tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post7215898800024685775..comments2023-11-05T09:55:13.077+02:00Comments on Itching for Eestimaa: in the land of the sovietsGiustinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-80088708655149630992011-05-25T21:57:53.899+02:002011-05-25T21:57:53.899+02:00I think that's always been the line of the col...I think that's always been the line of the colonizer -- "we brought them the advantages and marvels of our beloved ci-vi-li-za-tion!".<br /><br />In my in-law's defense, this is how the situation was always painted to them: we're all "friendly, brotherly people" in the USSR who help each other grow toward communism, so of course we (= Russians) did a lot for them (= Balts), because all the books and TV programs said we did... and that they were thankful for it! So now they say it wasn't so... it's not difficult to think they are damn opportunists who now say they don't like what we did for them because it makes them look better in the international arena (the USSR, after all, lost the cold war).Lingüistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06327147408198046253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-8434494845345469582011-05-19T14:58:06.480+02:002011-05-19T14:58:06.480+02:00Those ungrateful Balts (+ Estonians, the differenc...<i>Those ungrateful Balts (+ Estonians, the difference is not always clear to them)! We did so much for them, and now they repay us by slandering us everywhere! So much Soviet infra-structure was built there! Brr! And their infatuation with fascism! And their persecution of the Russian minority! It's genocide!'</i><br /><br />This reminds me of the Chinese perspective on Tibet. "But we've built so much infrastructure there."Giustinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-18198111594096934172011-05-18T21:36:43.373+02:002011-05-18T21:36:43.373+02:00And yet there are so many Russias... My in-laws: v...And yet there are so many Russias... My in-laws: very strict people, given to working methodically, and as much as possible. My mother-in-law: absolutely no alcohol, no cigarettes; only coffe. My father-in-law: absolutely no cigarettes and coffee; alcohol, only on New Year's Eve (at least that's what he says).<br /><br />Very dependable people, with a big desire to help. Mother-in-law: knows everything. Where to buy something for the lowest price, who to contact to obtain something, what the dangerous areas of town are ('don't go there! there's too much police!'). Father-in-law: very focused on his own health (75 years of age, looks 55, exercises every day; he's probably going to live to be 120). Both very proud people: never asked us for monetary help, and are by Russian standards actually doing quite well (mid-to-upper middle class).<br /><br />Both shrug off politics. Both love Putin: He knows what he's doing! 'He wants to bring back the old USSR, except now as a democracy. Oh, may god help him succeed!' If you mention the Baltic States: 'Those ungrateful Balts (+ Estonians, the difference is not always clear to them)! We did so much for them, and now they repay us by slandering us everywhere! So much Soviet infra-structure was built there! Brr! And their infatuation with fascism! And their persecution of the Russian minority! It's genocide!' (I note, in a typical Russian <i>tour de phrase</i>, that they didn't even go for South African <i>apartheid</i>: no, it's 'genocide'. :-).<br /><br />I once showed them the Russian version of the ERR news program from the ERR website. 'It's all lies and propaganda!'<br /><br />Then my mother-in-law changes topic to a Brazilian soap opera (a few years ago they were still watching <i>Dona Beija</i>! Nothing beats the feeling of seeing familiar Brazilian actors speaking Russian...)<br /><br />I could imagine me going Russian. It's such a big country; there are so many Russias, as many as there are Russians. Surely there would be enough room for as crazy a guy as yours truly.Lingüistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06327147408198046253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-47432451077957335412011-05-16T14:24:44.662+02:002011-05-16T14:24:44.662+02:00I had this vision of big floating Sponge Bob ballo...I had this vision of big floating Sponge Bob balloons in gray brown and white being sold by some guy with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963438308918095833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-4175205963860806822011-05-15T14:33:00.033+02:002011-05-15T14:33:00.033+02:00I like the deserted aquarium line in particular......I like the deserted aquarium line in particular...Kristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01394211030848077681noreply@blogger.com