Candid Russia

Russia, is certainly still in flux, but some fear that flux may be ingnited in a way which may mimick the Ukraine... creating turmoil and sweeping reforms (apparently) all led by the youth of the country.




News on that...

We will see - full story on the link BBC News.

Russian culture

Home to one of every 12 Russians, the capital of the former Soviet Union remains the political and cultural heart of independent Russia. Post-communist Moscow has opened its doors to the West while rediscovering and embracing its pre-Revolutionary past.

1. With 12 million people, Moscow is one of the largest cities in the world. One might not think of Moscow as a seaport, but it is. Ten rivers run through the city, connecting it to five seas: the White, Baltic, Azov, Black, and Caspian.

2. Moscow is built in a circle centered on the Kremlin, which means “fortress” in Russian. Most pre-Revolutionary cities in Russia have a kremlin.

3. Moscow’s winters are fierce, lasting as long as eight months and with temperatures dipping as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (-22 F). Understandably, Muscovites love winter sports, especially hockey and ice skating. In winter, skating rinks cover more than 250 square kilometers of the city’s landscape.

4. Less understandably, in the dead of winter, thousands of hardy Muscovites swim in the rivers or douse themselves in icy showers. They call themselves morzhi, or “walruses,” and believe that this cold-water therapy can cure anything from a broken heart to pneumonia.

5. For some of the best performances in Russia—or anywhere in the world—visit the Bolshoi Theatre, which stages dozens of operas and ballets a year. Despite the Bolshoi’s worldwide fame, it’s also a world-class value, with tickets starting as low as US$20 (Tel: 7-095-292-9986; order tickets online at www.moscow-guide.ru).

6. The preserved body of Vladimir Ilich Lenin (1870–1924), father of the Soviet Union, lies supine on display in a marble mausoleum on Red Square. From April to November, visitors can tour the chilly caverns, kept at a taxidermically ideal temperature of 16 degrees Celsius (61 F). During February and March, a 10-man team of embalmers touches up Lenin’s remains.

7. Moscow boasts the world’s busiest McDonald’s, located on Pushkin Square. The first Western-owned restaurant to open in the Soviet Union, it serves more than 20,000 customers a day. Since the first restaurant opened in 1990, McDonald’s has added 18 locations throughout the city, with two drive-throughs, called “McAvtos.”

8. The Romanovs were the wealthiest of all the world’s royals prior to their assassination in 1918 by Bolshevik guards. Their fortune, calculated at $9 billion at the time, has largely disappeared. By comparison, the wealth of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has never been valued at even half that amount.

9. Of the more than 70 museums in Moscow, the best for seeing authentically Russian art is the State Tretyakov Gallery, founded in 1892 by Moscow merchant Pavel Tretyakov. The collection, contained in Tretyakov’s former home, represents the history of Russian art, from 11th-century mosaics and icons to Soviet-era canvases (Tel: 7-095-230-7788).

10. Muscovites burned their city to the ground in defiance of Napoleon’s invasion in the autumn of 1812. Left stranded in the ruined capital, the cold and hungry French were forced to retreat while battling Cossacks and the cruel Russian winter. Russians also pride themselves on defeating Hitler’s forces in the horrific battle of Stalingrad in 1943, essentially turning the tide of World War II.

11. The underground Metro, world-famously fast and efficient, was built under Joseph Stalin. The palatial stations are decorated with semiprecious stones, sculpture, stained glass, and mosaics. Thanks to widespread social benefits left over from Soviet days, only 45 percent of the 3 million people who ride the Metro daily actually pay the 15-ruble fare but times are changing as the pensioners are squeezed by Putin's new government.

12. In Russia, any car is a potential taxi. Most drivers will pull over at the summons of a thumb and offer their services as a “gypsy cab.” A few tips: Name the price before you get in, never get into a cab with more than one person in it, and be sure to ride with drivers who appear lucid and sober.

13. The spicy cuisine from the Caucasus, specifically from Georgia, offers a welcome and affordable respite from the heavier, creamier foods of typical Russian cafés. Favorite Georgian spots are Guriya (Komsomolskaya Prospekt 7/3; Tel: 7-095-246-0378) and Tiflis (Ulitsa Ostozhenka 32; Tel: 7-095-290-2897).

14. Vodka is not only the country’s favorite tipple but also a main revenue source for the government. With the average Russian consuming 13 liters of hard liquor a year, the state can expect to cover 10 percent of its budget with spirit taxes alone.

15. The Russian State Library (formerly the Lenin Library) is the largest in Europe, with more than 41 million items. Its 19 reading rooms serve 2,000 readers at a time, but only Russian citizens are allowed to borrow books. The statue of Lenin on the front steps was replaced last year with a slouching likeness of Feodor Dostoyevsky, about whose work Lenin said, “I have no time for such trash”

Russian language facts

Over 160 million people speak Russian as first language.


