Indians about Russia and Russians

The magazine "My Planet" continues its series of publications about what foreigners think about our compatriots. This time the author took a walk through the jungles in India (near the city of Arambol in Goa) and asked their residents the same question: "What do you think about Russia and Russians?" Read the answers in the captions to the photos.

— I really like Russians. Russia and India are old friends. Russians also drink a lot of rum-Cola. They can sit and drink all day. (Alok Gupta, Agra, shop assistant)

— Some Russians are crazy, some are the same as Indians, they have a similar nature. I think it is very difficult to live in Russia. Usually Russians don't have money, but when they do, they spend it heartily, and this is very good for business. (Francis Fernandez, Arambol, taxi driver)

— The first associations that come to mind are beautiful girls, rich culture, all these round dolls, buildings with domes, Gorbachev. You know, when I was little, relations between Russia and India were very good, and my dad encouraged our passion for Russian literature: Dostoevsky, Turgenev, Anna Karenina — we read all this. (Babita Naran Kocher, Nainital, Jewelry designer)

— In Calcutta, where I come from, it's too hot, so when I hear "Russia", I imagine that the weather is great there — it's cold! There are also many Russian actresses in Bollywood, they are very beautiful. (Olok Adak, Calcutta, jeweler)

— Russians think too much, this causes problems with alcohol, drugs, mental disorders. They have too much energy that is not directed in the right direction, so the liver and pancreas hurt. Russia is a wonderful country, I have been there many times. But there is a problem in people who think negatively. (Ashok Kumar, Karnataka, hereditary Ayurvedic Doctor)

— The first thing that comes to mind is beautiful Russian girls. Second, they don't speak English. Third — but they are very beautiful. Something else? Russians don't drown, mostly Indians drown. (Vincent Mascarenhas, Goa, lifeguard on the beach)

— Russia has a long history of relations with India — since the times of Lenin, Gorbachev, Putin. Russian men are very strong, women are like butterflies. (Yogi Dr. Bolinat, London, hermit)

— Russians only buy big fish. They take tiger prawns, king prawns, mackerel. Almost no haggling. Good people, our business is based on them. (Deepali Govega, Goa, fishmonger)

Russian russians have been doing business with me for five years now, if Russians come, it means there will be profit. Few of them speak English, and of those who do, few understand our culture, how we are supposed to behave. Most Russians don't create problems, but it feels like they have a completely different culture. (Vishnu Sharma, Kullu, restaurateur)

— Russians are immediately visible: light brown hair, a large and fat body, a white face. Russia, I think, is a nice and quiet place, there are mountains there. (Vitu Kumar, Manali, waiter)

— Russians are very clean, very quiet people, peace-loving, they love tranquility. The girls also have very fair skin, I would like to have one. (Riddy Sharma, Delhi, Economist)

— Russians are very passionate people, but they bargain too much. When they buy a shawarma, they also bargain! All over India, business depends on Russians. (Asaf Muhammad, Kerala, shawarma seller)

— Sometimes Russians create problems and even get angry. Russian russians do not learn English, they only speak their own language, they think that everyone should learn Russian. Often they lack understanding, they are some other, not friendly to everyone. (Wiki Kanjia, Gujarat, tattoo and dread master)

— Russians often ask for very low prices. If I bought something for 300 rupees and sell it, they can ask it for 50 rupees. Often they behave inappropriately after alcohol. (Geeta Kanjia, Gujarat, knitting saleswoman)

— I don't know much about Russia, I know it's cold there, it's a big country. And of course, Russian salad! (Deepika Meena, Bahanejra, housewife)

— I know that there are problems in Russia now, because of this, many flights have been canceled and there are fewer Russians in India now. We want the Russians to come. Russia is a very clean and nice place, the girls are very attractive, thin, not like Indian. One disadvantage is that no one speaks English. (Amit Farukh, Kashmir, master of papier-mache)