[identity profile] shandeegoddess.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] learn_russian
Russia is one interesting country. The largest country in the world too.

The 5th largest meteorite was found in Skihote-Alin, Russia. Weighing an estimated 27 tonnes.

The first un-manned moon landing was from Russia (Lunik 2 in Sep 1959)

The 3rd coldest place in the world is Oymyakon, Russia, where the lowest temperature has been -71.1 degrees Celsius to -96.0 degrees Celsius.

The 2nd place in the world with the most contrasting seasons is Yakutsk, Russia.

The country with the largest areas of forest in the world is Russia (8,513,920 sq km)

The country with the 5th highest divorce rate in the world is Russia.

The country with the 3rd highest marriage rate in the world is Russia.

The country with the 2nd highest suicide rate in the world is Russia (42 suicides/100000)

The country with the 3rd highest rate of death from heart disease in the world is Russia.

The country with the 2nd highest total prison population in the world is Russia (919,330 prisoners)

The country that suffered the greatest military loss in WWII was the USSR (13,600,000 fatalities)

The country that has the 3rd highest amount of submarines, combat aircrafts, navy and defence budget is Russia.

The country with the second largest amount of neighbours is Russia (14)


I know that one day, I'll be proud to say how I lived in Russia for three whole years. I could tell people all about my crazy situations in the metro, being watched like a hawk in the shops cause of my nationality (Sri Lankan), being told that me and my sister were pretty by nice old grannies, being bitched at by evil grannies, being sung Hindi songs at in the Russian markets by men who were crazy about Indians, being adored by the market men and having prices of stuff reduced for us just cause they thought we were Indians, being told that our tea is the most delicious tea ever made when they found out we were Sri Lankan, being grinned at by men with full sets of bright gold teeth, being stopped by the police and asked to show identification, being stopped by money hungry bus conductors and having to pay a 100 rouble fine just cause I didn’t know how to defend myself in Russian, meeting a cute Russian stranger in a white suit on the metro and having an actual conversation and in the end even exchanging mobile numbers, having a Russian drunkard sitting next to me on the metro and randomly asking me weird un-comprehendible questions and me blushing like a tomato and repeating the only word I knew at that time which was "Net" (No), giving money to a Russian army guy with amputated legs and getting a genuine smile of gratitude in return. There are so many moments that I have experienced while living in Russia, that I will never forget. And I am still living here. My three years aren't over yet. I'm still only halfway through. And I hope that life will continue to be this bizarre with its highs and lows.

And do you know what the most exhilarating thing is? The fact that I can read and write in Russian :-D Speaking is still quite difficult for me. Russian words are so damn hard to pronounce and plus, here's something interesting, the word 'paka' is actually a bad word in my language (singhalese) Haha.

I would love it if somebody could teach me some Russian swearwords :-D Can't seem to find 'em in dictionaries :-( So, if you'd like to help, just IM me:

yahoo: Shandeemilla
aim: Shandeemilla
msn: Shandee_Goddess

Shandee ♥ (Sri Lankan gurlie livin in Russia)

Date: 2005-05-01 06:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wolfie-18.livejournal.com
Although some of those statistics are dubious honors, the whole of your post made me smile.

I wish I could go to Russia. :(

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From: [identity profile] wolfie-18.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-05-01 10:55 pm (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-05-01 06:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] arrestthisman.livejournal.com
The thing about the evil bus conductor and the hundred ruble fine -- that happened to me too! God, he scared the crap out of me.

(Would it be creepy to say you look very cute in your icon picture?)

Date: 2005-05-01 06:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ex-qnn171.livejournal.com
USSR was also the first country who sent it's men in space
and our losses in WW2 were something about 27000000

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Date: 2005-05-03 05:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wolk-off.livejournal.com
The number she mentioed was the military men fatalities number, not the overall loss.

Date: 2005-05-01 06:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sanin.livejournal.com
Seems like you are having a good time here :-)

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Date: 2005-05-01 06:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] happy-accidents.livejournal.com
What exactly has permitted you to live in Russia for 6 years? I'm curious :)

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Date: 2005-05-01 07:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cosmopolitina.livejournal.com
oh yes, the bus conductors are just EVIL here! I'm Russian, but i had to pay the fine 2 times - first 'cause I just didn't know the rules, 2nd 'cause I simply couldn't make my way to the composters (composters? I' don't how the this stuff to make holes in the tickets is called).

Have you ever been to other big European cities? How do you evaluate the quality of life here in comparison with them? With your native country?

Date: 2005-05-01 07:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kylemonroe.livejournal.com
Hee! It sounds fun!

the 2nd part made me smile

Date: 2005-05-01 07:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spinkedzzz.livejournal.com
nice post man
respect!
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From: [identity profile] cema.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-05-02 12:19 am (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-05-01 08:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] night1ngale.livejournal.com
http://www.insultmonger.com/swearing/russian.htm - Very huge list of russian swearwords :)

Date: 2005-05-01 09:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alpha-cygnus.livejournal.com
and besides they say that Russia is the birthplace of elephants :)

Date: 2005-05-01 09:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alternakittyn.livejournal.com
The first time I heard my Ukrainian boyfriend say "paka" I heard "baka" which means idiot in Japanese. I'm like, "huh... so he doesn't like his parents...". I'm a little slow on the uptake.

Date: 2005-05-01 09:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] egh0st.livejournal.com
The country with the 2nd highest total prison population in the world is Russia (919,330 prisoners)

At least we are right after America :) Btw in USA the prison population is all times high :P

The country that suffered the greatest military loss in WWII was the USSR (13,600,000 fatalities)

^^^^^What? You must have divided that figure by half accidentaly.

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Date: 2005-05-01 10:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] egh0st.livejournal.com

The first un-manned moon landing was from Russia (Lunik 2 in Sep 1959)

Some corrections:

Lunik (лунник with NN) stands for "Lunar probe", and that word was used decades ago. This is general name used by journalists and writers of that time, nothing to do with official names. Official name for soviet lunar probes series was "Luna".

In this case it was Luna-2 which made CRASH landing on t3h Moon surface. So it's not landing, more impact ;)

In addition, it was LUNA-3, which delivered to humankind the first ever picture of the other side of the Moon. I'd say that achievement is much more of value than crash :)

The first soft landing was Luna-9.
some info about soviet lunar missions http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/lunarussr.html

Date: 2005-05-02 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lollydoll.livejournal.com
Not that those statistics are some to be proud of ^^' but I can relate. I had a drunk man fall asleep on my shoulder in the metro, an angry old woman push my butt onto a bus, and storekeepers eyeing me like a hawk (wasn't supposed to touch x.x oops). Although the experiences weren't exactly pleasant, it was different and amusing. Russia really is an interesting place to be in. I don't think highly of it for the many problems, how dirty Moscow was, people's attitudes, etc. but it was enjoyable, nonetheless. I envy you even to be able to live there for a time :)

*smiles!*

Date: 2005-05-02 12:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] loki-fledermaus.livejournal.com
Thank you for posting this, it really made me smile! I'm looking forward to when I can get out there too.

Date: 2005-05-08 03:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 2608.livejournal.com
you proud to say you lived in russia..you must be silly ..why the hell anyway you all like Russia? Its sucks.Russia is full of shit!!! Shit shit shit..it must be called ShitLand..Only stupid people go to Rassia from good contries ..
and no no nono nobody likes you there you must to know it!


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