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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject: Are you Russian or not? |
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If you were born in Russia and speak Russian, have parents and grandparents who are Russian, lived in Russia for sometime in your life as a child then move to another country, why do Russians say they are not Russian after leaving Russia and grow up in a different place?
Does it take a different attitude to be a Russian?
I noticed in several replies that Russians say this after living somewhere else. |
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krasatulya
VIP
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't know anyone that has the things you have described and would not consider themselves Russian. You may assimilate and adopt the culture of your adopted country, but you will always be Russian. |
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vt
Just Starting
Joined: 25 May 2004
Posts: 9
Location: Монреаль, Квебек, Канада
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| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Are you Russian or not? |
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Perhaps (false or not) modesty. Because they may think with proud that being Russian is a non-easily acquired or even innate.
But that's not my case. Even if my grand-parents are Russian, and I have a Russian first, middle and last name, I don't think it is correct to call myself Russian (well in the context of roots, yes), because I never spoke Russian at home, even if my father speak Russian fluently.
My parents were born in France, and I was born in France as well. I learnt the bit of Russian I know from my grand-mother once (she learnt me cyrillic when I was 8, but after never spoke Russian with me), from school a bit (I took Russian at school when I was 10) and mostly from the Internet chatting with people !
I went to Russia once two years ago during a month, "studying" Russian at MGU summer courses. I put "studying" in quotation marks because I barely showed up in courses  |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:53 am Post subject: |
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| you are what your heritage is...if you were born in the USA but you have russian descend then you are russian. Same goes for Italians, French, whatever. My family has been in the US since 1629...but my heritage is Brittish. I am American too. Nikir said he was born in Austrailia but his heritage is Russian...he is Russian...just not from Russia. But this is all just my opinion...Nikir's humor is definitely Austrailian...he is a product of his environment. |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: Re: Are you Russian or not? |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: | If you were born in Russia and speak Russian, have parents and grandparents who are Russian, lived in Russia for sometime in your life as a child then move to another country, why do Russians say they are not Russian after leaving Russia and grow up in a different place?
Does it take a different attitude to be a Russian?
I noticed in several replies that Russians say this after living somewhere else. |
Why are some people - especially those living in Kentucky - so profoundly confused about life?
Especially in the US, people blend and assimilate rather quickly. Some people choose to lose their ethnic or natuional identify, some are proud of it and do all they can to keep it. Yet, their children become are usually Americanized. So, unless the family is very religious or has very strong traditions, that ethnic and national identity does not have the same strength. For me, I certainly am a product of Russian culture in many ways - I was born there, I went to school there, and spent several years in college in Russia. I was growing up reading russian classics and watching Soviet movies. But I was also reading American and French literature, and very much enjoyed watching American, French and other movies. And when I moved to the US, I very much enjoyed the best of American culture - from news programs to literature to college education. So, I would call myself Russian-American, since I absorbed the elements of both cultures.
As far as my beliefs, I was a huge believer in freedom and free markers even when I lived in Russia. Even before I knew what it means to be a libertarian, I believed that people should be free to do whatever they want unless they hurt others... And that belief remains with me today... |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| Spicey, I may be confused when Russians who were born Russian in Russia and leave the country and say they are not Russian after living somewhere else for 10 years. I am American but, I am Celtic Irish, German and French (mother side of family), Irish, Scottish and Cherokee Indian on my fathers side. If I should go to Russia and live for 10 years it doesn't make me Russian, but I believe in the same freedoms as you. I have a hard time understanding some of the comments made by those who left Russia. How they are no longer Russian. How can one determine that? A heritage is a heritage. |
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yorbcbud
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 4903
Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:34 am Post subject: Re: Are you Russian or not? |
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| MrSpice wrote: | So, I would call myself Russian-American, since I absorbed the elements of both cultures.
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This is absolutely the most proper way to describe yourself. Just like Indo American, African American, etc etc. Credit is given to both parts of your life. |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: | | Spicey, I may be confused when Russians who were born Russian in Russia and leave the country and say they are not Russian after living somewhere else for 10 years. I am American but, I am Celtic Irish, German and French (mother side of family), Irish, Scottish and Cherokee Indian on my fathers side. If I should go to Russia and live for 10 years it doesn't make me Russian, but I believe in the same freedoms as you. I have a hard time understanding some of the comments made by those who left Russia. How they are no longer Russian. How can one determine that? A heritage is a heritage. |
You can call yourself all your want. Different people have different levels of appreciation regarding their heritage. Sometimes, I feel that it's not really important where I came from. Who cares? |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:59 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | And when I moved to the US, I very much enjoyed the best of American culture - from news programs to literature to college education. So, I would call myself Russian-American, since I absorbed the elements of both cultures.
