Russia through the eyes of foreigners. Amazing Russia: we through the eyes of foreigners

The older generation has not yet forgotten that in the Soviet Union, to put it mildly, trips of ordinary citizens abroad were not welcomed. Few people visited us from that side either. These difficulties have led to the emergence of biased and one-sided ideas about Russia, summed up in three words - vodka,
bears, matryoshka. Hollywood, which was very popular among all segments of the population, also played an important role in strengthening the impartial opinion of our country. By the way, in those years, few people singled out Ukraine, Kazakhstan or another republic separately. We were all Russian to foreigners. Now there is no longer an Iron Curtain. Russians travel freely around the world, demonstrating there, “over the hill,” what our nation is. Millions of tourists also come to us, see with their own eyes how we live, and get acquainted with our culture.

What do foreigners think about Russia now? How much has their opinion changed? Some public organizations and the ubiquitous journalists conduct polls from time to time, but the responses of citizens from friendly and unfriendly countries vary greatly. This depends primarily on the purpose of their visit. One thing is said about Russia by tourists who come here for a couple of days with an excursion group and visit only the attractions noted in the program in an organized manner. They only see what the tourist guides want them to see. Foreigners working in Russia, studying here, and everyone who lives with us can tell something completely different. long time, and the impressions of those living in the capital and in the outback are radically different. And the foreigners themselves are also different. The opinions of Americans or Germans about our country, for example, differ in many ways from the opinions of Nigerians, Chinese or Mexicans. But all foreign guests are united in one thing: Russia is huge; it takes years to get to know and understand it.

Russians and alcohol

IN Western world There is an opinion that our nation is an incredible drinker. Almost all Europeans, Americans, and Asians talk about this in one interpretation or another. But if you look at WHO statistics, Russia is not in first, not second, or even third place in alcohol consumption per capita. Even the reserved Balts have overtaken us on this issue. And yet, foreigners say about life in Russia that they drink a lot here. They are especially surprised why we can drink anywhere - in a restaurant, at a banquet, in a park on a bench, or just on the street. Law enforcement officers do not stop this, passers-by remain indifferent. Perhaps that's why we all seem like such drinkers to them? And foreigners cannot understand why you can even buy low-quality alcohol in our store, because it is dangerous to health. They are also surprised that in Russia the reason for drinking can be the most trivial, and the process that began with “a hundred for health” often develops into a large-scale drinking binge and drags on until late at night, and almost always well-received Russians begin to have intellectual conversations about politics and the meaning of life, although, being sober, they try to avoid these topics. Over there, “over the hill,” only sober people talk about such topics, and when they drink, they just have fun or talk about their real or fictitious victories.

Many foreigners, looking at our drinkers, cannot understand: are Russians really so rich that they can find the means to buy so much alcohol? And most importantly, how do they calmly go to work the next day after drinking heavily?

Russians and order

For our people, as they say, laws are not written. We are used to this and no longer notice how we are constantly violating something somewhere. But they notice. Foreigners say about life in Russia that here it is the norm or even an obligation not to follow the rules if there is no punishment for it. For them, on the contrary, it is considered the norm to follow the established rules, even when there is no control nearby. Russian people, without the slightest doubt, cross the road at a red light if, according to their calculations, it is still far from a moving car, on subway platforms they constantly go beyond the limit line, although this is life-threatening, they leave their cars in inconvenient places just to avoid paying for parking. Foreigners are surprised why there are dozens of cash registers in supermarkets if only one or two are open, despite the queues forming in them. They don’t understand why our roads are patched when it rains, and heating systems begin to be repaired when it’s cold. And how the traffic cops serving in the roadside bushes amaze motorists from abroad!

Regarding safety, foreigners have different opinions about life in Russia. People from criminally dangerous backgrounds Latin America, Tanzania, South Africa, Sudan believe that there is heavenly calm on our evening and night streets. Europeans, on the contrary, are sure that Russian cities are quite restless. Even if nothing and no one threatens life, you can easily lose property or be drawn into a scandal. At the same time, the streets are always full of patrolling policemen, so, logically, order should be ideal.

