Best, Worst, Most unexpected thing about FSU

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Maybe this is a difference between Russia and Ukraine, but I've never felt that Russians were taller than Americans--quite the opposite, in fact. I'm 5'4", and I feel like most women I meet are around my height, and my shoe size (US5-6) is always the first to sell out--whereas in America, I never have an issue getting shoes in my size, because hardly anyone has feet as small as me. Shoe size is also affected by weight, though.

5'3" isn't average for women in the US, either. The average height for all races, ages 20-29--5'4.5". For white Americans, it's 5'5". According to this, average height in Russia is on par with white Americans: http://subscribe.ru/archive/media.world.press.usa.rus/200511/08091052.html. But according to this same article, Russian men are significantly shorter than American ones, which lines up with my own observations.

Also, Alla grew up to her full height before perestroika/the 90s, and this, according to some articles, had effect (like 2 centimeters) in the height of people who were growing up during these times.

As I said...just my impression, could be wrong. You are correct about the shoe size issue. Alla thinks American women all have "feet for walking in snow" (or on water!) She is also a size 6 (US) and gets frustrated when she can't find those great shoes in her size!

[eekee 182]

As I said...just my impression, could be wrong. You are correct about the shoe size issue. Alla thinks American women all have "feet for walking in snow" (or on water!) She is also a size 6 (US) and gets frustrated when she can't find those great shoes in her size!

I always end up with the floor sample.

[SMR 368]

As far as the height of FSU men (and I have no data, this is just my observation), it seems to me the average is probably similar but the standard deviation is higher. There are lots of short guys and lots of tall guys. I figure this points to genetic diversity as well as a scarcity of resources.

In a scarce resource environment, large men have an advantage in that they can fight for what there is and small men have an advantage in that they can get by with less. Also, height variance indicates that perhaps the genetic potential is high but a lot of guys are mal-nourished and don't reach that potential.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As far as the height of FSU men (and I have no data, this is just my observation), it seems to me the average is probably similar but the standard deviation is higher. There are lots of short guys and lots of tall guys. I figure this points to genetic diversity as well as a scarcity of resources.

In a scarce resource environment, large men have an advantage in that they can fight for what there is and small men have an advantage in that they can get by with less. Also, height variance indicates that perhaps the genetic potential is high but a lot of guys are mal-nourished and don't reach that potential.

Meaning large men can better handle manhole covers?

[slim 1,523]

NOT TROLLING....so don't get defensive & wadded up, guys!

The most suprising thing to me about the FSU was their military pilots who were deployed with me during OPJ for the NATO mission in Bosnia back in the late 90s.

You've earned the right to be here. Honorary RUBber stamp!

In another thread I posted something similar to this. When I went to Korea in the late 90s there were so many Russian girls there and it was almost whimsical that I would be "on the same team" as the sworn enemy of my childhood years. I was all Wolverines yet there I was screaming, "RED Team GO!"

I would say that Ukrainians and Russians are slightly taller than Americans as a rule

It's an optical illusion. We're actually the same exact height it's just that Americans are so much meatier we look like we're shorter - especially from a distance.

If you take the average Russian man and average American man and stand them side by side, they're about the same height. But, the American dude outweighs the Russian by a good 30lbs and thus he looks more "square" than "rectangular." Women are the same weigh. (I just made a USPS commercial joke. Now that you have TV, Gary, you might get this one. "No way!" "Weigh. I mean, way... no weigh. If it fits, it ships!") American women and Russian women are similar heights but their body shapes are different because of their "meatiness." As such, Russian women tend to look taller and slimmer (with more curves) even though they're typically the same height and weight.

The consenus was Americans had better food and cigarettes, Russians had better alcohol and women.

Still the same, nyet?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

You've earned the right to be here. Honorary RUBber stamp!

In another thread I posted something similar to this. When I went to Korea in the late 90s there were so many Russian girls there and it was almost whimsical that I would be "on the same team" as the sworn enemy of my childhood years. I was all Wolverines yet there I was screaming, "RED Team GO!"

It's an optical illusion. We're actually the same exact height it's just that Americans are so much meatier we look like we're shorter - especially from a distance.

If you take the average Russian man and average American man and stand them side by side, they're about the same height. But, the American dude outweighs the Russian by a good 30lbs and thus he looks more "square" than "rectangular." Women are the same weigh. (I just made a USPS commercial joke. Now that you have TV, Gary, you might get this one. "No way!" "Weigh. I mean, way... no weigh. If it fits, it ships!") American women and Russian women are similar heights but their body shapes are different because of their "meatiness." As such, Russian women tend to look taller and slimmer (with more curves) even though they're typically the same height and weight.

Still the same, nyet?

I once read that if you stood 50 FSU and 50 American women together, naked, you could not tell which were which. I have not found a venue to actually conduct this experiment.

The point was that the only reason FSU women look so different is because they care about themselves and dress better, wear makeup etc., and the American women do not. This assumes you can find 50 FSU women that think "naked" means "no heels, make up, manicures or pedicures"

As for me, I think their shaving habits would still give them away.

I haven't seen that USPS commercial yet. Do I have to watch commericals?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I once read that if you stood 50 FSU and 50 American women together, naked, you could not tell which were which. I have not found a venue to actually conduct this experiment.

The point was that the only reason FSU women look so different is because they care about themselves and dress better, wear makeup etc., and the American women do not. This assumes you can find 50 FSU women that think "naked" means "no heels, make up, manicures or pedicures"

As for me, I think their shaving habits would still give them away.

I haven't seen that USPS commercial yet. Do I have to watch commericals?

[eekee 182]

What's the shaving habit differences? I know the male differences, but not the female ones...

[SMR 368]

What's the shaving habit differences? I know the male differences, but not the female ones...

What are the male ones? I know there is a fair bit of diversity both in the US and the RF about what men and women should shave but I wasn't aware of a clear cultural difference one way or the other.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

What's the shaving habit differences? I know the male differences, but not the female ones...

I'm curious about this one also. Iv'e never noticed any differences unless it was some chick from a small village out in the middle of nowhere...those ones tend to shave less from what Iv'e experienced otherwise I never noticed a difference.

Now for hair cuts... RUB guys tend to keep their hair shorter than we do over here.

[eekee 182]

Russian guys shave their armpits. Not every day, like girls, but like once a month.

Longer hair is trendier now too; not too many Russian guys have short hair unless they're gopniki.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Russian guys shave their armpits. Not every day, like girls, but like once a month.

Longer hair is trendier now too; not too many Russian guys have short hair unless they're gopniki.

OK...I'm so glad I read that post. The first time I was in Minsk, Kira cut the hair on my armpits while I was sleeping. I was like ####### ? She said it was too long. I didn't say anything other than told her if there's a next time it happens then I'm going to give her a hair cut when she's asleep.

Now I know.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

What's the shaving habit differences? I know the male differences, but not the female ones...

Um...

I my experience, FSU women do where American women usually don't.

Russian guys shave their armpits. Not every day, like girls, but like once a month.

Longer hair is trendier now too; not too many Russian guys have short hair unless they're gopniki.

Maybe true, but I am mostly bald so Alla says just buzz it all off and it looks "clean"

[eekee 182]

Haha I don't know what way "do" and "don't" goes, because I don't really ask my friends and feel like that for people under 30, RUB/Europe/America, whatever, mostly on the same page.

Yes, the armpit thing, as far as I can tell, is because of the lack of deodorant in Soviet times and is also required by the army. And armpit hair sticking out of t-shirt sleeves is considered gross.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

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Edited February 22, 2011 by Why_Me