Cultural Immersion: Understand the Life of a Russian Woman
Russia is one of the most fascinating places you can visit.
It is rich in heritage, and there is no shortage of attractions and places you can explore to keep yourself entertained. Russia prides itself on its culture — be it art, history, literature, or philosophy.
There are 221 museums, 2000 libraries, more than 80 theaters, 100 concert halls, 45 art galleries, 62 movie theaters, and 80 nightclubs in St. Petersburg alone!
Alas, the eyes of a tourist greatly differs from that of a local citizen. What Russians encounter on a day to day basis may be a culture shock to you, so it is imperative that you have yourself acquainted with Russian culture norms before booking the next flight to Russia.
Russian women spend their day like any other Russian. However, abruptly integrating yourself into the life of a Russian woman can have its unexpected setbacks.
To learn how to make a Russian woman fall in love with you, you must first familiarize yourself with Russian culture.
Waking up in Moscow
On average, Russians go to bed by 12 midnight. This is due to the fact that their days are much longer than their nights, a phenomenon widely known as “White Nights.”
The sun sets between 11:30 PM to 12 NN and rises from 3 AM to 4 AM. But that doesn’t exactly mean that they lack sleep. On the contrary, they do get a full night’s rest. Most of them would usually start their day by 8 AM, if not a little later.
Mornings in Russia are cold at times. A common stereotype most tourists assume is that Russians are not bothered by the cold weather, which is absolutely false!
Russians dress themselves in multiple layers of clothing to stave off the freezing temperature. In addition to that, central heating is to be imposed during the winter season if the ambient air temperature is less than 8 degrees for 5 consecutive days. This is in compliance with RF Government No. 354, implemented by the Russian government to help provide comfort in public utilities during the cold.
Getting Ready for the Day
In a Russian household, the shoes that are worn outdoors are not allowed to be used inside. Instead, they have slippers that they use indoors. Shoes are to be taken off by the front door entrance. Walking barefoot is considered impolite and should be well avoided.
Russian women are quite high maintenance. They are keen on tending to their personal appearance in hopes of appealing to a potential husband. From mani-pedis, waxing, detox massages, facials, and fitness workouts, there is no limit as to what lengths Russian ladies will go to maintain their youthful looks and beautiful physiques.
Because of the gap between the ratio of men and women in Russia (with the latter being much larger in number), women find it difficult to find a partner. The abundance of women in the country has led Russian men to set their expectations even higher. This shift in dynamics ultimately led Russian women to expand further, hence the reason why they invest so much in their looks.
Interacting with the Locals
Russia is well-equipped with public transportation. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Yekaterinburg are among the cities that have quality metro transits. Their bus networks are also extensive in a few select areas, albeit they can be a little confusing to newcomers.
Visiting Russia is akin to that of a stage play that revolves exclusively around Russian people, with you as their spectator. They hardly interact with strangers, not unless necessary.
Politesse and niceties aren’t a cultural norm in Russia, either. Russians are transactional and do not need to establish long-standing personal relationships before they do business with people.
There is, however, an occasion where this is an exception.
In order to cut through red tape, they need to build “svyasi,” a term used to refer to having friends in high places. Bribes are usually done in order to build “syvasi.”
People in Russia are also blunt and straightforward. Being evasive and reticent is looked down on as direct communication is often practiced in the country. Smiling to them is an intimate form of gesture as well, only reserving it to those who are important to them.
But don’t be fooled by their aloof exterior. As a matter of fact, Russians are generally hospitable and accommodating. They are quick to offer drinks and food to the most random people they encounter.
If you are to repay them with a gift, be sure that it is something that they can return. Gifting them with expensive materials pressures them into returning the gift with something with the exact same value.
Work and Leisure
Russian culture is quite traditional. Women have no qualms fulfilling gender roles and would prefer that their husbands were to work in their stead.
In fact, they couldn't care less if a man were to take charge. They prefer cooking and doing household chores as opposed to earning a keep, a job they see fit only for men.
This is the very reason why Russian women prefer men who are intelligent. To their belief, a man can never be poor if he is intelligent. Not just the well-educated kind of intelligence, but “Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences” kind of intelligence.
Russians have an affinity for drinking. You can often see them drinking at any time of the day. Both women and men can hold their drinks well.
Their infamous national drink, Vodka, is often served straight and taken in a shot. Mixing Vodka with anything else is considered an insult. Sipping is a no-no, either, as they take it in one full shot.
When a toast is made, the guests wait for the host to drink before they take the shot themselves.
You Are More Than Welcome to Visit Russia
People who wish to immerse themselves in Russian culture are more than welcome. Russians would love nothing more than to showcase their country. The conditions in Russia may be unfavorable at times, but the people proudly raise the banner for their home country. The life of a Russian woman isn’t easy, but they take great pride in striving in said conditions.