Russians and wealth

Previously, in the USSR everyone was approximately equal. Now in our society there has been a division between the poor and the rich. Everything is like they have in their distant America and Europe, only with a Russian flavor. What surprises foreigners about our rich people? The fact that most of them are proud of their new status, build houses with several floors not in order to live there, but simply for prestige, shop only in the most expensive stores, buy expensive cars in order to seem even more significant and significant. Moreover, if there are traffic jams on the roads (and in large cities they constantly exist), our rich people will wait for hours, get nervous, be late, but will never go down to the subway, because this is below their newly-minted status. There is no such thing abroad. There, even company directors can come to work today without the slightest damage to their image. expensive car, tomorrow - by city bus, and the day after tomorrow - by bicycle. The rich there see nothing wrong with visiting regular supermarkets, and they willingly buy promotional items.

Russians and feminism

It is no secret that foreign grooms willingly choose our young ladies as wives. Foreign men say about Russia that the issue of equality is not as pressing here as, for example, in America. There, most women try to prove their independence, which is why their femininity suffers. They pay for themselves in restaurants and react painfully if they are helped to open the door or given a hand when getting off a vehicle. There, women, when creating a family, are primarily guided by material considerations and rush to draw up a marriage contract. Most Russian women are not like that yet.

Although their willpower and spirit are no weaker than those of the same American women, they like to appear weak. feels himself more of a man than in his homeland, because our women do not in the least prevent him from asserting himself. They are grateful for any help from men, even if they can cope with the problem perfectly well without them. When agreeing to become a wife, our beauties are first of all interested in whether the chosen one loves them, and only then in second place they put the question of where and with whom he works, what prospects he has in the service. Some foreigners are surprised by the abundance flower shops on the streets Russian cities. They wonder why it is so important for our women that their lover shows up on a date with flowers, and why there must be an odd number of flowers in a bouquet.

Russians and culture

Russia, through the eyes of foreign tourists, is simply beautiful in this regard. Mostly excursion groups visit St. Petersburg and Moscow, and there are the most famous sights. It is not surprising that all the interviewed excursionists spoke with delight about the Hermitage, Winter Palace, Tretyakov Gallery, Intercession Cathedral, Red Square. Many foreign citizens, even the culturally advanced French, are surprised by the fact that people of all ages love to visit museums and galleries, and you can often meet couples in love there. It is difficult for Italians, Spaniards, and Americans to imagine their date with a girl not in a restaurant or even in a movie, but, for example, in an art gallery.

Almost all foreigners talk about Russia, always mentioning our Grand Theatre and a wonderful ballet. Many girls from friendly countries dream of studying at a Russian ballet school.

Foreign guests are very surprised by the love of Russians for reading. In our subway and trains, in the park on benches and in public transport, ordinary printed books and newspapers are still read, although young people can more often be seen with tablets and iPhones.

Abroad, among those who have never been to Russia, there is still an opinion that here men play balalaikas, and women lead round dances. Some foreigners who visited our country were surprised that they were not able to see Russian folklore at all, which they were told so much about.

Russians and food

Foreigners very often talk about life in Russia, remembering our dumplings (or huge ravioli), our borscht (or red soup), pancakes with meat, the most delicious black caviar in the world. Foreign gourmets don't like jellied meat. Many people do not understand how such a dish can be eaten. Even more unflattering words about okroshka. As foreigners think, this is everything that is on the table, collected and mixed in one pan.

Our compatriots who had the opportunity to visit abroad recall that there was not an abundance of food on the table, although there was enough for everyone. Russia, through the eyes of foreigners, looks, of course, somewhat differently than Russians see it. The former sometimes consider it a fairly rich power, because all our feasts are held on a grand scale, regardless of the occasion and the material wealth of the people organizing them. For some reason, it is very important for a Russian person to set the table with dishes with all kinds of salads, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese and sausage slices, fried chicken legs and other food. Half of it is not eaten and is thrown away, to the amazement of foreign guests.

Those foreigners who traveled around Russia by train cannot understand why our people, as soon as the train starts moving, begin to take out a bunch of food from their bags, as if they want to eat on the road for the rest of their lives.

Russians and friendliness

Almost all foreign guests remember kind words our sincere Russian hospitality. Some of the foreigners interviewed hitchhiked around Russia, asking to stay with ordinary residents rather than staying in hotels. They all tell us what a wonderful welcome they received, how they put a lot of food on the table, put them to bed in a clean bed, and even specially heated the bathhouse. The next morning, these random people became the best friends of the foreign guest.

However, in general, foreigners call all Russians gloomy and believe that ours is to blame for this harsh climate. They say that in our subway, in a store, or just on the street, you very rarely see smiling men, women, young people, and old people. The situation changes dramatically when you turn to Russian people, for example, with a question of how to find their way. The sullenness immediately disappears, replaced by a sincere desire to help.

