Stereotypes and myths- Maria Garbuzova

During our school activities we speak a lot about our countries, our customs and traditions.

At the beginning of lessons we usually ask students what they already knew about our motherlands and every time we hear the same stereotypes, which we try to debunk then.

The most funnies and popular myths about Russia, which I heard here in Ceska Lipa, always contained such words like «vodka», «bears» and «the biggest country».

The last thing is true for sure, we are the biggest country in a world, and actually Russia is bigger than Pluton. It has a size of 17 million square kilometers, and Pluton has a size of 16.6 million square kilometers! 

But what about «vodka» and «bears»? I should say that is nothing like this. Yes, vodka still is our favorite alcohol, but we don’t drink it EVERYDAY, only at holidays and not everyone, I, for example, have never tried it.

And now the second myth – bears. I don’t know why people think that bears can freely walk around the city in Russia, who started it? Of course we have bears, but only in a ZOO, national parks or in deep-deep forests somewhere in Kamchatka.

With High school students we discuss not only funny facts or stereotypes about Russia, but also speak about some serious themes like politic and economic. It’s not a secret that now in Russia is not the best time, but it’s a pleasure for me to found out that many of students support my country and my government. 

I hope that the rest of students who still hadn’t a class with us will read and remember that Russian people don’t drink vodka every day and don’t dance with bears after this)))

During our school activities we speak a lot about our countries, our customs and traditions.

At the beginning of lessons we usually ask students what they already knew about our motherlands and every time we hear the same stereotypes, which we try to debunk then.

The most funnies and popular myths about Russia, which I heard here in Ceska Lipa, always contained such words like «vodka», «bears» and «the biggest country».

The last thing is true for sure, we are the biggest country in a world, and actually Russia is bigger than Pluton. It has a size of 17 million square kilometers, and Pluton has a size of 16.6 million square kilometers! 

But what about «vodka» and «bears»? I should say that is nothing like this. Yes, vodka still is our favorite alcohol, but we don’t drink it EVERYDAY, only at holidays and not everyone, I, for example, have never tried it.

And now the second myth – bears. I don’t know why people think that bears can freely walk around the city in Russia, who started it? Of course we have bears, but only in a ZOO, national parks or in deep-deep forests somewhere in Kamchatka.

With High school students we discuss not only funny facts or stereotypes about Russia, but also speak about some serious themes like politic and economic. It’s not a secret that now in Russia is not the best time, but it’s a pleasure for me to found out that many of students support my country and my government. 

I hope that the rest of students who still hadn’t a class with us will read and remember that Russian people don’t drink vodka every day and don’t dance with bears after this)))

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