Russia is the country o f vast landscapes, vibrant life, beautiful
contrasts, and interesting people. Taking an immense space of 9000
kilometers from west to east and 5000 from north to south, being home
to people of so many different nationalities and customs, Russia is
often called a "bridge" between Europe and Asia, both geographically
and sociologically.
From the ancient times up to now, Russia has been changing and
re-shaping itself, its boundaries, its culture. In the ancient times,
the Slavs, Finn tribes, Tatars, had made their way through Russia, and
this mix of many different nations and their traditions has defined the
unique Russian character and culture.
Visiting Russia, especially if you come by a plane, you'll see
neverending forests and lakes, scattered among them, gleaming little
churches in Moscow and impressive imperors' palaces in St. Petersburg,
all the modern attributes of "capitalist" world and old relics of
communist times, hip crowds of young people and old babushkas (old
women) wearing big fur hats and coats in the snow. To us, it's all
about this kind of differences, about constant change in Russia now,
which makes it a very dynamic country with lots of energy and
potential. There has never been time in the Russian history, when it
was still or calm, always there would be something like a revolution,
an economy crisis, a war, as if to make life less predictable, and,
perhaps, more interesting too.
Russia is the largest country in the world. Ural mountains divide
Eurasian continent - and Russia - to Europe and Asia. One fourth of
Russian territory lies in Europe, the other part lies in Asia.
Russia¡¯s taking the area of 17.1 million square kilometers - it¡¯s
like USA and Europe together and the country is 9000 kilometers from
east to west and 5000 from north to south. The capital of Russia is
Moscow and the second largest city is St. Petersburg (which is also
called the "Northern capital").
The population is 147.5 million people and three fourths live in the
European part and one fourth lives in the Asian part of Russia (Siberia
and Far East regions). Most of these people are Russianss (81%) the
others are Ukrainians, Tatars, Belorussians, Polish, Germans, Jews,
Caucasians. The language spoken is mostly Russian.
Even though Russia is considered to be a mix of Europe and Asia, this
assumption is only based on geography. The reality is that culturally
Russia has always been oriented towards the West and the recent influx
of western lifestyle has created subcultures similar to those found in
any other major country opened to the information from the outside
world. Nevertheless, Russians managed to retain a certain degree of
intrinsic qualities of the national character that you won't find
anywhere else. It is very interesting to see how these peculiarities
affect and transform well-defined subculture groups, making them
inherently "Russian". The differences are less noticeable among younger
people who seem to have almost completely embraced the western
lifestyle, but the geration of people born in the second half of the
20th century still has some peculiar mix of the old Soviet attitudes
and the modern western lifestyle.
You
will meet middle-class families with all the standard "western-like"
wishes, attitudes, and lifestyle, and be surprised at the superior role
of the man in the family. You might see an old woman who looks
absolutely like your old quiet neighbour Miss Smith, until she shoves
the way with her elbows shouting to get in train before you do. You
will be invited for a dinner by your business partner and be surprised
at his taking offence in your unwillingness to drink this last fifth
glass of vodka. Your new Russian friends might feel very strange about
your vegetarian eating habits and these "worn-out" jeans you have. You
might be rejected by fancy Moscow clubs and warmly welcomed in the
family of the guy who will be giving you a taxi ride. Your new Russian
girlfriend might not like your "metrosexual" attitude, and your
tourguide will be truly amazed that you think it was not Russians who
won the second world war. When you go trekking, your guide will be
truly amazed at your wanting to take frequent, but short pauses. And
when you will be giving the passport to the immigration officer in
Sheremetyevo airport with a big friendly smile on your face, he might
think you're a bit silly.
All these are generalizations and exaggerations, of course, but the
point is that your encounter with Russians is going to be very
interesting, because of the hidden little differences, which you are
yet to discover. Just take it easy and be open-minded: Russians are
good-natured people with certain beliefs, which may seem strange at the
first sight, but quite understandable if you look a bit closer.
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