Way to Russia Talk Lounge

jgeissin

In reference to and in general:
http://www.waytorussia.net/Practicalities/Traditions.html

I've been to Moscow, Stupino and Ust-Kamenogorsk, KZ. I've stayed in apartments, ate the food and hung out with the people.
Russians (and Kazakhs for that matter) are just people, not unlike anyone else in the world, trying to live and get ahead. 99% of their specific peculiarities are a result of 60 years of Communist rule and socialism in general; think about the way you would act if you had your government impose these rules and lifestyle on you!
There are 'Traditions' that are specifically Russian, as well there should be; they should and have the right to have their own identity and should be proud of it! I am proud of the Russians! and it is my honor to know some and be able to share some life with them!
It is MY opinion that Russia is the next place to be; to wit; it will become the next world power on it's own, and it will be THE place in the world to live. It will take time, but it will progress into a place not unlike what the US would like to be or was. Don't get me wrong, I am as patriotict as the next American, but we have some SERIOUIS issues and should NOT be pointing out the 'growing pains' of Russia. We need to be knocked down a step or too; we are too obnoxious and self centered. Just my 2 cents/kopecs,
If you are going to visit Russia in general, take your ATM card or a prepaid VISA. Leave all the cash at home; no travelers checks! Go to the local ATM and withdraw money in Rubles. Try to get to know as many words and phrases in Russian as you can; although most younger Russians know some English, it is impolite (IMHO) to not at least try to learn their language. They are NOT like the French when it comes to this, but it shows interest.
Stay in apartments; stay away from Hotels.
Get to know the people.
Eat their food, drink bottled water.
DO NOT attempt to drive in Moscow unless you know how to drive in Boston or New York City. Beyond that, it's like driving in the US.
Ride the bus, trolly, trains and Metro. You really get to see the people then.
In conclusion, Russians are not unlike any other people on earth. They are not wierd or anything like that. They are trying to climb out of a pit dug for them by a previous government, and doing a really good job at it (IMHO). These things take time; it took 60 year to get there, it will take a few years to get out of there.

yorbcbud · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject:

Nice to see a positive post, amongst so many negative ones. The doom and gloom stuff is getting old. Thanks for this.

camarks

Rick · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:29 am Post subject:

Well.. If you want, I can ad some doom and gloom to Russia's 'rise to the riches'. Lately I found some article in the Moscow Times (the thing that slings around in the McDonalds restaurants Razz

) that gave some insight into it's demographics: they are disastrous... since 1991 the death rate has been so much higher than the birth rate, that the country actually lost 10 million people of it's original population. This is only partly compensated by positive migration figures (mostly from FSU states). Still.. population has fallen from 148 to 143 million in 15 years, with not a single recent year that saw a decline of less than 700.000 people.
This is the trend and it's not getting better any soon...

yorbcbud · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 am Post subject:

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

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yorbcbud · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject:

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

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