Cultural Differences

[1HappyGuy 45]

That word Greed, seems to have quite a different meaning to them. My wife uses that a lot to refer to me and it doesn't seem to fit the context of what we were discussing. I'm going to have to ask her to define what she thinks greed means. I've noticed that she tends to use some words, that although could fit the situation, don't quite apply as I understand it. I think one reason could be that they tend to learn British English as opposed to American English. We do speak differently from our British cousins.

I just want to comment about how the Russian speaking women look and act. It does seem that they take much pride in being women and work hard at keeping their appearance up. My wife will not leave the home in what she calls "house clothes" although they would be perfectly acceptable from an American woman's point of view.

I find it great. To me the women from eastern Europe as just darn sexy. The American women could learn a lot from them.

[CityCat 0]

That word Greed, seems to have quite a different meaning to them. My wife uses that a lot to refer to me and it doesn't seem to fit the context of what we were discussing. I'm going to have to ask her to define what she thinks greed means. I've noticed that she tends to use some words, that although could fit the situation, don't quite apply as I understand it. I think one reason could be that they tend to learn British English as opposed to American English. We do speak differently from our British cousins.http://www.visajourney.com/forums/style_images/1/folder_editor_images/rte-switch-editor.png

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I just want to comment about how the Russian speaking women look and act. It does seem that they take much pride in being women and work hard at keeping their appearance up. My wife will not leave the home in what she calls "house clothes" although they would be perfectly acceptable from an American woman's point of view.

I find it great. To me the women from eastern Europe as just darn sexy. The American women could learn a lot from them.

Well, watch out, gentlemen: American practicalness and money counting and measuring the expenses (totally normal thing here) can (and in most cases will) be considered "Greed" for a Russian girl.

That's what 70 years of the "Nothing belongs to me, it's all society's, therefore I have nothing to lose" can do to personality. Besides, during those times money couldn't really buy anything, it was all about "connections".

So it explains the attitude to material side of life!

The younger the girl, though, the less trouble will there be with it.

I can't help being impressed by how "casual" (to put it mildly) AW are about their appearance. Not only clothes, but overall look. Except for CA, is there any AW anywhere who knows what a gym or a diet is?..

[mendeleev 68]

For traditional Russian gals, 100% equality in marriage is often a highly questionable concept.

OK, this sounds interesting. Who is more equal than whom, and in what ways, Blues Fairy?

[nyhazmat 2]

Differences...alot

I put the soft drinks/juice/beer what ever in the refrigerator and she leaves it out, I hate warm Diet Coke. She will attempt to refreeze meat that has been thawed out. As far as fruits and vegtables, I never really ate much of them, but I have developed a taste and liking for them. I like air conditioning, she doesn't, we compromise. She likes to get dressed up more than I do, I would rather put on boots and fire up the bike. There are a few financial differences, but WE are learning to adapt to middle ground. As far as different types of food, we both like to try new things and neither of us is afraid to say what we don't like. She loves dried fish and I refuse to eat anything that I would use for bait. She puts mayonaise on everything, I only use it sporadically. Oh yeah, did I mention salt? The Atlantic Ocean has less salt than she consumes in a week. No shoes in the house, not a bad thing. She is very organized, not me. All-in-all a few fun differences and growing pains, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[KoshkaMoshka 0]

We just came from Colorado and i had in my bag only comfortable clothes and shoes,and my husband said that i probably never would wear clothes like this in Russia:)))(I agree) But anyway.. I missed my shoes on heels

[Buck and Natalia 0]

This is going to be the "official" Russia Forum Cultural Awareness thread. Post about little things that are different between U.S./FSU couples. Could be widely-held superstitions, could be something small that you or your S/O do.

Fun Thread Slim. Thank you for starting it. I read some of your "hot looking wife" posts. It sounds to me like she is going through "adoration withdrawal." For a woman, beauty is power whether she lives in the USA or FSU. The difference is that in the FSU, beautiful women are more openly adored and sugar daddies are more common and tolerated. The american brand of feminism has never really been embraced by FSU women. In fact, ask your wife how she feels about american feminists. Indeed, ask her if she thinks american women in general are very feminine. Anyway, I digress. You could wait for your wife's adoration withdrawal to abate with age. However, she looks rather young in your photo together so this could be a very long wait. The waiting option is probably not very practical. The other option is to give her the adoration she craves. Not all the time but enough so that she is certain that you find her THE HOTTEST WOMAN ON THE PLANET!!!!! Ham it up. Lay it on thick. Twice as much as you would for any american woman. The trick, as you alluded to in some of your posts, is to do it in such a way that she sees your adoration as coming from "Slim the Lover" and not "Slim the Husband." Good Luck. Of course, it goes without saying that you can ignore my comments if you find them not helpful.

[Blues Fairy 0]

For traditional Russian gals, 100% equality in marriage is often a highly questionable concept.

OK, this sounds interesting. Who is more equal than whom, and in what ways, Blues Fairy?

Some are more equal than the others, apparently.

