Hello - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

	The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian... International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

Pages: 1

Hello
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: eli

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to introduce myself to this forum. My name is Steve and I live in Quebec, Canada and I'm 28. I've been spending quite a time reading this forum and I thought that now would be the time I get in. I've also been looking for a lady in the FSU for about a year now without any real luck. I did correspond with some ladies but found out that some where just too fast for me, (ie falling in love after two letters) or we did not have anything in common after a few weeks of corresponding. Thought, I think that the wind as changed since I'm now corresponding with a women from Khabarovsk since three weeks and she is a real sweetheart. We both agreed to take our time to know each other and I found out that it was so easy to write her like I'd new her for a very long time and she feels the same. The only little problem is the language barrier since she does not know english. Luckily for me I've been studying russian for sometimes now. Still, it takes me about two hours to translate her letters and about three to translate mine. I guess it is one good way to learn thought. She really appreciate what I do and takes it as a commitment and a mark of respect to her. She is also learning english on her side.

I got really interested in the russian culture in college where I was studying photography and cinema. In one course, we where presented on a big screen a few movies of Sergei Eisenstein and I really got in it. Then I started looking for all is movies and read a lot about him and what was is contribution to modern cinema. That is how I think I got to love this beautiful and mysterious country.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello to everyone.

Steve

Posted by: Castlestormer

Welcome Steve. You have a great name!

Jump right in, you'll like it here.

Posted by: andrei

Never had a thought I was living in a "mysterious" country)))))))

A look from the outside is always astonishing... Banal things that surround you every day might be amazing to someone on the other side of the globe... Steve you're so lucky that Russia looks mysteroius to you, I wish I could feel some of your enthusiasm too... Because all this dirt around me starts pissing me off already...

Posted by: Jutman

Hi

Have you consired use a online translator. ?? You have the advantage of knowing some russian, so you can pick up the worst errors.
And at a netcafe or what she use, she can do same. Write in russian and have it translated into English.

But remember to improve both of your language skills and to reduce the chance of bad translation, write the letter in BOTH languages.

Posted by: LeoN

Well come on board Steve.Good luck to your efforts.

Posted by: Pin Boy

Andrei,

Did you help rescue that beer truck that fell through the ice near Omsk that I read about on cnn.com?

If so, you're my hero. If not, my utmost respect to those involved in the rescue operation. Beer is one of our most precious products; it shouldn't ever be wasted or made to suffer like that.

Pin Boy

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by Pin Boy
Andrei,

Did you help rescue that beer truck that fell through the ice near Omsk that I read about on cnn.com? If so, you're my hero. If not, my utmost respect to those involved in the rescue operation. Beer is one of our most precious products; it shouldn't ever be wasted or made to suffer like that.

Pin Boy

hahahahahahah nnnooooooooo it was too far from the city, like about 150 miles to the South. So I wasnt able to help escape it, I was sleeping at the time)))))).

The driver was drunk and forgot that his truck was too heavy for an ice ride. You know we have about 5 places in our region where you're officially allowed to cross the river on the ice if your car doesn't weigh too much.

The Region Government tells us they're gonna build a bridge there because the place is too popular among those that want to cross the river there.

Anyway the businessman who the beer belongs to had no other choice but take the truck out. Otherwise he would have to sell his house or smth. to get the money back. People say he presented about 5 bottles to each of those who helped in the operation.))

Posted by: Pin Boy

Well Andrei, I'm glad the story had a happy ending. Maybe you'll get lucky and have another chance someday to be a beer
hero

Thanks for the reply.

Pin Boy

Curious? Would the driver get in trouble with the police for driving drunk? How strongly are such laws enforced if at all? What about if someone were killed by a drunk driver who caused an accident?

Posted by: SteveLA

Quote:

Never had a thought I was living in a "mysterious" country)))))))...Because all this dirt around me starts pissing me off already...

(Sorry to edit the quote so badly, but you made me laugh!!)
Well, at least to me, too, Russia is a very "mysterious" country. I think I already said in another thread just what a difference 30 years makes. My parents would never have been able to visit your country but, with a few (maybe a little more than a few) dollars, I can.

I have my trip planned for the end of March, and I am really excited about it....a few pointers from the folks around here really helped me plan (THANKS, EVERYONE!) and overcome the fear that I'd feel stranded.

Eli-Steve: Very best of luck, eh? Keep us posted. There are a lot of great people (from what I've read) here.

