Job for friends or skilled professionals

Recently I began to look for a job in Boston and have seen a few more differences between Russian and American cultures.

Questions “are you married?” or “do you have children?” are very common when you talking to your future employer in Russia. Such questions are used especially when interviewing female employment candidates; it helps the employer to anticipate whether potential staff will be focused on the work at hand or instead be distracted by family obligations.

On the other hand, people in the US have fought for equal rights since the founding of the country. Therefore, any discrimination against gender or marital status can cause a huge scandal and even problems with the law.

Furthermore, I realized that connections are not more important than skills and knowledge in America. Employees from all over the country send their CVs to show that they will meet employers’ expectations better than other job seekers. After an objective comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of each job applicant is the perfect candidate chosen. That, I believe, is evidence that the principle of equality works in the US.

Unfortunately, in Russia the more prominent priority is that of personal relationships; even in the business world. I heard and have seen many times how well-qualified people were unable to find a job because someone else’s son or friend (who got his degree with all Cs and didn’t have any experience), simply needed it. Such circumstances are often very predictable in my country!

I hope that my nationals will learn how to implement the American attitude towards employment very soon…

Funny for some, senseless for others

Humor is the specific thing that reflects cultures of different countries. Let’s think a bit why the same joke can seem to be very funny for one person and meaningless or even offensive for another.
What is going on inside the country determines the kinds of jokes that are popular there. Americans are very independent and laugh about their routine lives most of the time (traffic, food, girls or boys, and so on).




Only in America...do people order double cheeseburgers, a large fry, and a Diet Coke...

Only in America...do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and leave useless things and junk in boxes in the garage...


Charles was getting annoyed and shouted upstairs to his wife,"Hurry up or we'll be late."
"Oh, be quiet," replied his wife. "Haven't I been telling you for the last hour that I'll be ready in a minute?"

Russians, on the other hand, think about the whole country’s problems like corruption, politics, freedom of the press, drunken people, etc. That’s the way to make all bad things look better - finding something funny in them.

Which is more useful, a Russian radio broadcast or a Russian newspaper?
-The newspaper, of course... you can use it to wrap herring.

Question: What is permitted and what is prohibited?
Answer: In England, what is permitted, is permitted, and what is prohibited, is prohibited.
In America everything is permitted except for what is prohibited.
In Germany everything is prohibited except for what is permitted.
In France everything is permitted, even what is prohibited.
In the Russia everything is prohibited, even what is permitted.

Night. A cop stops a drunk man in the street and asks:
- Where you going?
- I'm going to listen to the lecture about the harm of drunkenness and alcoholism.
- At night? And who will give the lecture?
- My wife and mother-in-law!
One more thing about Russian humor topics is that we never make jokes about our parents…I mean black humor. As a rule, relationships with older family members are very strong. It seems to be disrespectful to laugh at them. On the contrary it’s pretty common for some people from the US:
Yo momma's so stupid, she thought Fleetwood Mac was a new hamburger at McDonalds!


Yo momma's so stupid, she got hit by a cup and told cops she got mugged.


Yo momma's so stupid, she thought Sherlock Holmes was a housing project.

You get the idea.
Another interesting feature of any culture is humor in cartoons. Comparing Russian and American ones, I found so many differences. Russian characters always teach children to be kind, honest, study hard and show that lazy, rude people or liars will never be successful. The great example is a very old Soviet cartoon “Vinni Puh” that my mom watched, I and all my nephews watch now.


If you watch American cartoons like “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” most of the time the main character is a very lazy fat man without any goal in life. I still cannot understand this phenomenon. Americans create this stereotype about their country by themselves. Now I know it’s not true, but what will foreigners think after watching “South Park” or “The Simpsons”?



I want to offer you 2 stories about our countries’ stereotypes (the first one I found on Facebook Russia):

How Americans imagine a Russian family: Husband: Dear, I’m home! Wife: Why are you so late? Husband: The bear dislocated his leg on the way home. I had to give him vodka as medicine. Wife: OK. Let’s sit all together and drink some vodka before doing our stuff. Son: Mom, can I go to play with the bear? Wife: OK. But drink vodka before. Wife: Where is our grandfather by the way? Husband: He’s staying in the line for two weeks trying to get a ticket for food. Wife: Thank God he drank vodka before going there. And you shouldn’t waste the time! Go and drink vodka! Wife: OK son. You can go for a walk and don’t forget to wear your fur cap with ear flaps. It’s pretty warm today-about 10 F. And also don’t forget to write the report to KGB. And buy more vodka on the way home. Husband: Dear, it’s too hot at home. Please, turn off the nuclear reactor. Wife: I’ll finish my vodka and will do it.

