If you had to move to another country, what would it be?

[masha]

If you had to move out of your country for some reason. To what country would you move, and why?

Love Masha

[gadfly]

I am originally from the US, but it has a lot of problems that keep me from really embracing the country. Of course, it's a very diverse country and it is not only relatively easy to get a decent salary but also to get a loan. Then again, there are many places that I'd probably enjoy living there if that was my choice: college towns like Charlottesville, Virginia and Ski towns like Taos, New Mexico hold a special appeal. I don't think that I could raise a family in Russia if I was more than 100 km from Moscow's MKAD, or in Petersburg.

As an American, I doubt that I would ever truly be accepted in Western Europe. I had a connecting flight in Amsterdam, and a woman told me there that some Dutch customs official had commented that Americans are worse than Moroccans and Turks. Eastern Europeans are more accepting of Americans. Berlin is emerging as the Bohemian capital of Germany. Any place that I live must have a wide variety of restaurants. My ex and I used to use the zagat's guide as a checklist for restaurants we visited in New York.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by gadfly
I am originally from the US, but it has a lot of problems that keep me from really embracing the country. Of course, it's a very diverse country and it is not only relatively easy to get a decent salary but also to get a loan. Then again, there are many places that I'd probably enjoy living there if that was my choice: college towns like Charlottesville, Virginia and Ski towns like Taos, New Mexico hold a special appeal. I don't think that I could raise a family in Russia if I was more than 100 km from Moscow's MKAD, or in Petersburg.

As an American, I doubt that I would ever truly be accepted in Western Europe. I had a connecting flight in Amsterdam, and a woman told me there that some Dutch customs official had commented that Americans are worse than Moroccans and Turks. Eastern Europeans are more accepting of Americans. Berlin is emerging as the Bohemian capital of Germany. Any place that I live must have a wide variety of restaurants. My ex and I used to use the zagat's guide as a checklist for restaurants we visited in New York.

gadfly,

i can't agree that Americans wouldn't be accepted in W-Europe. Berlin, where i lived and Frankfurt, where i live now, are really American friendly cities. I have a lot of friends in the States and they loved the places i showed them. I'm sure these aren't the only places in W-Europe.

Back to the thread... i'd like to live in a country where people always care about the people around them, the family, friends, neighbors and not money and luxury, which is getting the pestilence more and more. Don't mind me ;) !

I love Cuba! But my country will ever be my home!

see ya...
zulu

[zulu]

Originally posted by gadfly
I am originally from the US, but it has a lot of problems that keep me from really embracing the country. Of course, it's a very diverse country and it is not only relatively easy to get a decent salary but also to get a loan. Then again, there are many places that I'd probably enjoy living there if that was my choice: college towns like Charlottesville, Virginia and Ski towns like Taos, New Mexico hold a special appeal. I don't think that I could raise a family in Russia if I was more than 100 km from Moscow's MKAD, or in Petersburg.

As an American, I doubt that I would ever truly be accepted in Western Europe. I had a connecting flight in Amsterdam, and a woman told me there that some Dutch customs official had commented that Americans are worse than Moroccans and Turks. Eastern Europeans are more accepting of Americans. Berlin is emerging as the Bohemian capital of Germany. Any place that I live must have a wide variety of restaurants. My ex and I used to use the zagat's guide as a checklist for restaurants we visited in New York.

gadfly,

i can't agree that Americans wouldn't be accepted in W-Europe. Berlin, where i lived and Frankfurt, where i live now, are really American friendly cities. I have a lot of friends in the States and they loved the places i showed them. I'm sure these aren't the only places in W-Europe.

Back to the thread... i'd like to live in a country where people always care about the people around them, the family, friends, neighbors and not money and luxury, which is getting the pestilence more and more. Don't mind me ;) !

I love Cuba! But my country will ever be my home!

see ya...
zulu

[masha]

I was thinking about Amsterdam ..
Sooo niiice place to live I think ..
Want to go there!!

