America vs Russia: Growing
Up in the United States and in Russia
It is a widely known fact that America and Russia are different
countries with different cultures, and therefore can be compared.
On the 16th of December 2004 the “YES-Club” meeting had the honour
of listening to an assistant cultural attachй of the US Embassy in Moscow, representative
of the State Department of the USA, Sarah Michael, who very kindly consented to come and
give a talk on the topic.
The items touched upon were “family”, “school”, “friends”,
“religion”, and “social life” in general.
The first thing to be discussed was “family”. The number of
children in a family was discussed. There are certain advantages and disadvantages of
being an only child. The advantages are: an only child has his or her own room, doesn’t
have to share things, is always the centre of attention. The disadvantages are the
following: an only child is spoilt and lonely.
In America the idea of responsibility is very popular. Children have to
do chores around the house, such as washing-up, shopping, mowing the lawn, taking out the
garbage. Sarah Michael said that Russian parents find it cruel to have their children
work.
Another strong American value is independence.
There are certain differences in school life in America and in Russia.
In America you can choose your own classes. In America there are lots of academic classes
– 8 (eight) classes per day: painting, how to cook, how to make public speeches, etc. In
America there are more choices in the kind of classes you take.
In America there are few specialized schools. Some towns have private
schools, schools run by churches, elite, and prestigious schools. American schools may
have from 250 up to 600 students in a school year.
Sarah Michael said that she was top student in her class.
But America students don’t have as much homework as in Russia.
So, American school differs from Russian school in a number of way:
student choices, size, amount of homework.
American students like hanging out with their friends. They do sports
in their free time. Most American students combine doing homework and relaxing.
Another distinctive feature of the Americans is that most American high
school students have a job, usually a part-time job. Thus they gain experience and make
some money. In conclusion, more American students work than Russian students.
Some jobs of American students are: delivering newspapers, babysitting,
working as a camp counselor or in a cafe.
After school activities and sports are basketball, football, baseball,
track and field, sometimes chess, drama, riding, music.
The last item on the agenda was religion. Sarah Michael said that about
40% of Americans go to church every week. They have a tradition of being religious. There
are classes on religion. Some people get a religious education. Religions in America are
as follows: Catholics, Jewish, Muslims, Hindus, Asian, Buddhists. Protestants are the most
numerous. African Americans have a form of Islam. Sarah Michael said that she herself
belongs to the Jewish religion.
By Olga Kostenko
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