Russian is a Slavic language with Ukrainian and Belarusian as closest relations.


Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which is based on the Greek alphabet with some Hebrew letters to represent sounds alien to the Greek writing system.
Some characteristics of Russian language

Russian pronunciation
Russian is mostly phonetic. Most complications arise from its complex stress system.


Stress is mobile and flexible and does not follow strict rules. The correct placement of stress is one of the major problems when learning Russian language.


There are 6 different cases in Russian language, inflection and declination are important features of Russian language.


Word order is flexible, as Russian is highly inflected.


In addition to tense and mood Russian verbs possess a feature called aspect. They can be perfective or imperfective indicating if the action is completed.


Formal/informal address
Second person plural vy is used to show deference. Familiar second singular ty is only used when invited to do so or when speaking to a small child.


Some Proverbs

Без отдыха, и конь не скачет
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Even a horse will not jump with no rest.

Без муки нет науки
Adversity is a good teacher.

There is no science without trouble

с миру по нитке голому рубашка
Every little helps.

Всё что ни делается, всё к лучшему.
It's all for the best

[Something unwelcome has happened but may may be a good thing in the end.]

Пугана ворона куста боится
A burnt child dreads the fire Once bitten, twice shy

Друзья познаются в беде
A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Ворон ворону глаз не выклюет.
A raven will not peck the eye of another raven

Мягко стелет, да жёстко спать.
A soft made bed may still be hard to sleep in. Beware of attractive offers.

Слово не воробей - вылетит не поймаешь.
A word is not a sparrow; when it flies out you can not catch it.

Ночью все кошки серы.
All cats are grey at night.

Все дороги ведут в Рим.
All roads lead to Rome

Всё полезно, что в рот полезло.
All that gets into the mouth is useful. It's all grist to the mill.

Не всё то золото, что блестит.
All that glitters is not gold.

Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается.
All's well that ends well.

Ласковое теля двух маток сосётн - брюха не расколет.
An affectionate calf sucks two mothers. (A flatterer gains double profit).

Flattery will get you everywhere.

opposite -Flattery will get you nowhere.

Дорого яичко ко христову дню.
An egg is valuable to Christ's day (Easter).

Око за око, зуб за зуб.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Незваный гость хуже татарина.
An uninvited visitor is worse than a Tatar.

Семь бед - один ответ
As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.

Как постелешь, так и поспишь.
As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.

Посади свинью за стол - она и ноги на стол. .
Ask a pig to sit at the dinner table it will put its legs on the table. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Лучшее - враг хорошего.
Best is the enemy of Good. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Лучше синица в руках, чем утка под кроватью.
Better a bluetit in the hand than a duck under the bed.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Волк плохой, но он понятный
Better the devil you know.

Лучше умереть от обжорства, чем от голода
Better to die of gluttony than starvation.

Берегись тихой собаки да тихой воды.
Beware of a quiet dog and still water. Still waters run deep.

Узнают птицу по полёту.
By their actions ye shall know them.

Actions speak better than words.

В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не суйся.


Do not come in another's monastery with your own Charter. Do not teach your hosts what to do.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Не рой яму ближнему - сам в неё попадёшь.
Do not dig a hole for someone else or you yourself will fall into it you'll be hoist on your own petard.

От сумы да от тюрьмы не зарекайся.


Do not renounce the pauper's bag and prison. Never say "never".

There but for the grace of God go I.

Не говори "Гоп", пока не перепрыгнул.
Do not say "I'm up" you jump. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched

Не хвались, идучи на рать.
Do not swagger going to battle. Pride comes before a fall

Не в свои сани не садись.


Do not try to sit in the sledge not belonging to you. (Do not try to take up a post for which you are not qualified).

Do not get ideas above your station.

Нельза на зеркало пенять, коли рожа крива.
Don't blame the mirror if your face is crooked.

Don't shoot the messenger

- Цыплят по осени считают.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Лежачего не бьют
Don't hit a man when he's down.

Дарёному коню в зубы не глядят
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Не давши слово - держись, а давши - крепись
Don't promise lightly but having given your word, keep it.

Не кладите все яйца в одну
корзину.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. -

Лошадей на переправе не меняют
Don't swap horses in mid stream

пиво без водки - деньги на ветер (toast)
Drinking the beer without vodka is simply to spend money

Капля камень точит.
Dripping water wears away the stone.

Яйца курицу не учат.
Eggs cannot teach a hen. Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs.

Выпивали - веселились, подсчитали - прослезились


Enjoy when drinking (vodka), - cry when calculating.

Take your pleasure, repent at leisure.

С паршивой овцы хоть шерсти клок.


Even a tuft of wool from a mangy sheep. Anything is better than nothing

И бородавка - телу прибавка.
Even a wart adds something to the body.

И на старуху бывает проруха
Even an old women can make a mistake.