[wil]

Ok Masha, how late can I pick you up from
the airport?
____________________________________________


Hi MAsha,

How was the weekend?
Did you enjoy with your girlfriend?
Did she like Moscow?

We missed you, you're life and the shows:(
but Tristan and I enjoyed each other,
on joking and mailing by the board, ha ha ha.

Wow Amsterdam is a real great dutch city!
I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
I sometimes think about moving to the south of France.
I love the country and the easy way of living
and the friendly people....
The wether, with mostly warm temperature.

Yes, I'll go to France in 7 days....
Bon Jour. Viva la vive!

[matt_uk2001uk]

Where would I like to live.....that's a tough one. I've lived here in England all my life and now I'm really beginning to hate the place, too expensive, too much crime, the streets are filthy and nothing here works properly!!

I've been to quite a few places around the world and so far my favourites are the south of France (same as wil), Monte Carlo and New York.

I keep thinking that other countries must be some much better to live in than England, but you can never really tell if you're only visiting somewhere for a week or two. I'm sure London must seem a great place to live for most of the tourists that come and visit here, but the reality of living here is something else.

[doctorpinch]

I'm from the US and live in Denver, Colorado. I've lived in London (for about three years) and would go back there in a flash.

But if I could live anywhere in the world, I've got to think it would be the Tuscan countryside in Italy. Close enough to Milan, Florence and Sienna to be able to go for the day.

I certainly haven't been everywhere in the world, but Tuscany is the best I've ever experienced.

[Larry Mason]

I've spent most of my life in Northern California and it's hard to beat. Lots of variety. For example, San Francisco is one of the world's great cities, and at the opposite extreme I've backpacked most of the John Muir Trail.

And I like Europe. I have had very friendly reception in Germany (especially Saxony) and in Vienna - other places too. Never been to Russia but Masha's pics of some of the old cities are intriguing.

But I've always thought I'd like to visit Australia some time. Especially Melbourne. I have some third cousins near there, but never visited them so far.

[Larry Mason]

Originally posted by gadfly
... As an American, I doubt that I would ever truly be accepted in Western Europe. I had a connecting flight in Amsterdam, and a woman told me there that some Dutch customs official had commented that Americans are worse than Moroccans and Turks. Eastern Europeans are more accepting of Americans. Berlin is emerging as the Bohemian capital of Germany. Any place that I live must have a wide variety of restaurants. My ex and I used to use the zagat's guide as a checklist for restaurants we visited in New York.

We used to hear that French people (especially) are unfriendly to Americans. But I've been to most W Europe countries and I found that if I am nice to people and if I try NOT to be "ugly American," they are nice to me. In France as much as anywhere.

[matt_uk2001uk]

I'm not sure about the rest of Europe, but I know that most people in the UK like Americans, mainly because you're such a friendly nation.

Alot of British people don't really like your President, but then again we don't like our Prime Minister either!!

[zaz]

Hello all!

You are all welcome in France. You are all welcome in this beautiful country where people are as nice as everywhere else. The cultural mix between latino and saxon culture is very rich and pleasant.
There is no problem with Americans (and nobody else) as we love all nice people.

On my side I really plan to continue to live in France but however, if I had to move I will choose Peru or Bolivia.

Cheers,
Zaz

[Larry Mason]

Well Tris maybe that's debatable.

Maybe the election is determined by the people who STAY HOME on election day

But that's not unique to USA either.

=

The first thing your girls will learn is, "Wow! Everything in Europe is way different from Montana."

And the last thing they will learn before they go home is, "Wow! Everything in Europe is really just about the same as in Montana, after all."

(Translation: on the surface, different parts of the world are quite different. But underneath it all, they are quite alike.)

[Larry Mason]

Well there's this idea you hear sometimes in the US.

You work for 20 or 30 years in Silicon Valley or some place where salaries are very high and you build up a really big retirement fund.

