Who creates the negative stereotypes of Russian women?

[Kuna]

Interesting, why does she think she MUST speak perfect English?

Lily,

My Girl moved to Germany to learn German and really struggled during her first year there.  She said it was the hardest time of her life because she was just studying and she struggled to do even the most simple things.

She's adamant that she MUST speak perfect English because she wants to understand and be understood once she arrives here. She studies a few hours every day and if she misses one day (because she's too tired) she'll force herself to do more on the weekends.

She'll frequently question me on the differences between words like "significant" and "substantial"... or "adequate" and "sufficient".  Some times it's even difficult for me to explain...   

It's not so much for "career".. but she does want to have her own business in future and has decided the most important thing before immigration is the language.

I feel like I MUST speak Russian too...  but I can't say I'm anywhere near as committed as her.  Once she arrives I'm sure I'll improve a lot...  we genuinely want our children to be multilingual so they can communicate freely with both sides of the family.

Kuna

[Lily]

She's adamant that she MUST speak perfect English because she wants to understand and be understood once she arrives here. She studies a few hours every day and if she misses one day (because she's too tired) she'll force herself to do more on the weekends.

She'll frequently question me on the differences between words like "significant" and "substantial"... or "adequate" and "sufficient".  Some times it's even difficult for me to explain...   
 

Oh, okay, I got it now. I thought she wanted to SOUND like perfect English, but she meant expressing the nuances.

For the Russians whom I met, sounding like they were born in the country of residence was important.

[KenC]

Lily,

My Girl moved to Germany to learn German and really struggled during her first year there.  She said it was the hardest time of her life because she was just studying and she struggled to do even the most simple things.

She's adamant that she MUST speak perfect English because she wants to understand and be understood once she arrives here. She studies a few hours every day and if she misses one day (because she's too tired) she'll force herself to do more on the weekends.

She'll frequently question me on the differences between words like "significant" and "substantial"... or "adequate" and "sufficient".  Some times it's even difficult for me to explain...   

It's not so much for "career".. but she does want to have her own business in future and has decided the most important thing before immigration is the language.

I feel like I MUST speak Russian too...  but I can't say I'm anywhere near as committed as her.  Once she arrives I'm sure I'll improve a lot...   we genuinely want our children to be multilingual so they can communicate freely with both sides of the family.

Kuna

Kuna,
Just a "heads up" on improving your Russian abilities.  Let that at least take a back seat for a while until your girl assimilates into your world.  Speaking Russian will be a crutch for her and impede her English progress.  Many couples won't even get Russian TV for the first year or so in order to force the RW to watch (and learn from) the local TV.

We have a friend that will be celebrating her 20th year anniversary of arriving here from Moscow.  The whole family of 4 emigrated together.  Russian was the language in the home and they tended to stick with friends from the fsu.  In that period of 20 years, the English abilities of the parents are horrible.  They still have an accent so heavy that I can hardly understand them and they still fumble around for the right words.  TWENTY YEARS later they still struggle because they live in their Russian cocoon.  Something to think about.
KenC

[Kuna]

We're kinda heading off topic here...  but only for a moment...   I want to respond to something:

Lily,  I hope she NEVER loses her accent...  It'd be a great shame...

Ken,  You're probably right... and actually she says much the same thing... but I have a sincere desire to learn.  Of course if my learning slows her improvement then I will be happy (and moybe eventually relieved) to wait. 

Hmmmm... I guess I should cancel those Russian movies with English subtitles I just ordered... 

[Bruno]

Bruno, I appreciate your input. I have lived and worked for enough time both in the US and Europe to know how things are going over there.

Darling... opppsssss.... Lily, i am one of these guy who have always work for state... so, i know first hand what happen behind the curtain... for the US, maybe SonOfClyde can give some info... i think that he work in administration too !!!

About your example with police and the 3 hours... what about my own experience with one night in the jail because i refuse to sign a declaration who is not in my language ( in Belgium )... i was accused to have thief some video cassette... when during the time of the thiefing, i was near Africa with my ship...

