Ashamed to be Russian?

[dragonkid]

so yesterday i was on the train, there was a lady asking help from an employee at the platform, the employee was rude, so i let the conversation die between the two of them, and stepped in to help her out. Immediately she told me that the employee hates foreigners, i told it that the person just had an attitude problem, i helped her out, anyways we both got on the train, i was minding my own business. i glanced at her and wondered, she was white, blonde, in her 50's,, dressed well, so i decided to ask her where she was from, she smiled , quickly tilted towards me to whisper and say she was russian. So i said something to her in russian, she smiled, tilted again and whispered asking me where i was from, told her, and said i was there, looking to return, told her i want to see saint peters, and sochi, she was smiling a lot, but didn't want people to know she was russian, it was a short journey and i got off. Some of the people i talk to are slightly worried about foreigners perceptions of russians. Have you found the same thing?

[Gator]

Without talking more with the woman you met, you can not be certain about why she spoke with restraint about her heritage.

I can not speak about Britain, yet in America my answer to your question is "No."  I do know America's relationship with Russia is less strained than Britain's. 

I frequently meet Russians here, mainly RW in their 30s or older, friends of my wife.  They are good people.  They are Americans in the sense they are building a life here and do not plan to return to Russia, ever.  They are Russians in the sense of social culture, from manners to food tastes and music to humor.  I sense no shame about being Russian.  To the contrary, they are proud of their Russian heritage, and are far less boastful about expressing such pride in comparison with Americans, many of whom are brash.   

We talk little about politics, yet they will express concern about Russia's economy and the effect on family still in Russia.  None tout Putin, yet it seems they believe Russia needs a strong, smart leader such as Putin.   

Not all Russians I have met here are good people.  My wife has mentioned some "bad" Russians she has met here and avoided any further contact with them.  She went to just one RW community meeting as many RW were not anyone she wanted to befriend.  She did socialize with a couple of single RW here who later proved themselves to be deceitful in one case and trashy in another.  The two are now ostracized by her social group.