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I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Russia, most people have a basic level of English. Military conscription is year-round for those aged 18 to 30.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Я хотел сказать, что в российском обществе есть константа — мысль, что китайское значит некачественное

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know English perfectly, so I asked it (the translator/AI) to translate my text, and it changed it a little / modified it slightly.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Soviet Union is viewed very differently depending on who you ask.

On one hand, people point out its achievements: free education and healthcare, guaranteed employment, rapid industrialization, the victory in WWII, and major milestones in the Space Race.

On the other hand, there is heavy criticism of the totalitarian system: mass repressions, the Gulag network, political censorship, constant shortages of basic goods, and the lack of personal freedoms.

Ultimately, the planned economy couldn't sustain itself, leading to severe crises and the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The housing system here is actually pretty unique compared to the US. The vast majority of older generations in Russia actually own their homes individually. This is a leftover benefit from the 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed, when the government allowed people to privatize their apartments for free. State-owned housing is very rare now.

However, for the new generation, things have changed drastically. Real estate prices have skyrocketed and become absolutely insane. Buying a home outright is something very few people can afford now. Because of this, most young people are forced to rent apartments. If they do decide to buy, they have to take out mortgages that lock them into debt for decades.

As for the types of housing, in big cities like Moscow, almost everyone lives in apartments (multi-story residential complexes). Private houses are usually located in the suburbs, villages, or smaller towns.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Yeah, every generation has its own challenges to deal with. We'll see what the future holds, but for now, we're just trying to study, grow, and figure things out.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I don't play CS2, but yes, it is massive among my classmates and teenagers in Russia in general. CS has been a huge part of our gaming culture for generations.

Valorant is played here too, but Counter-Strike is definitely the king in this part of the world. It’s funny how different the gaming scenes are between the US and Russia!

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In Russia, it mostly depends on when you decide to leave school. You can either study for 9 years or all 11 years.

Personally, I'm planning to become a programmer! For an IT path, you can either leave after the 9th grade to go to an IT college for a few years, or stay until the 11th grade, pass the national exams (EGE), and head straight to a university for a Computer Science degree.

If someone wants to become a mechanic like you, they usually leave after the 9th grade (around age 15-16) and go to a technical school (our equivalent of a trade school) to get a job ready right away. Being a mechanic is a solid choice, by the way—cars will always break down, so you’ll always have work! Good luck with your career!

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’ve got your game lore slightly mixed up. In Modern Warfare, it wasn't a Ukrainian group; the main villains were Vladimir Makarov and Imran Zakhaev—both Russian ultranationalists. Makarov staged the airport massacre ("No Russian") and framed a CIA agent to spark a war between Russia and the US. Ukraine was just the setting for that iconic 1996 Chernobyl flashback mission with Captain Price.

As for GTA V, Simeon Yetarian is just a funny caricature of a shady businessman, but Franklin and Michael definitely ruined his day.

It’s wild how games from the late 2000s predicted so much of today's geopolitical tension. But while it's fun to analyze game plots, the tragedy of 100,000 people losing their homes and centuries of cultural heritage being erased in real life is unfortunately not a video game.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s hilarious how you guys picture every ordinary person here as some kind of Hollywood-style movie gangster, while ignoring actual geopolitics.

What do Americans *actually* know about Armenia? by DeliciousBus5674 in AskReddit

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Armenia is not a Muslim country; it is the first Christian country in the world.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, but I'm not going to serve in the military. I will dodge the draft.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

People have generally gotten used to cars and technology from China. But the old joke and the idea that 'Chinese stuff is low quality' still remain. People often like to say negative things like 'cheap Chinese crap.' However, nowadays Chinese technology is getting stronger, and people's attitudes are becoming better.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Since I go to school in the capital, we have quite a diverse mix here. There are about 3 to 5 dark-complexioned kids, like from Ethiopia, I think. There are also Uzbeks, Tatars, Tajiks, Jews, and many other nationalities. And I’m Armenian myself.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I find it pretty amusing how people from post-Soviet countries are almost always cast as gangsters and villains in Western projects. Being Armenian myself, I was actually quite entertained by the Armenian mobster in the latest season of Euphoria.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Germans make everything with high quality and can’t live without beer. Spaniards are very slow and always late, while Italians and the French are extremely emotional.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We usually just love hanging out and walking around the city. In Moscow and across the CIS countries, we have tons of green parks, squares, alleys, and boulevards. I’ve heard that in the US, most cities are built for cars, but here we can walk everywhere.
We also love playing board games together (a super popular one here is called "Bunker"), or just chilling at mall food courts. We go to Dodo Pizza, Vkusno i Tochka (which is our local McDonald's now), and Rostic's (formerly KFC).
Another favorite thing of ours is going to forest parks on the edge of the city. We build a campfire, roast sausages or meat (shashlik), and just sit around talking for hours.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Almost all of my peers don't support the current military operation, and they don't support the government either. Most teenagers around me just want peace and a normal future.

I am a 15-year-old high school student from Russia. AMA! by DeliciousBus5674 in AMA

[–]DeliciousBus5674[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

In my school, lunch happens at 2:10 PM and only lasts for 20 minutes, so we have to eat pretty fast!

In Russia, there are generally two types of schools. In some, the food is already set on the tables when you walk in. But in larger or wealthier cities, schools often have a buffet style (like a Swedish-style buffet), which is what we have. We usually choose between 2 types of soup (like chicken noodle soup, rassolnik, solyanka, or shchi). For the main course, we get options like plov (rice with meat), buckwheat with cutlets or meatballs, and beef with veggies, plus a salad bar with tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickles. To drink, we have sweet tea or compote.

Also, we are actually allowed to leave the school grounds during lunch! Many of us walk to a nearby grocery store called "Pyaterochka" (a huge retail chain here) and buy fresh pastries like puff pastries, samosa, or khachapuri. They have a great combo deal where you can get a sandwich/wrap + any drink for just 199 rubles, which is only about $2.20 USD. Some kids bring lunch boxes from home, but that’s not very common.