Konstantin, why did you write such a nonsense? It's some kind of irony? So, it doesn't funny.

Or maybe it's the bright demonstration that you don't love your country? In this case, stop misleading people.

1. What winter 350 days a year? I live in Yekaterinburg, now we have 20 degrees in the daytime. In summer the temperature can reach 35-37 degrees (i do rembember the last summer, when it was terribly hot).

2. "Shapka-ushanka" is not popular in Russia, it's a fact. It's just a stereotipe. I think i shouldn't say the same about "valenki", this winter i saw too much american "Timberland's" and no one "valenki".

3. I hate vodka and alcohol at all. The majority of my friends do the same. According to your post i see that you drank too much vodka.

4. Stop drinking too much vodka, if you see the bears and share vodka in the forest with them.

5. I finished the 7-year musical school (as an additional education), now i can play on accordeon and my sister began to do so on the piano. "Balalaika" is also a good instrument, but not in your hands. All the russian people that i know can't play on "Balalaika" (except those who studied in a musical school with me).

Frankly speaking, it's a shame to read such post from a man who lives in the capital.

Now i'm not surprised when foreigners ask me a question about bears on the streets.

People here want to discover new cultures, but you're just misleading them.

I'm from Indonesia, and when people compare Europe vs South East asia, then you'll get Russia is the European of Indonesia (and Singapore is like Switzerland).

So, let's start with the big timezone-crossing area, huge population, lots of oil and other natural resources, and great disparition between the big cities and the smaller (sometimes unliveable) area...

Some people are really really rich while some a very very poor..

Maybe some bad characteristics too like mafia and corruption :)

But the people are warm, friendly, believe in superstitions and tradition.. Traditionally, women stay at home and men work, but nowadays tehre are lots of women who work too.. The girls dress up to the max :) Keep carpets at home, invites guests to the kitchen :) 

Have met anyone from Russia or know much about it but it's definitely on my list to visit this country :)

Hard to generalise, but from my experience I find all my Russian acquaintances and friends (including my best Croatian/Slavic buddy) are *creatures* of greatest savvy and intelligence I can have on this planet, due to their own unique history or the weather or the languages or genes or all mixed up, or just my luck, I don't know. Вы тоже Миша? :D

Are they really socialists?