Russians who left for the USA: We subscribe to every word of Putin!
Linguist Elena Henerson and musician Igor Ekhilevich at one time emigrated from the Soviet Union to the United States. They both currently live in New York and have American passports.
More than 40 years ago, they fled because they did not like the political system of the USSR. Even, rather, not so much the system itself, as excesses and artificial restrictions. For example, the Iron Curtain, the impossibility of free travel abroad. In addition, Igor is a jazz musician, and as they said in the Union: “Today you play jazz, and tomorrow you will sell your homeland.” So they "sold".
You can condemn or justify their action, but the immigrants of those years are divided into two main camps. Some of them earnestly despise Russia and all Russian, trying to drown their nostalgia in a stream of anger and hatred. And there are those who treat their homeland in a human way, continuing to love it. They do not perceive attacks on Russia, they seek to defend it with at least a word. This cohort includes Elena and Igor, interviews with which were published in the Open Russia Journalism community.
Now the couple comes to Russia almost every year. The first time it was in 1996. They were then shocked by the changes that occurred: currency exchange, completely different clothes in public.
“The motherland beckons!”, Say Igor and Elena. They not only visit the graves of their relatives, but also go to theaters and concerts. Igor says that, speaking in English, they have almost completely lost their accent. Elena, he believes, is easier - she is a linguist. Although he himself, as a musician, has absolute pitch, which is why foreign languages are given well.
In America, they do not feel any lack of Russian culture. Elena often organizes Russian concerts. There, she says, there are many Russian-speaking citizens. There are even areas where all signs are in Russian. There are many Russian restaurants. Therefore, emigrants from Russia do not feel "lost."
In the USA, people usually become more tolerant of other nationalities, since there is a real “Babylon” - a lot of different people and cultures. A lot of people speak with an accent.
But because of the emphasis, it is not worth complexing. The Americans themselves are rarely ever aware of languages other than their own. In this regard, Elena compares American youth with Russian youth, giving preference to the latter. In Russia, even in the hinterland, many young people speak English. Those who use the Internet know at least a few English words. But rarely you can meet an American who would know some other language besides his own. But language is not just a language in itself, it is also an acquaintance with a different culture.
Most Americans are rather limited people. They are of little interest, except at home, their family and car.
An emigrant couple notes that many school subjects are simply not available in the United States. One such subject is literature. Because of this, Americans read little. Although, of course, there is an intelligentsia that loves books. American education is mainly narrowly focused. Often, residents of the United States do not understand some completely elementary things for a Russian person.
There are already fewer stereotypes about Russia in American society. Few people talk about bears with balalaikas. But one thing still remains - that the Russian people are more closed and smile a little. Americans are more liberated.
There is still, to some extent, the problem of racism. At the same time, Igor says, blacks who do not like whites are more common than whites who do not like blacks. This is not surprising - people with dark skin cannot forgive slavery.
Igor and Elena are actively interested policies, monitor the situation in the United States and in Russia. In the last US presidential election, they voted for Trump in the hope that he would restore relations with Moscow.
According to Elena, Trump is simply being prevented from being friends with Russia. Although he is trying, there are “underwater reefs” that cannot be avoided. Emigrants feel that many media in the US are demonizing Russia and talking about what is happening in it is far from neutral.
- said Elena.
And Igor continued:
He said that he was sorry for those who did not understand this. If someone offers Russia to return Crimea, then he is not a politician, but a short-sighted person.
In general, the couple believe that relations between the US and Russia will sooner or later improve, because there is "a great sympathy of the Russian people for the American people and vice versa."
More than 40 years ago, they fled because they did not like the political system of the USSR. Even, rather, not so much the system itself, as excesses and artificial restrictions. For example, the Iron Curtain, the impossibility of free travel abroad. In addition, Igor is a jazz musician, and as they said in the Union: “Today you play jazz, and tomorrow you will sell your homeland.” So they "sold".
You can condemn or justify their action, but the immigrants of those years are divided into two main camps. Some of them earnestly despise Russia and all Russian, trying to drown their nostalgia in a stream of anger and hatred. And there are those who treat their homeland in a human way, continuing to love it. They do not perceive attacks on Russia, they seek to defend it with at least a word. This cohort includes Elena and Igor, interviews with which were published in the Open Russia Journalism community.
Now the couple comes to Russia almost every year. The first time it was in 1996. They were then shocked by the changes that occurred: currency exchange, completely different clothes in public.
“The motherland beckons!”, Say Igor and Elena. They not only visit the graves of their relatives, but also go to theaters and concerts. Igor says that, speaking in English, they have almost completely lost their accent. Elena, he believes, is easier - she is a linguist. Although he himself, as a musician, has absolute pitch, which is why foreign languages are given well.
In America, they do not feel any lack of Russian culture. Elena often organizes Russian concerts. There, she says, there are many Russian-speaking citizens. There are even areas where all signs are in Russian. There are many Russian restaurants. Therefore, emigrants from Russia do not feel "lost."
In the USA, people usually become more tolerant of other nationalities, since there is a real “Babylon” - a lot of different people and cultures. A lot of people speak with an accent.
But because of the emphasis, it is not worth complexing. The Americans themselves are rarely ever aware of languages other than their own. In this regard, Elena compares American youth with Russian youth, giving preference to the latter. In Russia, even in the hinterland, many young people speak English. Those who use the Internet know at least a few English words. But rarely you can meet an American who would know some other language besides his own. But language is not just a language in itself, it is also an acquaintance with a different culture.
Most Americans are rather limited people. They are of little interest, except at home, their family and car.
An emigrant couple notes that many school subjects are simply not available in the United States. One such subject is literature. Because of this, Americans read little. Although, of course, there is an intelligentsia that loves books. American education is mainly narrowly focused. Often, residents of the United States do not understand some completely elementary things for a Russian person.
There are already fewer stereotypes about Russia in American society. Few people talk about bears with balalaikas. But one thing still remains - that the Russian people are more closed and smile a little. Americans are more liberated.
There is still, to some extent, the problem of racism. At the same time, Igor says, blacks who do not like whites are more common than whites who do not like blacks. This is not surprising - people with dark skin cannot forgive slavery.
Igor and Elena are actively interested policies, monitor the situation in the United States and in Russia. In the last US presidential election, they voted for Trump in the hope that he would restore relations with Moscow.
According to Elena, Trump is simply being prevented from being friends with Russia. Although he is trying, there are “underwater reefs” that cannot be avoided. Emigrants feel that many media in the US are demonizing Russia and talking about what is happening in it is far from neutral.
But personally, I do not see anything reprehensible in the actions of Russia. We subscribe to every word of Putin!
- said Elena.
And Igor continued:
And Crimea, of course, is Russian. It has always been and will be funny to talk about it
He said that he was sorry for those who did not understand this. If someone offers Russia to return Crimea, then he is not a politician, but a short-sighted person.
In general, the couple believe that relations between the US and Russia will sooner or later improve, because there is "a great sympathy of the Russian people for the American people and vice versa."
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