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Russian People Talk — Interviews on the Streets -
November 30, 2003
We asked Russian people the 11 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.
| Nikolay,
21, doing his masters in management, works as a part-time
accountant and has his own business |
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Question #1: "What do
you think of America and its world-dominating politics.
Or
do you
have enough problems in Russia itself, not to worry too
much about that?"
Answer: I think that the position
of America is too much determined to the other countries.
And that's why it irritates a lot of people. Personally,
I position myself neutrally towards the US. But a lot of
elements of exterior politics I don't accept. Of course,
a lot of places amaze in this big country.
Question #2: "Do you think life
in Russia is very weird?"
Answer: Yes, I think. A lot of weird things
happen in our country.
Question #3: "What do you think about Americans?"
Answer: It will depend on who
this person is. I don't care about nationality, color of skin, or religion. What
is important is the kind of person he is.
Question #4: "Are Russians okay with people from Finland
and Sweden now? Long ago we had many wars..."
Answer: Normally.
Quesiton #5: "Are you OK with prices
and taxes like in Russia?"
Answer: No.
Question #6: "How to find the
path to a Russian heart? Is there anything that attracts Russians,
that may interest them?"
Answer: I think that most of Russian people
are focused on existence and on different levels on it. And some
other Russians have different priorities. The situation is as
diverse as in any other country, but the mass conciousness level
in Russia may be lower.
I have an idea about western countries, that, if, for example,
a person walks and sees a garbage can and he'll put his cigarette
there,
or
a dog
shits
on the
street
and
he'll
put
this
shit in the dustbin. It won't happen in Russia. There's a higher
level of mass conciousness abroad.
Question #7: "What do
you do for fun?"
Answer: I play ethnic drums, I bike.
Question #8: "How to Russian
people treat each other"
Answer: Again, everything is very differentiated.
Question #9: "What the russia
people think about the russian cars, in comparation with japanese
cars, or american cars"
Answer: Shit.
Question #10: "Why Russians
can face life only through drinking vodka and hiding behind
the mask of indifference?"
Answer: Firstly, not all Russians. Secondly,
the mass level of conciousness is at a low level and mass instrument
of perception is also low. Drinking is a protection for all these
people.
Question #11: "What Russian books do you like?"
Answer: Krylov. With pleasure I read all the
book of Krylov, very nice short tales. He
separates our nation to sheeps and wolfs. Sheeps they walk
around with lowered heads and wolfs they
solve all the problems,
they get everything. Wolfs very rarely walk pass sheeps and
don''t pay attention to sheeps.
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| Dan,
21, doing his masters in management and has his own business |
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Question #1: "What do you think
of America and itsworld-dominating politics. Or do you have
enough problems in Russia itself, not to worry too much about
that?"
Answer: USA is a mighty empire now and doesn't care much about interests
of other countries. The real power within US is business, I guess, all the politics
is made by corporations. USA as the superpower will collapse soon, there is no
real cultural paradigm which can support the economical and military conquest
of the
world by USA.
Question #2: "Do you think life in Russia
is very weird?"
Answer: Russia is a standard community as hundreds
of others. Any community has its own identity.
Question #3: "How Russian newscasters report news to their
viewers, including women?"
Answer: Don't know much about it. There are several newspapers,
fm-stations, sites and tv-channels I like.
Question #4: "Are Russians okay with people from Finland and Sweden now?
Long ago we had many wars..."
Answer: I didn't meet many Finnish people, but I travelled in
Sweden and like the country and people. I liked Swedish women very much, in my
opinion
they are very attractive. Generally, I think Scandinavian countries are following
their own way and providing the alternative philosophy to global capitalism.
I hope they will keep their identity.
Quesiton #5: "What are prices and taxes like in Russia?"
Answer: Prices are ok, certain types of taxes
should be reduced. Being a company owner, I think that small
business is too much taxed.
Question #6: "How to find the path to a Russian heart? Is there anything
that attracts Russians, that may interest them?"
Answer: I guess, we like open people who show
respect to our country and culture.
Question #7: "What do you do for
fun?"
Answer: Clubs, electronic music, theaters.
Question #8: "How to Russian people
treat each
other"
Answer: Most of us don't like to meet Russians abroad, don't
know why. When we are at home, we like our friends and don't like our enemies.
Question #9: "What the russia people think about
the russian cars, in comparation with japanese cars, or american cars"
Answer: Russian cars are not that good, but
it is cheap and people can afford it.
Question #10: "Why Russians can
face life only through drinking vodka and hiding behind the mask
of indifference?"
Answer: I don,t think so.
