “The train from the airport to central Moscow was clean, efficient, and quick. I wish we had such an efficient connection to the airport in Paris,” says Boris Hawthorgh.
2. Special service
«But once you are recognized as a regular client (which may take a while) they will suddenly become friendlier, and start to smile»
When Russians meet a stranger they usually don’t smile, but behind this icy exterior most are just big pussycats.
“The lady behind the bar, your waiter, taxi drivers: they all look like you’ve just disturbed them while they were doing something important. It’s almost like sighing and looking annoyed is a job requirement. But once you are recognized as a regular client (which may take a while) they will suddenly become friendlier, and start to smile,” explains Oosting.
3. Secret Russian friendliness
«It wasn’t his route, but he even entered the metro and bought me a ticket!»
Nevertheless, Russians (even with their gloomy faces) usually help people in need, without wanting anything in return.
“Upon my arrival at Sheremetyevo Airport, I took the express train to Moscow. I was sitting next to a Russian man with Asian features. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure whether Moscow was the last destination or not. I asked him in bad Russian and he answered simply, with a stern face. When we arrived he offered to carry my suitcase and showed me the way to the subway entrance. It wasn’t his route, but he even entered the metro and bought me a ticket! He made sure I understood where to go next and didn’t want me to pay him back for the fare. He waved and left. I was amazed,” remembers Suzan.
4. Traffic
Despite the frustrating traffic jams, Russians still buy giant SUVs.
Moscow is thrilling and sometimes scary. “I was surprised at how wide the roads are in central Moscow. Some of these were built for planes to land during the war. Sixteen lanes of traffic jam looks like Diwali [the Hindu festival of lights] but it’s not the best thing when you are a part of it,” says Rahul from India. However, despite the frustrating traffic jams, Russians still buy giant SUVs.
5. No matter who you are
«Russia is by far the least racist country I have traveled to»
Sergey Kiselev/ Moskva Agency
“Unlike many countries in the West, Russia is by far the least racist country I have traveled to. In general, your skin color, race, or language doesn’t matter for Russians as long as you are good with them,” comments Saikat from India.
6. Russian police and security guards
There are a lot of police and security guards in Russia.
“Security forces are everywhere,” says Georg Drennig from Austria. And he is right: There are a lot of police and security guards in Russia, but most of them do nothing (and we know the reason why).
7. Churches everywhere
In Russia the number of churches almost equals the number of hospitals.
In Russia the number of churches (40,000) almost equals the number of hospitals. “Churches are not the first thing I think of when I think of Russia. But let me tell you that they are everywhere in the country. I’m not sure why this was so surprising to me (maybe because I knew religion was banned during the Soviet years. ), but I was absolutely blown away by all the beautiful churches, cathedrals, and monasteries that I saw in Russia,” comments Amanda from Ohio.
8. Not only drab Soviet-era apartment blocks
“A lot of Americans have certain preconceptions about Russia. We associate the country with communism and the Cold War, and have visions in our heads of ugly Soviet-era buildings and dour locals,” says Harvey Smith.
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What is Russia famous for? Our readers answer!
Kira Lisitskaya (Photo: Jack Vartoogian/Keystone/Getty Images; Vasily Perov/Tretyakov Gallery; Legion media)
What do you know about Russia, except for its size? We asked our readers to recall the things that they thought made the country famous. Among the hundreds of answers, the greatest examples were of the cuisine, culture and traditions. But nobody (NOBODY!) said that Russians didn’t smile. Thank you!
St. Basil’s cathedral.
1. First human in space
Yury Gagarin on April 12, 1961.
One of the most popular answers was the first manned space flight and space exploration. On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yury Gagarin flew into space and returned safely. That day changed history. Take a look at how Gagarin was greeted after his unbelievable flight!
2. Baikal Lake
There are so many natural wonders in Russia, but the Siberian Lake of Baikal is probably the most famous one. It’s the deepest lake in the world with its unique flora and fauna (you should see the local seals!) and the biggest freshwater reservoir. And it’s full of mystery! The Olkhon Island in the lake is considered a place of power for Siberia shamans. In winter, Lake Baikal is also covered with awesome ice.
