Way to Russia Talk Lounge

UsualSuspect · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:44 am Post subject:

Ender,
No worries. A Russian friend of mine ran across two lost guys there and one said he worked for an IT company in Adelaide. Not sure whether he was a native Russian or not.

Back on Topic now....

Usualsuspect

Ender · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject:

UsualSuspect · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

Ender,
I'll give you MY opinions. Others may well wish me dead or disagree but here goes.

Russians are grossly stereotyped by your average media over here. You're either a "Natasha" (foreign bride marrying for money) or drink vodka at a frightening rate. If you aren't those two then "Boris The Blade" (from the movie "Snatch") will fit the bill. My wife (russian) tells me the russian community appears to split into the "White/Chinese" Russian's and
"The Newcomers". I hope it isn't like this all over Australia.

Our older citizens dislike Asian's due to Japan's war efforts but most people aren't like that.

Poles and German's? Foreigners. I can say I haven't run into many Poles in my travels but they have an active community here in my City.

New Zealanders (Kiwi's)? After the velcro and gumboots come off at the airport ( Laughing

) then they are just like us. On a serious note, we (Aus/Kiwi's) go way back. We make jokes at each others expense often enough but get on well, except for a certain sporting incident which resulted in our PrimeMinister apologising to the Kiwi PM.

Personally, I believe Multiculturalism is a bit of an urban myth. Lot's of ethnic communities still face difficulties assimilating and "white is right" attitude is still too common. Either benign or malignant. The reverse is that we have a wide range of different peoples from all over the world who are doing just fine.

Funnily enough a lot of immigrants I know who have taken citizenship are more patriotic toward Australia than I am (or ever want to be).

If that sounds negative, bear in mind I am a jaded and bitter cynic. Made even more so by my experiences dealing with Australian Immigration, and how much I loathe politicians.

What a can of worms I may have opened.

Usualsuspect

bunker6 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject:

I know Russians to call the bull bars "kangaroo bumpers" cause they believe it's an Australian thing and there's so many kangaroos there you can't drive a mile without hitting one.

Ender · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject: