Russian Character

Most Russians are not very different from most westerners in the way they perceive things or in their desired lifestyle. However, there are certain peculiarities, which may emerge when you get to know your Russian friends closer. Below we tried to list the most common traits of the Russian character.

• We are a free nation. Here we despise all the rules. It’s an honor for our drivers to move on the red light or to bother other drivers and scorn pedestrians.

• It’s cool to do nothing and to just lie on the sofa thinking about how great you are. Really, Russia is such an amazing but lazy country.

• We value generosity. We can give you the last piece of bread we have if we believe you really need it. And we expect the same in return.

• Some of us are naturally indifferent; we don’t care too much about dirt on the streets, saving money, breaking the rules, risking without particular reason, drinking too much...

• Some of us are quite emotional, but somehow it’s all kept inside most of the time. We may seem a bit cold and too much to ourselves at first, but when you get to know us better, we're like a volcano.

• We don't feel easy about talking to strangers on the street, but if you start conversation saying that you're from another country or ask for some help, there's a good chance we will be very open, because we are naturally curious about foreigners.

• Women and old women are very respected here. It’s considered polite if while being in the metro and seeing a woman or an old woman coming in and there’re no free seats, man offers her his seat.

• Beware of the babushkas (old women). They are active, pushy and very proud of themselves, so if you do something not the way they think you should’ve done, better disappear.

• If you invited a girl or a woman somewhere be prepared to pay for her everywhere. If you invited a man, he’ll pay for himself, and there's a good chance he'll pay for you as well without telling you about it.

• Yes, we love vodka, but we're not alcoholics. Despite what some people think, Russians are not drunkards, they just have a special resistance to alchohol, that's why they can drink so much. And we actually get our strength from it and it warms us during the cold winters. By the way, if you drink with us, you'll have to drink as much as we do, or we will be offended.

• Russians are hooligans. It's not because we're bad - we just like everything extraordinary. That's why you hear our tourists singing folk songs at 3am and that's why we make a revolution every 80 years.

• We believe in magnetism. The thing is, that every so often the sun sends some electro-magnetic signals and this affects the whole course of events on the earth, including our mood and feelings. So, if you see two housewives discussing how bad their day went because of the electro-magnetic storm that happened in the afternoon - don't think they are adepts of some sort of new age philosophy, it's completely normal here.

• Yes, we are superstitious. And if you want to shake our hand, you can never ever do it through the door: you have to come in, otherwise we will quarrel. If you come back to your house just after you left - look at the mirror, it's for your own good. If you're sitting at the corner of the table, you won't be married for 7 years. If a fork falls, a woman is going to come, if a knife falls, a man will certainly appear.

• Most of us know a few words in English, but we are too shy to speak - no practice, you see... However, you will be surprised at how many things are written in English on the streets: it is used to show a shop or a cafe, to advertise a new product, and there's a lot of foreign goods. Also, almost more than a half of Russian products have their ingredients listed in English.

Questions

1. How do Russians differ from other nations?

2. What is meant by being free for you?

3. Do you agree with the opinion that most Russians are lazy?

4. Do you appreciate generosity? Are you a generous person?

5. What things are Russian people usually indifferent to?

6. Are most of your relatives and friends emotional or reserved?

7. Is it easy for you to talk to strangers?

8. Why are women and old women specially respected in Russia?

9. How can you describe Russian babushkas?

10. Is it a must to pay for a girl in the café or restaurant?

11. Why do Russians drink alcohol so much? Is it a problem for the nation?

12. Do you think that Russians are hooligans? Give examples.

13. What is the influence of magnetism on your lifestyle?

14. How superstitious are you? What superstitions do work?

15. Is your level of English good? Or does it leave much to be desired? Would you like to improve it?

TEXT 6. Read and translate the text. Make reports on famous Russians and their achievements.