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I just received this in a newsletter. I thought I'd pass it along for your enjoyment.

                     Cheryl Adams Rychkova

                     Da'bro pozhalovat! Or welcome, to the wonderful, mystical world of Russian
                     history and culture! For most people living in the Western world, Russia is
                     something of an enigma. The country is so vast, the people and society so
                     complex, that to take up the study of this culture can be a bit intimidating! It's
                     even more complicated for many Americans to understand the true nature of Russia
                     and her people. For many years we were fed an endless stream of propaganda --
                     who knew what to believe? This article will seek to dispel a few of the more
                     common misconceptions many Westerners have about Russia and Russians.

                     Myth number one: Russians are very serious people who seldom laugh and have
                     absolutely no sense of humor. FACT: Just like people in every country, Russian
                     personalities come in all varieties. On the whole, however, I must say that nearly
                     every Russian person I have met has an outstanding sense of humor - in fact, their
                     humor is much closer in nature to American jest than say, the English is. So, it's safe to say, that most of the things you find funny, a
                     Russian person will, too.

                     Myth number two: Mikhail Gorbachev was a hero to the Russian people. FACT: Nothing could be further from the truth. While
                     many people in the U.S. and other countries were enamored with "Gorbi," most Russian people saw this man as the leader who
                     destroyed their economy and helped to bring about the powerful Russian Mafia. There has been great misery in Russia and the former
                     Soviet Republics -- and a lot of the blame is rested on the shoulders of the man who attempted such vast reforms - and who may have
                     done so too quickly.

                     Myth number three: Russians refer to one another as "Comrade." FACT: Nope. How do you address friends and acquaintances --
                     with a "Howdy, partner?" ;)

                     Myth number four: Russians -- under Communism -- had to stand in long lines for hours waiting to buy toilet paper. FACT: I
                     really love this one. No, it isn't true, at least in post-Stalinist times. Russians waited in line just like we do in America and most
                     other countries -- but not for toilet paper or other basic necessities. There have been times where basic resources have been hard to
                     come by, and there have been times that people have had to wait in long times to get them. However, this was not the every day norm
                     that has often been portrayed in Western media.

                     Myth number five: Russians are all alcoholics who drink vodka day and night. FACT: Here is a tricky one. Sure, there are plenty of
                     Russian alcoholics, just like in the rest of the world. The collapse of the economy in Russia has naturally led to a sharp increase in
                     alcoholism. However, traditionally speaking, vodka is a definitive aspect of Russian culture -- but in a nice way. For most Russian
                     families, vodka is used on three occasions: 1) at celebrations such as birthdays, weddings or other important occasions; 2) to relax at
                     the end of the work week, and 3) for medicinal purposes (I'm not joking about that one). We'll deal with Russian home remedies in a
                     later article. Another point to ponder is that on all the above occasions, the vodka is consumed along with food -- frequently
                     considerable food. There is a specific ritual to the drinking of vodka and it has nothing to do with alcoholism. It does; however, have
                     everything to do with Russian culture.

                     Myth number six: Russians are mean-spirited people. FACT: Again, you will find these types everywhere. On the whole, however,
                     you'd have to look hard to find a kinder, gentler, "give the shirt off their back," love children and dogs kind of people.

                     Myth number seven: Russian women are all fat, hairy, grunting beasts with no fashion sense. FACT: Totally false. From a casual
                     American woman's standpoint, personally, I think Russian women fix and dress up too much and wear too much makeup -- however,
                     they are generally very feminine and extremely well-groomed, even those in poverty. The young women are almost universally slim.
                     As they grow older, many of them tend to spread, just like their Western sisters... sigh... and there is also no truth to Russian men
                     prefering big women (as a rule, I mean), so any Western woman thinking she'll find a Russian man so she can go off her diet can pretty
                     much forget it -- believe me, I know, I'm married to one!

... in response to Popular Myths, posted by Zink on Aug 28, 2002

I had believed that myth about Gorbachev myself and I asked someone why Gorbachev and Yeltsin couldn't do something about all of the corruption and mafia crime.  I was told, who do you think got them elected, it was the mafia that got them elected.  Also I have seen the sense of humor to be true not only in the ladies but one guy I met on the plane had a very funny story.  He said that he grew up in Ukraine and spoke fluent Russian but was now working in San Jose, California and wanted to take six bottles of vodka back with him.  When the customs agent tried to stop him, he said, "I think it's enough to get me to San Francisco!"  Of course the customs agent let him through with his vodka.  The last myth though may still be true about babushkas because I had my video camera out while driving around and I was looking for deyvushkas but that early in the morning only babushkas were out and they were like me in that they are not easy on the camera.

... in response to mostly true, posted by Ramblin on Aug 29, 2002

Gorbachev was not elected in a free election, he was the "elected" Chairman of the Communist Party which automatically gave him the Premiership. There were some "elections" but the outcomes were always predermined.

It was Boris Yeltson who allowed the corruption to spread. He didn't have much choice though. He was a "puppet" of the "Ogliarchs" who assumed defacto power during the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.