Russians and business

It is approximately clear how tourists see our country. What do foreigners who live and work here think about Russia? The Chinese believe that we have very strict rules, decent salaries, high prices and a strong-willed president. They call Putin a wonderful ruler, almost like their Xi Jinping.

Europeans and Americans who work as managers or leading specialists in our country believe that in Russia wages are below average and prices are prohibitively high, even for goods that should be cheap, such as gasoline (after all, we have many oil wells).

Russian women are tough, especially compared to British women. They also jump with a parachute, but ours are afraid to print even a couple of these lines without breaking their plastic nails,” laments the English newspaper The Sun.

“Russian desperate guys, they constantly risk their lives, even for the sake of things that we don’t understand,” states The Daily Mail.

"These strange Russians are capable of anything, in Russia you can easily see a tow truck being towed away by another tow truck, which is towing a passenger car, cold water pours into an electric kettle, in which a hole has been made and already warm water pours into a sink or like a police car driving along railroad tracks,” enthuses the American tabloid.

This position and perception of Russia by residents of the collective West has long been an established norm. And there is nothing strange about this.

We are different, our mentality varies significantly, and values ​​often have no points of intersection. Sometimes it gets ridiculous when in a video of the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung, in the Novosibirsk experiment with boiling water in the cold of minus forty-seven degrees, when boiling water poured from the seventh floor evaporates before reaching the asphalt - residents of Austria saw a live fly near the balcony, and then wrote that the Russians are so “unstoppable” that they even have the same flies, although some of them stubbornly argued that Russian flies are not flies, but “mosquitoes in sweatshirts.”

The British are amazed by Siberian women in bikinis, skating in 30-degree frost, the American press is terribly impressed by the breadth of the Russian soul, the Germans are stunned by the illogicality, scope and degree, as they call it, of Russian madness, and so on throughout the Western Hemisphere...

And in general, such definitions are understandable. Anything that does not fit into the templates and goes beyond the boundaries of established norms of behavior accepted in the West is called madness. How else? Moreover, this concerns not only you and me, they are also accustomed to labeling each other. Call the English - prim, arrogant snobs, the Scots - curmudgeons, the Italians - temperamental, the Finns - inhibited, the Jews - cunning, the Germans - pedantic, the Italians - chatterboxes... But the Russians... Nobody will ever understand the Russians, they say, too much of their behavior does not fit into the norm - “they are such crazy people”...

An American will never look for a way out of the current situation. difficult situation himself, just as a German, Austrian, French or Canadian will not do this - they will persistently contact the people or services responsible for this. Call service, call a tow truck, hire a person specially responsible for turning television antennas or screwing a screw into the wall.

At the same time, they will convincingly prove that Russians are crazier than themselves, and there is no other country like it. Although in the end, Americans always add that “Russia is still cool. If only they were our neighbors instead of this idiotic Canada.”

Especially in Lately, when news about Russia constantly flashes on TV screens around the world. Foreigners simply began to react more often to certain links that say at least something about Russians.

And this is not bad, if only because good videos, which shows Russian drivers removing snow from the brake lights of the car in front of them, stopping in traffic to move a grandmother across the road or removing a kitten from the roadway, has now become widely distributed with headlines in English. After all, this is something that their media does not show, which means it is practically forbidden, which is why it is successful today all over the world. What was watched in Russia at least a year ago is now reposted with the following comment: I "ve Never Seen Anything So Beautiful. This Video From Russia Made The Whole World Cry. A Must Watch!

And Russian ingenuity is once again “conquering the Western World”!

It often happens that the reputation that a particular city has has serious grounds. There is little doubt that Rio's favelas are not the safest place on earth, or that Berlin is a global center for youth culture. However, sometimes you just want to look at home country through the eyes of people who got there for the first time, who managed to see things in Russia that we ourselves, in the turmoil of our days, stopped noticing.

In this collection you will find several short stories about what foreigners expected from this or that Russian city and what they actually found there.

Moscow

Aaron Kenneth, 21, USA, soon to be an English teacher in Vladimir.

I've always imagined Moscow as a jaded version of New York. I thought that here busy businessmen scurried about their business, impudent politicians controlled development folk culture, and crowds of crooks roam the streets.

