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I received this email from a girl friend. This basically speaks volumes about why I am how I am.
American kids: Move out when they're 18, with the full support of their parents.
Russian kids: Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married.....unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.
American kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and they sip coffee and chat.
Russian kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry, and rearrange the furniture. Of course with my parents, THE WHOLE TIME THEY ARE DOING THIS THEY WILL CRITIQUE THE FOOD YOU HAD, THE DUST THAT WAS THERE, ANY LAUNDRY THAT WAS NOT DONE WITH THEIR BRAND OF DETERGENT OR LINE DRIED, AND THE FACT THAT HOW YOUR ORIGINAL FURNITURE SET UP WAS ALL WRONG, AND ISN'T THEIR WAY BETTER.
American kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them, and it's usually only on special occasions.
Russian kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads show up,unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00, and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees, he'll plant some.
American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done.
Russian kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done..
American kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get cake and coffee.
Russian kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get Borsht, vodka, a salat olivye', a choice of two meats, bread, a dish of babushka's desert and fruit.
American kids: Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.
Russian kids: Eat selyodka and kartoshka with cherniy bread on the side
American kids: Know a few things about their parents.
Russian kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from them.
By the way, welcome to anyone who is reading this blog thanks to the link from the "Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap". I hope you'll stay around.
Friday, January 9, 2009
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8 comments:
My husband's family is Polish and not too far from your description of Russian families!
Pokey's family is Polish too! And very similar! I wonder if it is every ethnic background other than United States that has that type of relationship with/among familiy members? And what does that say about the U.S.A. culture?
What an amazing comparison, I wonder how other cultures stack up against Americans in the same manner?
I was going to say pretty much what "dizzblnd" said! Since it's already been said, I'll just say hi! "Hi!"
Was it quite a culture shock for your parents when they came?
As I was writing this I thought about my other "ethnic" friends and realized that this could probably apply to most cultures. I'm thinking it may be has to do with other countries being much more close-knit, and in some cases living multiple generations under one roof. "privacy" is just something they don't comprehend.
Yes, this sounds eerily familiar. And remember, there's no word for 'privacy' in Russian.
This is great! I love the comparisons.
Marinka - You're right, there is no such word. Also, no locks on any doors!
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