The Russian mafia started from 3 basic groups. In the 80's there were a large number of black marketers providing goods and services to those who could pay. The second group was KGB who either did business with the black marketers or those who decided to go freelance. The ones who made off with the Soviet treasury were the Communist bosses who basically saw the "writing on the wall" and decided to take advantage of the situation. Those 3 groups combined created the situation that Russia and the FSU is in now.

For decades, the Communists taught that Capitalists and businessmen were all corrupt gangsters. Several generations were taught nothing else and when the Warsaw Pact collapsed, the Communist bosses started their criminal organizations. They figured if the people wanted capitalism, they would give it to them but they would still try to run things. Many of them are now what you would call "Ogliarchs"... basically the ones who did the most looting but curried favor with those still in political power. It will take a least another generation to clean out these "bosses" from the Russian political system. The United States has had parallel situations. After the Civil War, many corrupt political "machines" ran the major cities such as Chicago, New York, Boston, and Philidelphia. The Southern states also had it's share of political "machines" that ran things. The second notable occurance was during prohibition. Organized crime syndicates practically took over local and state politics in most states. Al Capone was in total control of Chicago until the feds moved in. The Kennedy family fortune was started by bootlegging during prohibition. We still suffer from the corrupt Kennedys wanting to pick our pockets.

Many Russians don't fully understand the political situation that is happening in Russia. I've talked to many and they all have a different take on things, but one thing they all agree, things are bad there.

-blm

... in response to Nyet...., posted by BarryM on Aug 29, 2002

Thanks for the details but the point remains that Gorbachev and Yeltsin were not heroes loved by the Russians but rather well connected (doesn't matter what you call them Oligarchs, mafia, kgb, communist leaders, whatever) to those leaders and were not freely elected and did not stop corruption because they were a part of corruption and were in power because of it.  So the myth that they were loved for breaking up the Soviet Union is false as the article claims.

... in response to Re: Nyet...., posted by Ramblin on Aug 30, 2002

Ramblin,

  In 1996 I had the pleasure to personally witness history while in Moscow as the people of Russia actually elected it's new leader. It was the people's vote that made Yeltsin president and there were many people concerened about the communist canidate, a fella named Gannady, if I remember his name correctly. There was a lot of rallies from the top three candidates. Weeks before the election the guy persumed to be running a close second place with Gannady gave his support to Yeltsin and it was enough to give Yeltsin the presidency.

  I feel Gorbachev had a LOT to do with the breaking up of the Soviet Union. Another leader might have continued trying to keep the USSR together. There are many Russians who love him and hold him in high regards and I think when history looks back on him many years from now he will be looked on favorably.

... in response to Popular Myths, posted by Zink on Aug 28, 2002

I have befriend a Ukrainian guy who shares the same interest that I do.  I asked him a pretty broad question and this is his response.

BP I have often wondered how much do people make in Ukraine
BP But for instance, how much does a worker at McDonalds make an hour ?
BP I see a lot of women work as secretaries in offices, what is there base wage?

I don't know about McDonalds...
In Ukraine, only own bussiness give you a good money.
Usual office job for women, well, it depends, about 100-200 USD per month. We don't count salary per week or per hour, only per month.
But take into account, that the price level in Ukraine is much more lower than in USA, especially rent, transport and some kind of food.

... in response to Re: How much do they make ?, posted by wsbill on Aug 29, 2002

How much one makes is actually irrelevant!
One can make XX dollars in Silicon Valley and be 'poor', yet, one can make the same amount in say rural Vermont, and be considered as 'well off'.
What is relevant is how long one must work for roughly equivalent (adjusted for local conditions/standards) goods/services.
Say one must work a given number of hours for one's accommodation - then one can compare this to how long another must work for his/her accommodation (assuming that the accommodations are roughly equivalent in terms of the local standards).
Pre-tax and post-tax incomes differ widely around the world, and services provided by Governments also differ.
Comparisons, to be even somewhat valid, must be made using the equivalent (or adjusted for equivalency) measures.
Why would you even ask how much does a worker in McDonalds make? Would you be impressed if a McDonalds worker made $25.00 per hour? If an apartment this worker rents is $2,000 per month, would this wage still seem good to you?

... in response to Re: How much do they make ?, posted by wsbill on Aug 29, 2002

Doctors’ and teachers’ salary is about 30-40$, up to 60$ per month. Nurses and other categories of less educated people, working in the “state institutions”, have much lower salary. On the same time, the driver of trolleybus has salary about 100 $. About 80% of Ukrainian intelligence had to go to the open (street-) markets to sell things.

... in response to Re: How much do they make ?, posted by wsbill on Aug 29, 2002

I don't know much about Ukraine but this is what I was told in Russia. It varies from city to city. People in Volgograd told me that $70-100 US per month was pretty common. In Vladivostok I was told $150 was average. I've heard that Moscow is much higher. But living expenses there are much more also.

... in response to Popular Myths, posted by Zink on Aug 28, 2002

Zink, It was interesting to read, even for Russian woman :-)
Thanks.

... in response to Re: Popular Myths, posted by Marinka on Aug 28, 2002

Marinka,

I may have missed this... what part of Ukraine are you from? And... how did you find out about Planet-Love?

Just wondering...

... in response to Re: Re: Popular Myths, posted by MarkInTx on Aug 28, 2002

I'm from Kherson, my friends told me of thie board