You're never too old to learn.

На миру и смерть красна.
Even death is beautiful if you are not alone.

Куда ни кинь - всё клин.
Everywhere you cast - all is a wedge. Between the rock and the hard place.

Добрая слава лежит, а дурная бежит.
Fame travels slowly, notoriety travels fast.

Для милого дружка хоть серёжку из ушка
For a dear friend even the ear-ring from one's ear. For a friend -- anything.

На всякого мудреца довольно простоты
For each wise man there is quite enough silliness.

Дружба - дружбой, а табачок врозь.
Friendship is one thing, but tobacco is another matter.

Из чужих саней среди грязи долой!
From someone else's sledge you get out in the dirt. (If you take up a post for which you are not qualified you will find yourself in very dangerous circumstances) Don't bite off more than you can chew.

Кто рано встаёт, тому Бог даёт.
God gives to him who gets up early.

The early bird catches the worm.

Бережёного Бог бережёт.
God takes care of the one who takes care of himself.

Обжегшись на молоке, дуют на воду.

в юмористическом варианте: Обжегшись на молоке дуют водку.
Having been burnt by milk, one blows on water. Once burned, twice shy.

humorus version: Having been burnt by milk, one blows on vodka.

Снявши голову, по волосам не плачут.
Having cut off the head, do not cry for the hairs. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

Сколько волка не корми, а он всё в лес глядит.
However much you feed a wolf it will still looks to the forest.

The leopard cannot change his spots.

Лень - мать всех пороков.
Idleness is the mother of all vices. The Devil makes work for idle hands.

Если бы да кабы, да во рту росли грибы (бобы). (То был бы не рот, а целый огород).
If ifs and ands were pots and pans, mushrooms [beans] would grow in the mouth. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Если бы да кабы ..... . .
If ifs and ans were pots and pans ....

Если бы молодость знала, если бы старость могла!
If only youth could know and old age could do!

Недосол - на столе, пересол - на спине.


If the cook puts too little salt in the food it can be corrected during a meal, if he puts too much his back is to be beaten.

You can put more in but you can't take it out.

Волков бояться -- в лес не ходить.
If you are afraid of the wolf, don't go into the forest. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Поспешишь - людей насмешишь.
If you are in too much of a hurry you may be laughed at.

More haste less speed

За двумя зайцами погонишься, ни одного не поймаешь
If you chase two hares, you won't catch either. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Назвался груздём - полезай в кузов.
If you claim to be a mushroom, get into the basket. If the cap fits (wear it).

Кабы знать, где упадёшь - соломки бы подстелил.
If you knew where you would fall. you would spread some straw.

Век живи - век учись. (Дураком помрёшь).
If you live hundred years, you never stop learning. (Nevertheless you will die a fool). You live and learn.

Ври да не завирайся.
If you tell lies,don't become tangled in lies. Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive. Sir Walter Scott

Я не так богат, чтобы покупать дешевые вещи.

Где дешево там и дорого.

Дешевое наводит на дорогое.
I'm not rich enough to buy cheaply

Cheap goods are expensive.

i.e. buying cheap is a false economy

На вкус и цвет - товарищей нет.
In matters of taste and colour no one has friends

На чужой роток не накинешь платок.
It is impossible to throw a kerchief over someone else's mouth. You can't guarantee another's silence.

В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше.
It is nice to go away, but better to come home.

Home is where the heart is.

Безумно жить одной мечтой; ещё глупей не иметь ни одной.
It may be mad to live by a dream, but it is insane to live without one.

Безумно жить одной мечтой; ещё глупей не иметь ни одной.
It may be insane to live in a dream.... but it is madness to live without one.

После драки кулаками не машут.
It's no good waving your fists after the fight. To flog a dead horse

Не всё коту масленица - бывает и великий пост..
It's not always Pancake week for the cat. You have to take the rough with the smooth.

Это вода на нашу мельницу
It's water to our mill [helps our cause] It's all grist to the mill

Всяк сверчок - знай свой шесток.
Let every cricket know his own hearth.

The cobbler should stick to his last.

не зная броду, не суйся в воду
Look before you leap.

Уcпаси меня Бог от друзей, а от врагов я сам спасусь.
Lord, rescue me from friends, from enemies I can rescue myself. With friends like that, who needs enemies

Любовь зла - полюбишь и козла.
Love is vicious - you can fall in love with the billy-goat. Love is blind.

Ешь щи с мясом, а нет так, хлеб с квасом.
Make do and mend. Make the best of things.

Нужда всему научит
Necessity is the mother of invention

Не откладывай на завтра то, что можно сделать сегодня
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Нет ничего постояннее, чем сделанное временно
Nothing lasts longer than that which is done temporarily.

Со своим самоваром в Тулу не ездят.
One does not go to Tula with one's own samovar. Don't take coals to Newcastle

Рыбак рыбака видит издалека.
One fisherman sees another from afar.