Then when you are about 45 you look around and find a place - just for argument sake suppose it is Portugal - where the cost of everything is about one-tenth of Silicon Valley.

You buy a little country place in Portugal and retire and move there. You are the richest guy for miles around because you have all this Silicon Valley money coming in a check each month.

[Well it's probably a great idea, but somehow I don't feel like retiring in Portugal.]

[Larry Mason]

UGLY AMERICAN?

There is an article on the front page of today's Christian Science Monitor (well respected US newspaper) by staff member Mark Sappenfield. It is copyrighted by Christian Science Publishing Society, but I can legally copy a short quotation.
Task for Olympians: How not to be 'Ugly Americans'

...What American athletes must avoid ... is a repeat of what happened four years ago in Sydney. After winning the 4x100 relay, the US team pranced around the stadium ...

This year, with Washington setting a strong and controversial path in international affairs, it might take much less to bring the world's political vexation with the United States into Athens's athletic venues.

... "We have a responsibility to act like gentlemen," [basketball coach Larry Brown] said on a conference call. "We have a great opportunity to help people understand that this country is pretty neat."

With that attitude, Americans could find themselves well loved in Athens - even in the midst of international uncertainty. ... If American athletes behave themselves, there won't be a problem.

[Larry Mason]

MORE: EAST MEETS WEST

I think a lot of Americans are fascinated about Russia. From about 1920 to 1990, we were "taught" that USSR is the "evil empire." Many American eyes were opened a bit in 1957 by Sputnik.

For the past 10 years or more we have been fascinated by what seem to be major changes in Russia. I think most Americans hope that the changes will be beneficial for the Russian people.

I think, only a few years ago, an "adult art show" like Masha World would have been impossible.

According to the following article, a museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, planned a modest event based on Americans' curiosity about the last Romanov's, and they were pleasantly surprised by the response.

More at http://www.russiansummer.comCynthia Pasquale, Denver Post:
SANTA FE, NM - The city famous for chili, turqouise, and Georgia O'Keefe has embraced vodka, caviar, and Faberge - at least until early September - to celebrate a museum exhibit that peers into the private lives of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov, the last of the Russian royalty, dethroned and killed by the Bolsheviks in 1917.

Hotels entice visitors with special rates for a "Russian Summer in Santa Fe" and often offer complimentary vodka and caviar. Merchants sell icons, miniature Faberge-like egg jewelry, and dolls representing the royals. Russian art hangs next to tree-dotted landscapes.

This unlikely community-wide Russia love-fest was born out of need. The Museum of Fine Arts, eager to bring high-caliber shows to the city, sought help to promote and pay for the "Nicholas and Alexandra: At Home with the Last Tsar of Russia" exhibit, with its estimated price tag of $250,000.

"Russian Summer" coordinators initially envisioned two or three Russian-themed events each week during the exhibit's run, which goes through Sept 5. But the idea was so well received by merchants and others that more than 175 events were cemented early on, and more were added as the summer progressed.

. . .

Nicholas II was pushed into power after the death of his father in 1894. ... In Communist party textbooks, Nicholas was painted as a great opressor, but more recent historians have been kinder to the man often referred to as the reluctant ruler. In 1998, Nicholas was given a state funeral in Russia; in 2000, he was canonized with other martyrs.

"This change of attitude is one reason we wanted to bring this exhibit to the United States," says Alexander Potemkin, director of the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation in Washington, and a Russian citizen.

. . .

The exhibit is less about the trappings of royalty and more about the family. ... The most striking piece in the exhibit may well be the czarina's Imperial Basket of Lilies of the Valley, which was presented to her during an industrial fair in 1896. Loaned from the New Orleans Museum of Art, the gold "wicker" basket is filled with "moss" made of green spun gold, and pearl and diamond flowers flanked by leaves of jade.

Russian history spills out of the museum and into some of the city's art galleries. ...