Question #11: "What Russian books do you like?"
Answer: Pushkin - for humor, Tolstoy - for
romantics, Chekhov - for irony, Bunin - for being smart, Nabokov
- for language, Mayakovsky for - style, Dovlatov - for concept,
Pelevin- for mixes. |
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| Dmitri,
22, doing his post-graduate studies, has his own business |
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Question #1: "What
do you think of America and itsworld-dominating politics.
Or do you have enough problems in Russia itself,
not to worry too much about that?"
Answer: I think America is both great and horrible, like Russia.
Although I haven't been there, I guess it's a very diverse country where
different cultures mix together, so I would like to avoid generalisations. I
can say that I don't agree with America's politics (both world-dominating
intentions and gradual shift towards the police state), but this means only
that I don't agree with Bush, I still respect this country
and
its people.
As for the American people, I noticed that what I like in some Americans
is their openess, sincerity and ability to achieve their goals, and what I
don't like is exaggerated individualism, giving too much
importance to money, and being stuck in a pre-determined way of thinking.
However, everybody is different.
Question #2: "Do you think life in Russia is very weird?"
Answer: Yes, it's quite weird, but
I guess this can be said about any other country. What
I think what makes it weird is a higher degree of uncertainty,
allowing much more space for movement. Sometimes it
goes into chaotic, sometimes it gets to something really
interesting. I think it depends how you treat this
weirdness -- if you're used to complain about things,
you'll get into
chaos, if you adapt to it, you catch this weirdness
as a wave
and
go with
it :-)
Question #3: "How Russian newscasters report news to
their viewers, including women?"
Answer: I think all media in all countries is expressing
the point of view of its owner, so they are all very biased. Russia is not
an exception. That's why I don't care about TV channels being taken by the
government, because they were never independent anyway, in my opinion. And
I think in some way it can even be good to make mass media in Russia (TV
especially) follow a certain line at least for a few years while the economy
and social organisation is going through transitional period.
Question #4: "Are Russians okay with people from Finland and Sweden
now? Long ago we had many wars..."
Answer: Yes, I think generally Russians like Finnish people
because they think that Finnish are the only ones who can drink as much as
them, and Sweden is respected because of the high standards of life.
Quesiton #5: "What are prices and taxes like in Russia?"
Answer: Prices can be OK, if people get adequate salaries.
Small businesses have to pay too much taxes.
Question #6: "How to find the path to a Russian heart? Is there anything
that attracts Russians, that may interest them?"
Answer: I think Russians are attracted by sincere, charismatic,
strong, and intelligent people.
Question #7: "What do you do
for fun?"
Answer: My work is great fun, I like to
run, to do butoh dance, to do yoga, to listen to music, to
travel, to play drums, to read books, to be with friends...
Question #8: "How do Russian
people treat each other"
Answer: I think most of Russian people are quite proud to
be Russians and generally they respect each other. However, there's a certain
quality of Russian character that makes people slip into some kind of very
bad mood or something, even because of minor problems, and it transfers to
the people around.
Question #9: "What the russia people think
about the russian cars, in comparation with japanese cars, or american cars"
Answer: Russian cars are cheap and are made in such a way
that it's easy to repair something by yourself, so they have low operating
costs (of course, if you don't count the time spent repairing it). They break
often, but are quite cool. My favourite one is Niva - a Russian jeep - it's
very small, very powerful, and costs not so much (about $5000 for a new one,
I think).
Question #10: "Why Russians
can face life only through drinking vodka and hiding behind
the mask of indifference?"
Answer: This is not true for everybody,
but many people are like that, because the standard drug
against reality - consumation - requires money, that Russians
don't have, so they go towards vodka and a mask indifference.
I guess, it happens in other countries as well.
Question #11: "What Russian books do you like?"
Answer: My favourite writer is Nabokov,
I really like his language, the stories always have many
dimensions. For example, you read about somebody sitting
in a room, and then the table in this room is mentioned,
and then a whole new story comes up related to this table.
Also, I like some things by Pelevin, because I think he really
grasps the Russian reality as it is at the moment...
Question #12: "What do you think about Mexican
people?"
Answer: I think they are very joyful, like
to express themselves, to talk loud, to enjoy life, to eat
spicy food, and that it's very hot in Mexico :-) |
Your Comments
Send
us your comments and suggestions and we'll put them on this page.
Also, please, propose the questions you would like us
to ask to Russian people.
Comment (14/12/03): "I am happy to read that many of you don't
judge others based on the country they are from. I am a
Mexican/American girl looking to experience Russia. Do
you have any important tips or suggestions when planning
my trip?"
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