Thoughts on Russia
Sun Dec 27, 2009 14:23 (UTC -5)Christmas went well. My uncle came over for dinner with his girlfriend, whom we hadn’t yet met. I thought it was interesting to have a new person with us for Christmas dinner. I sometimes wonder what situations that are familiar to me would be like to an outsider, and I was pleased to imagine that an outsider would be happy with us and our feast. (Corollary: I worry a lot about what people think of me. Example: I shouldn’t have used the word “corollary” because people will think I’m a nerd.)
After dinner, my dad wanted to watch the video of the Christmas play that my sister and I were in a few years ago. Since our tapes weren’t labeled, we ended up going through (and getting sidetracked by) videos from our trip to North Carolina and the first youth group comedy night. Eventually, we did find the play, and we watched it. I forgot that everyone did a pretty good job with their acting (except for me because I played Santa Claus and had to wear a fake beard that kept riding up my face).
Yesterday, I went to the mall with my sister and our friend Kevin. I didn’t have a monthly calendar for next year, so I bought a calendar of vintage UF football game program cover artwork. I like UF football, and I like nostalgia. I didn’t even know there were programs for football games back in the day. Do they still have them? Are they only for the rich people in the boxes?
My friend Katja, or Katya, or Kate, who will be visiting soon, had a question for me about her native Russia. She wanted to know about my honest impressions of the country and how I imagine life to be like there.
The main thing that sticks out in my memory from what I’ve heard and read is that the police are said to be corrupt, and that they’ll stop your car and arrest you if you don’t give them money. Russia is also home to some illegal music downloading sites and some news sites with dubious stories. Vladimir Putin seems to be portrayed in the Western media as power-hungry, particularly since he’s become Prime Minister. So my overall impression is that Russia is a place where the rule of law is not taken very seriously. I think it’s also very cold.
I want to stress that I don’t have any ill will toward Russia or Russians. This is exactly the kind of answer Katja was looking for: maybe not factual but what I have been led to believe. I’m sure that Russia is a nice place to visit and that any of the bad things I mentioned, if true, are not too prevalent. If I went there, I doubt I would have to bribe the police, and it might even be warm. I know that some people have bad impressions of America (for example, South Koreans think our beef is all tainted due to maybe a single incident), but it’s really not a bad place to live (as long as you can get health insurance).
So, I’m curious. What impressions do my non-USA readers have about the USA?
Is it too late for a Christmas-related link? Read about Sweden’s tradition of watching Donald Duck cartoons on Christmas Eve. (Via waxy.org)
This was pretty depressing to read. I didn’t realize that rape was so common and that women were so… aware of it. Schrödinger’s Rapist: Or a Guy’s Guide to Approaching Strange Women Without Being Maced. (Via mcgees.org)
Filed under Family, Friends, Movies/TV, Musings and Observations, Stuff
5 comments
#1 by Andy: Sun Dec 27, 2009 20:22 (UTC -5)
Personally, I love the word Corollary. If using it makes you sound like a nerd, then I’m a nerd too. :-)
#2 by Daniel: Mon Dec 28, 2009 16:51 (UTC -5)
You’re not a nerd until you use the word “lemma” in casual conversation. Keep on with the corollary (;
#3 by Sarah: Thu Dec 31, 2009 14:24 (UTC -5)
I have just finished a class on medieval and imperial Russian history, and will be taking many more classes on Russia, since I am getting my minor in Russian studies (and my major is history). The thing that stuck out most to me is that there is a reason for everything. Ha.
I have read every page of the first half of a book by Riasonovsky called a History of Russia (the combined volume). It’s dead fascinating. Russia history is rarely studied in America, and frequently misunderstood. I would HIGHLY recommend this book if you would like to know more about the roots of this amazing society.
#4 by Jordon Kalilich: Thu Dec 31, 2009 15:01 (UTC -5)
@Andy: Thanks, I feel better.
@Daniel: Thanks, I feel much better.
@Sarah: I don’t really know any Russian history except for the basics (there were some tsars, and then there weren’t, and now all this). I think it would be interesting to read about, though. Thanks for the recommendation.
#5 by Sarah: Thu Dec 31, 2009 15:32 (UTC -5)
At the risk of spoiling the surprise, there were also Vikings involved. !! Hope you’ll check into it!