The Rev Dmitry Wieber, whose congregation at St Juliana's Russian Orthodox Church numbers about eight families, blessed the museum exhibit and scheduled several lectures at the church.

One of the most popular was "Fasting and Feasting in the Russian Tradition," which included tastes of traditional desserts.

. . .

More at http://www.russiansummer.com

Larry Mason

[Larry Mason]

Americans need to learn more about Russian history.

Masha, I think you missed this opportunity to show us a special piece of Russia's erotic history. (?? !!) Even before VALIUM was invented!

(For metric illiterates: 30 centimeters is about 12 inches.)

I was looking on line for more information about the Romanov family, and I came across this one in on-line Moscow News, April 2004

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/04/28/rasputin.shtml

= Larry Mason.

Photo: Reuters [at end of this article]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RUSSIAN MUSEUM TO EXHIBIT RASPUTIN'S PENIS

Created: 28.04.2004 15:42 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 19:31 MSK

MosNews

The first Russian museum of erotica is opening in St. Petersburg, Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily reports. The museum is founded by Igor Knyazkin, the chief of the prostate research center of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.

Knyazkin told the newspaper that museums of sex and erotica exist in many European countries and he wanted Russia to be a civilized country with a view on the future and with correct views on erotica.

There is one exhibit in the museum which makes Knyazkin be especially proud of. This is the 30-centimeter preserved penis of Grigory Rasputin. “Having this exhibit, we can stop envying America, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s penis is now kept. … Napoleon’s penis is but a small ”pod“ it cannot stand comparison to our organ of 30 centimeters…” the head of the museum said.

Rasputin, nicknamed “Mad Monk” by historians was born in 1869 in Siberia, arrived in St. Petersburg in 1911 and within a few years had become one of the most influential men in government circles. His rise to preeminence was due to his close relationship with Nicholas II’s wife, Alexandra. The heir to the throne suffered from hemophaelia, and only Rasputin could stop the boy’s bleeding. Because of this, Alexandra believed he was a holy man sent to protect Alexis and she kept him close by at all times.

However, many historians point to the unusual cult that Rasputin practiced at the Emperors’ court — a strange mixture of Christianity and sexual practices. Many of the noble women were believed to be in sexual relations with Rasputin, possibly including the Empress.

At the end of 1916, a group of aristocrats decided that Rasputin’s influence had grown too great and that he had to be killed in order to save Russia. They lured him to the palace of one of the princes; fed him poisoned cakes and wine, shot him and then threw him into the frozen river.

[Larry Mason]

Note: For more about the penis of Napolean Bonaparte, mentioned in the Rasputin article, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040102.html
"John K. Lattimer, professor emeritus and former chairman of urology at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, ... acknowledged having it ..."

And some wise commentary at: http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu/issues/spring_00/02_24/opinion/02_22_florkowski.html

Hey guys, isn't it difficult enough making sure your own penis is always where you want it? Who needs to keep track of some other guy's in a jar?

On the other hand, maybe this could start a new trend. Like, "After I die I want my penis cut off and preserved in a jar and given to my mistress. Then cremate the rest of me and put the ashes in an urn and give them to my wife."

????

[masha]

Originally posted by fexel
Hi,

i would move to italy or russia :-)

bye

fexel

Why to Russia ;-)

Love Masha

[Larry Mason]

WHY RUSSIA?

I would like to visit Russia because it is a good mixture of unusual/exotic and familiar.

My general impression is, that up to 1917 Russia did not feel a need to be similar to the rest of Europe or to US. One example is the calendar, which the Pope changed in 1563 and England changed in 1752, but Russia did not change until USSR (??)

Late in 20th century Russia worked very hard to "catch up" with the west. Now I think Russia has jumped ahead in some ways - for instance US has a huge investment in copper wire phone systems that causes economic problems with switching the whole system to wireless, but I think Russia was able to build a whole new phone system after 1990, because the old system was so low-tech they could just abandon it. So the new system might be better than what now exists in USA.

