It Is Easy To Fall in Love in Russia

 As my first week in Russia is coming to a close, I realize that Russia is really everything like it is in the movies. Many times, people stereotype a country and its people, and when you visit, you realize that it's nothing like it seemed. Not the case with Russia. Russia is everything like it seems. The mysterious air in movies is definitely present in real life. 

Our group of American students went to visit the US consulate yesterday, only to find Russian guarding the building. They all had stoic faces, but American flags sewn to their jackets, which I found ironic. We were only allowed to approach the building two at a time, while the others had stand at least fifty yards back, in an orderly line. When my roommate got to the entrance, the guards saw that she had a water bottle. Immediately, instead of scanning it, they said "Drink it." It was so Russian - no questions- just drink it.

In our conversation class, we have been reading about various situations of how people in Russia have met and fallen in love. Apparently, it is very simple, and always left up to chance. In the first story, a man hears another woman on the phone, because the lines got mixed (by fate of course). When he hears this woman's voice, he declares it the most wonderful voice he has ever heard, asks her out to dinner, and they live happily ever after. My professor then asks us, "Do you think this is possible? Would you accept an invitation from a man who came up to you and said you were the most beautiful woman he has ever seen?" Of course, being American, and concerned about safety, we all answered, "Of course not! You don't know him!" My professor was very taken aback by this answer, and could not understand why we would reject such a compliment! To many young Russian girls, this is the ideal. Russia is a cold, but romantic place.

Other stereotypes I have found to be true are that: 

1. Everyone really does wear long fur coats (Shubi) and fur hats.

2. The militsia (police) really do look exactly like they do in the movies.

3. Russians are a serious people; smiling on the metro is not welcome, as it gives the impression that you are laughing because there is something wrong with their shirt, etc.

I'm sure more of these typicalities will reveal themselves to me the longer I am here. And this is exactly why I love Russia already. It is certainly not a let down from what Hollywood has portrayed it as!