It had never stricken me, it had never been that crystal clear until I moved to the UK how little (sadly!) or even less than little British people know about Russia and Russians.
Now I am sort of 'surrounded' by Western culture, unlike lots of Russians abroad I don't watch Russian TV, don't read Russian newspapers and I tend to watch lots of Hollywood and British films instead. And it seems to me most Western cliches about Russia are still more like 'Cold War' type things, Russia and Russians still being 'monsters under your bed', something you get scared about without knowing a slightest thing.
So, for you, dear readers, to get an idea of what it looks like to a Russian (pure 100% Russian :), here they are, British and Western cliches about Russia and Russians (based on films, programmes, articles on the Internet and in media).
1. Russians only eat cabbage soup. When they have had enough of cabbage soup, they start eating beetroot. Russians put beetroot into almost each and every dish, including puddings.
2. It's always bloody f***ing cold in Russia. Those who tell you it's actually +30 in Moscow in July are bloody sneaky KGB agents who just want to drag you into this freezing cold country where you are most likely to freeze you bloody bollocks off even in the middle of August!!! If you by some unluck have to travel to Russia in the summer you better pack your bloody uggs and a fur hat because it's bloody freezing.
3. All Russians are bandits, gangsters and mafia people. They are taught to be gangsters since kindergarten. A perfect gift for a Russian toddler is an AK gun. And a bag of beetroot, of course!
4. There are bears everywhere in Russia. Russians like deadly dangerous types of entertainment like getting drunk and dancing with bears in freezing cold. Bears in Russia actually prefer cabbage soup to honey, bite it, Winnie-the-Pooh!
5. Russians always shoot. They tend to start firing their AK guns as an argument in a discussion or every time they feel frustrated or upset. For example, when they don't have a bear to dance with or failed to find beet root in a banoffee pie!
6. Russians don't speak any English at all. Well, they don't have to - they all have an AK gun! If you come across a Russian who speaks almost perfect English, beware!!! It must be a sneaky f***king KGB agent.
7. When Russians speak English, they sound like meerkats. Like Alexander and Sergey from those infamous TV adverts. Only without being cute and cuddly like them.
So, if we have a look at typical Western cliches about Russia and Russians, they are: cold, vodka, bears, mafia, AK guns, beetroot and cabbage soup!
'Simples!!!'
Now I am sort of 'surrounded' by Western culture, unlike lots of Russians abroad I don't watch Russian TV, don't read Russian newspapers and I tend to watch lots of Hollywood and British films instead. And it seems to me most Western cliches about Russia are still more like 'Cold War' type things, Russia and Russians still being 'monsters under your bed', something you get scared about without knowing a slightest thing.
So, for you, dear readers, to get an idea of what it looks like to a Russian (pure 100% Russian :), here they are, British and Western cliches about Russia and Russians (based on films, programmes, articles on the Internet and in media).
1. Russians only eat cabbage soup. When they have had enough of cabbage soup, they start eating beetroot. Russians put beetroot into almost each and every dish, including puddings.
2. It's always bloody f***ing cold in Russia. Those who tell you it's actually +30 in Moscow in July are bloody sneaky KGB agents who just want to drag you into this freezing cold country where you are most likely to freeze you bloody bollocks off even in the middle of August!!! If you by some unluck have to travel to Russia in the summer you better pack your bloody uggs and a fur hat because it's bloody freezing.
3. All Russians are bandits, gangsters and mafia people. They are taught to be gangsters since kindergarten. A perfect gift for a Russian toddler is an AK gun. And a bag of beetroot, of course!
4. There are bears everywhere in Russia. Russians like deadly dangerous types of entertainment like getting drunk and dancing with bears in freezing cold. Bears in Russia actually prefer cabbage soup to honey, bite it, Winnie-the-Pooh!
5. Russians always shoot. They tend to start firing their AK guns as an argument in a discussion or every time they feel frustrated or upset. For example, when they don't have a bear to dance with or failed to find beet root in a banoffee pie!
6. Russians don't speak any English at all. Well, they don't have to - they all have an AK gun! If you come across a Russian who speaks almost perfect English, beware!!! It must be a sneaky f***king KGB agent.
7. When Russians speak English, they sound like meerkats. Like Alexander and Sergey from those infamous TV adverts. Only without being cute and cuddly like them.
'Simples!!!'
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