"You have culture, but we have nature": what struck the Russian journalist in America

At the end of September, EKSMO publishes a book by writer and journalist Igor Rotar, Non-Paradise America. Before moving to the United States, Igor Rotar worked as a war correspondent and, having moved to America, tried to maintain his usual way of life. The reporter visited various parts of the country, including those where it is unsafe and “smells bad”.

It is precisely this acquaintance with non-parade America that fundamentally distinguishes these sketches from other travel notes from the USA. At the same time, of course, this book is not only and not so much about extreme America. The author showed the most diverse facets of American life, tried to understand what kind of people ordinary Americans are and how much they differ from Russians. With the consent of the authorLenta.ru report"Publishes excerpts from his book.

From the chapter "Rural America"

For most Russians, the United States is most often associated with skyscrapers, technological progress, and the attributes of luxury living. This is partly true. But the USA is also a country with a wonderful and almost virgin nature. As the locals joke, talking to Europeans: "You have culture, but we have nature."

In my opinion, those who came to America for a short time, it is better not to stay too long in the cities, but to rent a car and drive off into the wilderness, wildlife. Sounds paradoxical? Who knows, but it is possible that it is a magnificent social structure among almost pristine nature that is the main American miracle.

... I live on the outskirts of San Diego (the fifth largest city in the USA) and every time I drive up to my house I have to be very careful: wild rabbits often cross the road. Those who live half an hour from the city are forced to take even more caution - coyotes and even deer can get under the wheels. Around (no more than an hour's drive) of all any large American cities there are national parks and reserves, the nature of which has not changed much since the time of Columbus.

Sometimes the zeal of American environmentalists seems excessive. So, on mountain trails you can see posters telling that used toilet paper is also rubbish, and it (even in multi-day trips) cannot be thrown away, but should be taken with you. So far, however, it is still allowed to leave her in specially dug holes. But soon such barbarism will be over. Even today, advanced tourist groups carry special sealed bags (so that there is no smell) for used toilet paper.

You can chuckle at the excessive environmental friendliness of Americans, but the fact remains: just an hour away from Los Angeles and New York, nature is more pristine than anywhere else in remote corners of Siberia.

Фото: Depositphotos

From the chapter “American Kindness”

The first thing that strikes foreigners (and not only our eternally gloomy compatriots) who have visited the United States is the habit of Americans to smile everywhere always. The friendliness in this country is simply amazing: it seems that any local resident is ready to give up all his affairs to help a casual passer-by. One is impressed by such behavior, another seems to be something hypocritical and pretended. Is it good or bad that Americans like being “good guys” so much?

"Five minutes of courtesy" are an integral attribute of the life of this country. So, for example, if you were with the American in the same elevator, only a very impolite person would confine himself to greeting a stranger. It’s just necessary to say what wonderful weather is today, and take an interest in the affairs of a random companion. If there is heavy rain outside, then this is not a reason for gloomy silence: you will definitely wish a good day.

On the subject: What struck the American in relation to neighbors in Russia

It is the image of joy when meeting with a neighbor and questions about his life that are one of the most important signs that you are a “real American” and not a “wild immigrant”. If you accidentally looked into the eyes of a stranger, he will certainly smile back at you. By the way, this “Americanism” I acquired did a disservice to me in Russia: when I smiled at the person who looked at me, they perceived me as abnormal or gay.

In Russia, it is believed that in the United States, thanks to the efforts of feminists, it is not customary to open the door to a woman and let her go forward. In fact, at least for now, the Americans are reopening the door to strangers, but they do it regardless of who they want to miss — a man or a woman.

Фото: Depositphotos

Sometimes the habit of Americans to be friendly leads to curious, from the point of view of foreigners, cases. So, I witnessed a very strange scene. One Russian, whose mother died, asked honestly about his grief when asked by a colleague how he was doing. In response, a colleague smiled radiantly at him and answered: “Wonderful!” Of course, he did not want to offend a too frank Russian. The fact is that, according to the "rules", the answer to this question is standard: "excellent", so the man, not listening to his interlocutor, said a ritual word on the machine.

And once I, having bought into outward cordiality, fell into a rather offensive story. I walked along a very bad mountain road, impassable for ordinary cars, when suddenly an SUV with the Americans caught up with me. The Yankees simply radiated friendliness, but when I asked them to drop me a few kilometers to my car, they (without stopping smiling) refused.

