Russia is
not a country; it is a world inside the world
Living in
Russia we don’t notice many things about us, for example, the way we live or associate
with other people. But foreigners, who come here to live and study, have their
own vision of Russia and Russians. Riccardo Amedeo, an Italian 17 year- old boy,
tells us about his discovery of our country and people.
My
relationship with Russia, I can say, started four years ago, when in Italy I
started studying Russian in my high school. I don't know why I have decided to
begin learning this language; I was just so attracted by it and by Russia
itself. I have started studying it hard and with curiosity not also about the
language but about the country in which it is spoken, too. Your culture and
your past have always attracted me.
In June
2011 I was in St. Petersburg with my schoolmates in a two weeks stage, focused
on the improving of our skills in Russian. In my opinion it was only an
"introduction" in your daily routine habits. I learnt the main lines
of your traditions, or that was I thought. And I was sure that I knew much
about you and your country. But now I understand that it was only my first steps
in learning your life.
I came to
Alexandrov last August as an AFS student. Everybody here made me feel like at
home, so the cultural shock was really smoothed by your cheerful mood towards
me. The things that I really love here is your warmly way that reserve every
day to me. I love the story that Alexandrov had an interesting past, with
mythic characters as Ivan the Terrible. In few words I can simply say that I
love Russia, and I'm starting feeling like a real Russian.
I’ve
visited a lot of interesting cities here, in Russia: Moscow, St.Petersburg,
Sergiev Posad, Uglich and Yaroslavl, Sochi, Kazan. All these places will remain
in my heart for the rest of my life. They gave me new experience and all their
magic.
I certainly
spend a lot of time with my friends here. What can I say about the Russian
youth? Russian teens are almost like teens in Italy. A lot of Italian teenagers
also smoke and drink, but I have to say that here really a big part of the
population smokes, much more than in Italy. That's a really big problem for
both countries, but nowadays we can say for the entire world. Like in Italy,
Russian teenagers like a lot to listen to music and to spend time with friends.
They are very friendly and kind, so it was easy to make friends here. I will
really miss a lot of guys that I have met here.
I will tell
my friends how the school here is so different from ours, but in the meanwhile
very educative and also funny, and I will tell everybody how Alexandrov made me
feel home and a part of this country. This corner of earth will always be in my
heart. So as you can understand by my words, I will suggest everybody to come
to Russia!
Anyway I
have to be honest with you about one point. It troubles me a lot. Especially I
noticed it in many Russians. I simply cannot go through it not only as an AFS
student but more because I'm a citizen of the world... I hate the fact that
some Russians can really be so racist against people of some countries of
middle Asia or Caucasus area. I feel bad when I hear some bad comments against
them because I feel hurt as a human being of this planet. I feel bad not only
in Russia but all over the world when I hear this kind of comments. Just think
that 20 years ago you were the one nation and you called each other brothers.
This country is too intelligent to fall in such stupid things, I'm sure that in
a few years all of you will think like me. One of the point of AFS is sharing
love and unifying people of all countries in the world, and as a part of this
organization I try to spread this message in the world. Maybe I alone will not do
so much but as Gandhi said "drop by drop the sea was created".
Nonetheless
I have to say that I really love your country. Russia is not a country; it is a
world inside the world, an attractive place that everybody should see.
Elena Sibirina,
photo by Elena Kulikova.
Журнал "Микстура", апрель 2013
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