Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 18:08
The questions below were sent to us by Way to Russia readers. Our writers go out on the streets and ask the exact same questions to ordinary Russians they meet. Their answers are below. Want to ask a question? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook page.
Konstantin Nikolaevich
Explains why old people in Russia like to vote for communists so much. Likes to play chess with his fellows in Izmaylovsky park in Moscow. |
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How we met: Izmaylovsky Park in Moscow (metro Izmaykovskaya) is a meeting place for old men who like to play chess. They sit in the forest, having chess battles and talking about politics. I was passing by there and heard the old men quarelling, so I decided to have a little discussion with Konstantin about politics. Our Conversation: Me: "Will you vote for communists in the elections in December?" Konstantin: "Of course, who else can I vote for?" Me: "Why?" Konstantin: "Why? Why... Because... Because the life with communists was... well... as they say... easy... better... and calm... and everything was cheaper... And now everything is more expensive... and there were more criminals... Me: "You mean now there are more criminals" Konstantin: "Yes, now, I mean, then there was very little crime" Me: "But do you think president Putin won't be able to do the same? To get rid of all crime, to make life calm, if he has more time?" Konstantin: "I don't think he will be able to do anything". Me: "Why?" Konstantin: "Because all that... as they say... I don't think he will be able to do anything with such government... Hardly anything will work out... I don't think so... But with communists it will be better Me: "But they will come to power again, and then there will be again bad things happening..."  Konstantin: "No, why bad? Zyuganov [leader of communist party in Russia - waytorussia.net] he will be able to make life better..." Me: "How?" Konstantin: "Well, there will be lower prices, and we will have more money, and there will be less crime, and life will be like it was before.. again... Me: "Ok, but this is what he is promising to do, did he say how?" Konstantin: "Yes, it's all in Sovetskaya Rossiya newspaper written, that we will get more money, and that there will be less crime, and.... I think... yes... he'll be able to do it.. |
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Svetlana,
An HR manager on her holiday, who thinks that foreigners care about money too much. |
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| How we met: On a sunny day Svetlana was waiting for her friend to come, next to Novoslobodskaya metro. Who: Svetlana is a human resources manager in a Russian company. "The main thing that happened in my life this week is that I went on a vacation! It's nice, but I think I'm going to stay in Moscow anyway". Recommendations: "All people should see the main sights in Moscow, it's very impressive. Also, I would recommend just to walk around the center." Quotes: "I think foreigners are more mercantile than Russians. Russians also care about money, but not so much, I think. Russians are more relaxed about this stuff". |
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Igor,
Works as a programmer and likes travelling in natural places. |
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| How we met: Igor was waiting for his girlfriend at Tretyakovskaya metro in Moscow (the metro is a very typical place to arrange meetings in Moscow), and there I was with my camera... Who: Igor is a student and works part-time as a programmer. Recommendations: "I think what every foreigner should see in Russia is of course the main sights in Moscow, like Kremlin, Red Square and so on... And also go to a natural place, like Karelia or Baikal Lake -- it's very beatiful there" Quotes: "I can recognize a foreigner directly in crowd, because they usually dress quite brightly and they have an open look in their eyes. Russians are almost always dressed in black" |
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