Steve.

PS: GREAT NAME!

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by Pin Boy

Curious? Would the driver get in trouble with the police for driving drunk? How strongly are such laws enforced if at all? What about if someone were killed by a drunk driver who caused an accident?

Of course he would. They would take his drivers license for 3 years. If he would kill someone he'd be in jail for long.

The problem is that places like Cherlak (where the accident happened) are too damn small and if you dont drive out of the town you can only be caught by Cherlak police, and they're either your friends or just as drunk as you, so you wont get caught. Or you just pay them right there outta your pocket, leave your car there and go to sleep, and just pick your car up in the morning like nothing happened.

Posted by: Jutman

My lady tells me that in her city, the traffic police could'nt care less. Okay, maybe in a accident. But I have seen her friends drink a half bottle of vodka in 2 hours and still drive.
Her best friends is in traffic police and under a 'translated' talk with her, I got the same impression.

Posted by: Jutman

Hi eli

I noticed you are from Quebec. Did you know this name origin!?

- -Its from Jutland, and today is there a small village with this name. Its KIB�K.
When the normans arrived in France, its got change. First the B�K =(BAEK) into Kibech, and we all know that french people can't pronounce h, so its Kibec.
Its a little the same with K - the 'Ki' sound is the same in Danish as Qu so when France was charted and educated it became Qu and totally Quebec, which today the great francofil province has a name, even with the originally French national symbols in their stat flag.

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by Jutman
My lady tells me that in her city, the traffic police could'nt care less. Okay, maybe in a accident. But I have seen her friends drink a half bottle of vodka in 2 hours and still drive.
Her best friends is in traffic police and under a 'translated' talk with her, I got the same impression.

250 grams of vodka in 2 hours with necessary amount of snacks is not that much for one person. I could do the same too. Not that I would drive carefully, but at least I would be able to push pedals and make turns)))))))

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally posted by andrei
250 grams of vodka in 2 hours with necessary amount of snacks is not that much for one person.

Ah... The different perspective of different cultures. Andrei, I think you come here as you learn more about us than we learn from you!

Russia's drinking culture comes from European roots. Alcohol is part of daily meals, as well as used in celebrations. No good Russian host would serve drinks without food. The host prides him/herself on the table they set. Bread, fruit, vegetables, meats, cheese, juice, etc. are always a big part of the drinking experience. I imagine that even if a Russian drinks alone, he doesn't feel complete unless he has food to accompany it.

The inclusion of food and other non-alcoholic drinks certainly allow Russians to consume more vodka. And of course, beer is considered more of a soft drink.

In the US, alcohol is rarely served with meals in most homes. Children are not as exposed to drinking in a social setting. Their first experiences are typically once they begin to break away from the family, where they learn from their (also inexperienced) peers. The purpose of drinking, while still socially based, is with the goal to become intoxicated. This explains the college fraternity keg parties (how much beer is there in a funnel and a hose?), drinking before going out to the bar/club (saving a few dollars, so you can be really drunk at the end of the night), and drink recipes to fool the body that you aren't drinking that much alcohol (Long Island Ice Teas and Woo Woo's come to mind). "Binge Drinking" is a large problem on college campuses across the US.

I believe the result of this culture has the people who survive these years to fall into one of two groups -- the group that does not drink (or drinks very little), and those who are alcoholics (or at least still occasionally go on a binge).

Myself, I enjoy sitting with a group of Russians and raising a few toasts. And if done in their manner, I have drank a good amount of vodka and still felt fine the next day. I have even been presented with a bottle as a gift from some new Russian friends, who were impressed that an American could sit down with them and celebrate the Russian way.

Posted by: Jutman

In the countries Sweden and Romania, you can't even sip to a beer and then drive legally.
In my country the limited is about 0,5 liter (pint) of 5% beer.

Posted by: ConnerVT

The laws in the US have been also getting progressively stronger in the past 10 years. Mostly driven by the insurance industry, not by any social demand, I'm afraid.

In Russia, many of the laws seem to be enforced more arbitrarily. Guess that's a result of not paying police enough to live on. Also, I imagine the purchase of breath analyzer machines falls pretty low on the list of "must buy" items for most police forces, when decent pay and uniforms are still needed items.

In the US, it's typically 700 ml (24 Fl. oz) of beer or 60 ml (2 Fl. oz) of liquor in an hour that puts the average man over the legal limit.