offend [q¢fend] v ,
make generalizations (made, made) ,
feel [fJl] (felt, felt) v ,
hide [haId] (hid, hidden) v (), ()
treat [trJt] v ,
a human being = man
extend [Iks¢tend] v ,
earn [q:n] v
mock [mOk] v
income [¢InkAm] n
outright [¢aVtraIt] a ,
stupid [¢stju:pId] a
backwards [¢bxkwqdz] a
assumption [q¢sAmpSn] n
frustrate [frAs¢treIt] v , ()
charge [CQ:G] v , ( -.)
hard currency
figure out [¢figqraVt] v ,
yell [jel] v ,
obscenity [Ob¢sJnItI] n
exhaust [Ig¢zLst] v ,
long [lON] = wish [wIS] v
step on ones toe ()
bruise [bru:z] v ,
accomplishments [q¢kOmplISments] n ,
What Offends Foreigners in the Behaviour of Russians?
by Erika Morlan
Before I begin, I want to stress that I do not intend to make broad generalizations about Russians and their behaviour. I can only speak for my own experience. What Iwould like to do is simply explain why, as an American, I feel the need to hide my nationality, not out of shame, but out of the desire to be treated as a human being. This is my third extended stay in Russia. I have already earned a Bachelors Degree in Russia and have come here on my own, hard-earned money. I have travelled or lived in 9 different countries, often by myself. Here, I hold three jobs, I rent my own apartment, do all my own shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. I consider myself to be a responsible, independent adult and I am treated as such in the States. Why is it, then, that here I am frequently treated like a child? My pronunciation of Russian has been openly mocked and laughed at. If I am slow to understand just one word, it is assumed that I cannot speak Russian at all and therefore must be altogether somewhat slow in the head. I am asked all sorts of personal questions regarding my family, my income, my housing situation and, of course, whether I have a boyfriend or not. I have been told, outright, that my culture is stupid, backwards and uncivilized. I have even been told, in my own apartment, to be quiet and get out, since I obviously do not understand anything.
Aside from such moments of individual rudeness, I am also deeply offended and frustrated by the widespread assumption that all Americans are rich and able to throw their money around. I worked very hard in the States and saved my money so that I could come here. Most of my dollars are gone now and in the hands of my landlady. I have three jobs that pay in roubles, but it is still not enough to live on and to pay the $50 rent. Actually, many Russians I know make more money than I do and own their own apartments. Yet, I find that I am charged 200 roubles to get into the Hermitage, while Russians pay a mere 20 roubles. When I go out with Russian friends, it is often assumed and expected that I purchase cigarettes and alcohol for everyone. I am asked to buy things, at hard currency stores that I could not afford to buy for myself. Some friends come to me for money as if I were their own personal bank. Once, on figuring out that I was a foreigner, a complete stranger yelled, Give me five dollars! When I said no in Russian, he shouted obscenities at me in English.
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Things like this exhaust me. I long to be alone, so that I can do things in my natural, American way, like not wearing slippers in the house, or eating very small meals without bread. I get so tired of being criticized and scolded for doing things that I have done for the past 23 years. I am a guest here. I try so hard not to step on Russian toes, but my own toes are bruised and bleeding. I love this country and its people and I would like to stay here for a long time, but I feel that in order to do so, I must first make people understand that I am not stupid or rich or helpless. I simply come from a different culture, which is neither better nor worse than Russian culture; it is just different. I would like to be treated as a human being and respected for my accomplishments. Which is all anyone can ask.
UNIT III
MODAL VERBS