3. Hospitality
Traditional Russian greeting with a bread and salt.
The legendary Russian tradition of entertaining guests: offering the best food (even the last) and drinks, making everything for your comfort and only after asking any questions. The roots of such behavior go way back to ancient Rus, when the settlements were very far from each other and guests were often considered as messengers.
“Russians are very special people with kind hearts, warm souls and beautiful minds,” writes@ShirazParacha on Twitter.
4. Literature
A portrait of Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Vasily Perov/ State Tretyakov Gallery
Our readers named many Russian writers, such as Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Vladimir Mayakovsky and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. As for the books, most readers mentioned Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace.’ Yes, it really is an iconic novel.
5. Language
Total dictant in Moscow.
The Russian language is rather hard to learn, but many foreigners find it beautiful. “Russian is a very emotional and descriptive language that lets you express each idea, feeling, or emotion,” writesAlexandru Mercur on Facebook. “Sadly, after the Bolshevik Revolution, the orthography was simplified. I think Russian language must return to its grammar and orthography which it had had before Peter the Great.”
Besides the language, our readers mentioned the Cyrillic alphabet with the letters that look similar to the latin alphabet, but sound completely different.
6. Winning WWII
The Victory Banner over the Reichstag. Berlin, 1945. The legendary photo of Yevgeny Khaldei.
Russian Ministry of Defense
“Russia is the reason the whole world isn’t speaking German. Russia was responsible for stopping Hitler and turning the tide of the war against Germany,” writesRobert Berry on Facebook.
7. Churches with onion domes
St. Basil’s cathedral.
Onion domed churches impressed @raindog1970 on Twitter and Thomas Campolongo on Facebook, some mentioned St.Basil’s cathedral in Moscow. So, why do the domes on Russian Orthodox churches made in the shape of onions? The most obvious reason for that is the weather. Such a shape doesn’t let the snow accumulate on the roof.
8. Winters
The city of Nefteyuhansk, minus 62 C outside.
Can we call subzero temperatures a signature of Russia? Even those who have never been have heard about the cold climate. “Very few other countries can say they have similar winters. So cold, yet Russians manage how to cope with that,” writesJirka Zahora on Facebook.
9. Vodka
Alcohol section at a store.
10. Beef Stroganoff
This dish made with beef in a creamy sauce served with mashed potatoes is famous everywhere. According to the legend, it was invented by the French chef of Russian Count Alexander Stroganov in the 19th century. The count liked guests (Remember? Hospitality is above all!) and this dish was rather easy and quick to cook. By the way, Beef Stroganoff is now part of the Swedish cuisine under the name ‘Korv Stroganoff’. This is how it looks.
11. Soviet Union
The event dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the pioneer organization.
The story of the Soviet Union finished 30 years ago, but its legacy is still alive. Many people remember Soviet education (maybe they took part in exchange studies back then?), famous scientists and, of course, Soviet leaders, such as Joseph Stalin and Mikhail Gorbachev. “Russia as the former USSR gave the world 8 hours duty per day, gender equality, advancement of science even at school level,” wroteImam S Shaik on Facebook.
12. MMA fighters
Fyodor Emelianenko in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 2011.
Esther Lin/Forza LLC/Getty Images
As for modern personalities, besides Russian president Vladimir Putin, many of our readers mentioned Khabib Nurmagomedov aka ‘The Eagle’ and Fedor Emelianenko, the top fighters who’ve already finished their careers. “Fedor has put Russia on the map for being the best fighter in the world,” saysJohn Zog on Facebook.
13. First registered Covid-19 vaccine
“The best scientists in the world, first to launch a successful vaccine for Covid. That really got up the noses of Europe and America. Had they not been so high brow and dismissive and collaborate with Russia, Covid would’ve been better under control much quicker,” writesFrank Murphy on Facebook.
