A Window into Russia

TO TRULY UNDERSTAND a country’s culture and its people, you need to visit—and not just to see through the window of the tour bus or by following the yellow umbrella of a tour guide, but to live in the country.

This Maymester, some students did exactly that in Russia: they walked in the streets (a lot, like Russians), rode the busses and metro, bought food, ordered meals at restaurants, were invited into people’s homes, studied at a Russian university, stayed in the dorm, and spoke Russian to Russians! No Russian course in the States can ever give such an experience…

After just a month in the country my students knew much more about Russian people and their life style than those who read about it for years in books and newspapers. For example, Alexander Pushkin is not simply a familiar name to them, but a real person who lived 200 years ago and has a monument or street named after him in every small town. No literature course can transmit such immediate knowledge or insight.

I asked my students to write answers to the questions: What was the largest cultural obstacle you encountered on this trip?  What was the nicest thing about your trip?

Here are some of their replies:

Student: The worst part was not being able to fully express what I wanted to say in Russian, I wanted to speak Russian but trying to describe complicated things I couldn’t do, and that really frustrated me. Culture wise, the food at first. Now that I have been here longer its starting to grow on me and if I were to stay longer I am sure I would like most Russian foods. The best part about this trip was seeing all the pretty sites, getting over my fear of flying, and making some great friends.

Student: The biggest cultural obstacle was the fact that Russia is 10+ years behind America in technology, fashion, and music. It was difficult for me to adjust to feelings from the 1980s and to explain to Russians what I saw without being offensive. My favorite part of the trip was the people. They are so nice in Russia and so eager to learn English and American culture.

Student: Largest cultural obstacle would be the smaller food portions. I basically ordered two meals and still come back to the dorm to eat. The nicest—the people by far. No place else have I met people so hospitable!

Student: The largest cultural obstacle that I have encountered in both my trips to Russia is the CULTURE!!! The people are polite, but not what I would call friendly. They are helpful if asked, but usually don’t offer unless asked. Being raised in the South, there are behaviors that have been instilled in me – such as holding the door for someone who may be entering or leaving a building, allowing older people to enter buses or buildings first. Some on our trip thought this funny for me as I guess I am considered “older”. I think that the living standards are very different-such as no Air Conditioning. Most of these are simply conveniences that we as Americans are just accustomed to. Our way of life is just different, not better. In fact there is much that I like about the Russian culture. I went shopping alone many times and as soon as I began to speak Russian, most the employees in the store came to talk with me. When I told them I could understand them only when they spoke slowly, they spoke slowly. They have just as many misconceptions and questions about us as we do about them. I really believe that we made a difference for the USA as everyone fell in love with our students and I am sure that the small gifts that were given by us will be talked about for years. I find that our cultures may have differences, but basically people are the same everywhere.

Student: The largest cultural obstacle I faced while in Russia was a toss between either the Russian cuisine, or the distinction of general interests between myself and the Russian students. The fact that I didn’t agree with the Russian cuisine was not a big surprise because I have the palette of a 7-year-old child, and my diet generally consists of only hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and chicken fingers, so the fact that herring, mayonnaise, and bread with random meats on the inside are the most frequently eaten dishes in Russia was bound to cause problems. The differences in interests between myself and the Russian students was a little more surprising. No one in Saransk played basketball, because the only people who get the opportunity to play are the kids considered to have potential to become professional—kids who are very tall and are shipped off to academies at a very young age. Only the most commercial American films reach Russia, so I was unable to bond with anyone over my interest in film. I accompanied some students to a recreation center, but the only things offered were riding bikes around a circular track and ping-pong, so that also proved to be a disappointment. Also, politics was a subject not often discussed in Russia. Whenever I asked if people liked their leaders, they either responded with indifference or said that they liked Putin because he was manly. Basically because of this lack in common interests, I found it hard to relate to the majority of the Russian students.  My favorite thing about Russia was how truly nice all the students were to us. Despite our lack of common interests, they visited us every day without fail, willing to assist us in any way they could. I could not help but thinking that they would be lucky to get half as nice and caring treatment from Americans if our roles were reversed.

~ ~ ~

I must confess that I felt proud and glad to introduce a small group of American students to my native country. The Russians we met were lucky to meet these positive, smiling, honest, open students from the College of Charleston as examples of the best of America.

If you can read Russian, you will enjoy these quotes from my students Journal which they kept in Russian. (I have kept their original Russian, which I think is quite good. They were taking Russ-201.)

Я встал и ел маленький завтрак. Я принимал душ без света в моей бани. Ранше я пошел в университет.

Вчера русскии студенты покажал музей на университет. Вечером мы готовили вкусна ужин. Потом мы смотрели “How I met your mother” или «Как я познакомилась твои мать».

Вчера мы пошли маленки деревню и пили чай. Мы купили игрушки, очень интересно.

Вчера я встал и почитал «Дама с собачкой» и занимался русский язык. Потом я учил разговор по телефону с Меган вечером. Потом я видел бабушки, кто живут в общежитии, и мы сказали об наши расскажем по телефону сегодня. Она сказала, что я буду сказать, и что она будет сказать.

Я часто занимаюсь. Очень трудно изучать русский язык! Русские студенты говорят, что они хотят преподавать нам. Они очень хорошие люди.

Сегодня понедельник. Русские студенты занимаются с нами. Мы также приготовили ужин. Кухня очень вкусная.

Сегодня четверг. Мы ездили домой к семье студентки. Её отец художник. Он молодец! Его картины прекрасные. Очень круто!

Сегодня дети учили нас! Ха! Они дали нам новые слова, и нам было весело. Были такие смешные.

Я ходила в собор в Санкт-Петербурге. Я очень люблю соборы. Я думаю, что они очень красивы, было очень много золота.

У нас была лекция по русскому, был противопожарный инструктаж в двенадцать часов. Я виделась с моей подругой по переписке из России. На обед мы едим в кафе, потом мы ходим по городу.

Сегодня мы ходили в военный музей. Мне очень понравился этот военный музей. Я думаю, это интересно увидеть фотографии людей с войны.

Я думаю, что русский язык очень трудный. Но я также думаю, что он красивый. Я предпочитаю читать русскую литературу. Я думаю, он интересный.

Я писала тест. Я готовилась к нему целый день, но все равно был трудном. На ужин мы готовили гамбургеры и картофель фри. Всё было очень вкусно, но то, что я действительно хочу – это такос.

В пятницу я посетила мою сестру Гузель. Она живет в Казань. Казань очень красивый город. Мне понравились Кремль и соборы. Я ненавижу поезда. Я больше никогда не поеду на поезде.

Я очень люблю Санкт-Петербург! Этот город большой. Мы были в Эрмитаже. Там было красиво. Я хочу жить в Петербурге! Я не купил сувениры.

Я приехал в Саранск. Саранск очень красивый город. Саранск находится на юго-востоке от Москвы. Мне нравится Саранск. Я ел шашлык и чак-чак. Это было вкусно! Я пил квас. Я не люблю квас.

Я ходил на футбол с русскими друзьями. Мы говорили по-русски, это было очень трудно! Мне было весело!

Я ходил в парк с русской подругой. Мы учили русский язык. Я люблю парк. Он очень красивый. Мы слушали музыку. Она подарила мне СД диск “Pink Floyd”.

Я позвонила моему другу две недели назад. Я сказала: «Я люблю Россию и может быть буду жить через несколько лет». Потом он сказал, что он рад, потому что я рада, и что он хочет через год поехать в Россию со мной.