Misunderstanding English

[Lily]

Now finally one of the few movies in English made by this wonderful RW who ia married to an American.
 

 
She tells stories about different perceptions among Russians and Americans. Enjoy!

[Doll]

How is this video about "mentalities"?
Then I need the definion of "mentality"
 

[Lily]

I meant to say that she tells about how different are people in their perception of various things that surround them. Perhaps my choice of the word 'mentality' is not quite correct. Sorry for that!

[Doll]

Her problem was NOT "perception" but lack of English and elementary knowing some things ( like "four faces")

[The Natural]

"How do you like Your job so far?"

"This is not so far"


Haha. Small misunderstanding like that is very funny.

I remember once in Ukraine we saw this funny looking house and I asked my wife:

"Do People live here?"
She answered:
"A liver?"

[Gator]

Lily, 

Thank you for the post.

This delightful RW tells a hilarious story about Mt. Rushmore.   Having been to Mt. Rushmore and having experienced RW confusions about America, I did the following:






The term mentality covers actions such as Russians breaking a queue, throwing trash out the window, or becoming defensive when people laugh at what they say in English (her funny story about answering the question "How do you like your job so far?").

Americans say 'pee in your pants.'  She uses the phrase.  Do Russians say the same?  I heard them remark about 'laughing so much their stomach hurt.'

[Doll]

Term "mentality" is derived from "mental" which  basically means (in this context) " way of thinking". Actions are signs of thinking.

[Gator]

We need an example of mentality.

I first heard in Egypt the term "mentality" applied to Russians as if Russians have a different mindset.

We were at the airport departing Egypt for Moscow.  We were with our baggage near the front of an Air Egypt check-in queue of about 50 people.  The computer at the Air Egypt counter crashed so Air Egypt shifted the check-in 10 feet to the left.  Overhead signage was illuminated to show the change. 

Instead of everyone stepping sideways 10 feet, many broke for the front of the line at the new counter.  I was shocked.  The orderly queue had changed into a mob scene.  People at the rear were pushing.  My companion and I lost some ground yet were still near the front being pinned against those in front of us.

The faster movers made it to the head of the line but had left their baggage with a friend or family.  Now that friend or family wanted to move up next to the fast mover (or fast crasher).  The mob would not let them break in.  A couple of those left behind started throwing the baggage to the fast mover. 

The Air Egypt agent at the counter stood in dismay and did not check-in anybody.  A Russian man asked the agent why he was not working.  He answered that the mob had to calm down.   The man said it was his fault (imagine that,  diverting blame).   He answered in excellent English, "No sir, the problem is Russian mentality."  And this is from an Arab - people not know for their stoic nature.

The agent started processing passengers and we eventually boarded. 

So, was the mob the fault of the airline?  Or was it a manifestation of Russian mentality?

[Lily]

Americans say 'pee in your pants.'  She uses the phrase.  Do Russians say the same?  I heard them remark about 'laughing so much their stomach hurt.'

Thank you for your comments Gator!
 
I think that Russians do use the expression 'pee in their pants', when they may want to say that someone is too weak to do something, or too scared to do something. Something like to be a chicken.   
 
I envy the fact that you and Mrs. Gator live close to this wonderful RW and her friend who did the movie!

[ML]

The woman said she came to USA to live in Montana.

So she has now moved to Florida; with or without original husband?

I remember a couple of FSUW telling me that I lived in the wrong place because it wasn't either Florida or California . . . and that I had to move.

Another told me I that I had to live within two blocks of a Metro station.

They usually know a lot about things they know nothing about.

[Lily]

The woman said she came to USA to live in Montana.

So she has now moved to Florida; with or without original husband?

 

From what I saw in those movies, she initially moved to the U.S. with another husband. There is a movie where she tells about the times when she was living in Russia and corresponded with her future American husband. If you scroll through that channel, you may find that movie and listen. That one was in Russian, though.
 
Here is her present husband Vinny, who she met while being already in the U.S. and just recently married this month.
 
http://youtu.be/TZfC-9LwotA?list=UUagovQN62TcGqAQplJi_6Kw
 
And here is Vinny telling about his job
 

[CanadaMan]

Term "mentality" is derived from "mental" which  basically means (in this context) " way of thinking". Actions are signs of thinking.

I have to agree with Doll on this one.

Although the video is amusing to watch, the title used for the thread "Russian Floridian about mentailities difference, in English" is misleading.

The Russian woman tells two stories: one about Mt. Rushmore the other about "so far".

Both of these stories are about misunderstandings of meaning, not about Russian mentality.
The exact same stories could have been told by a Greek, French, Romanian, Chinese, Italian or Cuban etc. woman.

In any of those cases the story would still be about misunderstandings of meaning, not about Greek mentality or French mentality etc.

BTW, much of the woman's confusion on the day she visited Mt. Rushmore was as a result of what her friends had told her. Had she not asked her friends about it, she wouldn't have been expecting anything to do with The Beatles.

[ML]

And also, tellingly . . . she apparently asked 'non-USA' friends about Mt Rushmore.

[Lily]

You are completely right, guys and gals. It would be good to rename the thread.
 
Who is Mr Rushmore, why is he famous?

[SANDRO43]

Who is Mr Rushmore, why is he famous?

Lily, it's Mt. Rushmore :

[ghost of moon goddess]

Lily, it's Mt. Rushmore :

Sandro, Lily asked what is Mr. Rushmore most known for, meaning why was Mt. Rushmore named after him?

[ML]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_E._Rushmore

Charles E. Rushmore (December 2, 1857 – October 31, 1931) was an American businessman and attorney for whom Mount Rushmore is named. Born in New York City, he was the son of Edward Carmen Rushmore and Mary Eliza (née Dunn) Rushmore, of Tuxedo Park, NY. He was married to the former Jeanette E. Carpenter.[1]

In 1883, a tin mine, the Etta, was opened, which caused excitement among Eastern investors.[2] In 1885 Rushmore was in the Black Hills of South Dakota to check the titles to properties for an eastern mining company owned by James Wilson. Although an Easterner, Rushmore quickly made friends among the miners and prospectors. One day he was returning to headquarters of the Harney Peak Consolidated Tin Co., Ltd., located at Pine Camp, which was north of the great granite peak soon to bear his name. With him were a local business man, and William W. Challis, a prospector and guide. As they neared the mountain, Rushmore turned to Challis and asked its name. Challis jestingly replied: "Never had any but it has now - we'll call the thing Rushmore."

[Muzh]

The woman said she came to USA to live in Montana.

So she has now moved to Florida; with or without original husband?

I thought she was to rendezvous with Vasili Borodin but he was killed by the KGB.

[Lily]

Thank you for the information!