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Russian People Talk — Interviews on the Streets -
April 15, 2004
We asked Russian
people the questions our visitors sent to us... See what answers
we've got.
Have a question you would like to ask to Russian people?
Send us your suggestions below.
| Denis:
25, has his own music and video shop-kiosk in front of
Semenovskaya metro station |
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Question: "Would you ever consider emigrating,
and if yes, to which country?"
A: No, I don't want to emigrate.
Question: "Where would you like to travel?"
A: Holland. They have a simplier life - you know
- you can smoke hash freely, that's very good.
Question: “Do Russian people see anything
in common with American people?"
A: No. We have too different mentalities.
Question: "Is there anything
you have done so far in your life you feel proud about?"
A: No.
Question: "What do you think about rich people,
such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky (jailed head of Yukos company)"
A: I don't give a fuck about it, if they made
a lot of money - that's good for them.
Question: “If you had a chance to make
a change in Russia's government policy, what would
that be?"
A: I would legalize marijuana. Look, most car
accidents happen
because people are drunk, vodka is the worst drug. Marijuana
is innocent, my friends got a few years in prison just
for smoking it, it's crazy, no? Yes, legalize marijuana,
that's what needs to be done.
Question: "What sex in Russia is like?"
A: It's 100% as good as anywhere else and depends
how far the woman is ready to extend her fantasies...
Question: "Is there racism in Russia?"
A: Yes. Let me explain you why. You see, there's
a shop in front of mine, yes? It's owned by Azerbaijani.
They kill small business. When I wanted to open my shop
they were doing everything for me not to be able to do
so. I
had
to fight
to open
my shop. Is this good? They come to our country and behave
themselves as if they are kings. I mean, look, you see
they sell oranges over there? They could just sell oranges
quietely, but no, they need to show off, to shout... I
don't like them.
Q: What do you think about foreigners or black people then?
A: Black people, I don't have anything against them at
all. It's only Azerbaidjanis.
Question: "Why so many Russian women want to marry foreign men
and leave their country?"
A: I don't think that many want to do it. Those, who do just want money.
Question: "What do you think about USA president Bush?"
A: I don't care about him, but I don't like that he makes wars.
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| Lyudmila
Petrovna,
a woman in her 40s, lives with her husband and two sons
(both have higher education). She has just left her job,
because she didn't like it (worked there only 1 day)
and was sitting in Mu-Mu cafe on Arbat street enjoying
her dinner |
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Question: "Would you ever consider emigrating, and if yes,
to which country?"
A: Have never thought about this. No, I wouldn't.
Question: "Where would you like to travel?"
A: France, India and Australia.
Question: “What can a foreign woman do so
that a Russian man likes her?"
A: In relationship everything depends on character, it doesn't matter
which nationality people have, I believe.
Question: "Is there anything you have done
so far in your life you feel proud about?"
A: I would always like to be proud of my children,
not myself or my achievements.
Question: "It is said that Russia is both European
and not. What is the most European aspect of Russian mind,
and what is the most Asian aspect?"
A: Unfortunately, the most common "European" part
is that people want to become more kind of casual, more "free",
but they do a bit too much of that.
The most "Asian" part is that people are a bit too limited
in their mind, kind of opressed by what is happening around
them.
Question: “Now that you know advantages and
disadvantages of both Socialism and Capitalism, would you
ever consider coming back to Socialism?"
A: Socialism is not that bad. I liked that during
the socialism the moral was higher, younger generation had
a clearer vision, goals. There was more unity among people.
All these things I miss a lot.
Now the society turned to different values, everybody is
separated, there is no "big ideal" that unites everybody.
There's no stability. When I was young everything was stable,
we knew what would happen in 20 years. You might say it's
too predictable or boring, but this was making life very
secure, we were not afraid for our children future. And no
there's no security, everyone is for themselves.
Question: "What is the average salary in Russia?"
A: $170 in an average level in Russia, $300 in Moscow.
Men earn more. There are people who come to work in Moscow
from smaller towns, for them 6 - 7 thousands rubles is already
enough ($200).
Question: "Do Russians see everything through
the mask of indifference and alcohol?"
A: The mask of indifference - I don't agree. All
people react.
Alcohol - I can't say that many people drink. Maybe it's
tradition, problems can't be solved this way.
Question: "What do you think about G. Bush
government policy?"
A: I don't like his political goals and I don't
like him as a person. Cowboys shouldn't be governors, they
should look after cows.
Question: “What do you think about Putin (Russian
president)?"
A: I'm disappointed with him. First I thought he
would do good for my country (it's typical for Russians to
believe in Tsar - a man who will come and solve everything),
but I don't see any changes comparing to what was there before
him.
Question: "What sex in Russia is like?"
A: Sex can be good or bad, it depends on feelings.
For me, there can be no intimacy, without inner respect to
the person. |
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| Nadezhda
Pavlova
a babushka who was sitting on Arbat street, when we asked
her for an interview |
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Question: "Would you ever consider emigrating, and if yes,
to which country?"
A: I don't know, no, I wouldn't want to go anywhere.
Question: “Where would you like to travel?"
A: I won't go anywhere, my age is not for traveling.maybe only to Ukraine
where
I
come
from...
Q: But wouldn't you like to see new places, if you had an opportunity and health
where would you go? Try to imagine?
A: Well, somewhere to Europe, to Italy.
Question: "Is there anything you have done
so far in your life you feel proud about?"
A: I'm proud of my grandchildren
Question: "Are you disgusted that there are
some people in Russia such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky (currently
in jail) that have been able to become billionaires in less
then 10 years (since the demise of the CCCP) while the average
Russian worker only earns about 100 USD per month? Especially
since these people have made their money by "acquiring" formerly
state owned (CCCP) industries."
A: I don't understand where they have all these
money from. I live for 3 years in Moscow and I don't get
any pension, live in poverty... Those people built palaces
for themselves and are very rich...
I worked a lot, for 34 years
as a chief economist in kolkhoz (agriculture), and now I
have nothing.
The
government
doesn't
even
pay me
pension, because I'm not from Russia. But Russia and Ukraine
used to be the same in CCCP and now I live in poverty. |
Your Comments
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