Ask me questions.

[onodera]

I noticed that Russians never smile. Why is that?

We do smile. When I am happy, I smile. When I see someone I love, I smile. When I see something funny, I smile. When I see a coworker or a client, I don't.

Why is it that when on holiday, Russians are actually more annoying than the British? An impressive feat, but there it is.

And how long would it take me to learn Russian? Not perfectly of course, but in order to survive out there.

I have no ****ing clue, really. However, it is true. Money goes to their heads, I suppose.

Learn Russian? It's not an easy task. It is an Indo-European language, so at least the words do look familiar most of the time, but the rules are complex. Nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronouns, they all have a multitute of forms in Russian. If you are okay with speaking broken Russian with no regard to correct conjugations and declinations, then I guess a year is enough.

Do all Russians run around with those awesome fur caps in the winter?

Yes. And Russian women run around in awesome fur coats. We've exterminated the animal-loving nutjob hippies, so they feel safe.

[Felch]

This question comes from the Venezuela thread.

Did the modernization and diversification of the Russian economy under the Soviet Union benefit the poor in Russia? I understand it's not an easy question to answer, but you're the best person here to ask.

[Saras]

To give credit where due, Russians coming to visit Lithuania are way WAY nicer than Brits coming to Lithuania.

[onodera]

This question comes from the Venezuela thread.

Did the modernization and diversification of the Russian economy under the Soviet Union benefit the poor in Russia? I understand it's not an easy question to answer, but you're the best person here to ask.

If I understood your question correctly, then yes, the poor of Russian Empire benefited from the industralization carried out by the Soviet government.

To give credit where due, Russians coming to visit Lithuania are way WAY nicer than Brits coming to Lithuania.

Well, duh. We think we're coming to a European country, they think they're coming to the place their farmhands and construction workers are from.

[DanS]

What countries have you traveled to outside of Russia?

[Saras]

If I understood your question correctly, then yes, the poor of Russian Empire benefited from the industralization carried out by the Soviet government.


Well, duh. We think we're coming to a European country, they think they're coming to the place their farmhands and construction workers are from.

Both are wrong, also Europe is a bit more to the west, and the bulk of british builders and farmhands come mostly from Poland and Romania

[Q Classic]

Are Russian babushkas all Baba Yagas?

[VetLegion]

This question comes from the Venezuela thread.

Did the modernization and diversification of the Russian economy under the Soviet Union benefit the poor in Russia? I understand it's not an easy question to answer, but you're the best person here to ask.

The poor benefited. But that is not the real question. The real question is whether they would have benefited more had capitalism survived. And the answer is: most likely yes.

[Felch]

The poor benefited. But that is not the real question. The real question is whether they would have benefited more had capitalism survived. And the answer is: most likely yes.

I agree with that. The question in the thread dealt with modernizing economies though, not with capitalism v. communism.

[Myrddin]

What countries have you traveled to outside of Russia?

Or more interestingly, what parts of Russia have you travelled to?

[Q Classic]

What is your take on the merger of many of the famed OKB design bureaus into the United Aircraft Corporation? Do most Russians miss the names of Mikoyan, Sukhoi, Tupolev, Ilyushin, and the like?

[onodera]

What countries have you traveled to outside of Russia?

Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Austria. Going to UK this May. Also want to visit Iran.

Or more interestingly, what parts of Russia have you travelled to?

Kaliningrad oblst, St Pete, Tambov oblast, Sochi. I have never been to the other side of the Urals, but would like to.

What is your take on the merger of many of the famed OKB design bureaus into the United Aircraft Corporation? Do most Russians miss the names of Mikoyan, Sukhoi, Tupolev, Ilyushin, and the like?

It's not like the names are gone. GM doesn't call their cars "GM", does it?

[Alinestra Covelia]

So, how about that Kalinin oblast? There's a weird little enclave, for sure. Does that oblast cause any problems among the residents, for being separate from Russia? Does it cause any problems for the neighboring states?

Are there any jokes about Kalinin people being culturally different from the rest of Russia?

[onodera]

So, how about that Kalinin oblast? There's a weird little enclave, for sure. Does that oblast cause any problems among the residents, for being separate from Russia? Does it cause any problems for the neighboring states?

Are there any jokes about Kalinin people being culturally different from the rest of Russia?

Kalinin oblast is not Kaliningrad oblast. Kalinin oblas is called Tver oblast now, it's right next to the Moscow oblast.
Well, they have to obtain transit visa from the country Saras is from if they want to travel to the mainland by train. Plane tickets to Kaliningrad oblast are comparatively cheap, though.

And no, there aren't many jokes about them being culturally different. I mean, it's been what, 17 years since they got separated? Most such jokes are about residents of former USSR member states, like Estonians or Ukrainians.