It takes one to know one.

Пришла беда - отворяй ворота.
Open gate when disaster is coming. Know when to quit.

С глаз долой из сердца вон.

Прочь из виду, прочь из памяти.
Out of sight - out of mind

ditto

из огня да в полымя.
Out of the fire into the flame

Out of the frying-pan into the fire.

Вали кулём, потом разберём!
Put it all in one heap, we'll sort out later

Тише едешь - дальше будешь.
Riding slowly you will get more distant places.

More haste, less speed.

Рим строился не в один день.

Москва не сразу строилась.
Rome was not build in a day.

The Moscow one comes from the title song of the film Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears

Кому пироги да пышки, а кому синяки да шишки.
Some get cakes and buns, some get bruises and bumps.

В тихом омуте черти водятся.
Still waters run deep.

По одёжке протягивай ножки.


Stretch your legs according to your clothes. Cut your suit according to your cloth.

Дают - бери, бьют - беги.
Take what is offered and run if they chase you.

Дурака учить - что мёртвого лечить.
Teaching a fool is the same as curing a dead man.

Апетит приходит во время еды.
The appetite comes during a meal. Enthusiasm comes with doing the job.

аппетит приходит во время еды
the appetite comes with eating

Сколько верёвочка не вейся, а кончику быть.
The cord may wind long but the end must appear.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Куда конь с копытом - туда и рак с клешнёй.
The crab with his claw tries to take the same way as the horse with his hoof. Don't try to run before you can walk

Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют.
The devil is not so black as he is painted.

Страшен сон - да милостив Бог.
The dream is terrible but the Lord is merciful.

Kонец - делу венец.
The end is the crown of any work. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Первая - колом, вторая - соколом, а третья - мелкой пташечкой.
The first (glass of vodka) goes like a post, the second like a falcon and the third like a little bird.

Утро вечера мудренее.
The morning is wiser than the evening = Sleep on it.

Блин не клин - брюха не расколет.
The pancake is not like a wedge- it will not split your belly. (Do not worry eating many pancakes). *

Гром не грянет - мужик не перекрестится.
The peasant will not cross himself until it begins to thunder.

Плетью обуха не перешибёшь


The weakest goes to the wall [you can't break an axe head with a whip]

Нет худа без добра
There is no bad without good.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

На милость нет образца.
There is no standard for charity. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

Время - деньги.
Time is money.

Время - лучший лекарь
Time is the best healer.

Время не ждёт
Time waits for no one.

Всему свое время.

Всякому овощу своё время.
To everything there is a season.

Every has its season.

Убить двух зайцев одним выстрелом. Одним ударом двух мух убить.
To kill two birds with one stone.

На бога надейся, а сам - не здошай.
Trust in God but don't be a fool yourself

Правда глаза колет.
Truth splits the eyes. Nothing hurts like the truth

За двумя зайцами погонишься - ни одного зайца не поймаешь!
Trying to catch two hares, you lose both.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Под лежачий камень вода не течёт
Water does not flow under a stationary stone. Nothing venture nothing gain. / No pain, no gain.

Что имеем - не храним, потерявши - плачем.
We do not appreciate the value of a thing until we have lost it).

что с воза упало, то пропало
What has fallen from the cart is lost. There's no use crying over spilt milk

Бедному жениться - ночь коротка.
When a poor man marries the night is very short.

flippant version ? Diamonds are a girl's best friends.

Взялся за гуж - не говори, что не дюж.


When taking hold of the rope do not say "I can't". In for a penny, in for a pound.

На безрыбье и рак - рыба.
When there are no fish, even the crab can be one. Any port in a storm.

Better to be a large fish in a small pond.

Где тонко - там и рвётся.
Where something is thin, that's where it tears [the weakest link].

Где хотенье, там и уменье
Where there is a will there is a way.

Пока живу - надеюсь
While there's life there's hope.

С кем поведёшься - от того и наберёшься.
Whomsoever you consort with, something is bound to rub off on you. If you sup with the devil, use a long spoon.

Без труда не выловишь и рыбку из пруда
Without trouble you won't get even a fish from the pond. Nothing venture nothing gain.

Работа не волк - в лес не убежит.
Work is not like wolf - it won't run away. Never do today what you can do tomorrow.

Рад бы в рай - да грехи не пускают.
Would be glad to get to paradise but sin does not allow it.

Рад бы в рай - да грехи не пускают.
Would be glad to get to paradise but sinners go not there.

Выше головы не прыгнешь.
You can not jump above your head. Everyone has his limitations. Know when you are beaten!

На всякое чихание не наздравствуешься.
You can't say, "Bless you!" for every sneeze

Дорого да мило, дешево да гнило.
You get what you pay for.

Перед смертью не надышишься.
You only live once.