And Russia is still a very proud country, and rightfully so.

A good example is Masha World - nobody else is doing such creative work with a "reality, adult" web site.

[masha]

Originally posted by Larry Mason
WHY RUSSIA?

I would like to visit Russia because it is a good mixture of unusual/exotic and familiar.

My general impression is, that up to 1917 Russia did not feel a need to be similar to the rest of Europe or to US. One example is the calendar, which the Pope changed in 1563 and England changed in 1752, but Russia did not change until USSR (??)

Late in 20th century Russia worked very hard to "catch up" with the west. Now I think Russia has jumped ahead in some ways - for instance US has a huge investment in copper wire phone systems that causes economic problems with switching the whole system to wireless, but I think Russia was able to build a whole new phone system after 1990, because the old system was so low-tech they could just abandon it. So the new system might be better than what now exists in USA.

And Russia is still a very proud country, and rightfully so.

A good example is Masha World - nobody else is doing such creative work with a "reality, adult" web site.

Wow you know a lot. And thanks for the kind words

Love Masha

[Larry Mason]

Hey Masha, in the twenty-first century nobody has to KNOW anything, except how to type a request into GOOGLE.

= = =

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0002061.html

The Gregorian reform was not adopted throughout the West immediately. Most Catholic countries quickly changed to the Pope's new calendar in 1582. But Europe's Protestant princes chose to ignore the papal bull and continued with the Julian calendar. It was not until 1700 that the Protestant rulers of Germany and the Netherlands changed to the new calendar. In Great Britain (and its colonies) the shift did not take place until 1752, and in Russia a revolution was needed to introduce the Gregorian calendar in 1918. In Turkey, the Islamic calendar was used until 1926.

Adoption of the Gregorian Calendar

1582: Catholic states of Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Holland, and Poland
1584: German and Swiss Catholic states
1587: Hungary
1700: German, Swiss, and Dutch Protestant States, Denmark, and Norway
1752: Great Britain and its possessions (including the American colonies)
1873: Japan
1875: Egypt
1918: Russia
1924: Greece
1926: Turkey
1949: China

[Larry Mason]

http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/0/89a6b3b853a1867343256ab0002b5295?OpenDocument

Modernization of Russia's Transportation System

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

DAILY NEWS BULLETIN 2001-08-15

A unified public highways support network will be completed over the eight years of the federal target program Modernization of Russia's Transportation System, Sergei Frank, the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, announced. The highways' length will have increased by 20 percent, according to him. For the most part a network of international transport corridors, running through the territory of Russia, also will be completed over the eight years.
. . .
The program also presupposes the preparation of inland waterways so that by the year 2010 they are ready for integration into the European water transport system.

[Larry Mason]

http://bd.english.fom.ru/report/map/analytic/bavin/ed033331


THE PUBLIC OPINION FOUNDATION

21.08.2003, Bavin P.

The Modernization of School Education: A Move to Unified Management or Democracy?

Some two years ago the Russian government accepted the Ministry of Education’s program “The Conception of Modernization of Russia’s School Education". The POF conducted a poll to show current public attitudes to the proposed changes in our contemporary school education system.

[Larry Mason]

http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/4/489.html

Yevgeny Yasin, Doctor of Science (Economics), is Research Director of the Higher School of Economics and Director of the Expert Institute of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, former Russian Minister of Economics (1994-1997).

This article is based on a report made by Dr Yasin at the international conference “Modernization of the Russian Economy: Social Aspects,” April 2003, Moscow.

“Russian Soul” and Economic Modernization
16-09-2003 16:00

As the history of post-Soviet Russia advances, each additional year provides more evidence that the process of change will be dragged-out and controversial. We are increasingly often turning to most inertial factors affecting the country’s economic growth – the system of values and culture in the broad sense of the word.

