JohnK on Russian Perceptions of America

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: JohnK on Russian Perceptions of Amer..., posted by micha1 on Jan 8, 2002


We didn't go metric beause the cost was too great.

Why does Russia still use Cyrillic font? Why does Japan use Kanji?

Next you'll be asking why America doesn't go to the Euro.

And yes, your comment about sending a "Kung Fu" artist after bin Laden was out of place...

[micha1]

... in response to Metric, posted by MarkInTx on Jan 9, 2002

Mark,  perhaps we didn't understand each other here.
The metric system, meter, liter, etc........   Not the languages,  the mesure syste

[charles]

... in response to JohnK on Russian Perceptions of America, posted by Cold Warrior on Jan 8, 2002

This post is a good one and I think it is generally correct.  It is  important to know that these perceptions exist AND DEAL WITH THEM as a relationship develops.  My wife did not come here for America - she had worked in Western Europe as well as throughout Eastern Europe.  Plugging America is going to backfire for you as you try to develop a relationship.  We all think America is great, but they don't - that can be frustrating for both parties.  JohnK's post is correct in that few Americans know anything about other countries (many know little about America), so it is important to learn as much about their culture and JohnK's post is correct in assuming that they know a lot more about us than we know about them.

Interestingly, after a time my wife has become a flag-waving American.  Didn't start that way, as the perceptions in JohnK's post were generally applicable to her.  But here's what "turned" her from her perceptions:

a)  She found in my family the same closeness that she found in Ukraine.  So get her involved with your family.  If you have a big family, you're way ahead of the game.
b)  She found that if she put her mind to it, she could develop a large social net just like in Ukraine.  Now we can't go into a store or shop without people saying hello.
c)  She likes the openness and diversity of American culture.  It took awhile to appreciate it, but I'm glad I didn't push it too much.
d)  the real clincher came when her mother suddenly had a stroke and she had to return home for a couple of months.  While she tirelessly worked to help her mother recover, she repeatedly said she missed being home.

I guess my point is that JohnK's perceptions are generally correct, and if you want your relationship and ultimate marriage to be successful you must deal with them and, at least in my case, it's not an issue anymore.

[John K]

... in response to Re: JohnK on Russian Perceptions of Amer..., posted by charles on Jan 8, 2002

One thing I neglected to mention came from a conversation with a young Ukrainian lady.  She told me that living in America was extremely difficult for her, until she finally decided that she was going to accept America, despite its differences.  After that, it was all downhill for her.  Now she is relaxed and comfortable with America.  Sure, she isn't exactly joyous with American life, but she isn't miserable anymore.

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Re: JohnK on Russian Perceptions of Amer..., posted by charles on Jan 8, 2002

Your input on how to make the transition process as easy as possible for us guys hoping to bring over a RW is greatly appreciated. I salute your wife in that she make an effort to adapt instead of sitting around and complaining. I like the idea that she regards home as where her husband is. Best wishes to you.

[Zink]

... in response to JohnK on Russian Perceptions of America, posted by Cold Warrior on Jan 8, 2002

Very interesting  post. Here's an observation I've noticed over the last few years in my part of Canada.

When I was a kid there were small dance halls every ten-twenty miles in the country. And they were used on a regular basis. There were lots of rodeos, ball games and community picnic style events. Neighbours helped each other continually and never asked for more than a meal in return.

Now almost everybody has internet and sattelite TV. Nobody goes to visit their neighbours to play cards or just visit. We all all just sit and watch TV or play on the computer. I know I'm guilty of this myself. Added to that is the fact that most young people get out of these small towns as fast as they can and never come back it makes for a big problem. The social life here has died in the last 10-15 years.

I know that the social isolation is part of what is driving me to travel and meet new friends around the world. And more and more of my friends in their late 20's and early 30's are doing the same. It beats sitting and watching TV alone. If it's bad for people like me and my friends who grew up with these changes taking place, I think it would be really hard on somebody to step from a life similar to what we had ten years ago in what we have now with no time to adapt.

And unfortunately most of what JohnK said applies here as well.