I love snowy fir forest.. well pine forest might be even nicer. Actually any forest is very beautiful when covered with untouched fresh snow... Maybe only fox' or rabbit's and birds foot prints on it.. sure there's wolves too.. It is most beautiful is probably in February when there's more daylight. In December and January it goes dark so early.. that most time u can see it only in moon light.. Or maybe it's not that the case in southern Siberia.
Well, yes gulag is a word that belongs to museum. But when the question was, what words I associate with Siberia, then... :)
Irina Tarabrina said:
:) There is lots of snow in many forests in Siberia. The Gulag is mentioned only in museums. Sad inheritance from Soviet Times. Thanks for the comment, Hardi :)Hardi said:
Snow. Forrest. Gulag.
Well I don't know too much about Siberia, but when I imagine Siberia it will be a snowy forest. I don't associate Siberia with gulag too strongly, although to people in my nation those two are pretty much like synonyms.. I think :)
Your comment is really appreciated, as you are truly both Soviet and American. :) Very true statements, Tanya. Thanks for being so pro-active.
Tanya said:
Dear Bill! I can't help replying to your comments and I hope you don't mind. EC is not just English Club for people to improve their language. I sincerely believe it is a place where we can learn understanding one another. You and Irina represent the most powerful countries in the world. As to me, I have been born and raised in the USSR and I stiil feel a part of it although I feel a part-American, too (Smile!). I believe, we should be a pattern of good will and understanding to those who don't still feel like that. I completely agree with what you've said about Americans. Anty Soviet propagation and your patriotism were so strong that you were not able to estimate what was going on. It was an Iron Curtain that made our country almost invisible for a century. But, trust me, it was quite transparent for us, at least for those who were on the "hill". Like you, I am happy that we (the former USSR) had enough common sence to return back to the human commonwealth. But there is one question that bothers me: have we?
:) There is lots of snow in many forests in Siberia. The Gulag is mentioned only in museums. Sad inheritance from Soviet Times.
Thanks for the comment, Hardi :)
Hardi said:
Snow. Forrest. Gulag.
Well I don't know too much about Siberia, but when I imagine Siberia it will be a snowy forest. I don't associate Siberia with gulag too strongly, although to people in my nation those two are pretty much like synonyms.. I think :)
I completely agree, Bill, that the stereotypes about Siberia, etc were created by the Cold War mostly, when people knew very little, if anything at all, about other people behind the Iron Curtain. The lack of information and propaganda produced its negative effect.
Meanwhile, I have not felt any apprehension or anything on the part of the Americans on my two visits to the US. In fact, after people learned that I was from Siberia, they were eager to ask me good questions about my homeland. I am very proud that I am originally from Siberia. :)
Bill the English teacher said:
For those of us in America there have been stereotypes of Siberia due to the Cold War between the USA and Russia that we experienced in the past. In spite of the political issues of the Cold War between our governments, I always have liked the Russian people and culture. So I am sure that because of this our view of Siberia was probably not as positive as it should be. I am glad that Cold War is over, even though some remnants still linger at times. So most Americans saw Siberia as a negative place that was a terribly, bitterly cold wasteland and was a place of exile for political prisoners. But from what I have learned from Irina, it is very similar to our mountains in the American state of Colorado where I live and is quite beautiful. I want to learn more to get rid of the stereotype that was pounded into my brain when I was young.
Dear Bill! I can't help replying to your comments and I hope you don't mind. EC is not just English Club for people to improve their language. I sincerely believe it is a place where we can learn understanding one another. You and Irina represent the most powerful countries in the world. As to me, I have been born and raised in the USSR and I stiil feel a part of it although I feel a part-American, too (Smile!). I believe, we should be a pattern of good will and understanding to those who don't still feel like that. I completely agree with what you've said about Americans. Anty Soviet propagation and your patriotism were so strong that you were not able to estimate what was going on. It was an Iron Curtain that made our country almost invisible for a century. But, trust me, it was quite transparent for us, at least for those who were on the "hill". Like you, I am happy that we (the former USSR) had enough common sence to return back to the human commonwealth. But there is one question that bothers me: have we?