After

I was amazed by the beauty around me, regardless of whether it was the monument to Yuri Gagarin or the picturesque boulevards in the Chistye Prudy area. In addition, people in Moscow turned out to be quite kind and sympathetic, especially in the metro.

Novosibirsk

Jerry Bayer, 46, USA, writer, analyst and director of New Directions Study Abroad.

I arrived in Siberia by train in January. Before, I had heard something about Novosibirsk, but I decided to see the city with my own eyes. To be honest, I expected to see a rather boring, very Soviet city with unfriendly residents and terrible frosts.

After

It is worth saying that it was really very cold. But still, the city itself and the people seemed charming to me. I visited beautiful cathedral, in the Museum of the History of West Siberian railway and in a small art gallery. But most of all I liked the ice town on the Ob River embankment, in which several ice slides were installed. Just imagine the picture: an adult American is joyfully sliding down an ice slide with small children in the bitter cold. It's hard to come up with something better.

Nizhny Novgorod

Jerke Verschoor, 37, Netherlands, director of Director Nuffic Neso Russia.

I once read that in Soviet times Nizhny Novgorod was called Gorky and was a closed city. I knew nothing more about it, except that the city is located on the Volga River and there is a beautiful Kremlin in it.

After

I was seriously impressed - thanks in part to the good weather - by the old part of the city, although it was still clear that many of the fine old wooden buildings were in need of renovation. But people were very kind to me, and that, I think, is the most important thing.

Vladivostok

Jonathan Blaisdell, 26, USA, analyst.

All my knowledge of Vladivostok consisted of obscure facts gleaned from a computer GTA games IV.

After

Vladivostok is certainly not a forgotten border post in the middle of nowhere. This is first of all charming place intersection of many Asian cultures. Where else can you dine in a North Korean restaurant, sip sake aboard an old Soviet submarine and enjoy breathtaking views while riding an anti-aircraft gun in an old fortress? All this can be done in Vladivostok.

Saint Petersburg

Randian Leyshon, 29, USA, journalist and administrator at Johns Hopkins University.

The volunteer organization I was supposed to spend the summer participating in suddenly changed my destination, so I went to the land of white nights and the Cyrillic alphabet without knowing anything about it.

After

St. Petersburg fascinated me so much that in the end it all ended with me spending several summer holidays in his teenage years, working in the city. The hidden corners and architectural masterpieces only fueled my obsession with this beautiful city. The city, often called the window to Europe, became the window to the rest of my life.

The food here is delicious

Largest quantity positive feedback about our country got... food. Foreigners are satisfied with the food in general and enjoy eating both traditional Russian food and dishes from other cuisines that the restaurants of our Motherland can offer. They often mention large selection food in supermarkets, as well as its quite affordable price.

A tourist from the United States said on TripAdvisor that he likes Russian food and the large portions served in Russian restaurants.

The man noted the excellent soups and bread. He is also pleased with the goods in supermarkets and the moderate prices. In the review, the tourist wrote that in Russia you can choose tea, sweets, dairy products and vodka to suit every taste.

Human relationships

“Flowers on the streets of Russia attract everyone’s attention, they are sold even in severe frosts,” notes CNN. “Women with huge bouquets look quite familiar here.”

“Men present flowers to women on any outstanding occasion,” the publication adds. – Here this is not a sign of romantic interest, just traditionality in relations between the sexes.

Also, according to tradition, women are served first, and men’s duty is to help them take off and put on their outerwear, let them go ahead of them in line, and even in the elevator!” - the journalist emphasizes.

The publication warns that these features must be taken into account when in Russia, even for those who are not a supporter of “chivalry.”

But many sources say that Russia's famed "sullenness" may still be encountered.

“When I was buying chewing gum, I kindly asked the saleswoman: “Please, please give me this chewing gum, if it doesn’t bother you.” The seller, without even looking in my direction, continued reading something on her phone. After a considerable period of time, she turned her gaze to me and said gloomily: “Thirty rubles,” one of the tourists told this story.

But many have learned to deal with the “closedness” of Russians.

“It’s more of a stereotype that people in Russia don’t care about strangers. Sometimes this happens, but generally Russians are always ready to make new friends. It’s very easy to start a conversation with them, just choose an interesting area (checkers, making beer at home, at worst, black magic) and go to a thematic Internet resource where there are a lot of Russians. In just a few letters you will have new friend, tour guide and drinking companion for the rest of your life,” says the famous portal.