Appearing in summer 2020, Sputnik V became the first registered vaccine against the coronavirus pandemic. Soon after, Russia registered another two vaccines called ‘EpiVacCorona’ and ‘KoviVak’.
14. Architectural treasures
The Moscow Kremlin, St. Petersburg’s Hermitage museum, the wooden churches of the Russian North, as well as the historical architecture of Kazan and Vyborg were among the famous landmarks of Russia that our readers mentioned. And lots of people highlighted the beautiful Moscow Metro stations: “They look like museums!”
15. Dashcams
The trace of the fall of a space object in Chelyabinsk.
Our readers also mentioned those funny road videos from Russia shot with dashcams: it seems that drivers here are not surprised by tanks, helicopters or even meteorites!
Bonus
Swan Lake ballet.
Our readers also noted that Russia is also famous for ballet, composers, the longest railways, beautiful women, the Tetris game, the Matryoshka doll, bears, balalaikas, babushkas, the Stanislavsky system, Russian blue cats and much more. Christian Hainds on Facebook highlighted that Russia is “a truly multinational state with tons of languages spoken”. Tanny Tan wrote that Russia always is the villain in the (Hollywood) movies.
Besides this, some readers focused on the negative associations with Russia. Marcin Małek and Justus Madison both wrote about “poisoning” on Facebook, while @Priya_D8 mentioned “corruption” on Twitter.
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10 most Russian things… according to Russians!
Kremlin pool/Global Look Press; Pixabay
Like anywhere else, in Russia, the capital city is not usually representative of the whole country. Still, many mentioned Moscow as the most Russian city. However, the lesser-known abroad Suzdal came in close second. This tiny, cozy town – with a monastery and a church on every corner and with wooden houses designed with carved window frames – is just awesome! Read more about Suzdal, and if you haven’t been yet – time to plan your trip, it’s worth it!
Among other answers worth mentioning are:
By the way, do you know which other Russian cities also have a kremlin? Find out here.
Some respondents actually refused to answer this question. First of all, they were certain that Russia isn’t about cities, but about villages. Well, here’s a list of the most beautiful villages, if you are curious.
Russian crepes or pancakes, the so-called blini appeared to be the favorite Russian food of our editors. To most Russians, it reminds them of breakfast made by grandma. They can be filled and stuffed with any toppings, savory or sweet: from caviar and smoked salmon to sour cream, condensed milk, berry jams or even nutella. If you want to make blini with a classic Russian recipe, try this one here!
You might be surprised not to see borsch here. Well, it took an honorary second place. Followed by shchi, a cabbage- or sauerkraut-based soup, something similar to borsch, but without beetroot. Actually, Russians eat soup a lot, and usually miss them when spending a long time abroad, because, you know… we don’t consider minestrone a real soup.
We have a tie here. Avos’ is the Russian word that is impossible to translate into English. It’s a metaphor for believing in luck and fate. We say, “he hopes in avos’” or “relies on avos’” and what we mean is he does something without much effort, without any preparations, counting on success. That’s what Russians usually do.
Davai is another tricky word. It’s translated as “let’s do it”, but actually can be used almost in any life situation! Here we explain it in detail. Actually, if you master how to use it, you’d impress your Russian friends a lot.
While Russians can seem tough and rude at the first glimpse and they never smile at strangers (here we reveal the reasons behind it). they just don’t pretend to be something they are not. When you become acquainted with a Russian and if you’re lucky enough to become friends with them, be sure, they will open their heart to you, will have very frank conversations and share very personal thoughts and feelings.
Alongside sincerity, Russia Beyond staff thinks that other Russian national character traits are insightfulness, courage, honesty, openness, tenderness, ability to help and give away their last shirt, patience, hospitality, cordiality… as you can see, modesty is not on the list.
Some people also mentioned freedom, not in the sense of, say, being open about your sexuality or openly protesting about something in front of parliament, but rather an inner freedom to be yourself and not feeling any borders.
