Do western men who are married to Russian women become russianized :)

[Jazzyclassy]

How do you feel you became more Russian , in what way , have you  noticed any feature in you that makes you look or act like Russian one?

among all those crazy topics about propaganda and nationalism let's talk about some more pleasent things 

Ken C is welcomed especially 

[I/O]

  Good thread starter kiddo and it is a very fair question. If you want a clue as to how Russianised WM who are married to RW have become, go LOOK at those recent threads. WM have taken a solidly defensive position of their own countries and seriously question the rights of anything else..........prolly learned that habit from their RW.

A little Russianising of me I can speak of at this very early stage is losing a few KG's of weight. I did notice many RM I've met tend to be a tad on the thin side.

I/O

[BC]

Da..

For some reason I try to speak RU with our little boy.

Even speaking with IT friends a RU word will slip out every now and then.

I could not imagine life without pelmeni, or borscht, or salanka, or or or..

Converted to RO.

Accept my wife giving me a shot in the butt when the doctor orders it.

Enjoy extended visits from MIL and FIL.. never imagined western inlaws staying with us for 90 days.

more as they come to mind..

[Jazzyclassy]

Da..

For some reason I try to speak RU with our little boy.

Even speaking with IT friends a RU word will slip out every now and then.

I could not imagine life without pelmeni, or borscht, or salanka, or or or..

Converted to RO.

Accept my wife giving me a shot in the butt when the doctor orders it.

Enjoy extended visits from MIL and FIL.. never imagined western inlaws staying with us for 90 days.

more as they come to mind..

I see I see , what about some features in the character, maybe more firm and straight in communication with people at work or something if you see that they do not understand what you told them like millions of times ))

[Jazzyclassy]

A little Russianising of me I can speak of at this very early stage is losing a few KG's of weight. I did notice many RM I've met tend to be a tad on the thin side.

I/O

well you were not that fat earlier according to your pics

Any russian fav words? or word combinations

[Shadow]

I have become very Russianized in many ways. But I have discovered that I was already close to Russians before I met them. 

[I/O]

well you were not that fat earlier according to your pics

Agreed, but down from 94kg (207LB) to 87kg (192LB) and feeling quite good about it too. I will now "allow" (How kind of me) her to start baking again.

Any russian fav words? or word combinations

Oh da, but I wouldn't use them on here.

maybe more firm and straight in communication

Are you kidding? Remember who you are asking that question of? I have been known to be somewhat......errrrr..........direct at times, long before I met any RW.

I/O

[Shadow]

Are you kidding? Remember who you are asking that question of? I have been known to be somewhat......errrrr..........direct at times, long before I met any RW.

I/O

Well nobody can deny that Aussies do have that directness in general.

[BC]

I see I see , what about some features in the character, maybe more firm and straight in communication with people at work or something if you see that they do not understand what you told them like millions of times ))

Have learned to think a lot more before opening my mouth.. mostly to make sure what I say is a bit more clear and direct.

[Jazzyclassy]

Well yeah but Aussies are  not that direct as russians are

Do you sometimes think that russian way of thinking is absolutely crazy , are there times when you  completely can not understand what she means?

for example russian person sometimes work just how they pay him, they pay him low and he works not that hard, and in western mind it is unacceptable no matter how you are payed you need to work your whole hours and you can not sneak off work, can you understand that many russians do so , cos none will appreciate them working all those hours, they will still pay him low salary.

I am not sure if you can get the idea,but if anything I will try to explain it in the other words

[I/O]

Jazz: All jokes aside, these are a couple of things which come to mind which might actually touch on the heart of the questions you are asking.

Russianess, honestly, I don't know if that is possible for a westerner, perhaps even more difficult for a non European. Seriously, I don't really know. What I know is this, I have come to appreciate "Things Russian" in a very different way over the last few years and particularly since I connected with Mrs I/O. Simple things, little things. The significance of May 9th for example. Ho hum, so the Russians celebrate that...........big deal, we do so on another day as it were. This has changed as I have come to have a much deeper understanding (I don't profess to understand much) of just what effect that day has on Russians, particularly the older generation. I doubt a westerner can really get a complete grip on that, but I find myself thinking so far as I can from a Russians perspective regarding what that day signifies.

Another which might surprise you, particularly in light of recent threads, and I'll be surprised if this does not apply to most guys here, when another westerner, perhaps a friend or family member or other launches into some critique of Russia, I find myself becoming brutally defensive of Russia, Russians and things Russian.

That, I suspect comes partly from living with a Russian whom I happen to love and partly from the fact that I simply hate closed minds. I see a lot of closed minds in Russia when it comes to things western, but believe me, there is just as many if not more here in the reverse. I have no patience with them.

Well yeah but Aussies are  not that direct as russians are

Don't push your luck, you might find out differently.

Do you sometimes think that russian way of thinking is absolutely crazy

Duh..........of course, but sleep comes eventually if you switch off for long enough.

are there times when you  completely can not understand what she means?