Что посеешь - то и пожнёшь.
You reap what you sow.

Своя рубашка к телу ближе.
Your own shirt is nearer to your body. Charity begins at home

English Russian translation and transliteration Comments

Do you speak English? Вы говорите по-английски?

Vy govorite po-angliyski?

Learn to read faces before talking to people. And precede this question with "Izvinite" or "Dobry den" for a better result.

Thank you Спасибо
Spaseebo

Please, you are welcome

Пожалуйста
Pozhaluysta

I am hungry. Could you please spare some change? Я хочу кушать. Подайте, сколько можете.
Ya khochu kushat. Podayte, skolko mozhete.

Literaly: I want to eat. Will you give me whatever you can?

Where is the nearest subway station / telephone? Где ближайшая станция метро/телефон?
Gde blizhayshaya stantsiya metro / telefon?

I am a foreigner and I am lost. Could I use your phone please? Я иностранец и я потерялся. Можно воспользоваться вашим телефоном?

Ya inostranets i ya poteryalsya. Mozhno vospolzovatsya vashim telephonom?
Normally stores and offices would not let you use their phones, but after this phrase they will. Russia is knows for its hospitality to travellers, and you will encounter traces of it even in Moscow.

No, I don't need that. Нет, не нужно
Nyet, ne nuzhno
Literaly: No, not needed.

Expect to be overun with matryoshka vendors in the Orbat and Lenin tomb guides in the Red Square. That's when this or next phrase will come handy.

Fuck off Otyebis (sing.), otyebites (plural or polite form) Be morally and conceptually prepared to use this powerful expression if the softer version (above) fails to help.

I don't speak Russian Я не говорю по-русски
Ya po-russky ne govoryu

Excuse me, where is.... Прошу прощения, где находится.....?
Proshu prosheniye, gde nakhoditsya .....?

Then you can just point to the map....

The Alphabet:

А - A

Б - B

В - V

Г - G

Д - D

Е - Ye

Е(with two dots on top) - Yo

Ж - Zh

З - Z

И - I

Й - I

К - K

Л - L

М - M

Н - N

О - O

П - P

Р - R

С - S

Т - T

У - U

Ф - F

Х - Kh

Ь - ignore

Ы - I

Ъ - ignore

Э - Ae

Ю - Yu

Я - Ya

Russian holidays

The biggest Russian holiday is New Year (1 January). During the Soviet time people were not allowed to celebrate Christmas (Russian Christmas is 7 January), and New Year was the most cheerful holiday.

The next holiday is the Old New Year (13 January). Russians had a different calendar before February 1918. The difference between Julian (the old Russian) and Gregorian (European) calendars was 13 days, and after the Soviet government adopted Gregorian calendar Russians started to celebrate many holidays twice: according to the new style and the old one.

Non-official "Men's Day" is 23 February, it is a public holiday called "The Homeland Defender's Day". All men in Russia are liable for call-up (including reservists), so they all are celebrities. On this day women usually give men small gifts.

Official "Women's Day" is 8 March. On this day men give women gifts, usually flowers. Men also are supposed to do all the housework, this is pretty nice - at least once a year women can take a break and forget about all those dishes, cooking, kids, take a magazine and relax on the coach...

1 April is non-official "the Day of Laugh". People tell jokes to each other, newspapers and TV publish funny stories and jokes. The motto of this day: Do not trust anybody on 1 April ("Pervoye aprelya - nikomu ne veryu").

1 May is the Day of Labor. During Soviet time there were huge demonstrations on this day, as everybody was obliged to show his loyalty to the state; now only communists organize meetings on this date.

9 May - Victory Day. 2-day public holiday (8-9 May), the day when Nazi Germany capitulated in 1945 after 4-year war with Soviet Union and other countries. Soviet Union lost 20 million people in the war. The minute of silence announced on the Central TV in the memory of deceased at 9:00 P.M., and fireworks thereafter.

12 June - the Independence Day. It's an official holiday but Russians are not used to it yet. They spend this day on their "dachas" - small plots in countryside where they plant some vegetables.

1 September is the Day of Knowledge - it's the beginning of a school year. Children go to schools with flowers for teachers, there are meetings before the classes start - nice and exciting.

7 November - the Day of October revolution (25 October according to the old calendar). It's still an official holiday in Russia though there is not such a huge celebration as it used to be during the Soviet era.

12 December - The Constitution Day. This day the first Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted in 1993 (previous Constitutions were all Soviet Union's). It is a recent public holiday, and there are no special customs connected with this day.

Russians LOVE to celebrate. They adopted the Western holidays such as St. Valentine, Catholic Christmas (they celebrate Christmas twice - Catholic and Orthodox) and Halloween. They also appreciate Chinese New Year, Muslim and Jewish holidays, as Russians are very tolerant to other religions.

