How are Russians different from English. English and Russian traditions. comparative analysis

After my first trip to England, I returned to Russia stunned and in love with this country. Probably, my fragile teenage consciousness was largely influenced by the fact that the UK turned out to be my first “abroad”. I was in a pleasant sense shocked and amazed at the structure of this country and its people, who then seemed to me to be entirely English lords speaking the correct language. Royal English. Perhaps in those years the situation in the United Kingdom was indeed significantly different from now, when the country was filled with hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the former colonial countries, and you will not find a true English aristocrat with pale skin and thin wrists in the afternoon with fire. But the fact is that my first impressions of the country and conclusions about it on my second visit are as different as heaven and earth.

Today's Great Britain: the British and the attitude towards Russians

Of course, much of what was remembered on the first trip continues to exist to this day: the same smiles strangers on the streets, if you happen to meet their eyes, the same endless " sorry" and " excuse me» from people you accidentally bumped into in the store. Therefore, the first days of our emigration, I walked in a kind of intoxicating euphoria, smiling at everyone and everything around and wasting apologies right and left, trying to adapt as soon as possible. It seemed that everyone around was sincerely glad for your presence and treated you with genuine good nature. Gradually, the veil began to fall from my eyes and I began to notice some, not very joyful things. The cordiality of the British turned into only a polite mask, and the traditional endless apologies with or without cause did not carry exactly any emotional load, flying out of the mouth purely on the machine.

In the depths of their hearts, the English, although they will never admit it, consider their country and the nation the best in the world, and all foreigners are treated either with slight disgust, or with sympathy, or even sometimes with contempt. According to my own conclusions, in the ranking of nations among British subjects, Russians, alas, occupy one of the last lines, somewhere next to representatives of Eastern European countries, giving way to Indians and immigrants from African countries. The Russian nation is a convenient object for ironic mockery on the part of the British, because you can practice slander and assert yourself at your expense without fear of accusations of racism and xenophobia. Therefore, a bank employee may mockingly advise you to cash a British check in Russia, and renting an apartment will not be an easy task.

In their hearts, the British regret the collapse of a powerful British Empire and secretly dream of restoring their former power. With enviable regularity, British society raises questions about the withdrawal of Great Britain from the European Union, collecting tens of thousands of signatures on petitions against lifting restrictions for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania to work in the United Kingdom.

Plays a role and anti-propaganda in mass media: as a rule, negative news is written about Russia, forming the image of Russians as ignorant "barbarians" who do not shy away from making money illegally. In the comments to the article on the Daily Telegraph, for example, one can see statements that, they say, we (the British nation) are too dependent on the money of rich Russian oligarchs, and it would be nice to put an end to this. It is especially funny to hear this from the British with an Indian surname. On the forum of Englishmen who married citizens of the Russian Federation, happy husbands share secrets of what workarounds can be used to open an account in an English bank for their dearest half, if "the British banking system needs Russians just like sharp nails - a person suffering from hemorrhoids."

How to behave in England

However, you should not despair: of course, you alone cannot change your attitude towards Russians in an instant. However, it is in your power to form a positive attitude towards yourself personally and, perhaps, over time, the situation will gradually begin to change. First of all, you need to learn English language. Until you can easily understand and express yourself in English, you can hardly expect respect for yourself. Ignorance of the English language in our time is bad manners and disrespect for the country of residence. Therefore, first of all, if you have chosen the UK as your second home and want to assimilate here, you should not isolate yourself from others or limit your communication to the Russian-speaking diaspora (which still does not exist). Communicate more with locals, always and everywhere, absorb modern English expressions and dialects: in a bank, a store, a hairdresser, especially since, contrary to stereotypes, English- a very talkative and sociable nation.

Second, adopt good manners. Yes, even if not all locals shine with them, but you should not learn from negative examples: there are enough well-educated people in England. Just watch, memorize and copy.

Thirdly: relax, finally! In England, no one lives in eternal pressure, most people are in a light relaxed state, you don’t have to expect aggression from them and be on the alert all the time.

And finally - smile! This is just politeness and the norm of communication, and not at all an invitation to acquaintance with far-reaching consequences. Start smiling, and you yourself will not notice how the smile will become a habit and will appear on your face in a completely natural way.

It cannot be said that Russians lack manners in the Western European sense of the word. They have manners, they are just not quite the same as in the West.

Where an over-polite Japanese would probably say something like, "Could you make the window open?" and an Englishman would confine himself to the more concise, "Could you open the window?" : "Open the window, please" - and thus save a lot of time and energy.

Good manners include a quiet voice, calm gestures, and not too provocative clothing. However, Russians will not hesitate to express their overwhelming feelings in a public place. For example, if you do not like the way you are served in a store or restaurant, you can tell the seller or waiter everything you think about him, about his relatives, near and far, about his habits and sexual preferences.

But fighting in public is condemned. They say that in Ireland, if you see two people fighting, you can walk up and ask politely if it's a private fight or if anyone can take part. And if the answer allows it, you can take off your jacket and contribute. In Russia, it's not like that. If someone uses their fists, as a rule, there is someone trying to breed fighters. A Russian might even get into a fight in the hope that someone will stop him: "Hold me before I smash that son of a bitch on the wall!"

