10 things that an American began to do only in Russia
US citizen Joanne Stein, who had lived in Russia for several years, taught English in our country. She is a big lover of intercultural relations. In her blog, an American shared her thoughts about life among Russians. In particular, Joanne noted, there were many such things that she never did in her homeland. Below are a dozen of these things.
1. Previously, she did not have to sleep in a fake bed. However, the woman noted, in Russia, many apartments are too small, they have limited living space. Often this or that piece of furniture performs several functions at once. For example, a sofa bed. By her standards, this is a "fake" bed. And the fact that some people even slept on other furniture or just on a mattress turned out to be a shock at all. When she moved to a new apartment and decided to buy a bed, the owners were surprised and could not understand her. But between the sofa and the bed, the author of the blog chose the second option.
2. Many books that are in Russia, seemed to her "low grade." She didn’t read those before. According to her, in Russia there are too few books in English, even in such huge stores as Biblio-Globus or Book House.
3. She didn’t have to see the boss and colleagues in the USA in the USA. In Russia, Joanne happened to go to a Russian bathhouse, which caused her a real cultural shock.
4. In the USA, the author of the blog never ate at McDonald's. At the same time, she wrote that she does not know for sure whether there is a difference between the American and Russian McDonald's, but in the Russian Federation the food is tastier, it has less fat. And from her "not so sick."
5. I really did not know Russian "stars". True, in her student years, when an American was learning Russian, she knew some of the Russian pop music. The teacher repeatedly arranged watching Russian cinema and listening to famous songs. But, starting to live in Russia, Joanne quickly learned about which films are popular, which actors play them. This greatly helped in communication and contributed to the understanding of many Russian jokes.
6. In the USA, she did not drink tea. She was associated with England, and at home she had only a few packs in case the Russian guests arrived. The American could not even imagine that you can drink as much tea as it is drunk in Russia. It turned out that here it is a part of social life. Soon, she began to drink several cups at work.
7. An American in the USA didn’t really have a relationship with sparkling water. Of course, she drank these drinks, but not often. According to her, this is not common in America, and soda can be found not in every store or cafe. And in Russia it is almost everywhere and is relatively cheap. The cafe always asks what water to bring: with or without gas. As a result, the author of the blog claims, she began to drink soda in large quantities and fell in love with her.
8. Russian vodka is another phenomenon that the Americans associate with Russia. Previously, the American said, she did not have to drink “fiery water” in its pure form. But in Russia, she began to drink this strong drink. At the same time, they told her not to sip it, but to drink it in one gulp.
9. In the United States, no one was surprised at the thinness of Joanne. There, according to her, people expect others to conform to certain sizes and can comment on a person whose sizes are "too large" or "too tiny." In Russia, she was confronted with what many Russians thought: all Americans are fat. One woman, hearing that she was a US citizen, surprised her: “But you are not fat!”
10. At home, the American did not have to drive private cars. She was surprised that in Russia there is not only a “real”, official taxi, but also those who are engaged in unofficial transportation. She was afraid to travel with such people alone, but repeatedly had to end up in the car of a "private trader" with friends. “This is an interesting experience,” says Joanne. Although it causes a certain shock, it helps out in a situation where it is necessary to go, but there is no "checker".
1. Previously, she did not have to sleep in a fake bed. However, the woman noted, in Russia, many apartments are too small, they have limited living space. Often this or that piece of furniture performs several functions at once. For example, a sofa bed. By her standards, this is a "fake" bed. And the fact that some people even slept on other furniture or just on a mattress turned out to be a shock at all. When she moved to a new apartment and decided to buy a bed, the owners were surprised and could not understand her. But between the sofa and the bed, the author of the blog chose the second option.
2. Many books that are in Russia, seemed to her "low grade." She didn’t read those before. According to her, in Russia there are too few books in English, even in such huge stores as Biblio-Globus or Book House.
3. She didn’t have to see the boss and colleagues in the USA in the USA. In Russia, Joanne happened to go to a Russian bathhouse, which caused her a real cultural shock.
4. In the USA, the author of the blog never ate at McDonald's. At the same time, she wrote that she does not know for sure whether there is a difference between the American and Russian McDonald's, but in the Russian Federation the food is tastier, it has less fat. And from her "not so sick."
5. I really did not know Russian "stars". True, in her student years, when an American was learning Russian, she knew some of the Russian pop music. The teacher repeatedly arranged watching Russian cinema and listening to famous songs. But, starting to live in Russia, Joanne quickly learned about which films are popular, which actors play them. This greatly helped in communication and contributed to the understanding of many Russian jokes.
6. In the USA, she did not drink tea. She was associated with England, and at home she had only a few packs in case the Russian guests arrived. The American could not even imagine that you can drink as much tea as it is drunk in Russia. It turned out that here it is a part of social life. Soon, she began to drink several cups at work.
7. An American in the USA didn’t really have a relationship with sparkling water. Of course, she drank these drinks, but not often. According to her, this is not common in America, and soda can be found not in every store or cafe. And in Russia it is almost everywhere and is relatively cheap. The cafe always asks what water to bring: with or without gas. As a result, the author of the blog claims, she began to drink soda in large quantities and fell in love with her.
8. Russian vodka is another phenomenon that the Americans associate with Russia. Previously, the American said, she did not have to drink “fiery water” in its pure form. But in Russia, she began to drink this strong drink. At the same time, they told her not to sip it, but to drink it in one gulp.
9. In the United States, no one was surprised at the thinness of Joanne. There, according to her, people expect others to conform to certain sizes and can comment on a person whose sizes are "too large" or "too tiny." In Russia, she was confronted with what many Russians thought: all Americans are fat. One woman, hearing that she was a US citizen, surprised her: “But you are not fat!”
10. At home, the American did not have to drive private cars. She was surprised that in Russia there is not only a “real”, official taxi, but also those who are engaged in unofficial transportation. She was afraid to travel with such people alone, but repeatedly had to end up in the car of a "private trader" with friends. “This is an interesting experience,” says Joanne. Although it causes a certain shock, it helps out in a situation where it is necessary to go, but there is no "checker".
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