When there is a public holiday, the weekend is shifted towards the holiday: if the holiday is on Thursday, Sunday will be the working day and Friday the day off. The same when the public holiday is on Tuesday: Saturday becomes the working day and Monday the day off. If the holiday is on Wednesday, there will be no long weekend.

There are quite a few long weekends every year, which many Russians use to travel, locally and abroad, the others spend holidays on their "dachas" (country-side houses).

Culture background

Russian culture has a long history and tradition, which Russian's pride themsleves on.

Russians consider themselves as a well educated nation. They read a lot: books are cheap, and one can afford to buy 5-10 books a month without serious damage to a family budget.

Russians are also fond of live performances at theatres and since tickets are affordable (prices in cinemas and theatres are comparable), they enjoy attending theatres: opera, musical, ballet, drama etc.

Usually every city has a few theatres. The theatre culture was developed during the Soviet times when tickets were sold through schools and enterprises: cities were divided into areas and there was a theatre agent responsible for each particular area. The agent would bring tickets for distribution to every enterprise and school in his area and the person responsible for "culture sector" would organize collective visit to the theatre. I think it was an excellent system since people had the opportunity to attend theatres from the early age, starting from attending performances in a Muppet theatre, then moving to the Youth Drama Theatre, then to Drama, Musical and Opera, according to their age. Also attending performances in a company is always much more fun, which contributed to the popularity of theatres. This is how most Russian people have developed their taste for live performances.

Movie theatres are also becoming popular in Russia and they are equipped with the latest sound systems. When Russian people talk about movie theatres, they will usually say "cinema"; if they talk about "theatres", they mean live performances.

During Soviet times there was a well developed system of community work and in every group (class at school, department at work etc) would be also a person responsible for sport, education, political information of the group etc. People that were doing community work were given benefits (free or discounted travel, ability to buy deficit goods, ability to receive a better apartment from the government for free etc) - remember, there was no private property until Perestroika, everything used to belong to the state, which was controlling distribution and would award the most active citizens. Unfortunately the system of volunteering was broken with Perestroika but Russians still have that great community spirit (which sometimes goes to the lengths a westerner would consider as infringement).

Russian culture is non-individualistic. The power of an individual in Russia is much less than in the west and most deals are pushed through family, friends and acquaintances. A Russian saying is, "One is not a soldier in the battlefield". In Russia, you still needs to know people in power to make things work. This is why they maintain more friendships than an average westerner. They often have to rely on their friends to help them out. You know someone who knows someone who is in power; this is the way they have the things done. If you know the right people, you can have the most difficult things done with little effort. In my life, a few times I ran into dead ends where there was nothing I could do in the straightforward way; the people were right to refuse me, according to the official rules. But once I could find people who knew someone inside the system, a month wait would turn into just a few hours wait or they would find a place for me where they said the rules would not allow them to give me one. Foreigners would just give up; Russians believe there is always a roundabout.

The majority of Russians consider themselves as Christians, and belong to Russian Orthodox Church. It's a great achievement for the country where atheism was the official state religion for more than 70 years. Frankly, most of them are not true believers. They appreciate Christian moral values but do not follow them. Religion is not a real part of their life. Russians are more aware of horoscopes than the Bible. Church service in Russia can be attended any day of the week and performed every day 2 or 3 times (early morning at 3 a.m., then at 8 a.m. and then in the evening at 7 p.m.). People usually attend the church just to "light a candle" and quickly pray. They do it to ask for something to happen (a business deal, an exam) or to remember a close person who is dead. People do not have to be a member of the church to do it and they do not have monthly contributions to the church. Church survives selling candles and reminder notes and charging for services such as baptizing, weddings and funerals. Church marriage is not official in Russia. A couple has to register their marriage with government authorities first to be allowed to have church ceremony performed.

Medical aid and education in Russia are free, though Russians joke that education becomes less and less free with every year. One can still get a university education for free by passing the entrance tests (exams), but the universities have to decrease the number of students studying on a free basis because of poor state financing.

Since both education and culture facilities used to be widely available, Russians can be considered a highly cultured nation. Their general knowledge is very good: they know a little bit about virtually everything. At secondary schools, they study not only the history of Russia but also the world history, including American and European history. In the same secondary school course (11 years school qualification is mandatory in Russia) they study world literature, world music, and world geography. Many books of western authors are mandatory reading in the course of literature (in Russian translation of course). The standard secondary school program includes studying of a foreign language for 6 years (grades 5-11), usually it is English but also can be French, German or Spanish. Most subjects in the course of a secondary school are mandatory for all schools throughout the whole Russia, and only since recently there are some subjects that students can choose in addition to the general course.

On the entrance exams at universities and colleges only questions from the general course of the secondary school can be asked. Universities and colleges accept students according to the results of entrance tests, and not according to their marks at school, though having excellent marks can help (for example, you would only have to pass 1-2 exams instead of regular 4).