And here is an interesting thought from one of our editors about a controversial Russian nature: “Russians have these excessive emotional capabilities that we don’t know how to express in a healthy way. We love and care a lot, even when it’s best for us to not give a damn. And since expressing emotions is kinda a taboo around here (seen as a weakness), we just suppress it and sweep it under the carpet. Feelings? What feelings? Never had any.”
Viktor Vasnetsov/Tretyakov Gallery; Gavriil Grigorov/TASS
While the ‘happiness’ emotion was at the very bottom of the list, mentioned just by one member of our staff, despair, sadness, melancholy, and the untranslatable Russian toska stole the show. We can have spiritual sufferings without any particular reason… Just look out of the window… toska all around. We have even written before about why Russians benefit from suffering.
There is a joke that if you say “How are you?” to anyone outside Russia, he/she will just answer: “Fine, thanks, how are you?” While a Russian will take the opportunity to say everything that’s on his/her mind… you know, we love complaining about life… But, to be honest, we love laughing about life and at ourselves, too!
Courtesy of pikabu.ru
This is an old habit that we inherited from the Soviet times, but being afraid of throwing something that we might need in the future is our common thing. And you know what? Most likely, we never use it, but will only keep it on our balconies together with other weird things.
At the same time, we overly care about new things. Some of us keep the TV remote in the plastic wrap forever or we sew a special cover for a couch so that we do not stain it or damage the original fabric somehow (God forbid!).
Another interesting answer was ‘drinking tea around the clock’. Well, yes, tea is our main food, word, character trait, emotion and habit.
Eldar Ryazanov/Mosfilm, 1975
Believing in fate and avos’ (see p. 3) is what Russians really do. We like to say that whatever happens – it’s for the best. When the Irony of Fate movie character Zhenya Lukashin got drunk and friends sent him by accident to St. Petersburg on New Year’s Eve, while his significant other was waiting for him alone at home… even this situation brought happiness to everybody (well, almost).
Russians watch this movie every year and hope for their fate to bring them a lucky sign.
Other cool movies worth mentioning from our responses are The Officers, The Barber of Siberia, Love and Pigeons, Ivan Vasilievish: Back to the Future, Brother. Here is a list of the best Russian and Soviet movies.
A still from the Soviet ‘War and Peace’ movie
Sergei Bondarchuk/Mosflim, 1965-1967
It contains just about everything you need: love, friendship, family relations, war, sorrow and thoughts about the sense of being human. And it’s Leo Tolstoy. no special introduction needed here.
A still from the Soviet movie ‘Operation Y and Shurik’s Other Adventures’ which pokes fun on this proverb
Leonid Gaidai/Mosfilm, 1965
Probably here lie the roots of Russian laziness. It basically tells you to take it easy, because you can always get back to your work at any time.
BONUS: The most Russian person is…
However, a few replied with Alexander Pushkin, Yuri Gagarin, and Leo Tolstoy.
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25 Fun Facts About Russia: Understand the Country!
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Vladimir and Suzdal tour
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Perhaps you already know, but there is a great difference between Moscow, St. Petersburg, and all other towns and cities in Russia. Visiting the countryside is a great opportunity to travel the real Russia and to see the common life of ordinary people. The best choice for a one-day Russian countryside experience is the Vladimir and Suzdal tour.
Vladimir and Suzdal are small towns that are famous worldwide because of their great history and picturesque architecture with numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the 12th century. Aside from golden cupolas of stunning churches and monasteries, you will experience a very rural real Russian outlook with bubbling streams and grassy meadows, chickens and livestock, and interesting and authentic local residents. All are a common sight on the streets, some of which remain unpaved. Be ready for a full-day trip and many unforgettable experiences during your Russian holidays!
Duration: 14-16 hours
Transportation: Soviet van or VW Multivan
From Moscow to St. Petersburg for 5 days
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•Road-tripping from Moscow to St. Petersburg
•Ecotour along the Volga River with visiting limestone quarries
•Real Russian countryside
•One day in a traditional Russian village
There is a great difference between Moscow, St. Petersburg, and all other Russia. The concept of this tour is to show you the real Russia with numerous small towns, pristine nature, abandoned churches and the life of people.