Or another example. My friend mixed up the key to the pool of the residential complex where she lived. Naturally, the gate to the pool did not open. The Americans in the pool began to give the woman advice, and one even tried to open the gate with her key. But just open the door to the pool area (from the inside it opened without a key), the good Yankees did not want to, but they did not stop smiling. Having fumbled with the key, my friend was forced to return home. After these stories, Americans began to remind me of the inhabitants of the planet Alpha from the famous Danelia movie "Kin-dza-dza." The inhabitants of Alpha love nature, are very careful about the flora and fauna. They are polite and despise the savages of the Kin-dza-dza galaxy eaten by passions - they make cacti from them.

In fact, the Americans, of course, are not from Alpha, and there are many good people among them. It is worth talking about something else: that the politeness of Americans becomes insignificant in situations where in order to show altruism, they have to make some sacrifices, or at least inconvenience. In this case, the Americans behave like the Russians - depending on personal qualities.

On the subject: What you lack in the USA: people from all continents tell

From the chapter “Russian-speaking USA”

The feeling that you have already left America is created as soon as you get on the orange line of the New York subway going to Brooklyn. Firstly, almost all passengers read, which is completely atypical for the United States. Secondly, if you look closely at the books, these are works by Marinina, Dontsova and other Russian bestsellers published in Moscow. In total, more than 100 of thousands of people from the former USSR live in Brooklyn, and in order to explain themselves, knowledge of English is not required at all.

The heart of Russian New York is the Brooklyn quarter of Brighton Beach. All signs here are in the language of Pushkin and Tolstoy, and if you address the locals in English, you risk hearing unflattering expressions addressed to you. Once I asked the Brighton how to get to some quarter of New York, and I received a proud answer: “We don’t go to America!” In fact, this is an isolated world with its newspapers, Russian shops, restaurants, and hired firms taxi, etc.

By the way, in this category of Russians, criminal and semi-criminal tricks are very common, which simply won’t come into the classic American head.

Фото: Depositphotos

So, many stage the accident of insured cars and get an impressive amount. The same tactics apply with fictitious diseases found in a Russian patient by a Russian doctor. Many of the Russian-speaking people living in cheap preferential apartments for the poor are fictitiously divorced and as a result have two almost free apartments, one of which is rented out to friends at a real market price.

Another unseemly trick is to pretend to be sick and hire a fictitious carer, sharing with her her salary, which the state will pay. Among this category of our former compatriots, such an anecdote is popular. Two immigrants meet. One of the others asks: “Have you already settled down?” “No, while I work!” - the “loser” answers. However, there are still a clear minority of such Russian speakers in the United States. Most local Russian speakers, by contrast, tend to completely dissolve in the American "melting pot", in fact, cease to be Russian.

It is interesting that, unlike refugees from the second and third waves, current immigrants do not want their children to speak Russian at all. As a result, the “second generation” of migrants, as a rule, already speaks Russian very poorly. Moreover, this applies to the children of non-assimilated Russians, unless, of course, they live in national districts.

On the subject: Brighton syndrome: how runglish became the language of Russian emigration

From the chapter "Idleness as a Lifestyle"

One of the most famous American downshifter settlements is Slab City, the "last free place in the US," located near San Diego. Today in the village there are about 500 houses. Mostly trailers, motor homes. About a thousand people live here. There is no water, power line or television in the settlement, but this is not at all embarrassing for the Slab. They deliver water in containers from the nearest town, receive electricity using solar panels, and perceive television as “an unnecessary excess of civilization.”

But in the village there is a club where concerts are held every Friday. On Saturdays, in karma cuisine you can enjoy free food prepared according to Krishna recipes. In the center of the town there is a “sneaker” tree, on which old shoes for those in need are hung. And next to it, on a concrete foundation, slightly worn clothes are neatly laid out. Not forgotten and spiritual needs. In an unprotected library, I found books by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, as well as a lot of literature on Eastern philosophy. Slabchanam is no stranger to humor. Next to many trailers are mailboxes with the inscription: "My house is where I parked."

Фото: Depositphotos

Personally, as a Russian, I was most struck by the fact that in such a strange place there is no crime. I imagined what a similar settlement would look like in Russia. Most likely, it would quickly turn into a gathering of drug addicts and alcoholics. However, in Slab City this does not happen. When the Slabs leave the town for a few days, they without fear leave bicycles (for a thousand dollars) and other expensive things on the street.

One of the main features of Slab City is the Mountain of Salvation. A local resident, a former tramp Leonard Knight painted over the impressive hill for more than twenty years. The enthusiast scribbled it with numerous quotes from the Bible, and on the top he erected a wooden cross. Leonard Knight assured that Slab City is the best place on earth, and he will not leave it for 20 million dollars.

Read also on ForumDaily:

What struck the American in relation to neighbors in Russia

What you lack in the USA: people from all continents tell

Personal experience: what can I do in the USA, what I could not in Russia

Is it possible to survive in Russia without knowing the Russian language: stories of tourists and immigrants

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