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The myth’s are true (re: myths about Russia)
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Posted by: Jutman

There are many myths about Russia. I will say, from what I saw and what my lady and family told me, they are true. Beside myth a comment about the boy-girl issue.

1. Men
Myth: Men drink, are lazy and abusive
I will say that the men do drink, but not all the time. But when they drink they properly drink more than most foreigner can consume. A reason for not drinking is they actually do work. At least from “8-4”. But from my own experience not at home.
I have no personal experience with the abusive part, except the information I got from my lady, there is jurist and her uncle there is a top prosecutor. Here there is a clear indication that is happen. One of her friends is rich, but does not give the wife any allowance. One way to keep her trapped. My lady 1st boyfriend who also end their relationship, by beating her so she got a concussion and blue marks for 2 weeks.
If they have a little money, they are not faithful. My ladies friends are people with a minimum a nurse education and NOT one of them are faithful.
2. Women
Myth: Pretty and hard working. Family oriented.
I am sure there is women there is not, but generally speaking I will say, yes to myth.
3. Quality
Myth: Russia has a low quality in the products and so on.
If you replace Russia with Sovjet, I will say yes. The houses are dangerous, not healthy. The maintains of trains, road, bridges and so on are almost none existing. Some traffic numbers: (killed in traffic per million citizen)
Denmark 85-90
USA 120-135 (approx.)
Ulyanovsk 900-1000
My lady lives in one of the better neighbor hood. But the rainwater drain was broken and has made the sour open. It stinks like …. In the bottom of the building is there a medical facility. Yeaks. However the uncle told me, the city administration want to shut it down, but no money and place to moved it to.
But I think a lot of the new stuff there is build and made, are up to Northern European standard and design. Just too little there is build.
4. Food
Myth: Good and tasty food, because there is no money for fertilizer and chemicals.
I would say yes. I liked the food very much. I think the vegetables taste better over there. The tap water issue. I had no problem with drinking the water from the tap. Back in February I was scared. But I tried a little and in few hours I noticed, no stomach problems.
5. Service
Myth: bad service and no smile.
I will say many people did not smile, but they did their job. For me is the worst part, no information. Like in the airport is there a line for US travelers, a line for to Asia and so on. But no signs tell you where to go. At a bus stop, I would like some information on where does the bus go and when?
6. Corruption
Thankfully I never had to use this myself. That it exist my lady tells me, OH YES. She had used it herself twice to get a subject exam. In the future its a way for her to make money, if we don’t get married, because she is a jurist – and maybe later an advocate. As a jurist she tells me that you can pay the ‘police’ money even if you have killed somebody and they will write a report stating it was an accident or suicide. Something like that. Her friend there is rich after local standards and drive imported car. Because of these, he should be stopped frequently even he has nothing done, but if he drives foreign he must have money. I was told sometimes he must pay 1000 Rubel (her aunt gets 1100 in pension a month).
7. Sexual discrimination.
Myth: Lower salaery and are sexual harrased.
Only from my ladies mouth. But last year she was offered a job, but only if she sometimes was working horizontal. The different salary my lady has no personal experience with, but had read about at law school. She admits she knows some of her friends has got jobs or promotion by sleeping with the boss. I don't know if its harrasement, buther boss tried to set up marriage or at least introduction with his son and my lady.

Beside the myth I will comment the men – meet – girl issue.
In short, not a problem if you have money. Just a little. As I wrote in my story, trip part 2. I saw how they want introduction – in a public place. My lady told me that many men, drive in their car and stop and ask if they can help. In a special place of the city, they girls line up (like prostitute) but there is of course a different, because these girls want some sort of relationship. Even its only for a month. My lady told me if a girl accepts a drink at a bar, then she already has accepted to sleep with him. If you read about her secret, her relationship with her lover was like that. If she accepted an invitation, she knew they ‘price’. The reason to why these men cheat their wife’s is none of their concern. My lady had the same opinion and if you read the thread, you will see she thinks very positive about the wife. Often the wife know about it. My lady best male friend is married and he cheats a lot (like a new girl a week plus his regular lover, my lady best female friend*). Here the wife knows about it.
Here I can add that the parents of the friend* know she has a relationship to a married man. My ladies relationship with the married man, HIS parents knew about.

Many times I saw group of girls hanging around, and asked why and what if I introduce myself. She answered, that the lack of good boys make girls desperate. If I introduced to a group of girls, at least one would be interested in going to restaurant, bar and then …
One time we were walking in the evening. The sunset was about to finish. Some girls walk towards us and for fun. I say to my lady. Maybe I go and ask “skolko”. My lady made big eyes and became a little angry. However she understood I was teasing, but explained that one of the girls properly would answer the skolko with “300 rubel”.

The more respectfully introduction.
Basically friends, colleagues and family set up dates with the wish they will get together and end up being married. My lady has tried this many times, many times. Even from her own mother, who have arranged 3 dates for her.