Intellectually, Russians are interesting people to talk to and enjoy deep subjects. Philosophy is still a mandatory subject when you study for a degree and one of the 3 compulsory subjects for PhD qualifying exam (the other 2 are foreign language and the specialty itself).

At the same time the majority of Russians don't have what you call in the west "good manners". Their manners are not bad, they are just Russian. Russia is quite a tough country and Russians usually do not hesitate to say what they think in a way that doesn't leave room for any misunderstandings. During the Soviet period having "good manners" was considered as a bourgeois survival. Russians are very straightforward. When they meet or phone each other, they seldom spend time on questions like "How are you?" and go straight to the point. They are not rude, it's just a way of doing things.

Having a university or college degree is common. Russia has a high educational level (more than 40% of the total population have college or university degree). Since Perestroika, the system of higher (university) education is slowly deteriorating as well as the medical aid system, which used to be among the world's best. The problem with Russian education is that it was always rather theoretical and unrelated to practice. Therefore, it's common for a person having an engineering degree to work in sales, or one with a chemical background to find himself in marketing. In the old days having a degree was an end in itself. They are trying to change the educational programs now, but it will take years to build the system.

It's not of any wonder if a woman with university degree works as a secretary. Having a Ph.D. is also not a big deal, and doesn't give you a big advantage; good knowledge of English will provide you with a better competitive edge. The position that one has in a company is not as important as the company in which he or she works. Foreign companies and even foreign public/charity organizations are considered to be the best employment.

Having your own business in Russia is a big challenge. The tax system works in the way that if one has a small business (individual private enterprise), he must pre-pay taxes before he receives permission to act. It's unbelievable, but it's true: one is supposed to estimate his future income, and pre-pay taxes proceeding from the assumption. Then he gets a permission to start his business activity; but he must run to the tax department the second he earns 1 Ruble more profit than it was estimated and paid in advance. Otherwise it will be considered a hidden profit, and one can easily get a fine of the size equal to 200% of the amount of the hidden profit. I understand that it sounds funny, but it just works like this. The authorities are suspicious towards owners of small businesses.

The bigger enterprises have a more convenient tax system. In 2000 the government announced united tax of 12% on profits, and even said the hidden (*black*) capitals may be legalized if the owner pays this 12% tax. At the same time there were comments from top government officials that this is only a temporary retreat, and the progressive tax system will be brought back as soon as people get used to paying their taxes. Actually, the government hoped that people would start paying tax and show their real profits - but Russians know their government. They don't want to be easily trapped by showing off their true income, and then be obliged to pay again enormous taxes of the past (up to 90% in different taxes on profit - state, region, city and others). Collecting taxes is still the biggest concern for the Russian government. Most serious investors of so called "New Russians" transfer their capitals abroad (of course, it's illegal, but there are so many ways to take a roundabout).

This 12% united tax attracted many foreigners to become Russian residents. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, there are sizable communities of expatriates that live there mostly because of the low taxes - investors etc. Other westerners live there because of the low cost of living; on a western disability pension one can live in Russia as a king. They even have their own expatriate newspapers in English!

Before the year 2000, the Russian tax system was very complicated. Counting all the taxes supposed to be paid, the total amount could reach 90%, including taxes on the salaries for employees. To pay 100 rubles to an employee, an employer had to pay about 80 rubles of tax to the state: pension funds, social insurance, medical insurance and so on. There were many federal, regional and city's taxes, which were different from one region to another. The system made companies have double accounting, and sometimes double salaries - an official one and so called "black cash salary".

Another reality businesses face in Russia is organized crime, which often has close connections with authorities. Small and medium businesses have to pay about 10% of the profits to "raket". Nowadays many businesses prefer to employ "commercial" departments of police organizations or private security companies, which are in reality just a camouflaged "raket". They will "help" you in a case of bad debts, problems with business partners or criminal situations like robbery etc, providing you a "roof". All "criminal cooperations" have official businesses registered, and you pay them an official fee additionally to unofficial.

It was a very funny case in Ekaterinburg at spring 1999, when one of the "cooperations" registered their association as "OPS". In Russian it is a common abbreviation for "organized crime syndicate" ("Organizovannoye Prestupnoe Soobshcestvo"). The guys from "OPS" explained their name differently as "Public Political Union" ("Obschestvenno Politicheskiy Soyuz"). It was one of the most famous and big groups in the city, and the choice of such a name demonstrated that the guys were feeling absolutely comfortable with their status. Well, you consider us as "OPS"? You've got it.

If you have some problems with your business partner, your "roof" ("krysha") will meet with the other guy's "roof", and they will try to settle your business problems trough mutual discussion. If they can't get right, they may apply to an unbiased source - a person "in law" ("v zakone"), who will take a decision, usually quite just. This decision is final, and you can't apply against of it, or get rid of it. There is an official way of settling the problems through a state court, but it's almost out of use: it's long, unpredictable and rather pathetic.