When a man meets, if they are good friends and have not seen each other for a long time, they can kiss on both cheeks. Three kisses are possible if they are priests or one of them is Brezhnev.

Not so long ago, young people kissing in public could be taken to the police. Passers-by at the sight of the kissing couple blushed and turned away. Now you can freely kiss even the policeman himself, and no one will say a word to you: that's how far the Russians have gone, imitating the manners of the corrupt West!

When entering an apartment, Russians take off their shoes and put on slippers. Every housewife has a spare pair of slippers for guests. This is because even in cities, not all streets are covered with asphalt, and even if there is asphalt, it often looks like a small tank unit drove over it. Moreover, since throwing garbage on the street is not forbidden, and the meager salary of the janitors does not encourage them to labor zeal, dirt on shoes is simply inevitable.

At a time when standing in lines was an essential element of Russian life, a kind of etiquette developed, with its own rules and prohibitions: you can’t get through the queue, you can’t leave the queue for a long time, etc. Now, when the shops are full of goods and the only remaining problem is where to take money for all this, more than one housewife secretly yearns for the times when she spent long hours in line, talking with her own kind: good company, she is good company.

As a substitute for this occupation, Russian women (usually elderly) use the benches at the entrance to their entrance. You can always see the gossips sitting on the benches, looking at everyone who comes in and out and exchanges the latest courtyard news. You can rely on them if you want to know if Tanya Manina is at home, or if Manya Tanina has changed another fan.

Like the English priest, Russians use the word "you" when referring to God. But while the priest in all other cases says "you", the Russians "poke" a lot: these are parents, close relatives, good friends (and sometimes enemies - to show how much they are despised). If Russians start a lively discussion with "you" and then, at some crucial moment, change it to "you", this often means a sharp break in diplomatic relations.

Your parents are always "you": because why be too polite to the people you are destined to live with anyway? On the other hand, when lovers drop the polite "you" and switch to "you", this means that certain intimate changes have taken place in their lives.

There are no addresses like "sir" or "madam" in Russia, which causes a lot of inconvenience to Russians. Before the October Revolution of 1917, the normal form of address was "sir" or "madame". These words sounded very "bourgeois" and were rejected by the Bolsheviks, who suggested "citizen" or "comrade". Unfortunately, "citizen" gradually became associated not so much with everyday life, but with a court or a drive to the police station. "Comrade" is a word from the lexicon of the Communist Party, and after the fall of the communist regime, those who were against the former order did not want to use this word anymore; and there were many. "Sir" sounds terribly old-fashioned, which is why the situation still remains insoluble.

If you know a person's last name, you can always call him "Mr. Ivanov" or "Ms. Ivanova", but this is a very formal address. Desperate to find anything suitable, the Russians use simple "Man!" and "Woman!", but many reject such appeals, finding them vulgar. As a temporary measure, Russians use "Excuse me, please!" do not call the interlocutor in any way, but simply attract attention.

Since ancient times, Russians respectfully refer to older people with the help of the names of the degrees of kinship: "Grandmother!", "Uncle!", And the older ones to the younger ones - affectionately "Son!" and "Daughter!" Rougher times - rougher manners: the rather unceremoniously sounding "Grandfather!" to any age person with a beard. But "Old man!" as an appeal to a young peer sounds quite friendly. Truly inscrutable are the ways of language!

If you meet a Russian you know on the street and imprudently ask how he is doing, he will stop, take a deep breath and begin to enlighten you in the most detailed way.

He will list all his ailments and the ailments of his wife; tell what happened after he followed the doctor's advice; you will know how he feels at the moment; he will tell you what his son's school progress is and what the teacher said at the last parent-teacher meeting.

Never, ever ask a Russian how he's doing unless you really want to know if he's had enough sleep and what he ate for breakfast today.

My favorite subject of conversation is politics. Any Russian, sane or not, will tell you how bad things are on the political front, and what he would do if he became president. There is not one who does not have his own proposals on how to save Russia from incompetent rulers, or a detailed plan for economic development. A common feature of all these plans is the ardent desire to hang all the current rulers on lampposts.

Unlike the English, Russians do not have the art of talking about the weather throughout a transatlantic sea voyage. Russians can talk endlessly about anything: politics, family matters, the health of your second cousin's youngest daughter, or the concept of the Holy Trinity. There are, however, a few subjects that Russians tend to avoid and that it is simply impossible to get them to talk about. They are very shy about talking about sexual problems - even in the doctor's office, and even more so with friends, children or parents. But with the advent of erotic films and magazines and even (oh my God!) sex shops, the attitude towards this subject is becoming more relaxed. From the windows of every newsstand, not very modestly dressed girls look at you, in whose eyes a promise is frozen. Now you can hear such previously taboo words as a condom, intercourse or group sex. Homosexual relationships are still considered vile and shameful, but are no longer punished under criminal law. Sex education remains a complete taboo. Russians, and especially educators, still believe that children are found in cabbages or bought for foreign currency in high-end stores.

