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Что чувствует иностранка на московской улице?
Когда гуляю с детьми, встречаю других русских мам. Ме
ня спрашивают, кто я такая, зачем приехала в Россию. Они
очень мало интересуются Америкой, больше тем, как я справля
юсь с двумя детьми. Не так часто есть необходимость говорить
с незнакомыми по-русски. На работу езжу на метро, но у меня
проездной. В магазин и на рынок обычно ходит Андрей. Он бы
стрее и лучше все покупает, кроме того, его не обманут: он,
ведь, как сам говорит, ходит на рынок всю жизнь.
И последний вопрос. В России, говоря о любви к родине, ча
сто приводят в пример американский патриотизм. Как, по-ваше
му, что это такое?
Патриотизм прежде всего — традиция. Сто лет назад аме
риканцы уже праздновали День независимости США. Сколько
поколений жило в США — столько и росло патриотами.
Школьники начинают учебный день с клятвы верности перед го
сударственным флагом. Перед любым соревнованием, включая
школьные, все поют гимн. Все это — искренне.
* * *
An American, Jeanine, who was graduated from/graduated a college/university/went to college in Ohio, went to Leningrad to work in the American consulate. That was eight years ago/Since then eight years have passed/Eight years went by/and a lot has happened. She fell in love with a Muscovite, Andrei, moved to Moscow, had/gave
birth to Yasha and Tonya, and now lives in Mitino. Jeanine works as an administrator in a branch/an office of a Singapore company/firm.
Did your first impressions of Russia fit in/coincide with your later
ones/Were your first impressions of Russia similar to/like/your later ones?
It's very cold — that was my first impression. And then — at home
in Ohio it doesn't snow before January. But I really liked the Russians
right away. They're very warm people, they like to/invite you home/have
you over, they like to entertain new friends/show their hospitality.
In terms of appearance, do we follow American standards/are we
like Americans?
In America/Back home the most important thing is that clothes
are comfortable. Women my mother's age, and teenagers — everybody
goes around in/wears pants. American women don't wear skirts. For
example, my mother only wears a skirt when she's got to/when it's
really necessary/when etiquette calls for it. Your women like wearing
skirts. I think that they're trying to look like fashion plates/models/the
pictures/in fashion magazines. That's nice/a good thing. But I approve
of/the reasons for/the motivation behind/that liberation which explains/
why/the reasons why American women made that choice (of theirs).
But those motives/reasons led to/resulted in the Clinton scandal.
— In America men/the stronger sex/have lost their male
aggression and self-confidence. Russian men are more...masculine.
They aren't afraid of expressing their opinion, even if that might
offend someone or if someone might not like it.
Do you miss America ?
When I'm home on vacation I take a lot of walks/do a lot of
walking/in the country. The landscape is flat — there are fields all
around — and you can see everything. If a car comes by even
strangers wave at me or just smile. You could say that it's artificial
politeness, but/that's the way things are/done/that's life/that's how it
is/that's the etiquette/in a small town. I miss polite/small-town America
/America.
You're living abroad — is that normal for America?
For most Americans any trips abroad are unusual. Well/for
example/Like,/my relatives/have enough money/can afford to go/
travel/to Europe, but they don't go that far. Even Canada — as far as
I know, Americans don't go there that much. Sometimes they go on
vacation to Mexico. But my cousins have never left the country/been
out of the country/been abroad.
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What language do you now speak with your/the children ?
We decided that Andrei would speak Russian to the children
and that I'd speak English. But sometimes it's the other way around/it
comes out backward. It's funny, when they annoy me/bother me and
I/come at them with a Russian expression/use a Russian expression
with them, "Всё!": "Stop it!"/"That's enough!"/"Cut it out!" In
English that would take/you'd have to use/two words, and in Russian
it's shorter and sounds good.
What does a foreigner feel (like) on a Moscow street?
When I'm out for a walk with the children I run into/meet/
meet up with other Russian mother/moms. They ask me who I am,
why I went/came to Russia. They're (really) not very much interested
in America, much more in how I manage/cope with two children.
I don't have to speak Russian to strangers (all) that often. I take the
subway to work, but I've got a monthly ticket. The store and the
market — that's usually for Andrei/Andrei usually goes to the store
and the market. He buys everything faster and better, and also, he
doesn't get cheated: as he says, well, he's been going to the market all
his/his whole/life/he's always been going to the market.
And one last question. In Russia, when people talk about love of
one's country, they often cite the example of/refer to/American
patriotism. As you see it, what is that/what does that mean ?
Patriotism means, first of all, tradition. A hundred years ago
Americans were already celebrating Independence Day/the fourth of
July. Each generation meant that many more patriots/children raised
as patriots. You've got as many patriots in the US as generations.
School children start the (school) day in class with the pledge of
allegiance to the flag. Before any competitions/sports competition,
including school ones, everyone/everybody sings the national anthem.
And all that is sincere/And they're sincere about all that.
This is an interview with an American, a native speaker of English. Many of her expressions in Russian are translated from English, and so the interpreter can "second-guess" what these were in the original English, rather than simply translating. There is also some interesting "Americana" in this piece. The young woman's tone is highly colloquial and should be rendered as such, even if the sentences may be slightly ungrammatical as a result.
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