There are Russians who don't drink vodka

This was a surprising discovery for CNN. “Some Russians don’t drink at all! - says a student from Great Britain studying in Moscow. – True, if you have to attend a celebration with Russian friends, be prepared for a long series of toasts.

But if you refuse to drink, no one will force you.”

Weather

A tourist on TripAdvisor warns: “When traveling to Russia in winter, be sure to take warm boots. Snow and ice are usually removed very selectively, so when walking along the street you can slip. For Russians this seems to be a common occurrence and they are used to walking like bulldozers!”

CNN states that winter in Russia will most likely destroy any shoes, and you need to be prepared for this when coming even from a cold country.

“Mud, puddles and snow will be the last thing your new Manolo Blahnic will see, take that into account. Many Russians are accustomed to such a winter and wear ugly but reliable shoes on the street and change their shoes at work,” the publication says.

The journalist was also shocked by the fact that Russians themselves freeze in winter.

“Despite living constantly in such a climate, many Russians do not tolerate the cold well. The rich find a simple way out of the situation and, with the onset of cold weather, leave for warmer climes"- says the journalist.

“Confirming the words of Napoleon and Otto von Bismarck, I will say: the first thing you should remember when going to Russia is the weather! It is better not to visit this country in March and November! In March, the snow begins to melt (and a lot of things accumulate under it during the winter), and the puddles look more like lakes. In November it breaks down strong wind, snatching umbrellas from those walking along the streets, and simply rivers of water flow along the sidewalks,” writes a tourist who visited Russia.

But almost everyone who visited Russia in winter time for years they have been complaining about the incredible heat inside the buildings.

“The rooms and cars are terribly hot. Staying in a hotel room is more like fighting for survival somewhere on the equator,” says an American on TripAdvisor.

A CNN columnist says that in winter it's hot as hell in Russian houses, and it's polar cold outside. But, in his opinion, this difficulty can be overcome if you put on layers of clothing correctly. The observer noted that this is not possible the first time, but comes with experience.

Visa difficulties and other officialdom

For many foreigners, it seems difficult to obtain a visa to Russia. But those who have previously undergone the procedure say that there is nothing difficult about it.

Journalist and traveler from the United States Veronica Hackethall shared recommendations with newcomers: “Anyone who plans to stay in Russia for more than three days needs to go through the procedure of registering a visa and migration card. Many hotels can easily do this upon check-in. If you are staying on Russian territory for less than three days, you can do without registration, but I still advise you to do it and keep it with you, because the police may ask for your documents on the street.”

“You can’t pay by card everywhere; traveler’s checks are rarely accepted. ATMs in big cities a lot, but sometimes they run out of cash,” says the journalist.

“Keep plenty of cash on you! Suddenly there won’t be an ATM on the road,” another tourist advises.

“When purchasing souvenirs, think carefully. Russia has strict rules on the export of objects representing “ cultural value" The “not for export” sticker can even be found on ballet slippers. Keep your eyes peeled and keep your receipts,” another traveler recommends.

Difficulties in everyday life

Tourists note that last years The quality of service has improved in Russia. Tourism industry workers know foreign languages(at least English), the phone can be easily switched to GSM, in the metro big cities You can use navigation, and calling a taxi with apps like Gett is now very easy. Many people like the convenient Aeroexpress trains that run from airports to the city.

But in some situations tourists still have difficulties.

“Save a couple of coins in case you need to use a public restroom. They may run out of toilet paper, so keep tissues handy. By the way, there may be no hand towels either. Toilets in small towns They often look scary and smell bad. Stopping for gas in Tatarstan, I actually came across a cab with a hole in the floor! Be careful, don’t fall,” writes a tourist from the United States on TripAdvisor.

“Be prepared to spend a lot of time at the airport, even on domestic flights. You don't have to worry about safety, but the service here is very slow. People are usually taken to the plane by bus, where the Russians behave very persistently. You may have to fight for your place,” adds the traveler.

Other oddities

Some Russian features surprise all visitors. Among them is the habit of dressing up for any occasion. Many people find it difficult to understand the principle of house numbering and find the right one even with a navigator or map. The superstition of Russians is a separate issue. One traveler discovered that sellers believed bad omen give change in your hand, so they put the money on the counter or a special saucer.

Foreign guests are also surprised by other signs: for example, in Russia they don’t pass something over the threshold because they think it’s bad luck.

As a journalist from The Calvert Journal discovered, in Russia it is very good... to get sick.