What I meant (speaking for traditional Russian gals) is that the rules of courtship should not cease to be honored when the relationship goes to the next stage. In the families of our parents man was the breadwinner and woman the keeper of hearth or at best the secondary breadwinner. Ideally, she never has to shoulder any considerable financial load. So a "feminist-brainwashed" western husband who demands that his wife pay 50% of the family's expenses would be considered unchivalrous and niggardly.

A few alternative synonims, as a possible explanation of "greedy" from the point of Russians: petty, ungenerous, parsimonious, tight-fisted. As opposed to more common meaning: covetous, avaricious, grasping.

Hope this helps.

[Buck and Natalia 0]

This is going to be the "official" Russia Forum Cultural Awareness thread. Post about little things that are different between U.S./FSU couples. Could be widely-held superstitions, could be something small that you or your S/O do.

Here is another cultural difference for you. Russians like their saunas rough (among other things). While traveling in Russia I was invited to a Russian bath. It was insanely hot and I had the hell beat out me with these tree branch things. A couple of times I wanted to scream but I thought that would appear unmanly. I did feel relaxed afterwards but it was the kind of relaxation one feels after a beating has ended.

[CityCat 0]

We just came from Colorado and i had in my bag only comfortable clothes and shoes,and my husband said that i probably never would wear clothes like this in Russia:)))(I agree) But anyway.. I missed my shoes on heels

What stops you from wearing them?

Here is another cultural difference for you. Russians like their saunas rough (among other things). While traveling in Russia I was invited to a Russian bath. It was insanely hot and I had the hell beat out me with these tree branch things. A couple of times I wanted to scream but I thought that would appear unmanly. I did feel relaxed afterwards but it was the kind of relaxation one feels after a beating has ended.

Yep, those things can get a little rough, I guess, to enjoy it, you gotta try it more than once. It's like eating oysters.

[Satellite 1]

It's like eating oysters.

Stop eating them raw, and try them on the barbecue with lemon sauce!

[CityCat 0]

It's like eating oysters.

Stop eating them raw, and try them on the barbecue with lemon sauce!

Nah, they have to be eaten raw, in a restaurant that's two hundred years old and served by a waiter who saw Maupassant alive! That's the way they eat 'em in Paris!

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

A couple of times I wanted to scream but I thought that would appear unmanly. I did feel relaxed afterwards but it was the kind of relaxation one feels after a beating has ended.

I think this is the definition of marriage isnt it????

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Nah, they have to be eaten raw, in a restaurant that's two hundred years old and served by a waiter who saw Maupassant alive! That's the way they eat 'em in Paris!

Lets all start eating like the french then, snails all around.

Cant say I enjoy oysters too much the occasional smoked one is ok.

If im going to eat something that is uncooked I prefer sushi or sashimi..

[CityCat 0]

Nah, they have to be eaten raw, in a restaurant that's two hundred years old and served by a waiter who saw Maupassant alive! That's the way they eat 'em in Paris!

Lets all start eating like the french then, snails all around.

Cant say I enjoy oysters too much the occasional smoked one is ok.

If im going to eat something that is uncooked I prefer sushi or sashimi..

Love snails!!!!!!!

Oyster shooters rock!

Sashimi only!

And I don't like any soup, including borsch... Call me Russian after it!

[slim 1,530]

Fun Thread Slim. Thank you for starting it. I read some of your "hot looking wife" posts. It sounds to me like she is going through "adoration withdrawal." For a woman, beauty is power whether she lives in the USA or FSU. The difference is that in the FSU, beautiful women are more openly adored and sugar daddies are more common and tolerated. The american brand of feminism has never really been embraced by FSU women. In fact, ask your wife how she feels about american feminists. Indeed, ask her if she thinks american women in general are very feminine. Anyway, I digress. You could wait for your wife's adoration withdrawal to abate with age. However, she looks rather young in your photo together so this could be a very long wait. The waiting option is probably not very practical. The other option is to give her the adoration she craves. Not all the time but enough so that she is certain that you find her THE HOTTEST WOMAN ON THE PLANET!!!!! Ham it up. Lay it on thick. Twice as much as you would for any american woman. The trick, as you alluded to in some of your posts, is to do it in such a way that she sees your adoration as coming from "Slim the Lover" and not "Slim the Husband." Good Luck. Of course, it goes without saying that you can ignore my comments if you find them not helpful.

I'll see what I can do. I'm trying, and my initials are BS! There's some truth in my adoration, though, I just want her to realize that the way she "did business" before isn't going to work for her now. I have no problems complimenting the ladies!!!

I think this is the definition of marriage isnt it????

Nah, they have to be eaten raw, in a restaurant that's two hundred years old and served by a waiter who saw Maupassant alive! That's the way they eat 'em in Paris!

Lets all start eating like the french then, snails all around.

Cant say I enjoy oysters too much the occasional smoked one is ok.

If im going to eat something that is uncooked I prefer sushi or sashimi..

Love snails!!!!!!!

Oyster shooters rock!

Sashimi only!

And I don't like any soup, including borsch... Call me Russian after it!

Ah, to be Parisian. To sip on coffee, smoke, eat delicious sea food and do nothing more than write short-stories or paint pictures all day. I've gotta get back there!