“You’ll Make Such a Great Wife!”: Intended Compliments, Funny Comments, and Frightening Observations

In no specific order, here are some intended compliments, funny comments, and frightening observations that I have heard since arriving in Russia. I feel these quotes may illustrate a number of cultural differences better than I could describe them myself. Enjoy!

• “I didn’t know you cooked so well! Does your boyfriend know? You should feed him. You’ll have so many babies and feed them so well!” –My Host Mother

• “Here, eat this raw clove of garlic! It will kill the bacteria from riding the bus.” – My Host Mother

• “A woman’s place is in the kitchen and taking care of her family. If she can do something more than that, then молодец![1] But first and foremost, she has to take care of her family. Of course, that’s just my opinion.” –A (Female) Russian Professor

• “Girl! Girl! Here, get in my car! Do you study at the institute? I can drive you to your institute! Here, just get in my car!” –Random man on the street who then pulled his car onto the sidewalk and opened the passenger door (I would like to add that I obviously did not get in the car)

• “I’m not married, but almost all my friends are. My only friend who isn’t married won’t stop talking about how she needs to find a husband fast!” -A Russian Classmate, who happens to be my age

• “Oh, you’re part Ukrainian! That’s why you’re so pretty!” – My Host Mother, though I’ve heard this again since. Thank you…?

• “You’re so organized! You’ll make such a great wife!” – My Host Mother

• “It’s no wonder you have a fever. I saw you drinking cold water last night! Нельзя!”[2] – My Host Mother who, like many Russians, believes that cold drinks make you ill. I guess my secret stash of water bottles I had on the windowsill wasn’t so secret….

• “Russia was meant to be a dictatorship. Russia needs a tsar.” –A Russian Professor

Not my words this time!
Sarah

---

[1] Well done!

[2] Never! (In this context, “Sarah-don’t-you-ever-do-that-again!”)