“Where there is no restaurant or sushi bar, in Moscow there is a pharmacy. And Russians are also hypochondriacs: in pharmacies there are always a lot of potent drugs that can be bought without prescriptions. After the intensive bombardment of such medicines (many of which are probably banned in the EU), the cold will go away in no time!” - says the observer.

Culture

“Art lovers will receive a lot of indescribable impressions in Russia. The country hosts amazing festivals (such as “White Nights of St. Petersburg”), you can attend wonderful ballet and opera at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theaters, and I’m not even talking about active parties in Moscow clubs,” says Ms. Hackethall. “Yes, Russians do not greet you with a smile, but when they show their cordiality, you can rest assured that it is sincere.”

Tourists often visit museums and exhibitions in Moscow and St. Petersburg and enjoy strolling the streets. Guests of Russia note that on the sidewalks and in public transport purely. Many people talk about long distances: a tourist from the United States was surprised that you can’t just walk between Moscow metro stations.

Previously, the issue of attracting tourists to Russia was discussed at round table“Know ours: the main trends in inbound tourism in Russia”, dedicated to the exhibition “Recreation 2016”. Sergei Korneev, deputy head of Rostourism, said that Russia has many competitors who have been more successful in the tourism industry.

“Our country has every chance to take a leading position in the global tourism market. Foreign guests, first of all, appreciate high level safety and a lot of interesting sights in Russia. But these advantages are not known to everyone,” says Mr. Korneev.

Employees of Visit Russia offices also took part in the discussion and spoke about the problems of attracting foreigners to Russia. The main one is the lack of information among tourists about our country and the underdeveloped infrastructure of Russia, which is unable to satisfy so many clients.

Metro How museum, non-professional racers behind driving strange yellow buses, armed men V trading centers Whichsees Moscow foreigner? About this, and Also O how behind latest years changed Moscow,knowrelty.ru asked tell Carla White - an Irishman who visited for the first time V Russian the capital almost 10 years ago and regularly returns here.Illustration: Anastasia Timofeeva

ABOUTfirstimpressedAndweather

My first trip to Moscow took place in December 2008. For a long time I did not tell anyone about my intention to visit Russia. I had several reasons for this: at first I didn’t want to be dissuaded and twisted with a finger at my temple, and then I wasn’t at all sure that the trip would take place - getting a Russian visa turned out to be much more difficult than I imagined. Before departure, my mother insisted that I turn on roaming: “If the border guards don’t let you out, be sure to call us, we’ll get you back!” But I didn’t have to call; I was easily let through passport control.

Of course, I knew that it was cold in Russia in winter, but I didn’t think it was this cold. I took the warmest clothes I had, but it wasn't enough. I extremely regret that I did not choose the ski suit that I bought for the trip. Although, if we compare, it is, of course, strange that it is warmer at a ski resort than in a metropolis. In Moscow I stood out very much. And not because, but because I always wear white sneakers. In the subway, everyone is looking at the floor, and then suddenly a pair of white sneakers catches your eye, and even in the middle of winter. In the land of black shoes, I felt like a black sheep. But, I must say, in 2017 the situation has changed a little, and now I see a lot more clothes and shoes in bright colors on the streets.

ABOUTscale

First of all, Moscow surprised us with the number of people. There are many more of them in one city than in the whole of Ireland. I was also amazed by the number. In Ireland we tend to live in houses rather than apartments. But even if we do live, our houses are very low, not like those in Moscow. Although I have been to other big cities, for example, New York, I have never had such a densely populated feeling. Everything here is huge. If the statue is the size of a skyscraper. If it is a building, then it has an uncountable number of floors. Wherever you go, wherever you look, everything around reminds you that you are in a very big country. Well, whatever the country, such is the heritage. It would be strange if such a large state did not have huge monuments, buildings and memorials.

ABOUTRussians

Russians, in general, are very friendly, but that's only if you dig deeper. In appearance, no one talks to anyone, everyone is constantly frowning and muttering about something. It always seems that they are keeping some secrets from strangers. You talk to them, and they shy away from you, as if you had come to find out their deepest secrets. Although towards us, foreigners, they are much kinder and more welcoming. This is especially noticeable in tourist areas, where they smile at you and even support you in small talk. But they are colder to each other, perhaps, stricter.

