Russia ---> In a way, I'm kinda proud that I live here

[shandeegoddess.livejournal.com]

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)