Most Russian swear words are related to sex. Russians are proud that their abuse is known to sailors of all countries, and these sailors rarely realize what they are saying. Had they known, they might have thought twice before using such lethal curses. Fortunately, Russians themselves rarely think what they say either.

Some of the most common swear words include obscenities, profanity related to sex and relationships, and relatively harmless words like "whore" and "son of a bitch." A recent acquisition, very sharp, causing a fight - "goat".

Particular attention should be paid to gestures and facial expressions. The English, apparently, can do without gesticulation at all, but if you tie the hands of an Italian, he will become discouraged, because gesture is a necessary part of the Italian language. The Russian language is somewhere in the middle between these two extremes: it is possible to speak without gesticulating, but, you see, it is very inconvenient.

Most Russian gestures differ little from the gestures of other peoples, but sometimes their meanings differ greatly. Some gestures characteristic of Western cultures do not exist at all. Missing, for example, is the "I'm lying" gesture when a Western European rubs his cheek with his index finger or crosses his index and middle fingers. Some gestures differ in details: when calling for a taxi, Russians, as a rule, raise their hand and hold it parallel to the ground, while in the West they lower their hand, as if showing where to drive up. True, after watching foreign films, Russians also begin to imitate this gesture.

There is nothing in human behavior that is more specific than a smile. The role of a smile in Russia is completely different than in the West. American in response to the question: "How are you?" - will answer: "Great!" And smile, even if he just received a notice of dismissal from his job. The Japanese will announce the death of his beloved daughter with a smile - and not at all because he is so heartless. In all countries of the world people suffer the same way, but in some cultures a smile is a kind of shield: I may feel bad, but I do not ask you for sympathy, I will cope with my misfortune myself.

A Russian who feels bad will not smile: he wants the whole world to know about his misfortune; well, if not the whole world, at least the entire microdistrict. And if a Russian sees that another is bad, he will immediately rush to help him. Again we have a manifestation of community thinking: "Woe for two is half grief; joy for two is two joys". And why help someone who smiles and says that he is already doing well?

Among peoples for whom a smile is a kind of protective wall, Russians are known as gloomy and stern people or insensitive and boring people, because they do not smile as often as they do. Foreigners in Russia even instead of: "It will happen when the cancer whistles on the mountain" - they say: "It will happen when someone in the trolley bus smiles."

But the Russians are not at all to blame for all these sins. They are simply sure that "laughter for no reason is a sign of foolishness." Why fake fun if you're not having fun?! Well, and if it's fun, then you can not be shy to demonstrate it.

It's a good idea to keep in mind that cultures differ in how close you have to be to someone and how often you're allowed to touch them during a conversation. During one experiment, Puerto Ricans sitting at a restaurant table touched each other 180 times per hour, the French - 110, the British - never. Unfortunately, no one tested the Russians, but you can be sure that they are clearly somewhere in the middle between the Puerto Ricans and the French.

Russians are located closer to the interlocutor than, for example, English-speaking peoples, but farther than Latin Americans. It seems to the Russians that the British and Americans are constantly moving away from them, and to those - that the Russians are constantly pressing on them. Hence the possible misunderstandings: if an American stops a Russian woman to ask how to get to the hotel, she will come so close to him that the American might think that she wants to get to know him better. Perhaps he will behave accordingly, to the indignation of a woman who did not even think of an acquaintance.

While walking side by side, Russians are much closer to each other than representatives of the English-speaking peoples. The same principle applies in the queue: Western Europeans stand at a great distance from each other, not invading other people's territory. The Russians can snuggle closely without feeling much discomfort: they probably do this so that no one gets through without a queue. But only at a great distance it is even more difficult to crawl between people: after all, every maneuver is clearly visible here!

For Russians, persons of the same sex can hold hands, for English speakers - in no case: still, what good, others will think that they are homosexuals ... But Russian young people of different sexes hold hands only if they are in love. Among English-speaking peoples, this is a neutral gesture, which does not say anything at all. As a result, Russians may get the impression that the British or Americans are sexually promiscuous people, and these latter may think that Russians are almost completely homosexual. For the same reason, in the West it is absolutely impossible for people of the same sex to dance together.

A significant difference is how representatives of different nations make their way through the crowd. Russians do not like it when strangers touch them with their hands, so they prefer to break through with their torso, while the English-speaking peoples consider such behavior rude and aggressive and push people away with their hands, which is already regarded by Russians as the limit of bad manners.

In general, Western residents believe that Russians behave with strangers in a familiar, unceremonious way, as with relatives, and Russians believe that Western Europeans behave even with relatives like strangers. Both are equally wrong, and solely due to their cultural ignorance.

ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN TRADITIONS. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Neverova Anastasia

Class 5 "A", MBOU Lyceum "Technical", RF,Samara

Gatina Yulia Alexandrovna

scientific director,teacher of the first category, teacher of English, MBOU lyceum "Technical",RF,Samara

In our time, when borders are blurred between countries, and people travel, it is very important to know the traditions and language of the countries you visit. This is the relevance of our study. The purpose of this report is to reveal the features of English culture and its traditions by comparing the cultures of England and Russia. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve a number of tasks: 1) to identify the traditions that exist in both England and Russia; 2) find similarities and differences in English and Russian traditions; 3) prove the need to study folk traditions in order to better understand the English and Russian languages. During the study, the following hypotheses were tested - 1) Are there similarities in English and Russian traditions; 2) whether there are common identical traditions in Russia and in England; 3) Does the geographical location, the history of the country and its climate influence the culture of the people. The object of the research is English and Russian folk traditions. Methods used: literature analysis, observation.

In the course of our research, a number of traditions were identified that take place both in the culture of England and in the culture of Russia.

Tradition 1 "Tea drinking".

In England there is a tradition to drink tea six times a day.

1st cup of tea: The British wake up at 6-7 am and drink tea in bed before washing and dressing. The tradition arose as a result of the damp climate of England and the morning fogs. A cup of tea helps them wake up.

2nd cup of tea after they wake up. They go to the living room to have breakfast. For breakfast, the British drink tea with milk and eat, most often, oatmeal, fish or bacon and eggs.

3rd cup of tea. The English second breakfast (Lunchtime) comes from 12.00 to 14.00. At this time they also drink tea.

The 4th "Five-o-clock" tea is an English afternoon tea at 17.00, accompanied by tea and small snacks. This is the most beloved and ceremonial British tea party. Usually guests are invited to five o'clock tea or friends are invited.

5th cup of tea. Lunch with the English comes very late at 19.00 - 20.00, accompanied by tea ("Hightea") and a plentiful meal in the living room at a huge round table by the fireplace, where conversations are held.

6th cup of tea. After a late dinner, shortly before bedtime, the British can have another cup of tea.

Tea drinking traditions in England are regulated by strict tea etiquette. Tea, usually black, is served with milk and sometimes with sugar. They drink tea, raising not only the cup, but also the saucer. With their left hand they lift a cup and saucer from the table, and with their right they take a cup and drink tea. It is unacceptable to drink tea from a saucer or from a bowl, although this custom was quite common before. The British prefer silver tea sets. The presence of a good tea set in the house, even with a small income, symbolizes well-being, goodwill and prosperity in the family.

In Russia there is a tradition of tea drinking, but over time it has changed significantly. Tea used to be very expensive and not everyone could afford it. Therefore, a tea ceremony appeared in Russia, which consisted in the ability to brew and pour tea so that each of the guests received his portion of tea of ​​the same strength. Tea was brewed in a samovar, and then drunk from cups and deep saucers with jam and sugar. Nowadays, this is no longer a ceremony, but an ordinary evening tea party or family Saturday gatherings with cakes, pies, jams and sweets.

Despite the apparent similarity of these tea drinking traditions, they carry a different meaning. The culture of tea drinking plays in England about the same role as the code of the samurai in Japan. The use of tea in Russia is not accompanied by a formalized ceremony.

Tradition 2 "Courtesy and poise"

Restraint is one of the dominant features of the English style of communication and is directly related to English politeness. The English are polite and often say "Thank you" and "I'm sorry". They don't talk loudly in the street. They don't hustle on buses to get a seat, they buy tickets with a seat in line at bus stops. Residents of England do not shake hands when meeting each other, they do not show their emotions even in tragic situations. This “primness” of theirs is the result of an excellent upbringing and the ability to perfectly control oneself, to know the rules of behavior in society, at the table, and also to comply with the dress code and so on.

Unlike the English, Russians are not very polite and more emotional, but they are good-natured and very hospitable. In ancient times, a Russian person, leaving the house, left the door open and food ready for the wanderer, and therefore there were legends about the breadth of the Russian soul. Due to greater emotionality, Russians are characterized by openness, responsiveness and sincerity in communication.

Tradition 3 "Love your home

The British love to be at home. They say "My house is my castle" because they don't want their neighbors to know what's going on at home. The house really serves as a fortress for the Englishman, where he is able to hide not only from uninvited visitors, but also from annoying worries. Beyond the threshold of his home, he is completely freed from everyday worries. The British prefer to live in separate houses built for one family. The center of the house is a fireplace, around which all family members like to sit and look at the fire, exchanging news of the day. A clock, a mirror, or photographs are often placed on the mantelpiece. In the decoration of the house, the British, above all, value antiquity and good quality. When it comes to updating the environment in a family, it does not mean a change of furniture, but its restoration.

Russians love their home, there is a Russian proverb "one's own hut is a native uterus." Their house is most often an apartment, not a cottage. They are more hospitable and hospitable than the British, and although they also like to spend evenings with their families, they like to invite guests or visit themselves, because Russian people are more open and often interested in the affairs of their neighbors, as well as dedicate strangers to their Problems.

That is, again, behind the seeming similarity of traditions, we observe a different semantic load.