This tour does not include Golden Ring towns! Instead, you will see Staritsa town and Novgorod the Great, beautiful places to visit in Russia!
The itinerary is perfect for those who are going to St. Petersburg. It takes only 4 hours to get there from Novgorod by a cheap local train.
What should you say when Russians ask ‘How are you’?
Russians like to ask about your mood: How do you feel today? How is everything? In American culture, however, it’s not quite accepted to respond to these questions in detail. In contrast, when a Russian asks about your mood, he’s ready to hear the full story.
1. Brief and formal
There’s a short answer to the question, “How are you?” (“Kak dela?”). “Khorosho” means “fine” in English. You can also say: “Luchshe vsekh” (“Better than everyone”); “Vsyo normalno” (“Everything is ok”); “Otlichno” (“Super”); and “Kak obychno” (“As usual”).
Sometimes, older people might say “Vashimi molitvami,” which means that they are fine thanks “to your prayers.” Often, these answers are followed by the formal, “Spasibo, a u vas?” (“Thanks, and you”?). All these brief answers are accepted between people who don’t know each other well, or during a business meeting.
If you know the interlocutor well, or it’s a caring person, he may consider such an answer insincere, or think that you’re hiding something. When he asks what exactly is “fine,” you should add something. You don’t need to make a full confession; you can just say, “fine, I feel cold today,” or add an emotion.
2. Tell about your emotions
Russians are rather emotional people, and they always share their feelings with everyone. That’s why it’s a good idea to try to learn some phrases that will help you express your emotions in Russian. The answer like: “Fine” + emotion will be the same short polite answer that you can use in order to respond to “How are you?”
“I am happy” – “Ya rad(a),” and you should add the reason you are happy: “I have a new car,” (“U menya novaya mashina”); or “I won the lottery,” (“Ya vyigral(a) v lotereyu”).
“I am tired” – “Ya ustal(a).” Add the reason for your condition: “I worked hard today” (“Ya segodnya mnogo rabotal”).
“I’m worried” – “Ya volnuyusj.” Because of: “exam” (“eksamen”), or “a future trip” (“buduschey poezdki”).
“I’m surprised” – “Ya udivlyon(a);” or “I’m amazed” – “Ya porazhen(a).” What amazed you? “A new film” (“Novy film”), or “new job” (“novaya rabota”).
“I’m sad” – “Mne grustno.” Why do you feel so? “Because of the weather” (“Iz-za pogody”); or “I heard a very sad song” (“Yauslyshal(a) ochen grustnuyu pesnyu”).
“I’m cold” – “Mne kholodno.” These are two phrases that don’t require continuing the conversation. Everybody understands that feeling.
3. Feel the irony
Russians who know each other well often create humorous answers that might make no sense to foreign friends. Don’t use these phrases with people who you don’t know very well; otherwise, you might sound impolite. These phrases are too colloquial.
“Poka ne rodila” (“I have not given birth yet”) – a woman may jokingly respond this way, meaning that everything is ok (this rhymes with the word “dela” in Russian).
“Kak sazha bela” (“Things are all right as soot is white”) – also a joking rhyme used mostly by seniors.
“Vsyo v shokolade” (“Everything is in chocolate”) – everything is super and you want to show it.
“Vsyo puchkom” (“Everything is in the form of a bunch”) – means you’re fine and feel like a bunch of dill; Russians love dill and it’s good when your things are like a bunch.
“Ne dozhdyotes” (“Don’t expect”) – meaning «If you think things will go bad for me, don’t hold your breath».
4. Be polite and honest
If you know the person and your friend opens up, you can also tell your story. What did you do before meeting him; how did you spend the day and what problems do you have in life? In Russia, it’s normal to share private emotions with friends and to find a way to solve the problem together.
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