How Russians imagine an American family: Wife: Dear go to play outside. The weather is so nice. Son: Are you crazy mom? I’m too lazy to move. I’d rather play Play Station. And give me more chips, please. Husband: Dear, I’m home! Wife: Why are you so late? Husband: I went to the bar to drink beer, eat some chips and watch football with the guys. Wife: Let’s eat our dinner. I bought hamburgers and chips. Husband and son: Yeeeeeeas! Our favorite food! Wife:  Did you hear we are going to bring democracy to Iran? Our solders, tanks and fighters are ready for a PEACEFUL mission. Husband: That’s great! We need to help other poor countries. I think we also should send our army to Africa and Asian countries. Only we can show people there how they MUST live.  Wife: OK. We talked too much. Let’s go eat chips and drink beer.

By the way, I don’t like these stereotypes. Since I’ve come here I’ve met very nice people. So don’t rely on stereotypes. It’s better to come and see everything with your own eyes!

International GALA

International GALA in April is the biggest event at Clark University. Students present national dances at this concert celebrating Clark’s diversity. Twenty countries presented their dances this year.

From my very first days at Clark I heard a lot of exciting comments about GALA. That’s why when my friend has asked to me to participate in it for Ukraine I was very happy. It was interesting and surprising to find out that most of dancers were from all over the world and only one originally from Ukraine. Then our trainer said that people only need to have a desire to present any country and that’s all. So, as a result our GALA team had people from Mexico, Albania, Mozambique, Senegal, Belarus, Slovenia, Singapore and so on.

I think one of the most interesting parts of this event was our practices. We worked hard for two months, fell down a lot, and slept just a few hours every day…but it was real fun at the same time.

One day guys needed to hold us on their hands and continue to dance but they couldn’t on the first attempt. So the boys made a joke that the girls need to be on a diet and we answered that the boys need to go to the gym every day... But, of course, nobody went on a diet and nobody went to the gym so often.

Another moment which makes me smile occurred at another practice. The idea was to move in a circle so fast that it would look like the girls don’t touch the floor. After two days without any success we did it at last. I believe everyone could hear a crazy scream “I’m flying! I’m flying!” at Atwood Hall.

Of course, there were some obstacles too. Sometimes it was even impossible to find a free room for practice. Then we had to dance in the hall. Actually, we danced anywhere at any time.

And costumes were a big problem for us. Without enough money to buy them we had to make them by ourselves. It was funny because that’s exactly what women in Ukraine did a hundred years ago. They sewed clothes while men worked outside. So we learned not only a national Ukrainian dance but also a part of the culture.

The last challenge was mainly for our trainer Ira. She had to explain to us the necessity of special makeup and hairstyle for the stage. If you know girls you can imagine how they are serious about such things. “This color doesn’t fit me!” or “I look ugly without my bangs!” But Ira assured everyone that it’s an essential part of success. Great job, trainer!

And finally the day of the concert came. While we’d been very nervous and tired after sleepless nights, the dance was great. To hear the audience’s applause at the end of the dance was the best reward. The feeling of satisfaction for us was so nice. I’ll never forget this moment. I believe everyone should see or even better participate in such a show. It’s a really great experience!

our practice:

More Russians at Clark

A delegation from a number of Russian universities came to Clark a couple of weeks ago. Organizers of this event asked me to show to them the campus and tell about education and life here. During our conversation they reminded me about some funny moments I’ve experienced.

Looking how they were frustrated trying to find the right buildings I saw myself 3 months ago. My friends laughed at me as the first a couple of weeks I mixed up AC, JC, UC …and others C’s. And how many times I went to the wrong exit from JC! So it was nice to find out that I’m not the only one who barely distinguished the halls one from another in the beginning.

Another interesting moment was when one of the professors told me about “very strange” American hospitality. When they arrived, one of the organizers (who is originally Russian but lived here for decades) gave a list of advice. One item was: “Don’t say no if you mean yes.” That can sound very weird so I’ll try to explain. She told them that, for example, if you’re a guest at an American house and you’re hungry, don’t reject the offered food. Nobody is going to ask you one more time! In Russia to say “no” in response to the first offer is a politeness and often means “yes, but ask me a little bit later.”  In the US people say what they mean and expect the same from others. So when you come here you’d better be ready!

America tastes different

When you need to describe this country what are you thinking about? Its architecture, music, art and, of course, food. The United States tastes like hamburgers and french fries to me! Nobody will argue that Americans love fast food a lot. So even at night you can see a huge line of cars to McDonalds. The rule “Don’t eat after 6p.m.” doesn’t work here. If you’re hungry you go to a café…time isn’t an issue of concern. Even 2 a.m. is OK for a late lunch (or early breakfast?).

