I recently read a very interesting article, "16 People On Things They Couldn't Believe About America Until They Moved Here", and while reading the article (including an entry from someone whose Russian in-laws couldn't believe that nobody stole packages off of your porch when the UPS made deliveries and were blown away by all-you-can-eat buffets) I began to think about the things that I find myself repeating when I talk about America.
1) It is possible to learn the Russian language in America. For those that don't know, I have a bachelors degree in Russian Language, and this boggles their minds. They can't understand why anyone who speaks English would bother to learn Russian, let alone study it on purpose. While getting my degree in Russian, I also got a degree in Political Science, which brings me to my next point.
2) Our systems of higher education are completely different. I was talking with a friend last night who told me that in Russia, a bachelor's isn't considered a completed form of higher education (ouch), but now the education system is changing their standards to meet international norms. When Russians enter the university system, they choose a specialty and all of their courses are laid out for them. It amazes them that we get to choose which courses we take and when.
3) Cars are not an optional luxury in most America, they are a necessity. In Russia, almost every town has efficient public transportation. It's not especially comfortable or glamorous (unless you're in the subway of Moscow) but it is efficient. In America, unless you're in a big city, you need a car to get around, and even in big cities it isn't a guarantee.
4) We mostly live in houses, not apartments. Most Russians live in big apartment buildings, even if the town is relatively small, but not us. We prefer houses.
5) If you get something "Made in China", it probably won't fall apart in 30 seconds; you can rest assured that it's pretty quality, whatever it is. Not in Russia, let me tell you. I've never seen such junky crap. In America, consumers have set the standards of what kinds of goods they will and will not buy, so why buyers go to China to buy wholesale for their stores back in the US, there are certain things they don't grab. Russia hasn't had time to set those kinds of consumer standards, however, and as a result, you see some pretty amazing things. I bought a pair of ballet flats last summer, and hadn't worn them for that long before the sole started to peel off the shoe. That has never ever happened to me before, and as I result, I now take all measures to avoid buying shoes in Russia.
6) MacDonald's is better abroad. It really is. It's gross and old and dinghy in America, and a fast-food institution, so nobody makes a fuss about MacDonald's (or MacDuck, as they call it over here). Here, it's squeaky-clean and tastes better.
7) We don't go to the hospital every time we have a tummy-ache. Russians have socialized health care, meaning that it's free of charge to Russian citizens. As a result Russians are, in my opinion, pain weenies. At the slightest hint of anything abnormal many of them will rush down to the clinic and stay in the hospital for a few days. Granted, they usually don't do much for you at the hospital, but still people flock there for things that Americans would definitely tough out rather than pay for.
And now, a short list of things Russians are constantly explaining to me about America.
1) You guys smile all the time, but you aren't really that happy.
2) You keep thinking up wars to fuel your economy.
3) You guys eat too much junk food, that's why you're fat.
4) Americans love Coca-Cola. It's in your veins.
5) Our president made your president look like a fool over this whole Syria thing.
Thanks guys, tell me something I don't already know.
There's a little inside look at my life here in Russia. I'd highly recommend checking out the aforementioned article; I always think it's valuable to get outside perspective on our lives.
And with that, I'm off to the kitchen! Grandma is moving in with us in the next day or two, and while Uncle Ilya and Aunt Tanya are in another town helping her pack up and move, Masha and I are responsible for making things homey for when she gets here.
Пока ребята,
Russian Jane
1) It is possible to learn the Russian language in America. For those that don't know, I have a bachelors degree in Russian Language, and this boggles their minds. They can't understand why anyone who speaks English would bother to learn Russian, let alone study it on purpose. While getting my degree in Russian, I also got a degree in Political Science, which brings me to my next point.
2) Our systems of higher education are completely different. I was talking with a friend last night who told me that in Russia, a bachelor's isn't considered a completed form of higher education (ouch), but now the education system is changing their standards to meet international norms. When Russians enter the university system, they choose a specialty and all of their courses are laid out for them. It amazes them that we get to choose which courses we take and when.
3) Cars are not an optional luxury in most America, they are a necessity. In Russia, almost every town has efficient public transportation. It's not especially comfortable or glamorous (unless you're in the subway of Moscow) but it is efficient. In America, unless you're in a big city, you need a car to get around, and even in big cities it isn't a guarantee.
4) We mostly live in houses, not apartments. Most Russians live in big apartment buildings, even if the town is relatively small, but not us. We prefer houses.
5) If you get something "Made in China", it probably won't fall apart in 30 seconds; you can rest assured that it's pretty quality, whatever it is. Not in Russia, let me tell you. I've never seen such junky crap. In America, consumers have set the standards of what kinds of goods they will and will not buy, so why buyers go to China to buy wholesale for their stores back in the US, there are certain things they don't grab. Russia hasn't had time to set those kinds of consumer standards, however, and as a result, you see some pretty amazing things. I bought a pair of ballet flats last summer, and hadn't worn them for that long before the sole started to peel off the shoe. That has never ever happened to me before, and as I result, I now take all measures to avoid buying shoes in Russia.
6) MacDonald's is better abroad. It really is. It's gross and old and dinghy in America, and a fast-food institution, so nobody makes a fuss about MacDonald's (or MacDuck, as they call it over here). Here, it's squeaky-clean and tastes better.
7) We don't go to the hospital every time we have a tummy-ache. Russians have socialized health care, meaning that it's free of charge to Russian citizens. As a result Russians are, in my opinion, pain weenies. At the slightest hint of anything abnormal many of them will rush down to the clinic and stay in the hospital for a few days. Granted, they usually don't do much for you at the hospital, but still people flock there for things that Americans would definitely tough out rather than pay for.
And now, a short list of things Russians are constantly explaining to me about America.
1) You guys smile all the time, but you aren't really that happy.
2) You keep thinking up wars to fuel your economy.
3) You guys eat too much junk food, that's why you're fat.
4) Americans love Coca-Cola. It's in your veins.
5) Our president made your president look like a fool over this whole Syria thing.
Thanks guys, tell me something I don't already know.
There's a little inside look at my life here in Russia. I'd highly recommend checking out the aforementioned article; I always think it's valuable to get outside perspective on our lives.
And with that, I'm off to the kitchen! Grandma is moving in with us in the next day or two, and while Uncle Ilya and Aunt Tanya are in another town helping her pack up and move, Masha and I are responsible for making things homey for when she gets here.
Пока ребята,
Russian Jane
