1% Russian, 99% Tobacco

Next to the alcoholism and Bears, Russia's next greatest killer is the cigarette or “sigareta” as most Russians call it.  The Russian Society is known for their over smoking and lack of respect for their own health.

Now this is not saying that all Russians believe in this lifestyle but most of the population does. You cannot walk the streets without seeing an ex-soviet with a cigarette in their mouth and a bottle of vodka in another.

If Americans believed that they had problems with smoking then they would surely think again once they see the statistics of Russians who smoke.

Even the CATS SMOKE IN RUSSIA! Yes folks you heard me right. A feline in Russian has been taught to smoke and drink. “Those dang Crazy Ruskies” is what you might be saying now. Now the life of cat should include sleeping by the fire and long lazy days of licking its fur and hacking up fur balls. Not being the next Lindsey Lohan.

But in Russia as they say “Everything is backwards and corrupt”. That must mean why the Russian population have over 400,000 Russians die each year from smoking related diseases.

Even with this knowledge however those crazy Russians keep puffing on their death sticks and just smile and move along. As you know those Russians are the type to see a burning building with people inside and instead of calling the fire department they take a big swig of their vodka and puff down a whole cig and go rushing inside to save them. Why? Because Russians do not care about their own well being.

The Stereotype that we are going to discuss today is not how Russians are crazy and I am not going to retouch the vodka lovers subject we talked about in the previous. No if you haven’t yet figured it out we are going to talk about Russia’s smoking problem.

But even though it’s a huge problem the Russian government somehow someway is trying to take control the situation that is that is Cigarettes. Putin is trying his best to take control of this situation and lower the smoking rate for the next five years. Meetings have been held but none of the superiors are all that motivated to ban the smoking since its an easy sell to many young and old Russians.

But with new anti-tobacco laws still emerging despite the unwanted help from many already smoking Russians, many young Russians are being turned to new the activists who go around and verbally ask Russians to throw out their cigs. But even with these activists trying to dispose of the nasty habit many Russians still refuse to quit.

I also had my own personal experiences with the smoking habits of Russians. My father started smoking at the age of 7. He continued this habit until around his late 40s. Why did he quit you ask? Why because of me of course! I simply came back from school with a pamphlet in hand and asking him to please quit because I was afraid that he wouldn’t be around to see me grow up.

My father ended up quitting his addiction with no patches and no other treatments. He quit with just his mental attitude. Now if my father is able to kick the habit why is it so hard for other Russians?

Well I remember my trip to Russia a few years back and I was surprised to see how many people smoked. I would walk into a club and see countless of men and women smoke. But the weird thing about these people however was that many of them were very good looking and attractive.

I was even asked by one fellow Russian to go buy them cigs as many Russian vendors do not stress the required age and the price of cigs were very cheap, almost 2 American dollars per pack.

The stereotype of Russians is that all of them smoke and to my surprise many of them did. I was hoping that this stereotype was much like the one about Vodka where it was just a misconception but in reality RUSSIANS DO INDEED SMOKE ALL OF THE TIME!

Next time on The Stereotypical Russian we will discuss one of the most interesting Stereotypes evolving around Russians being superstitious about EVERYTHING!

Vodka, Russia's Water

Being Russian…”WAIT DID HE JUST SAY HE WAS RUSSIAN?! SOMEONE CALL THE POLICE WE GOT A VODKA LOVIN” BEAR WRASLIN’ SOVIET!”

When people think of Russians they think of the big bear hunting drunk whose accent makes you think that he’s the main of villain of some James Bond movie made in the era of the Cold War. Russia and America has had that special relationship for many years. Where on the American side they make fun of the Russian way of living, they do the same on the Russian side. But for now we’ll focus on the American side and their views on the Russian way of living.

For many Americans the sight of a Russian without their special companion confuses them and leaves in the suspicion that once again “Those dang Russians are up to something!” Who is this special companion you ask? Why no other than a bottle of vodka of course! The Stereotype that many people have grown accustomed to is that Russians are to a bottle of vodka as water is to a swimming pool.

Russians have many stereotypes but for this post will be talking mostly about the perceptions of the Russian vodka lover vs. the reality of that stereotype.

Vodka was first made in Eastern Europe. But the actual first production of vodka is still a mystery. With many sources claiming that Poland was the first to do so in 8^th century while others claim that Russia was the first to do so in the 9^th century.

Many of you now are probably telling yourselves “Well there you have it! If Russia was indeed one of the possible countries that produced vodka, then that must mean that the stereotype is true that all Russians drink vodka.” I’ll admit that with this piece of information it does fall into favor that vodka has been part of the Russian culture for many centuries, but this does not give us enough information to the reality of the Russian drinking culture.

So this is where I start to provide my own personal experience on the Russian culture, since I’m Russian myself. Growing up around the Russian culture has given the reality and experience that will help in the analysis of the Stereotypes that surround the lively culture of Russia.

As a young child I would remember many parties and gatherings that my parents either created or went to. And at those gatherings I would always see one thing, Vodka. No matter the situation or the celebration, someone would always go out his or her way to get some kind of alcohol and vodka always seemed to be the favored choice. And the better the vodka, the better the dancing. 

Every celebration seemed to start and end with the Russian toast. This consisted of the pourer to pour everyone a shot of vodka and say a long toast; this could be about wishing luck or congratulating someone on some achievement.

The Russian stereotype referring to vodka is that “All Russians drink vodka and they do so, ALL THE TIME” This stereotype is both a true and false statement. 

It is true when it comes to Russians drink vodka but the statement where they drink it all the time is plainly just not correct. Many Russians drink only in times of celebrations and they drink vodka, but some Russians prefer Cognac or Beer. Vodka is considered a celebratory drink and isn’t brought to a gathering unless it is a special occasion.

Sadly Russia isn’t without its fair share of alcoholics. In Russia many men don’t live past their mid-fifties due to over drinking. But the alcoholic Russian isn’t something that would further support the Russian stereotype because alcoholism isn’t a contained factor. Alcoholism is found throughout the whole world, well at least where alcohol can be obtained that is.

I will be ending todays blog post with an old Russian saying, Next time we’ll explore the second popular stereotype of the Russian culture, “All Russians Smoke”

“Vodka is our enemy, so we’ll utterly consume it!”