Another weird thing for me is the taste of milk and the incredible size of vegetables! What do cows eat? How do people grow these vegetables? That’s a mystery for me. The first time I saw a cucumber here I realized it’s three times bigger than in Russia. Maybe you put something in the ground. I don’t know actually, but it really works.

One more strange thing is how food doesn’t spoil. I bought apples almost two months ago and they look the same thing now. I even could start to suspect they’re plastic. Again, an American secret.

And the last thing which I cannot understand is the usage of sugar everywhere. You know Russians eat a lot of chocolate…But sausages made with high fructose corn syrup is too much for me. Too sweet life, guys.

I have a funny story about food to share with you. In Russia, French fries are called potatoes “Fri”(pronounced “FREE”). Don’t ask me why! I don’t have any idea. So when I went with my friends to McDonalds we all asked for French fries...But it sounded like “potatoes free.” The cashier looked at us in shock and tried to explain that they don’t give food for free, we must pay. We said: “OK, no problem. How much do potatoes free cost?” Can you imagine his face? I guess because of such situations some Americans think Russians are crazy.

"Car addicted"

Can you imagine American family without a car? Going on foot to the office or to the store? I definitely cannot. In the beginning I explained this phenomenon with American laziness. But the first attempt to buy some stuff for my apartment showed me that I MUST have a car. The distance between my place and different stores, malls, banks and etc. is sooooo big in comparison with Russia. I’m missing time when I could just wake up, go downstairs and buy warm bread and fresh milk for the breakfast in one of the small shops in front of the house. Or I could go to “bazar” (local Russian markets) in the end of the street where old-aged women sell fruits which they grow. But now if one of my friends cannot drive me shopping becomes a challenge for me! Crazy car addiction!!!

So I’m really going to get an American driver’s license and purchase the car. Last week I’ve got a learner’s permit. One exam and I’ll get the license!



Astrakhan Kremlin

Hi! I’m Elena Rybalchenko, a graduate student in Clark University. I just came to Worcester from Russia a couple of weeks ago to learn Marketing Communication. My home town, Astrakhan, is a pretty big city (about half of a million people live there). There are no forests or big hills there like here in Worcester, but you will find a great plain and many rivers in the area. On the other hand I did find one funny similarity between Worcester and Astrakhan – we have the same temperature now. So stop thinking Russian is as cold as the Antarctic!

In Russia I studied environmental engineering. During that time I was working as PR manager at the Centre of Ecological Education. My job was to increase people’s awareness about environmental problems. In order to reach this goal I organized various events in my home town. This experience showed me the need to develop my communication skills.  That’s why when I received an information leaflet from the Astrakhan State University (ASPU) I was glad to know about a new international program. It was organized by COPACE and sponsored by Clark University and ASPU. I was pleased to know that I had a chance to get my master’s degree in the US. I was especially happy to start this program in my own country under the supervision of American professors, and then to arrive in Worcester for the last 2 semesters. Due to the structure of the program, adapting to the new style of teaching and to the new culture was very smooth…one more plus.  The desire to do something important for others during my work led me to focus on the protection of nature and the same desire brought me to Clark. I hope to use the knowledge and experience I’m getting here to do my best in this field. Actually, since I’m a Clarkie, helping other international students to get a high quality education in such great place as Clark seems a significant aim too.

Volga river





This week I started my internship in the Department of Marketing and Communications at Clark University. I believe this is a good chance to do an important job, as I always wanted.

I’ve just spent 2 weeks here but I’ve already seen many things that surprised me a lot, but which look common for Americans. So I’m still in a culture shock a bit. 



Downtown Astrakhan



I will be of sharing my impressions of student life here.  I guess some moments will make you laugh - anyway I hope so.  So my blog is mostly about unexpected and curious differences between American culture and cultures in other countries. There’re many international students in Clark and I’m sure each of them maybe one time but said to himself “Oh my God! What’s going on???”  As for me I’ve said this phrase million times. The first time was at the intersection. A lot of cars were going in different directions but all of them stopped to let me pass through. It’s almost impossible in Russia if there are no traffic lights on the road. So now I LOVE intersections! 

And, of course, the professor’s style of teaching is very different too. He’s more like an equal, joking and chatting with class during the break. But all my previous experience in Russia shows that teachers usually try to keep distance. You should be kind of afraid of them because you are just a student. So it was pleasant to discover the possibility of studying in such friendly atmosphere. Thanks America!  

Updating periodically.