It seems apparent that a successful economic modernization in Russia will be highly contingent upon the evolution of our culture, values, informal institutions, as well as the direction these factors will take in the future.

The importance of this evolution goes beyond the shaping-up of a social context of modernization. Its deep-rooted implication is that we must become different ourselves in order to make Russia an economically affluent nation.

Many Russians hold to the idea that their country is unpromising and affluence will always remain beyond reach. Such is our national character and cultural tradition and there is really nothing we can do about it, they say. The Bolsheviks pressed forward with their revolution in the hope that a totally different system of economic relations would eventually change the character of the nation, but their aspirations were to be proven futile.

. . . Is the goal of bringing Russia to a level of affluence with other advanced nations a realistic one?

THREE PILLARS OF RUSSIAN VALUES

Russia survived two major upheavals in the 20th century, which left profound chasms in the continuity of its history. In the wake of it, the heterogeneity and controversies of Russian values are not at all surprising. The reform years have augmented their inherent historical complexities with all of the conflicts of a transitional period.

. . .

The Russian self-identity is not vanishing. And it can be preserved to a degree that does not put the brakes on development and competitiveness. The Russian self-identity will not go away because of many factors, such as our unique nature, climate, and history. Finally, self-identity may also become an element of our competitiveness. The ability for hard work is a common feature of East Asia, for example, and Russia may reveal new identities when it reaches the pinnacle of the post-industrial stage.

Earlier in this article we named the traditional Russian values, such as the enjoyment of work, far reaching actions and alternative thinking. Education was added to that list in the Soviet epoch. If we combine these elements with the freedom of the individual, and other liberal values, the mix could very well result in a powerful charge of productivity under the new conditions.

[Larry Mason]

This article was reprinted in a Silicon Valley newspaper today 10 Aug:

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/08/05/014.html

MOSCOW TIMES
Thursday, August 5, 2004. Page 4.

Grass Finally Looks Green Again

By Steve Gutterman
The Associated Press

AKADEMGORODOK, Western Siberia -- Sipping from an outsized cup at a coffee shop, his computer jargon competing with the sounds of U2 and frothing latte, software designer Yury Bannov could almost be in Silicon Valley. Only the birch trees and babushkas outside give away his actual location: Siberia.

While he lives in Akademgorodok, a faded former center of Soviet scientific might, Bannov's company does almost all its work for clients in the United States and Europe. He is part of a new generation that has stemmed the brain drain that sapped the nation of many of its best and brightest following the Soviet collapse.

They stay home because they want to -- not because they cannot get out. The economy has improved since the desperate early 1990s, and Russians are now used to the post-Soviet freedoms that let them see the world and come back. For many, the desire to leave has become less pressing.

"I've traveled a lot, and I like to vacation abroad, but I don't think I would like to live there," said Bannov, who abandoned his postgraduate studies in mathematics to go into lucrative business designing software.

. . .

Picture (below): Misha Japaridze / AP

Pavel Logachev showing off equipment for a particle accelerator being built at the Nuclear Physics Institute in Akademgorodok.

[Larry Mason]

http://www.friends-partners.org/friends/

This is an "EAST MEETS WEST" site. The webmasters are named Masha and Andrey!!

Welcome to Friends and Partners, jointly developed by friends in the US and Russia to promote better understanding between the people of our countries.http://www.friends-partners.org/oldfriends/asebrant/life/2004/may_2004_spb.html

[This one is when they visited St Pete]

... We had a very, very good luck. By no means St.Petersburg is the most sunny place on Earth. I'd rather say that it's a place usually full of mists, overcast sky, and drizzles. But these four days of early May 2004 were fabulous, sunny and bright. The real spring had not come to St. Pete yet, and there were no leaves, no flowers - but almost summer warmth and sunshine nonetheless. Everyone around was enjoying the weather. So - let us look at the city full of first real sunshine of the year, the city waking up after a long winter...