As far as my beliefs, I was a huge believer in freedom and free markers even when I lived in Russia. Even before I knew what it means to be a libertarian, I believed that people should be free to do whatever they want unless they hurt others... And that belief remains with me today... |
I couldn't agree more...I am of Brittish heritage but my roots in the USA go so far back that I am America 100% I agree that anyone who lives in the US and believes in this Country...can claim to be American...and defifinitely if they are citizens. That's the ultimate affirmation. But yes if you are Russian and American then you are Russian-American. And actually here we are brought up to term people as such...there used to be a commercila for kids that would say: "I'm proud to be a Japanese American" and so on for all the different cultures here |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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| MrSpice wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | Spicey, I may be confused when Russians who were born Russian in Russia and leave the country and say they are not Russian after living somewhere else for 10 years. I am American but, I am Celtic Irish, German and French (mother side of family), Irish, Scottish and Cherokee Indian on my fathers side. If I should go to Russia and live for 10 years it doesn't make me Russian, but I believe in the same freedoms as you. I have a hard time understanding some of the comments made by those who left Russia. How they are no longer Russian. How can one determine that? A heritage is a heritage. |
You can call yourself all your want. Different people have different levels of appreciation regarding their heritage. Sometimes, I feel that it's not really important where I came from. Who cares? |
I think if I were to go to Ireland, I would probably feel right at home. |
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solis
Talk Show Host
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 201
Location: Wandering
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 3:01 am Post subject: |
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Well i was born in Canada, but due to the fact that both my parents had just moved out of their parent's home and started their own life, things were tough for them financially. They needed a place to stay with the family so they could get to their feet again and my Aunt in Saint Petersburg let us stay with her and i speant the first two years of my life in Russia.
So i wasn't born in Russia, but i may as well have been.
I know much about Russian Culture and i know Russian language, so i hope to return their and visit my aunt again and visit the statue of Lenin. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: | | MrSpice wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | Spicey, I may be confused when Russians who were born Russian in Russia and leave the country and say they are not Russian after living somewhere else for 10 years. I am American but, I am Celtic Irish, German and French (mother side of family), Irish, Scottish and Cherokee Indian on my fathers side. If I should go to Russia and live for 10 years it doesn't make me Russian, but I believe in the same freedoms as you. I have a hard time understanding some of the comments made by those who left Russia. How they are no longer Russian. How can one determine that? A heritage is a heritage. |
You can call yourself all your want. Different people have different levels of appreciation regarding their heritage. Sometimes, I feel that it's not really important where I came from. Who cares? |
I think if I were to go to Ireland, I would probably feel right at home. |
wouldja now? And I'd be willing to bet youd be eatin a bowl of me lucky charms too! |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| surfguy wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | MrSpice wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | Spicey, I may be confused when Russians who were born Russian in Russia and leave the country and say they are not Russian after living somewhere else for 10 years. I am American but, I am Celtic Irish, German and French (mother side of family), Irish, Scottish and Cherokee Indian on my fathers side. If I should go to Russia and live for 10 years it doesn't make me Russian, but I believe in the same freedoms as you. I have a hard time understanding some of the comments made by those who left Russia. How they are no longer Russian. How can one determine that? A heritage is a heritage. |
You can call yourself all your want. Different people have different levels of appreciation regarding their heritage. Sometimes, I feel that it's not really important where I came from. Who cares? |
I think if I were to go to Ireland, I would probably feel right at home. |
wouldja now? And I'd be willing to bet youd be eatin a bowl of me lucky charms too! |
Maybe...  |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:08 am Post subject: Re: Are you Russian or not? |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: | If you were born in Russia and speak Russian, have parents and grandparents who are Russian, lived in Russia for sometime in your life as a child then move to another country, why do Russians say they are not Russian after leaving Russia and grow up in a different place?
Does it take a different attitude to be a Russian?
I noticed in several replies that Russians say this after living somewhere else. |
Russians are the last people on earth who are able to really adjust to another country. Just a couple of weeks ago I talked to someone who has been in this country for 15, I say 15! years yet you would think she just came here. And she is not the only one like that I've met. |
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MrYaag
Frequent Guest
Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: Are you Russian or not? |
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| vitalsigns wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | If you were born in Russia and speak Russian, have parents and grandparents who are Russian, lived in Russia for sometime in your life as a child then move to another country, why do Russians say they are not Russian after leaving Russia and grow up in a different place?
Does it take a different attitude to be a Russian?
I noticed in several replies that Russians say this after living somewhere else. |
Russians are the last people on earth who are able to really adjust to another country. Just a couple of weeks ago I talked to someone who has been in this country for 15, I say 15! years yet you would think she just came here. And she is not the only one like that I've met. |
Indians and chinese are far worse than russians in adjusting to new cultures. Not sure about them in the USA but in the UK they are!! |
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