I write this latest entry with the warning that I'm in a bad mood. However, this mood occurs often here and usually for the same reason, which is what drives me to write about it. This entry will be biased, and this having been said, I continue...
There is no respect left in Russia. Very few people respect each other here anymore. They don't respect your time, your status, your faults or your pluses. Russia has over the last 16 years become a land of every person for himself, and this permeates all aspects of life. This is the way it is, and the way life must be for most people if they want to survive. Lying is something you must do in order to get what you need, not to mention the few extra things you might want. The only person that you can respect in life here is yourself, and perhaps your spouse and children...outside of this tight circle sacrifices for the sake of others are neither repaid nor noticed. That's just the way it is.
I write this after waiting a total of five hours over the course of several days for a certain professor at my university who owes me a final grade. I've called, waited in his office and emailed him and yet I'm still without a grade. I'm the only student who completed their work on time (early, to be exact) and translated my Russian work into English for the benefit of the professor.
Yes, I'm focusing my frustration on this one professor. He embodies all that frustrates me about modern Russian culture. Irresponsible, aloof, shows no respect to his students, always late, unorganized...I would stereotype this as typical Russian behavior. The frustrating part is that at the same time they'll be friendly, smile and joke with you, and at the end of the conversation you'll be sympathizing more with them then you are with your own situation.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't like Russians, that Russian people are bad, or that Russians are disrespectful people. This type of behaviour is the norm here, and that's more frustrating to me. I'm from a wildly different culture - one strict deadlines, efficiency, mutual respect for one another regardless of the situation, etc....I struggle in this culture. One's not better than the other, it's just they're so wildly different I to this day struggle living in it. I at some point hoped to adjust, but I don't think it's possible!
What bothers me most, is that Russians complain about this. They complain just like I do when someone doesn't do something they've promised, or should have done. But they themselves do this all the time! It affects everyone - people get angry, frustrated, mad, worry...all these negative feelings...but it never occurs to them to change what they do. No one here thinks about changing their behavior, setting an example or correcting mistakes. The response is always, "Well, what can you do?", or "That's just the way things are". Things are so passive here - it is hard for anyone with an active attitude here to succeed...the conditions just aren't right - only if you relate to everything passively will you survive mentally and actually get something done.
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