If I got a candy every time I hear the phrase: "You are Russian, so u don't get cold, right?" I would probably gain freshman 45, not 15. Yes, it gets freezing in Russia during winter, but IT DOES NOT MEAN that I do not feel this cold and I do not have to look like penguin wearing 10000 layers. I am still a human, not a cold-blooded reptile, you know. Also, it's not always cold in Russia, in summer people in my city complain about extreme heat, secretly wishing they could go naked around because wearing clothes is unbearable in such weather. Russia is not a big ice-cube, we have our four seasons with different kind of weather. Yes, sometimes it gets so freaking freezing outside that children do not go to school, but usually it is not that bad if you wear warm clothes. It's so funny that people actually believe in stereotypes about Russia. If I'm Russian, it does not mean I love vodka, I actually despise it. And I do NOT have a pet bear. Why anyone would have a pet bear which would grow up into a giant terrifying creature and scare you to death? And if I do not smile, it does not mean I am rude, I'm just not used to smiling at people I have never met, it's not a thing in Russia.
By the way, it is true that we have our own version of Winnie the Pooh, and I think that it's much more adorable than American one, absolutely love it.
Stereotypes limit are perspective insanely, so I always try to look beyond them. And I do not mind explaining people how things really work in Russia, but, well, sometimes telling the same thing over and over again can get annoying. I wish I could actually get a candy for that!
By the way, it is true that we have our own version of Winnie the Pooh, and I think that it's much more adorable than American one, absolutely love it.
Stereotypes limit are perspective insanely, so I always try to look beyond them. And I do not mind explaining people how things really work in Russia, but, well, sometimes telling the same thing over and over again can get annoying. I wish I could actually get a candy for that!
This blog post is especially meaningful and truthful, and I really enjoyed reading it. Iuliia’s explanation is thoughtful and powerful, because I believe that it must be so frustrating to have people always asking you questions based on stereotypes. Although I do not have people questioning me about how I shouldn’t be cold and such, I have experienced questions and remarks based off of one of my features. I don’t get hurt by it, mainly because I realize there was no purposeful harm done, but I sometimes do feel confused and annoyed from it. People need to learn how to be more mindful of situations like that.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me laugh! I got similar comments when it was hot out, where people would say "you're from Florida, so you this isn't hot for you, right?". News flash: hot is hot! And cold is cold.
ReplyDeleteYour reflections on stereotypes were interesting and true no matter where in the world you are.
And, I loved your candy parallels throughout your post!
This was an extremely insightful post! I enjoyed how you dismantled the stereotypes that you come into contact with on a regular basis. I sometimes get the same thing being from Chicago, but its still different. When people are uniformed they might resort to anything they know about it (stereotypes), which is usually wrong.
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