Women, pikes, and attitude - Interviews with Russian people in Kazan - December 2005

 
Question: "What do you think about Americans and other foreigners?"
A: “I think they are as ordinary people as Russian people.”

Question: "What is Russia's future? What will Russian life be like in twenty years?"
A: “ Nothing will be changed, in my opinion.”

Question: "What can a woman do to be liked by a Russian man? What do you respect and like the most?"
A:” Tastes differ; I like beautiful and clever women.

Question: "Is there a lot of racism in Russia? Do any black people live there?"
A:” No. There are a lot of black people in Kazan, mainly students from different countries. In this year we celebrate millennium of our city, that is why a lot of tourists visit Kazan.”

Question: "Why are so many Russian women looking to marry a man from the west?
A:” They just want to have better life for themselves and their children.”

Question: "Do you like to travel and see new places and cultures, and which country would you most like to visit if you could travel anywhere and why?"
A:” I’d like to visit Prague, because of its architecture, monuments. And I hope next year my dream will come true, we with my girlfriend plan to spend our holidays there.”

Question: "What is your hobby?"
A:” Fishing. In summer we with my friends go fishing. In this summer I caught a
big pike, it was great!”

Question: "What do you think about Putin?"
A:” He is a smart person. I share his political opinion. I think he is the best of all Russian presidents.”

Question: "Why do Russians often look very closed and sad?"
A:” Why do you think so? May be they have no sense of humor?”

Question: "If you could change one thing to make life better where you live at what would it be?"
A:” I’d try to raise the salaries.”

Question: "What do you think of the Russian group TATU and its success?"
A:” They are fine girls. They are so young, but they have visited a lot of cities.”

Question: "Can a foreigner be ever accepted as a Russian? What would he/she need to do for it to happen?
A:” He couldn’t drink so much (laughing)”

  
Question: "What do you think about Americans and other foreigners?"
A:” I like them, because I cooperate with them. They are interesting people.”

Question: "What is Russia's future? What will Russian life be like in twenty years?"
A:” Great future!!! I hope the Russian economy will get over higher level.”

Question: "It has been said that Russia is both European and not. What is the most European aspect of the Russian mind, and what is the least?"
A:” I don’t agree with that, to my mind we have our mentality. Russian people as Europeans try make life more comfortable.”

Question: "What can a man do to be liked by a Russian woman? What do Russian women respect and like the most?"
A:” (smiling) Russian women respect kind attitude to them, intellect and money, of course.”

Question: "Is there a lot of racism in Russia? Do any black people live there?"
A:” No, I suppose there is not a lot of racism in our country, many black people live, study, work here.”

Question: "Why are so many Russian women looking to marry a man from the west. Is this because of more money and a better life or is it that Russian men do not treat Russian women well?"
A:” Unfortunately, it’s because of money, they are just looking for better life.”

Question: "Do you like to travel and see new places and cultures, and which country would you most like to visit if you could travel anywhere and why."
A:” Oh, I like to travel very much!!!! I’d like to visit France, I know a lot of information about this wonderful country and I would be glad to see it and to talk with French people.’

Question: "What is your hobby?"
A:” I like sing songs and play guitar.”

Question: "What do you think about Putin?"
A:” In my opinion now he is the one person, who can be a head of our country and to develop the economical and political relations with other countries.”

Question: "In spite of having all the elements of the periodic table in its territory and millions of highly intelligent people, Russia has never managed well enough. Why?"
A:” Unfortunately clever people with great plans and ideas very often can’t find support from our government. I hope in some years that attitude will be changed.”

Question: "If you could change one thing to make life better where you live at what would it be?"
A:” Attitude of Russian people to life.”

Question: "What do you think of the Russian group TATU and its success?"
A:” Excellent PR!!! By the way one of them is married.”

Question: "Can a foreigner be ever accepted as a Russian? What would he/she need to do for it to happen?”
A:” It’s impossible, nobody can become another person, and think in another way.”

  
  
Question: "What do Russians think about Americans and other foreigners?"
A:” The majority of Russians suppose that foreigners stand on a higher cultural level, but the minority find Americans to be a little bit foolish.”

Question: "What is Russia's future? What will Russian life be like in twenty years?"
A: “Nothing will be changed in economic life, in social life our country will resemble nowadays Russia.”

Question: "It has been said that Russia is both European and not. What is the most European aspect of the Russian mind, and what is the least?"
A: “ Intelligence, hospitality and kindness, but we do not have European restraint and accuracy.”

Question: "Is there a lot of racism in Russia? Do any black people live there?"
A: “Some black do live, as well as in every other country there is some racism, I think.”

Question: "Why are so many Russian women looking to marry a man from the west? Is this because of more money and a better life or is it that Russian men do not treat Russian women well?"
A: “They suppose that they will be able to find happiness abroad (not always).”

Question: "Do you like to travel and see new places and cultures, and which country would you most like to visit if you could travel anywhere and why."
A:” I would like to visit all countries without exceptions!!!”

Question: "What is your hobby?"
A: “Music and reading books on some philosophical topics.”

Question: "What do you think about Putin?"
A: “I LIKE HIM!”

Question: "In spite of having all the elements of the periodic table in its territory and millions of highly intelligent people, Russia has never managed well enough. Why?"
A:” It is a secret.”

Question: "If you could change one thing to make life better where you live at what would it be?"
A:” I like everything in my life”

Question: "What do you think of the Russian group TATU and its success?"
A:” I beg your pardon is it a group with two boys? But seriously, I don’t like their songs.”

Question: "Can a foreigner be ever accepted as a Russian? What would he/she need to do for it to happen?
A:” Thinking as Russians do.”