  Duh........of course......She is a woman, how is any sane man supposed to understand them. They are for loving, not understanding. Seriously, of course, anyone in an international marriage who says they have fully understood everything their partner has ever said is lying.

for example russian person sometimes work just how they pay him, they pay him low and he works not that hard, and in western mind it is unacceptable no matter how you are payed you need to work your whole hours and you can not sneak off work, can you understand that many russians do so , cos none will appreciate them working all those hours, they will still pay him low salary.

I understand exactly what you are talking about and this is one aspect of some Russians I am highly critical of. Rarely will you see "one" step outside the norm in this respect. The Russians who do step outside the norm stand out like 3 balls on a race dog. Nobody else does so why should I, so to say. Very frustrating when teaching a Russian how we actually get what we have. At least here, nobody is gunna hand it to you, you have to motivate yourself, give a lot to get a little and slowly, if very slowly turn it to your advantage. It is basically known as hard work and to be frank, many Russians I have come across are averse to it. Not saying there is not a squillion lazy Aussies either, but I think you'd have a fair idea what I mean.

Is any of that a developing Russianess? I don't know, you be the judge.

I/O   

[Shadow]

The Russian attitude to work is close to the Greeks.
Work is necessary to get money to live by, it is not necessary to work more than you have to in order to get what you want.

What I especially like the the ability to find a reason to make a party out of small things.
Living by the day comes from hard times and finding all posessions and money gathered worthless over night.
My father used to say that whatever you have had in the past, nobody can take away. What you have for the future they can.

[KenC]

Being with Lena for the last nine years certainly has had an influence on me.  Many of the influences were look backward into my childhood when my Russian Grandparents were alive.  So Lena's influences were nothing new to me but more of a reinforcement of what I learned as a child.  In many ways my relationship with Lena and her family has explained the roots of some of the traits displayed by my immediate and extended American family.

I don't know if this is a "Russian thing" or a "European thing" or just a "non American thing" but the whole sense of family unity seems different than most of my American peers.  "Close" does not begin to explain the family dynamics of a Russian family.  It is as if they are one unit alone against the world.  I know that I did incorporate that feeling into my own family as my children were growing up.  My ex wife (non Russian) didn't quite understand it, but went along with the program while the family was intact.  My kids now understand that I was the glue that held the family together in a strong way.

I/O brings up a very good point.  Men that have married RW or are actively pursuing them are the very best ambassadors for Russia in their home countries.  In spite of the recent threads to the contrary, the men of RWD are head and shoulders above the aveage population as to their knowledge regarding Russia.  The ignorance displayed by the average American regarding Russia is appalling.  As I/O, I too find myself defending and informing the ignorant masses about the truth regarding Russia.  I think it is ironic that the same men that hold Russia in high regard on many many fronts were the subject of brow beating here for just the opposite.
KenC

[catzenmouse]

Being with Lena for the last none years certainly has had an influence on me.

Seems the first influence was on your ability to count... 

I don't have anything substantive to add to what has been said here already and can really only confirm what has been said as my experiences also.

Even with my limited knowledge of Russia and Russians I have also been quick to "educate" some of the unenlightened about their pre or misconceptions.

Ken

[Misha]

How do you feel you became more Russian , in what way , have you  noticed any feature in you that makes you look or act like Russian one?

among all those crazy topics about propaganda and nationalism let's talk about some more pleasent things 

Ken C is welcomed especially 

Where should I start....

I have dated or been married to RW for 12 years.

Over this time, I consider that the Russian language has become one of my languages. It is for me my language of love and friendship, while English is my language of work.

Hospitality: I have grown accustomed to Russian ideals of hospitality. I enjoy the dinner parties with Russian friends and the close friendships that I have with Russians. I have changed my outlook when it comes to making and keeping friends. I have also become more Russian in my ways of valuing friendship.

Though it is not Russian per se, my wife is now teaching me much when it comes to being thrifty and spending money wisely.

There are certainly many other things that have changed and I have become more "Russian" in many ways, but as I am in the middle of it, it is hard to identify all the ways that I have been influenced over the years.

[WmGO]

How do you feel you became more Russian , in what way , have you  noticed any feature in you that makes you look or act like Russian one?

I became very xenophobic and paranoid that everyone
was out to get me, especially foreignors.   

I started walking faster like a jay bird not
looking from side to side but with a stern blank stare straight forward. 

I started drinking heavily.

I got a mistress. 

I started chain smoking.
 
I decided Egypt was my favorite country to visit. 

[myrddin]

I/O brings up a very good point.  Men that have married RW or are actively pursuing them are the very best ambassadors for Russia in their home countries.  In spite of the recent threads to the contrary, the men of RWD are head and shoulders above the aveage population as to their knowledge regarding Russia.  The ignorance displayed by the average American regarding Russia is appalling.  As I/O, I too find myself defending and informing the ignorant masses about the truth regarding Russia.  I think it is ironic that the same men that hold Russia in high regard on many many fronts were the subject of brow beating here for just the opposite.

