For instance, when I wear my fur hat, which is very Russian looking, and also very warm and cozy, I'm always the only one because people here think it's unfashionable even if it is part of their culture. Many people will tell me I have a great hat or that they really like it, but if asked why they don't have one, they say because most people think it looks silly.
Overall, Russians have a very unique culture which is becoming much more like our own as Russia becomes more open to foreign ideas. Sometimes I even forget I'm in Russia! At the same time, their food and food tastes are very different than that in the U.S., and they drive older cars, live in older apartments, and think about life as a series of challenges, not as a series of adventures. I do hope that they at least keep the Ladas for the foreseable future because they are really cool cars!