But businessmen are in a better situation than the people that work as employees. With all the headaches and stress, they still have some money and considerably good living standards.

Government employees, particularly medical doctors and teachers, do not receive their salaries for months, sometimes up to 6-8 months. It does not mean that they don't receive salaries at all. It started in early 90th, first as delays with payments. So the first time one received his salary a week later, then next month - 2 weeks later, and so on. Eventually it happens that in June you receive your salary for last December. One receives some money regularly, and he can survive, though the government owes him thousands. This way was quickly picked up by the other organizations, and now even if one works for a private company, he might not receive his salary on time. The government constantly promises to fix outdated payments, and pay pensions and salaries to people working in a budget system on time, but for many years it's only promises.

Russians are smart. They have so many difficulties and problems in life, that they can easily find a roundabout way for anything. They don't have a deep respect towards any law, including traffic rules. Russians are some of the most reckless drivers and the most careless pedestrians in the world.

A famous Russian comic, Mikhail Zadornov (it's also quite a coincidence that he is a name-sake of a former Russian minister of economy; once in a foreign encyclopedia they mixed up their photos - at the article about a minister was published a picture of the famous comic; well, nothing to worry about - Russian economy is also a very funny thing), so, this famous comic said: "The state steals everything it can from people. The people steal everything they can from the state".

Stealing is not considered to be a big deal as long as you have not been caught, and don't steal from your friends or the people you know. Stealing from one's work place was considered for years as an essential "skill of well being". During the Soviet time there was such a phrase: "Everything around belongs to the public (nation), so everything around belongs to me".

There was no such term as "private property", that's why Russians don't care about intellectual property either. No other country in the world has such abuse of pirate software, video and audio records, CDs etc exposed for sale on every corner. They used to publish books of Western authors, and the authors found it out only when started to receive letters of thanks from Russia. The pirate production is very cheap, for example a CD with the newest version of Microsoft Office or Windows will cost you $4 or less, the same is applicable for any other software product.

The information from my sites was stolen many times. If foreign based services remove offensive sites (or take care that stolen information is removed) within 24 hours, Russian ISP's advised me to contact the thieves and try to regulate the matter myself. I would understand if it was paid subscribers whose money they did not want to lose, but one of the sites was hosted by a free service provider www.narod.ru, and the result was the same: "Yes, we also think it's bad, but we are not authorized to solve such problems. Apply to the site owner". Articles from my Russian site are stolen regularly, I stopped counting. One of my agents also reported a book published in Belarus that was an exact copy of the information from the website. There is no way you can get the thief back. (I recently started placing them on the Black List though :-)

Russians are used to a situation where everything is unpredictable and unstable. They live in a society where anything can happen, and don't wonder when the national currency loses 25% of it's value 3 days after the president's public promise that there won't not be any inflation in the nearest future because the situation has never been more stable. They have to adapt to new rules and laws quickly, and they manage successfully with this task. After "The Black Monday" (17 August, 1998) when the government announced default, and the ruble fell dramatically, people from any Western country would run to change the government. Russians ran to exchange rubles for dollars.

Actually, the crisis of 1998 made good for the country: when imported products became unaffordable, the Russian industry had favorable conditions for development and could occupy the large part of the market. Currently economical situation of Russia is stably improving.

Russians had to make the long journey from the total control of the Soviet times to the total uncertainty of the current situation. Their life has changed extremely, and if taking peoples' happiness means of measurement, it definitely changed for the worse. The older people are very sorry for the Soviet times, when everything was understandable, predictable and stable. One could not get a much better life than the others with all his talents and hard work, but he was confident he would have the necessary minimum: a place to stay, a job, free good quality medical aid and affordable prices for goods, his children would have free education and free access to any sport and cultural facilities. Well, guys, it was not such a bad time!

Nowadays people have lost those advantages of the socialist state, and they have yet to have the full advantages of Western capitalism. The majority of Russian people do not really understand the huge difference in the life in Russia and on the West. Russians do NOT consider their life as miserable. They feel that things are changing for the better and "everything's starting to work out" in their country. President Putin with is desire to clean up and stop corruption is very popular in masses. The frantic desperation of early 90th, when there was no food in shops, and late 90th with their economical roller coaster, is no longer there. The child birth rate is on the raise, which is a sure indicator people feel more confident about their future.

Russians like to emphasize their different attitude towards material values and consider themselves as sincere, cordial, understanding and unselfish. They like to talk about "specifics of Russian soul" or "mysterious Russian soul", and repeat the famous phrase of a Russian poet "You can't understand Russia by your mind".

Generally, Russians love their country. They can criticize it severely, but if you try to do the same they will defend it furiously. They feel like citizens of the largest county in the world, which has rich history and deep cultural roots, and they are proud of it.


By Elena