I thought this was very interesting as just last week I found myself dispelling some misconceptions my coworkers had about Russia.  These are intelligent people, and pretty well informed (I think moreso than the average American)...about other subjects.

[Ronnie]

I became very xenophobic and paranoid that everyone
was out to get me, especially foreignors.   

I started walking faster like a jay bird not
looking from side to side but with a stern blank stare straight forward. 

I started drinking heavily.

I got a mistress. 

I started chain smoking.
 
I decided Egypt was my favorite country to visit. 

Oh WmGO, you Houligan! (Russians think that's their word so let's not dispel the illusion).

Wow, I have to think about this one.  Other than speaking the Russian language more than I speak English (a hazard of working from home), I can't think of any way I've changed.  I haven't dropped "please" or "thank you" from my vocabulary in either language.  I don't much like Russian food but my wife's Ukrainian so her cooking is quite good.  She prefers western food, but remains at 52 kg. 

She's thrifty but I have always been too, so no change there in either of us.

She doesn't sing so she scoffed at my idea of learning the play a balalaika.

Oh, I just thought of something... I never used to drink tea, now it's 4 or 5 cups a day!

[55North]

Oh, I just thought of something... I never used to drink tea, now it's 4 or 5 cups a day!

The British consume more tea per capita than Russians.  I personally take in most of my liquid requirement as tea.  But as we have convenience down to a fine art, it is mainly in the form of tea bags in the usual India/Ceylon blends, with milk!
 
In Russia at the new year, I was introduced to a Russian kitchen containing a wide variety of teas, loose in jars, which was a joy to work through, without milk.
 
A change is gonna come!

[Jazzyclassy]

The British consume more tea per capita than Russians.  I personally take in most of my liquid requirement as tea.  But as we have convenience down to a fine art, it is mainly in the form of tea bags in the usual India/Ceylon blends, with milk!
 
In Russia at the new year, I was introduced to a Russian kitchen containing a wide variety of teas, loose in jars, which was a joy to work through, without milk.
 
A change is gonna come!

) that is not particularly true, my hubbichka do not drink tea at all unlike me I drink green tea every sec and he enjoys juice and tells me that if he has to drink tea at some english tea party he will , but it wont bring him that much joy and pleasure

[55North]

JC, what I said IS true.  I suppose I'll have to find statistics now.  Later if you don't mind.
 
What you are revealing is that younger generations, do not consume tea as much as us older ones.  When I was an infant, pure fruit juice (orange) was given to children free, from the state via our family doctor (physician).  This was due, firstly, to post-war rationing, and secondly because of cost of imports as citrus fruit started to come in.  This was to prevent vitamin C deficiency amongst the new young in our new 'socialist' health service (still good, still going, unlike some other 'socialist' health services I could mention.)  The habit for juice drinking is not within me, though I do partake on occasion.  So it goes for my generation, the largest the western (at least) world has known.  It's the caffeine addiction, of course.
 
I love good coffee, which is not so common in Britain.  By good, I don't mean Starbucks, Costa and fellow (USA) travellers. That's crap IMO. Real coffee as a habit was also generally unknown here in the post-war years, as in the USSR.  But it is a few-a-day beverage for me (but has to be good), whereas younger people may drink weak, tasteless rubbish exclusively.  I enjoy Greek/Turkish style coffee.
 
I expect your Hubbichka drinks lager rather than 'real' ale as well!
 
Cheers!  

[Jazzyclassy]

yeah he drinks Lager but do not drink alcohol that much anyway

you are right I just told that many english people do like to drink juice than tea, yeah older generation likes tea, his parents like tea a lot

[55North]

This dialogue reminds me.
 
Our tea habit is a result of adopting the habits of the 'Jewel in the Crown' of our Empire, namely India.
 
It is irony indeed, that the company Tata, set to become one of the biggest in the world, and entering Russia on all fronts, now owns the following iconic British brands: British Steel, Jaguar and Land Rover cars (thanks to Ford, Detroit), and Tetley Tea.
 
The empire strikes back!

[UTRO]

A friend of mine asked me what Russia is like. Before I could answer he volunteered that it is very backward, corrupt, poor, dirty, disorganized, 3rd rate infrastructure, etc....
Well, he's married to a woman from Trinidad and our children are the same age. My Ex and I took our children to visit his wife's family there a few years ago. It was a two week vacation from Hell. But, I never said anything to hurt his or his wife's feelings and never though I would...............
Well, I thought a moment and I turned to him and said, "you know Brian, you just described Trinidad".
I'm not married to an RW, yet. But, I'm becoming 'Russianized' in that I defend all things Russian... as Russians do

[Ronnie]

This dialogue reminds me.
 
Our tea habit is a result of adopting the habits of the 'Jewel in the Crown' of our Empire, namely India.
 

So, then it would follow the India is to blame for the loss of the American colonies..

What shocks me, as a Californian, is the high frequency of nicotine addiction, particulary among women who, research shows, a physiologically more susecptible.