ABOUTwhatit is forbiddenunderstand

I will never understand why everyone is called either Masha or Katya. It’s a joke, of course, but in Russia there are actually a lot of Mashas and Katyas. What I will definitely never understand is why Russians always take care of everything in the house, but do not really value public areas. You come in and there are drawings everywhere, graffiti, even trash. But behind a heavy iron door with eight locks, each apartment has a beautiful renovation, luxurious sofas, and carpets. And I also don’t understand why Russians have such a wild desire to quarrel and show everyone their place. You swear everywhere - at the post office, in the store, at the tire shop. We Irish just give up on a lot of things. Russians have a temperament that constantly requires some kind of clarification of relationships and disputes.

ABOUTlanguage

Russians are so emotional when communicating that one gets the impression that they are constantly arguing. Only the creators of The Simpsons could best describe and show how a foreigner sees a Russian. Every time I’m in Russia, I remember this episode.

Russian language is difficult for me. The sounds seem very hard, growling, there are no such sounds in English. In Russia they also speak very quickly. I sometimes catch some words, but, as a rule, they have nothing to do with their real meaning. Russians are strange and love monkeys very much, for some reason they often talk on the phone about “gorrilaz” (“Agreed.” - Primech. auto). And they always tell you something on the phone terrible secrets, secrets or shocking news. All you can hear is: “Come on! Is it true?" I can read Russian, but I don’t know what these words mean. I learned the Cyrillic alphabet on my very first visit, which was very useful to me - this way I could find the right metro station on the map or even read the sign. The main thing is that someone pronounces this word to me syllable by syllable, and then I can find it myself.

ABOUTMoscoweyesforeigner

The center of Moscow is incredibly beautiful, but the street names are very difficult. On this trip I noticed that maps appeared in English. There are not enough of them yet, but I can imagine how difficult it is to take and introduce an innovation within a short time. I think that in a couple of years the entire center will be equipped with new signs, signs and maps, both in Russian and in English language. I really like the Moscow metro – it’s a real museum! Each station is special, unlike the other. The system is simple and easy to understand. There are, of course, several stations where I still didn’t understand how to find my train (Kitai-Gorod station with a cross-platform transfer. — Note. auto). Many cities have long introduced payment for the number of stations, and I don’t like this system, it is not designed for people who don’t know where they need to go and how many stations to go through. But in Moscow there is no such thing, and it’s really great: you pay for the entrance and walk around the museum, ride as much as you want. The only negative is that despite the fact that metro stations have begun to be announced in English, none of the metro employees still speak English. And just buying a ticket at the window becomes problematic. In general, it would be very difficult for me to figure out Moscow on my own and, probably, even a little scary - the police, the army are walking everywhere, everyone with weapons. This is how you come from shopping center, and a company of armed men will meet you. I have never seen anything like this, because our Garda (Irish Police. — Note. auto) is not armed. Besides the army, these little white and yellow buses (Marshrutkas) scare me. — Note. auto). It seems that their drivers are recruited from a pool of non-professional racers. There is no need to talk about safety precautions at all - some of the passengers are sitting, and many are standing. Moreover, they hold onto the ceiling with one hand, and hand over money with the other. Often they choose a chief, this “chief” collects money and gives out change. You don't see this in Ireland.

ABOUTtypicalMuscovite

Did I already mention that in Russia everyone’s name is Masha or Katya? Seriously, I cannot distinguish a Muscovite from a resident of another Russian city. In general, people in Russia are gloomy, stern, and love to drink and eat. They say Italians are very loud. But, it seems to me, only those who have not seen Russians say this. Russians are very noisy, loud, and love to attract attention and show off their wealth. At the same time, in families they are completely different: they make friends in a completely different way, they have much warmer relationships, they are responsive, friendly, and hospitable. You can’t come to a Russian person’s house and just drink tea. Any meeting ends with a feast. We don't eat that much in Ireland. Russians are also very touchy, it’s easy to get under their skin. Therefore, when visiting, you need to be careful what you say.

ABOUTchanges

Moscow is becoming more and more like other European capitals. It becomes cleaner and more beautiful, more atmospheric, or something. On my last visit, I was amazed by the city center: the roads around Red Square had been repaired, lanterns and benches had been installed - it was beautiful. I personally really like Red Square and Victory Park. But I always remember that Moscow is the capital, and one cannot judge all of Russia by the main city. I think that there, outside the concrete city, it is wild in places. It's a pity that there is never enough time to travel to other regions.

PreparedMariaWhite