NikitaTheTanner Posted October 8, 2015 Posted October 8, 2015 Greetings! I am a young student from Russia, currently studying Sociology in one of the Toronto's Universities. Before I came to Canada I was interested in philosophy and politics, but it was just a hobby for me. Then my family decided that it would be better for me to study abroad, to see more of the world. I have been travelling before, but never have I stayed for a long period of time, just visited places. Now I have been living in Canada for 3 years already and have seen a lot of things. First impression was very positive, because some things really are nice here. Salaries are higher, corruption is not visible, the roads are nice. But over time I started noticing a lot of things I did not notice straight away. I just understood that nobody around me understands me, that we think of completely different things, that the culture is so much different. I must say that political, economical and philosophical thought is much more advanced in Russia, there are great many theories flowing around, most of which are really different from ideas in the West. Around here, there very few people are interested in thinking, especially thinking deeply. I was surprised to say the least, because the West has always been rich with ideas and philosophers. Granted, I disagree with most of them, yet at least there were more meaningful discussions around. Nowadays it seems that providing special washrooms for transsexuals became problem #1. And other things like that. That is why I am glad to have found Stefan's show, it showed me that there is still hope, there are still many intelligent people around. I would like to participate in discussions on the website. I also would have liked to help the Freedomainradio, although my finances are restricted at the moment, but I could probably help some other way. Not sure if it is the best place to ask about it, but I would like to volunteer to help around. I could do pretty good translations, both from Russian to English and English to Russian. I am also studying Sociology, know history and politics quite well, plus consider myself to be an intellectual, that is why I think I could help the Freedomainradio in some way. It would also be a great experience for me.
psos Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Hey man, welcome. I also came from Poland back in 1988 and since have noticed that the level of conversation in Canada is limited to the comfortable lifestyle that people here live. I notice many people like to stick to the 'everyday' and enjoy doing the 'group' things and talking with the same expressions, about the same mundane things, while drinking their Timmies and sports teams. Poland was much different when we left, it was much harder for us and hence we are forced to evaluate life and look at it differently the majority of people born in the comforts of Canada. I also find it hard to connect with most people/friends here in Canada, for example most discussions at the gym I go to start with, "How about those Jays", or "Did you see that game last night!"... yawn.... Still remember having an argument with my 'friend' in high school telling him that at times our family had no food in the fridge. He compared that to him not being able to eat anything in the fridge because of his strict diet. He actually believed it too and tried to argue it as being the same. Also have know people in Canada that work for unions, and comfort jobs that their parents had and they can easily get into, buy a home in a nice suburb, a cottage up north and retire as soon as possible so you can spend more time up north staring at nature and drinking cheap Canadian bear. On a plus side, there are many immigrants here in Canada. I would suggest you hook up with them. My best friend is Taiwanese and we have a lot more in common then my Canadian counterparts. :-)
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