Tradition 4 "Love for Gardens"

The garden evokes even more feelings in the Englishman. English gardens, the main thing in the style of which is a skillful imitation of natural nature, "wildness" created by human hands, are the strongest national hobby. Gardening is the national passion of the British, the key to understanding many aspects of their character and attitude to life. Thanks to the temperate humid climate in England, the grass is green all year round and almost always something blooms, so that the gardener can work in the fresh air for a long time and admire the fruits of his labor. Roses and chrysanthemums continue to bloom outdoors almost until Christmas, and already in early March, the buds of crocuses and daffodils remind of the arrival of spring. Physical labor in the garden, practical skills in this matter are equally revered in all sectors of British society. In the garden, the Englishman throws off his reserve. His tastes, his behavior in the garden speak much more truthfully about his personality and character than any autobiography.

The Russians are different. As a rule, gardens, or rather dachas and kitchen gardens, are primarily used not for decoration, but for growing cultivated plants and harvesting. Due to the peculiarities of the climate, gardening in Russia is not done all year round, but only 5-6 months a year. The tradition of horticulture and horticulture in Russia has developed, obviously, in connection with the severe need to survive in difficult climatic conditions, and not in connection with aesthetic features and preferences, as in England.

Tradition 5 "Love for animals"

The British are very fond of pets. They have about five million dogs, almost as many cats, 3 million parrots and other birds, fish in aquariums - and 1 million exotic pets such as reptiles. In the UK there are special shops selling food, clothes and other things for dogs. There are dog grooming salons and dog cemeteries. In the UK, pets can send Christmas cards to their friends. There are special animal hotels at airports. The English people believe that they are the only nation on earth that is truly kind to animals. Paradoxically, in English families, pets clearly occupy a higher position than children. This is manifested both in material and moral terms, since it is the dog or cat that serves as the center of universal concerns.

Russians also love animals, but, unfortunately, in Russia, not everyone has the opportunity to keep large representatives of the animal world. Most often, residents of Russia can afford small animals, such as: cats, dogs, small rodents and parrots. Animal care services are not so common in our country. And, of course, in any family, the child, not the animal, is the main member of the family.

Tradition 6 "Strict (English) upbringing"

Speaking of children, we can move on to another purely English tradition - this is a purely English education. Why is it special? It is customary to keep children in England in strictness, and the higher in society you are, the more strict. It is not uncommon to see how in a rich English house, with a huge living room, a giant bedroom, a stately study, the so-called children's room is located almost in the attic and is a miserable closet, and this is done quite consciously, from fundamental considerations, so as not to undead, but to temper . It is no coincidence, apparently, that the Boy Scout movement originated in England at the beginning of the 20th century, and its slogan was “Be Prepared!”. A true Englishman must be ready for any difficulties at any moment.

Today, education in Russia is more democratic. And although back in the 19th century, Russian upbringing did not differ much from English, now parents are more indulgent towards their children and less strict. Our upbringing is not like the Japanese upbringing of babies under 5 years old, however, in many families, children are bathed in universal love and adoration.

As our study has shown, the traditions of raising children in England and Russia are completely different.

Based on the foregoing, the following conclusions can be drawn:

In Russia and in England there are traditions that are similar at first glance, but carry a completely different meaning (such as tea drinking or gardening).

There are completely different traditions (such as the tradition of raising children).

Similar, common traditions were not identified by us.

To some extent, the difference in traditions is influenced by climate and geographical location. These are, for example, the traditions of tea drinking and gardening.

Bibliography:

1. Great Children's Encyclopedia Machaon, 2011, - p. 336.
2. Big Encyclopedic Dictionary edited by I. Lapin, E. Matalin and others. AST Astrel, 2003, - p. 1248.
3. Ivanova Yu.A., Korobov A.I. Everything about Great Britain. Folio, 2008 - p. 542.
4. Peter Hobday. England customs and etiquette. AST, 2008. - p. 128.
5. Paul Norbury. Great Britain. AST, 2011 - p. 160.

Great Britain is a kingdom that unites within itself as many as four states. Some people sometimes perceive the UK as a separate country and even refer to it as England. Indeed, England exists, but together with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales within the boundaries of the Kingdom of Great Britain, which is very attractive to Russian immigrants. To understand what are the pros and cons of living in the "land of fogs", you need to compare Russia and Great Britain.

Russian emigrants in the UK

The immigration of Russians to the northwestern part of Europe - to the island of Great Britain - is marked by a long history. The UK experienced four waves of immigration while accepting immigrants from Russia. It would seem that the Russian migration influx should be significant? On the Internet, you can really stumble upon information about hundreds of thousands of Russian migrants in Britain. In fact, there are fewer Russians there.

Great Britain has always been an open country for Russian immigrants

How many Russians has Britain taken in?

There is an official list of Russian immigrants who settled in the UK during the four waves of migration. The list contains 135 people. All people on this list have received British citizenship or residence permits as internally displaced persons.

However, the flow of Russian immigrants is not limited to this list. If we take into account people who do not have the country's citizenship, temporarily or permanently residing (permanent residence), plus Russian-speaking immigrants, who are also considered Russian in Britain, the result will be different. Approximately 120 - 170 thousand people by the standards of RAIV - the Russian Association of Immigrants in Great Britain.