Bill the English teacher said:
For those of us in America there have been stereotypes of Siberia due to the Cold War between the USA and Russia that we experienced in the past. In spite of the political issues of the Cold War between our governments, I always have liked the Russian people and culture. So I am sure that because of this our view of Siberia was probably not as positive as it should be. I am glad that Cold War is over, even though some remnants still linger at times. So most Americans saw Siberia as a negative place that was a terribly, bitterly cold wasteland and was a place of exile for political prisoners. But from what I have learned from Irina, it is very similar to our mountains in the American state of Colorado where I live and is quite beautiful. I want to learn more to get rid of the stereotype that was pounded into my brain when I was young.
When I recall Siberia, I think about its beauty and very large territory. It seems to be endless when you travel over it. There are very dense, almost wild forests, great mountains and there is Baikal Lake that impresses with its cold nothern beauty. Never in my life have I ever seen something like that! You all know that any pictures are not compared with an original but I will place a few anyway.
However, in spite of its beauty, Siberia always reminds me of the darkest moments of our history. It was the place where the most prominent and progressive people of the 19th century, so called Decembrists, were sent away forever to die there and not to take part in any political events. And it was just the beginning. When any country starts annihilating its intelligent progressive people who keep and develop national culture and mentality, it is doomed to crawl along the dark tunnel for centuries with the rest of mankind looking at it from outside and having no idea about what is going on. That is why the expression "Mysterious Russian soul" has become the saying of the world. It is a pity, because we are a nation of smart, hospitable people.
Well I don't know too much about Siberia, but when I imagine Siberia it will be a snowy forest.
I don't associate Siberia with gulag too strongly, although to people in my nation those two are pretty much like synonyms.. I think :)
For those of us in America there have been stereotypes of Siberia due to the Cold War between the USA and Russia that we experienced in the past. In spite of the political issues of the Cold War between our governments, I always have liked the Russian people and culture. So I am sure that because of this our view of Siberia was probably not as positive as it should be. I am glad that Cold War is over, even though some remnants still linger at times.
So most Americans saw Siberia as a negative place that was a terribly, bitterly cold wasteland and was a place of exile for political prisoners. But from what I have learned from Irina, it is very similar to our mountains in the American state of Colorado where I live and is quite beautiful. I want to learn more to get rid of the stereotype that was pounded into my brain when I was young.
Replies
for me it's Anastasia, ringing cedars, Vladimer Megre
Well, yes gulag is a word that belongs to museum. But when the question was, what words I associate with Siberia, then... :)
Irina Tarabrina said:
Your comment is really appreciated, as you are truly both Soviet and American. :) Very true statements, Tanya. Thanks for being so pro-active.
Tanya said:
Thanks for the comment, Hardi :)
Hardi said:
Meanwhile, I have not felt any apprehension or anything on the part of the Americans on my two visits to the US. In fact, after people learned that I was from Siberia, they were eager to ask me good questions about my homeland. I am very proud that I am originally from Siberia. :)
Bill the English teacher said:
Bill the English teacher said:
However, in spite of its beauty, Siberia always reminds me of the darkest moments of our history. It was the place where the most prominent and progressive people of the 19th century, so called Decembrists, were sent away forever to die there and not to take part in any political events. And it was just the beginning. When any country starts annihilating its intelligent progressive people who keep and develop national culture and mentality, it is doomed to crawl along the dark tunnel for centuries with the rest of mankind looking at it from outside and having no idea about what is going on. That is why the expression "Mysterious Russian soul" has become the saying of the world. It is a pity, because we are a nation of smart, hospitable people.
Forrest.
Gulag.
Well I don't know too much about Siberia, but when I imagine Siberia it will be a snowy forest.
I don't associate Siberia with gulag too strongly, although to people in my nation those two are pretty much like synonyms.. I think :)
So most Americans saw Siberia as a negative place that was a terribly, bitterly cold wasteland and was a place of exile for political prisoners. But from what I have learned from Irina, it is very similar to our mountains in the American state of Colorado where I live and is quite beautiful. I want to learn more to get rid of the stereotype that was pounded into my brain when I was young.