I’m Russian - AMA

[LillyCandC]

I moved here 15 years ago - ask me anything :-)

I wouldn't count yourself in the 'reserved' catagory.

Everyones having a nice chat with the Russian lady and you wade in accusing single mums (is it ok if you are a single dad) of raping a benefits system. Shame on you.

People struggle in Russia, people struggle in the UK, like in every country. I'd like to see you walk a mile in the shoes of a single parent surviving on benefits, male or female.

I presume the Russian woman binned you off. Hence your return.

@Teensandfuture because I don’t speak Ukrainian. In fact, many Russian speaking Ukrainians don’t speak Ukrainian (western part). My dad’s mom is from a tiny village near Kiev and dad’s dad is a kossak. Mum and dad divorced when I was 5.

Well after Putin's invasion even those not practicing Ukrainian, refuse to speak the language of agressor.
Скажи паляниця та буде видно хто ти

Are you of an age where you can remember life before the collapse of the Soviet Union, OP? I remember seeing news footage of massive queues of women, waiting to buy a loaf of bread. And we'd hear of people informing on each other to the secret police. Did you or anyone you know experience this?
Thank you.

@Divebar2021 i love Polunin! I can watch La Chapelle’s take me to church on repeat!
a-hm, I think it’s a complex issue. Years of propaganda and conviction that the whole world is against them perhaps. To add, I think a lot of people who post on social media fall into certain category - meaning they are triggered enough to type their opinion out. The rest will just scroll by

@Teensandfuture and I completely see where they’re coming from. My only memory from Ukraine was when I went to see my family near Kiev деревня Васильки. As I said, mum and dad divorced when I was 5. Until then we lived in Germany where dad was stationed.

@LearnerCook not really. I vaguely remember seeing tanks shooting at the White House on TV, I think it was 1991.. But I was too little to understand anything.

Вместо того, чтобы разводить демагогию и развлекать публику рассказами о том, какие образованные и интеллигентные бывают русские ,лучше бы занялись помощью Украине.Не хотите принимать беженцев, идите под посольство РФ на митинги,собирайте деньги на генераторы и фонари,в Украине blackout.
Больше нечего сказать

@Teensandfuture мы собираем гуманитарную помощь, помогаем беженцам в трудоустройстве, помогаем деткам адаптироваться в Английской школе, собираем деньги, чтобы отдать соседу, который сам закупает лекарства и едет их на Украину передавать. Всегда можно сделать больше, конечно.

‘Justisme i thought people might treat me differently but for now they haven’t. Those who know me treat me exactly the same. I hate those “where are you from?” questions from strangers though and try to make up a lie out of fear that they might think less of me.’

that is so sad. Please don’t make up another identity just to appease people. You have nothing to be ashamed of, one man does not make the country or speak for it.

and for those that do treat you differently or are ignorant, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to know them anyway.

@Teensandfuture that’s really harsh.

@Managinggenzoclock she has every right though to speak for her country. I understand. There’s war, there’s a lot of hurt.

@Justisme That’s nice of you to say, thanks. I know I shouldn’t but can’t help it. Doesn’t help that I’m generally struggling with social anxiety but I’m working on it.

It's just a light hearted ask me anything. OP doesn't claim to be all Russians

OP are you religious?
How did your family find you marrying a non- Russian? I've heard during soviet times it wasn't really possible and Russian didn't want to loose its women.

Can you tell us what poverty looks like in Russia? What does nationalism look like, too?

Thank you 🙂

Tom Leeds wtf does "fully autistic" mean ??

My brother married and lives in China has done for many years. At times social media has disappeared. He has to be very careful what he types or says on the phone. We get the unvarni truth whenever he returns to the UK. Is this the case with family and friends who live in Russia?

@LillyCandC It’s Chile that I miss, it’s not perfect but was good for us. We lived short term in other Latin America countries, but we made our home in Chile. DDs grew up there and are fluent in Spanish, or rather the Chilean version of Spanish.

Aha, but Ukrainians,half, quarter or fully ukrainians don't have time for light-hearted chats on Mumsnet nine months into the war. Time is better spent on relief effort

@geraniumsandsunshine not religious at all. They were happy for us but sad that I wasn’t coming back home.

@AdoraBell I’d love to visit Chile one day! I heard it’s quite seismically active… which scares me. What was it like? Did you feel safe?

@determinedtomakethiswork how do you mean? As in what a poor person can and cannot afford? Poor people tend to drink a lot, oftentimes dangerous self made vodka.
nationalism … I personally associate it with skin heads, football hooligans etc. not so much with educated and intelligent people.