Exclusively Russian immigrants officially registered in Britain, judging by the statistics of ethnicity and native language, there are no more than 40 thousand people. Of this number, the main share is in England - about 30 thousand (in London alone 26-27 thousand). A very small part of Russians - 2-5%, live in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“... The Russian Immigrants' Association of Great Britain, thanks to the financial support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, conducted a sociological study, the purpose of which was to determine the size of the Russian-speaking population of Great Britain. The results obtained have an acceptable degree of reliability…”

http://www.klaipeda1945.org/russkoe-zarubezhje/

Russian diaspora

The Russian diaspora in Britain, in the full sense of the word, existed in the period of 1920-30. Today, there is no Russian diaspora as such in the UK. There is a Russian-speaking community. However, the absence of such factors as a single religion, ideology, makes one be skeptical about the viability of the national community.

The Russian United British Fund congratulates the anniversaries

Nevertheless, aspirations to show the existence of the diaspora are manifested. For example, the British Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots periodically organizes forums for the Russian-speaking diaspora. Leaders of public organizations, activists, representatives of the Russian-language media are invited to the forums.

There, on the forums, awards are given for fruitful activities aimed at creating a positive image of Russian-speaking immigrants in Britain in various fields:

• society, politics, economics,
• protecting the interests and rights of immigrants,
• development of intercultural relations,
• support of the Russian language in the UK,
• promotion of Russian art and culture.

However, the latest wave of migrants shows little interest in the development of the Russian diaspora in Great Britain. Perhaps the reason for this is the radically changed methods of obtaining information.. Today, thanks to the Internet, Russian culture can be comprehended without leaving home. But this is for mature and educated people.

Children of Russian immigrants in one of the schools in East London are not infringed on their rights in any way

The situation is quite different with the children of migrants. For the children of Russian immigrants, communication in their native language and knowledge of Russian culture in the conditions of Britain remain limited. There is a lack of Russian schools, cultural and educational institutions, circles, sports sections. The younger generation of Russian British is subject to assimilation. Analysts' forecasts are disappointing. The Russian-speaking diaspora of Great Britain is under the threat of extinction.

... In the absence of a powerful factor that could save the diaspora, given the age structure of Russian-speaking immigrants, the assimilation and dissolution of the Russian-speaking diaspora for the UK is inevitable in the near future...

http://toemigrate.com/blog/

The current British Russian-speaking diaspora is not able to survive and develop on its own. This is the opinion of many experts dealing with similar issues. The only force that can change the course of events is the help of the motherland. The high interest of the Russian side in the life of compatriots in Britain will certainly give impetus to preservation and development.

Who goes to permanent residence in the UK?

The composition of those leaving for foggy Albion is a variety of social groups. You can start building a list of Russian billionaires of the 90s and end with ordinary students. The UK is often compared to the home of Russian oligarchs.. However, this group of immigrants is the smallest in terms of numbers. The country was also chosen by citizens who consider themselves forced refugees. Finally, the kingdom attracts labor migrants, promising people interesting jobs and high wages.

Video on how to get permanent residence and UK citizenship

Nouveau riche billionaires from Russia have always seen foggy Albion as a reliable place to invest and save money. These people invested in real estate, bought expensive yachts, cars, jewelry. Today, the policy of rich people who really earn money has changed somewhat. High taxes are forcing many to reconsider their attitude towards London banks. Therefore, the number of billionaire immigrants from Russia is steadily declining.

The UK is famous for its well-developed research and development area. This moment naturally attracts the minds of the Russian elite. There are few geniuses of Russian science who would refuse to immigrate to England. Especially active was the immigration of minds after the collapse of the USSR. At present, the situation is changing for the better for Russia. Russian scientists, researchers, engineers are again in demand in their homeland.

One of the many immigrant layers is students who ventured to enter British universities. We must pay tribute - many manage to pass exams and engage in prestigious studies. British education is considered one of the best in the world. In addition, studying in the UK is a good opportunity to stay for permanent residence. Specialists who have received knowledge based on the Bologna system of education are worth their weight in gold.

Forced migrants from Russia are a caste of immigrants for whom the UK is seen as a reliable protection from political arbitrariness. Indeed, if Britain grants asylum, one can hope for a high percentage of non-refoulement guarantees.

The main cities of settlement of Russian immigrants

Statistics show that the preferred places for Russians to settle are:

• England London,
• Scotland - Edinburgh, Glasgow
• Northern Ireland - Belfast,
• Wales - Cardiff, Newport.

London attracted the bulk of Russian-speaking immigrants. The capital of England is really attractive to Russians, first of all, by the presence of a fairly stable Russian-speaking community.

In the country of fogs and rains, financiers and kings, there are Russian flags and Russian streets

This is an important factor when there is an opportunity to visit Orthodox churches, shops with Russian-speaking sellers, restaurants where they cook in Russian, read the press in Russian, walk along the streets with a Russian name. Of course, London does not promise excessive satisfaction with native motives, but there is still a small piece of the homeland there. This makes it easier and faster to go through the path of adaptation in a foreign land.

