Vodka well goes under red caviar.
Vodka well goes under red caviar.
Some important things for the foreigner.
Jacque Margeri, the physiatrist from provincial small town Shole
(Department Mona and Loire) in the northwest of France, has spent in
Russia three weeks.
- What most of all shocked at us?
- Turns. First my "Russian" impression is connected with
Long reception of the visa in the Russian embassy in Paris. Me
Have warned, that if I wish to pass in the first day, it is necessary for me
To come at least for an hour before opening! The embassy opened in
9, but already at 7.30 before a lattice, under nakrapyvajushchim a rain
Crowded the person ten... I have received the Visa, but together with it certain
Representation about problem character of your system.
Shocks a dirt in streets, beaches and especially in the public
Toilets. And more - absence of smiles. The same as absence
Simple decisions, flexibility. Your desire to pay any service
On a credit card, the request to explain more in detail, for what from you
Take money, - any deviation from habitual and "put"
Does employees aggressive, calls a panic...
- Whether it is possible to distinguish at first sight Russian woman from
Frenchwomen?
- I not so communicated with them much to have the right to generalise.
Certainly, to me there were beautiful women, able to put on
Brightly, attractively, even provotsirujushche, but as it seemed to me,
In their France it is more. Me has surprised, that Russian in the street it is not enough
Look around, preferring to look to itself under feet. Men not
Pay attention to women, and the woman - to men! At us if not
In the street, in transport the man and the woman easily enter in
Conversation. However, in the Moscow underground to get to talking difficult, in him
So it is noisy, that it should to shout.
Perhaps, you are distinguished by grief, concern, which I not
I can connect only with political and economic problems.
I happened in places of poorer, than Russia, for example in
To Africa. But there all smile, start talking to you. Perhaps,
It is connected with a climate? At you even it is cloudy and dozhdlivo in the summer.
In Europe people spend a lot of time in the street without
Any special reasons: simply walk, stir behind a mug of beer,
Look around, including on women. All it too
Creates a special climate of a city, the country. People in our streets
You seem easier and opened, than.
Speak, Elton John, for the first time having seen Russian spectators,
Has refused to act, having found their too gloomy and uninteresting.
The smile first minutes of acquaintance can really make
It is a lot of. But it is necessary to be able to see and further appearance and to remember
Secret which has opened Foxes to the Small Prince: "the Most important thing
Eyes you will not see "... In Russian houses I have met very much
Affable people. If in France people more often, than at you,
Smile in streets in intimate conditions them at times does not suffice
Simplicity and sincerity, in them there is more than stiffness and snobbery. Ours
Parties remind often game, leaving which do not know, about what
People with whom you ate, saws suspect the business and laughed in
Current of four hours. Playing this game, we speak on
"Wooden language", that is secular language of platitudes. In Russia
This language was not necessary to me, because with my Russian friends
I was not afraid to be oneself.
I am very glad, that veins not in hotel, and at acquaintances in the usual
To the Moscow apartment, on a usual summer residence situated near Moscow, has visited in
Sergiev Posad, in Uglich. It was important to me to see, how at you
Live, to divide this life: at least to follow purchases,
To face few times difficulties which here are overcome
Daily.
- What can you tell about Russian province?
- That little, that I have had time to see besides the perfect
Monasteries and churches, it seemed to me dead. For example, in Uglich
Even in the main street of any movement, any life. I do not know,
How much in him of inhabitants, but I would name it not a city, and small
Deserted village. I not the capital inhabitant, and by quantity
Inhabitants my small SHole there is more Uglich. But at us on
The central streets always briskly and cheerfully, also it seems, that you
You are in one of picturesque Parisian quarters.
Perhaps, therefore it was heavy to me to estimate and Russian nature,
Which is represented infinite plain, monotonous and it is a little
The sad. Probably, I suffer agorafobiej, fear big and
Empty spaces.
Churches have impressed with the polychromy. I very much like music,
And consequently in your services I most of all like church chanting.
They create special prayful atmosphere. It is east
Spirituality which is more connected with emotions, with heart, in
Difference from western Catholicism in which all is subject
To the analysis, all - from a head.
I think, the foreigner in Russia should do two things: to stand
In any turn and - to listen to church chanting in the orthodox
Temple. Then he can imagine the Russian
The validity with its sharp contrasts.
- The Russian cuisine was pleasant to you?
- Earlier vodka seemed to me very strong alcoholic drink
Without special taste. And in Russia I have estimated it as a drink, which
It is very pleasant to drink with friends, under any special dishes,
For example, under same calves, or red fish which at us stand
Madly expensively. Having come back home, I will invite the parents "on
Caviar "which has bought here.
- What Russian and what Russia Frenchmen know?
- All depends on the one who these Frenchmen. Those who is interested
Classical music (them, of course, minority), know
Tchaikovsky, Musorgsky, Borodino... As to writers,
I can name only names, but really read nothing, for
Exception of "Brothers Karamazovyh", which beginnings to read by council
The Moscow friends. As a little I can tell and about yours
Artists, their creativity for the first time has met only here.
However, orthodox icons at us like, anyway
Christians. I was happy to see in Tretjakovsky gallery "Cп я я я я
Trinity "Andrey Rublyov which knew only on reproductions.
What do we know still? Thanks to a popular song we know a name
Parsley: "Petrouchka, Petrouchka, entre vite dans la danse..."
(Parsley, Parsley allow to dance more likely...) We not especially
We press in sense of this song, but is liked to sing to its children. And all
Frenchmen are assured, that in it is sung... About Russian girl to Parsley.
Still - a name Natasha, a symbol of Russian beauty with long plaits.
And then "three" is something connected with Christmas and the Grandfather
Frost, with horses and deer... We know "the Siberian frost" and
"stahanovtsev". We know KGB...
But in general we not too are interested in Russia. For example,
Frenchmen know, that Napoleon was at war much, but is far not everyone in
Course, that Napoleon was in Russia and that Russian have won us.
Russia was long years a symbol nesvobody, therefore thought
To visit this country me did not seduce, scarecrows are faster. That fact,
That I here had friends, for me unexpectedness.
- Would like to return to Russia?
- I do not know. To answer this question, it is necessary to me at first
To return to France and to go through the Russian impressions.
IRINA PANTELEJ.
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//* an information Source: the General newspaper, 22.10.98
//* Reg. Nom. - 1081000254.60-------------------------------------------
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