Hi! My name is Valery. I am from Russia. I have finished Moscow State University, philological faculty, and I know English a little. It has always been very interesting for me to know how women abroad live: what makes them feel pleased and happy, and what makes them sad and upset.
For rather a long time we had lived “behind the Iron Curtain” and knew absolutely nothing about each other. Nowadays the curtain has been raised, so we can travel, watch news, different shows, but we still know very little about each other. However, it seems to me, that if we knew about each other more, we could understand, respect and love each other better, so we could live more peacefully… I think I should get started with myself. And later on I’ll tell you about other Russian women: business-ladies and housewives, rich and not so well-financially-secured, married, split up and divorced. Of course, we are all very different, but we have something in common as well. I’d be very glad, if you would send me your questions. It would be easier for me to tell if I know for sure what exactly you are interested in. Perhaps, you could join me and send stories about yourself. Please, do! It would be great!..

I will tell you about Russian women: teachers, doctors, sellers, housewives. I will tell you what they eat, what clothes wear, what salaries receive, what they plant in summer in their summer residence and of what they dream.

Most drivers couldn't start up their cars because of severe frosts. Only the most skillful drivers did manage. Others had to use public transport, so they would not be late for work. Everyone preferred to leave their cars parked in driveway, only desperate housewives and bossy women continued driving.

Even 2-3 years ago there were problems in Russia with internet connection. Most of people used dial-up modems only. And it was especially difficult to get any connection in small towns. The situation changed dramatically nowadays. Russian people cant imagine their life without world web now. Only in small villages there is still no internet connection. Big cities and small towns have ‘stream’, ‘carbina’, ‘domolink’ and lots of other cable networks.

Going to the movies has become a popular pastime for Russians again lately, though ticket price in night hours is rather high, in most lovely places it comes to 10-13$.

Autumn and winter nights are long in Russia, and very often rainy in Moscow. So movie theatres is a good place for a company to come and have fun, mix and have a chat in a cosy bar before a movie starts. It is also a nice place for a loving couple to sit in back rows, holding hands and kissing in romantic moments. Sometimes it's just an appropriate place for a first kiss.

Women in the military have a history that extends over 4000 years into the past, throughout a vast number of cultures and nations. Women have played many roles in the military, from ancient warrior women, to the women currently serving in conflicts.

Serving in the army differs from country to country, some have a contract system, some have it obligatory for the male population. In some countries it’s obligatory for both sexes.
In Russia serving in the Army is obligatory only for males.

One can't see a guy with a gun on the beach or in the street in Russia, but it's not only the surprise, which attracts Russian girl's attention. Russian girls have liked officers and military men since the time being, because the word 'military man' has always had associations with such notions as 'strength' and 'defence'.

The stereotypical understanding is that Russia is a faraway, snowy country, where one must wear a furcoat and valenki (felt boots), people do nothing but drink vodka and play balalaikas, while bears are leaving their forest homes to go walking down village streets. However, the reality of our life is very far from this idyllic myth: balalaikas, bears, and felt boots have more or less become symbols of Russia rather than attributes of everyday life.

The annual festival is traditionally celebrated in Moscow in September's first weekend to commemorate the first mention of Moscow in historical records, dating back to 1147 when the city's founder, Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky, invited his relative, Grand Duke Svyatoslav, to Moscow for a war council.
Held over the first weekend in September, Moscow celebrates the birth of the Russian capital with a series of parades and entertainment events. The celebrations begin on the Saturday with a procession of floats and city officials along Tverskaya Street and finishing at the Kremlin. Other celebratory events taking place over the weekend include fun fairs, street entertainers, sports contests and live music; and there are plenty of food and drink stalls lining the streets. The city parks are also popular places to celebrate the occasion with many families choosing to enjoy a picnic in one of the beautifully maintained parks.

as an old Russian joke says: there are no roads in Russia - only directions...