... The farther you go from London, the more natural Englishmen get in the way. It seems that there are simply no such people in London, except for pensioners. All the rest are immigrants from former British colonies and countries of Eastern Europe…

http://knowabroad.com/moj-london

Scottish Edinburgh is the promised land mainly for students. Edinburgh University is popular among the student fraternity. There are at least 100 Russian students there. Edinburgh and Glasgow attract foreign labor. As in other cities in Scotland, there is a lack of workers and employees of various qualifications. Employers themselves usually pay for good specialists (£700-800). It is impossible not to note the high cost of Scottish Edinburgh. According to available information, no more than 300-450 Russian-speaking citizens live in the city.

In Scotland, Russian immigrants choose Edinburgh for life

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, a large city, which is also one of the settlements in Ireland, where Russian immigrants are fixed. In total, no more than 4,000 Russian-speaking migrants are settled in Ireland. In Belfast, the bill goes into the hundreds. Isolated cases of Russian settlement in rural areas.

Cardiff and Newport are two major cities in Wales. Most of the Russian-speaking immigrants settled in these settlements. A minority lives in medium-sized towns and rural areas. The total number of resettled people from Russia and the CIS countries does not exceed 1,000 people.

The life of ordinary people in the UK

Great Britain has always seemed to many foreigners a country of well-being and prosperity. In particular, this attitude was and is to London - the capital of England. It is not for nothing that the majority of Russians chose this city for life - the financial center of the world. And then one day - in 2013, according to the results of a study by the site switch.com, it turns out that Britain is in the last position of the European ranking of living standards. The studies were performed on the basis of 16 criteria:

• average income,
• value added tax,
• the price of essential goods,
• the price of fuel and electricity,
• living conditions,
• and others.

As it turns out, British prices are significantly higher than the European average. UK residents get the shortest working holiday in the EU. Retirement age comes for residents of foggy Albion later than in other European countries. The cost of housing and its maintenance take away a third of earnings.

Approximately 15% of the working population are professional specialists, but receive a small salary for their work. This information has made many ordinary Brits skeptical about the world rankings, where the UK is in the top twenty countries with a high standard of living.

Table of the main parameters that determine the average standard of living of the British

There is no way to do without taxes. The UK tax system supports progressive taxation. If the amount of income is in the range of £10,000-41,865, the tax is on average 20%. Anything above is from 37.5% to 45%.

Features of British life (reviews)

Great Britain is actually the same Russia, only on a smaller scale. There are several administrative-territorial formations on Foggy Albion, and each one lives its own special life. For example, the inhabitants of Wales consider themselves Welsh, but not English. Foreigners are almost forcibly forced to learn Welsh.

... Welsh in Wales is forced to learn everything. The language is not very complex, Russian speakers, quite complex, are available for study. But something else surprises. In a country where everyone communicates in English, they are forced to learn a language that is useless for everyday life ...

galinakuksa

http://emigranti-inc.livejournal.com/

The most open, friendly and cheerful people of the country are the Scots. But they don't like the English either. Scottish dialect differs from English by a pronounced accent. Scottish medical care looks interesting. These services are free for citizens. The peculiarity is that if in Russia a patient can be treated boorishly, but at the same time they provide real help, in Scotland doctors are usually polite and friendly, but often do not treat properly.

... At a Scottish doctor's appointment, you can often hear: “You are doing great. Take these pills and you'll get better soon." In a word, it is better not to get sick there ...

http://zagranicey.ru/

In contrast to the Scots, English dentists treat well. At the same time, the cost of dental treatment services for an ordinary Briton is far from affordable. Much less money will be required, for example, to buy a used car.

By the way, car traffic is left-handed throughout the country and this is also a peculiar feature that requires getting used to. Russian driving license is valid for one year from the date of arrival in the country. Then you need to re-register for local ones with a retake of the exam.

The English are a special caste of Great Britain. At least that's how they see themselves. For them, exclusively pure English is a taboo, as is adherence to traditions. Life, rituals, behavior, habits characteristic of the original English society - this is what distinguishes the British from everyone else living in the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Life in the “land of fogs” through the eyes of Russians

The life of Russian immigrants in the country primarily depends on work. Legal work in Britain is provided on the basis of two documents - a work permit from the authorities and an employment contract with the employer.

Video about the life of Russians in Britain

Relatively high chances of getting an interesting qualified job, as a rule, are given to Russians only by England and, in particular, London. Other areas of the country in most cases offer low-skilled labor.

... In Scotland, many Russian-speaking immigrants work as service personnel. They hold the positions of waiters, hairdressers, cleaners. There are rare cases of the device of Russians in the field of oil production and in the field of science. Relations between employees are built on a typical British level - obligatory smiles, diplomacy ...

http://zagranicey.ru/

The earnings of a Briton - an Englishman, a Scot, an Irishman, a Welshman and a Russian immigrant - directly depend on many factors. Among these factors, work experience plays the same significant role as qualifications. Without a proven experience, you should not count on high earnings.. Therefore, Russian-speaking immigrants who go to the country on a general basis are forced to engage in unskilled work with low pay for a long time. The average earnings for them do not exceed £1200-1500 per month. Another thing is officially invited experts.

