what stereotypes do U have about Russia?

Hello,

a week ago I returned from Europe.I was slightly shocked by such a fact: when people found out that my friends and me were from Russia,they started to speak about – vodka, matreschka, cold war… =) All these are just stereotypes. Not so many russians drink vodka,we don't play with matreschka, bears don't walk in the streets in Russia. 

So I wonder what else stereotypes do U have about Russia and how u know about it?

Right, but +40 is normal here (near Texas) in the summer. I was in Moscow in August two years ago and the weather was quite cool – like Spring. Yes, it can get hot in Russia, but it is not as hot as the US gets. My Russian professors said that for them, even Vermont seemed southern – because of the foliage, the temperature, etc.

But c`mon, we`re not the North Pole, as so many ppl think =) There are places much colder ))) And some much hotter than Texas ;))

Unfortunatly stereotypes exist through out all nations big or small.  Last week I had a russian tenant come in and thank me for assisting her with a situation. She pulled out her purse and gave me a black bag. I said o no i cant, thank you but i really cant. She sed:please please for you. So I opened the bag and it was red linen table napkins. I said: wow thats nice of you but really i shouldnt. She said: please please (again). So out of the kindness of my heart I sed: ok, thank you. So now she said: Yes i know you americans like linen napkins I dont know why but you do. So I sed: I dont know about the other americans but I dont use linen napkins I use paper towels or paper napkins. Then she sed: dont worry you use them. So I just said: I will have a nice day! It didnt upset me though. I feel people say what they want to say and they should be allowed to, I think its up to the respondant to control their emotions to avoid escalation of dilemmas. 

My stereotype is that they're a very rough and hard people and don't have any compassion.

Another stereotype many people have in Europe and North America is concerning their women, that they're a bunch of golddiggers.

I obviously take these with a pinch of salt. My best friend is a Russian.

I've heard that Russian women are some really cold-hearted witches, personally. I can't speak from any experiece as I've never dated a Russian…

russians r very extraordinary people and i m proud of this fact)))but we have many negative features that s upset we r not ever able to make ourselves rich people i dont why (((u know we r owners of  such a big territory and we cant mamnage it properly  and though all these ergative we r intelligent people having great writers poets musicians  cosmonauts grat inventions politicians  RUSSIANS RUSSIA only straight away without curving and surrender!!!!

when pple speak about Russia i think in a beautiful place and specially in the red square=P

NONE

Vodka haha, and also very quiet people and communism I think…but there are just stereotypes, I have some good russian friends!

nothing

dont be upset