I have life at 200% during the first 10 year of my life... somehow burn out now... but i have a lot of experience about the world... and in the case of FSU.. yes, some thing are more bad that us... but other thing compensate it...

In the case of several people here... FSU is a dream... when related to ladies like you  yep, our modern western world have make that for a few % or the male population,  western girls was not more a option...

And seriously, related to the topic... do you think that you give here a "negative stereotypes of russian women" ? Some have already declare that if they was alone and younger ( me... if i was alone and older ) that you will be the perfect bride ( wife !!! )... So, the question now is very simple... Are you a typical Russian woman ? If yes, people will like russian women like you !!!!

[Bruno]

Sure folks, you know better on Russian communities in the US and in the West. I heard of Brighton Beach and was living myself in Ukrainian Village in Chicago. I am not going to stand this point  my opinion was based on the info I got from the Russians living abroad.

Hmmm... the main russian communauty that i know was in Antwerpen... and i assure you that you don't wish to know about these russian communauties... a few shop and a lot of hooker... but now, i agree... seeing it from this side, i will be ashamed to be russian...

News speak about so place but never speak about other russian communauties that i have discover ( via orthodox church or via cultural center )...ůainly, russian have no problem in my country... but news show the few exception... result can be people like you ashamed to be russian !!!

[Bruno]

She'll frequently question me on the differences between words like "significant" and "substantial"... or "adequate" and "sufficient".  Some times it's even difficult for me to explain...   

Can you explain for me, a french speaking man 

Boys, you cannot imagine how easy is it to learn a other language for ask your way... but how much it is difficult for more spiritual/intimate things...

And what about us... the first time my girlfriend have say "Ya tebe kokhayu", i have not understand... i was knowing only the russian "Ya tebya lyublyu"... yep, we put all the FSU in the same bag... but same language have some modulation inside the FSU...

ok, forget these post... it is a detail... but if you have a ukrainian girlfriend, say her "Ya tebe kokhayu"... she will like it very much !!!

[wxman]

Wx...

Not sure what you mean by that.

In the military I first heard the term CONUS.  It means all the states of the union connected to mexico or canada or each other.  It is a valid term that should not be a problem with others who have heard it.

I was stating this with the belief that USA did not own much more than this immediately after the civil war.  Possibly less.  If I am wrong - so be it.  Again...  I am NOT a scholar in world history,  including the country I live in.

MaxxumUSA

My response was to I/O's response to Japan buying a lot of real estate in the US. Houston was the first city that came to mind during the Japanese run on US property. Sorry about the confusion.

[Lily]

And seriously, related to the topic... do you think that you give here a "negative stereotypes of russian women" ? 

I just show the issues that may be behind the negativity that some Western people have towards Russians in general. Not necessarily women.

[acrzybear]

we genuinely want our children to be multilingual so they can communicate freely with both sides of the family.

Kuna

Now THAT would be interesting to hear- A person speaking Russian with an accent from "down under"

[Kuna]

 

Yeah mate naah!

I'm not sure I would be able to identify an Aussie accent within a Russian conversation but My Girl reckons I speak without an accent.  Mind you my total vocabulary is VERY limited indeed.

During my last trip she would make me repeat the same word maybe 30 times in a row and I just couldn't hear the difference from what she was saying.  One day I decided to mimick the facial expressions of the guy at the local market (kinda disinterested and verging on grumpy)... All of a sudden she said, "Now you speak Russian!" 

 

[Zmejka]

I'm afraid i can never understand people who are ashamed of being connected to their nationality it's not obligatory a fact to be proud of - but certainly there is nothing to hide, it's just a fact like a color of eyes or shape of nose. It's a different subject that some people are seeing themselves (may be) in a wrong light and think that others also see themselves in a wrong light due to their eye color or shape of the nose - so if they can't hid it they want to change it and never to remember how it was originally. Eventually it's their choice but i think it's creating some obstacles and difficulties in their life. The same way if to consider every ordinary question "where are you from? how do you like it here?" as an invasion into personal life. I don't see how it could be changed - it's all in the head of a certain person.