…I am a researcher. They were invited to work in Britain for 3,500 pounds a month. I thought for a long time, but in the end I did not dare. I work in the telecommunications system, where I am mainly engaged in engineering work ...

http://forum.awd.ru/

... Once in the UK, I realized one thing for myself. Every immigrant in this country must prepare himself for a decline in social status. A qualified nurse, for example, will have to work as a nurse. Here, no one looks at the level of education and work experience gained at home. Here is my opinion...

Svetlana

http://www.londonru.com/immigrant/

Where do Russians live?

Housing in Britain is expensive. Therefore, most of the migrants can only afford the option of renting. You also have to pay a high price for renting a good apartment or house. As a result, many immigrants rent separate rooms in inexpensive apartments on the outskirts of cities or live in so-called hostels.

Video about finding accommodation in London

A small percentage of Russian immigrants, as a rule, students - children of wealthy parents, live in purchased apartments or rent. Among this category of Russians, areas of London are popular: Westminster, Notting Hill Gate, Marylebone. Less wealthy students, as well as immigrants with a work visa, prefer to settle in the areas of Battersea, Elephant and Castle, Valve Junction.

How are Russians treated in Britain?

We must not forget that Great Britain is a kingdom. This fact alone can indirectly show the attitude of the British towards foreigners. The inhabitants of foggy Albion consider themselves a great nation (citizens of the British Empire in the past) and to this day dream of the revival of bygone times.

As for the Russians specifically, the attitude of the British here is rather contradictory and varies from event to event that takes place in Russia. However, we must pay tribute, the inhabitants of the kingdom behave like a king. Therefore, even if they do not like someone, they do not express such an attitude openly. Around only smiles and standard apologies (“sorry”, “excuse me”).

With all the existing cool attitude towards our compatriots, it is not forbidden to support the national culture in the country. Russian-language media, cultural institutions, retail outlets, restaurants, and clubs work here. Russian infrastructure is especially well developed in London.

For life, Russian-speaking families usually choose areas: Hampstand, Hyde Park, St. James Park, St. John's Wood. Immigrant students are settled in the areas of Covent Garden, Knightsbridge, Soho. Business people prefer Mayfar, City, Westminster. There are no areas of compact residence of Russians in Britain.

A little more comparison

Education system

Preschool is practically no different from the Russian version. There, children from the age of 1 year are also sent to nurseries or kindergartens of the state or private type. From the age of 5, British children are sent to preparatory private schools. There are restrictions for foreigners in this regard. Immigrant children can only be sent to school from the age of 7.

Video: private boarding school in the UK

Primary school in the UK teaches children from 5 to 11 years old. Selective subjects are English, history, mathematics, geography, art. Interestingly, unlike the Russian elementary school, British children also receive lessons in industrial technology. Specific subjects of study are chosen by parents. Completion of elementary school education is confirmed by a standardized test.

Secondary education is a compulsory process for children under the age of 16. Public and private institutions accept students from the age of 11. Immigrant children tend to be enrolled in boarding schools. This type of institution provides education and accommodation. The ultimate goal of training is to obtain a national certificate of professional qualification GCSE. Completion of studies is preceded by passing the exam (Common Entrance Examination). If the exam is not passed, it is impossible to go to the next stage of education - to enter the university.

College is one of the education options that becomes available after completing primary school, that is, from the age of 11. What is remarkable about college education is that this educational institution can act both as an individual structure and as an integral part of the university. In Russia, something similar began to be introduced in 1990.. Colleges, replacing vocational schools and technical schools, have become widespread.

British citizens from the age of 18 have access to higher education. Usually, admission is preceded by two-year preparatory courses of level "A" (A-levels), which take place within colleges or separately. Higher education is conditionally divided into three categories - bachelor's degree, master's degree, MBA - master's degree in business administration. In other words, there is the Bologna system of education, which today is being tried to be introduced in Russia.

Medicine and healthcare

British Health is a national service that operates within the four public health systems. Simply put, it's:

1. National Health England.
2. Health and Welfare Northern Ireland.
3. National Health Scotland.
4. National Health Wales.

Each system has complete independence and is controlled by the government of the region where it directly operates. The differences from the Russian system are obvious. Funding comes from tax revenues, but not from health insurance, and here, too, there is a difference. Almost all medical services are free. Even foreigners are provided with free medical care in case of emergency.

An interesting fact: the National Health Service of Britain has the status of the largest employer in the world.

Video: the pros and cons of life in the UK

Great Britain - the country of well-being really is such, judging by the pages of glossy magazines. This region is certainly attractive to wealthy people - oligarchs and nouveau riche. There will always be a place for political refugees and fighters for world freedom. That's just for ordinary people who want quality changes in their lives, the UK rarely gives a reason to rejoice. However, if you are a sought-after specialist or a capable student, then the kingdom says “Welcome!”.