"We don't serve Russians." Or not? Emigrants about the attitude towards Russians in Europe
Miscellaneous / / April 23, 2022
Going to Europe, some are afraid of Russophobia. The economic sanctions imposed on the Russians seem to only confirm the fears that "we are not welcome there." But everything is much more complicated. We asked the emigrants how they live in Europe, whether they have faced neglect and whether anything has changed recently.
"I slammed the door in my face"
Faith
1.5 years living in France. Now he is on an internship in Germany.
The biggest problem that my acquaintances Russians and Belarusians have faced over the past month is the blocking of accounts in French banks. The economic sanctions also affected my family's finances and my ability to send money to each other.
But relationships with classmates, teachers and colleagues remained the same. On the contrary: they began to ask more often how I feel, to support, to help. So, for example, I was already offered a contract in Germany - a job in a laboratory to obtain a PhD (Doctor of Science degree). By the way, my boss is Ukrainian, and we get along great, no matter what.
Neither I nor my Russian-speaking friends had any difficulties with the educational process. For example, Campus France, which organizes the training of foreign students in France, is still accepting applications from Russian applicants, despite the fact that the deadline has already passed.
I have not encountered a dismissive attitude towards myself on a national basis, except for one case. When I first arrived, we foreigners were invited to a birthday party for my classmate. We didn’t know anyone then, we all came together, in a bunch.
The hostess opened the door, looked at us and slammed it right in front of her nose. I still remember this shock... In the end, they let us in, but no one was in the mood to communicate. Therefore, basically, all my friends here are Russian speakers. I think Russophobia exists, but not everywhere. In France and Lower Saxony (region of Germany) - no.
“They apologized for not knowing Russian well enough”
Denis
1 month living in Lithuania. He moved to his parents, who received a Lithuanian residence permit 3 years ago.
It is believed that the citizens of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia treat the Russians badly. Especially now, in such a stressful time.
When my parents moved to Lithuania, everyone told them: "The Balts hate Russians." Therefore, when I decided to move to them, then, frankly, I was afraid. I was even afraid to speak my native language.
I don't know Lithuanian, so at first I used English. For example, once I was on a bus. I had a badge pinned to my scarf. A man noticed him. He said something to me in Lithuanian. I replied: Sorry, I don't speak Lithuanian.
He switched to English, repeated that he liked my badge. We struck up a conversation. He asked where I was from. I said that from St. Petersburg. With admiration, he began to say how much he loves Peter, how he taught there for 5 years. In general, I was very positive!
Later, I began to offer: "We can talk either in English or in Russian." And everyone asked to switch to Russian. Sometimes the locals even apologized for not knowing him well enough. I was always surprised: “It was I who came to your country, and not you to mine. Why apologize?
The same thing happened at the volunteer center where I helped refugees. The presence of the Russian language turned out to be necessary: I could communicate in it with those who do not know Lithuanian.
For all the time here, I have never experienced a dismissive attitude towards myself: neither because I speak Russian, nor because I have a Russian passport.
Isolated cases of national hatred are severely suppressed here. The prime minister often says, “Don't touch the Russians. We will not turn into nationalists.”
For example, recently there was a case in the city of Siauliai - by Lithuanian standards, this is a village by a village. There, on the window of some cafe, it was crossed out flag RF. And next to it is the inscription: "We do not serve Russians." Because of this, the police immediately came to the owners. Started a case on the basis of nationalism. Signboards have been removed.
There was another situation. One girl posted a strange post with the message: "Let's boycott cafes owned by Russians." And I attached a list. Among all the bloggers, I only saw such a nationalist statement from her. But she, in principle, did some strange things before that.
Otherwise, there is no pressure. Lithuanians are used to living with Russians. These are their people. This is their people. If you hear again: “The Balts hate Russians”, then know that this is a lie. There is no Russophobia here. And I'm sure it won't.
“Helped me not to be left without money”
Maria
1 year living in Germany.
host familyA host family, or host family, is a family that voluntarily provides foreigners with a place to stay. In the case of our heroine, this happens on the basis of the AuPair program, under which a foreigner takes on the role of a nanny for the children in the family that adopted her. helped me a lot. They supported me both when I first arrived in Germany and when sanctions were imposed on the Russians. They are educated people and, in fact, made the right conclusions about the whole situation. Therefore, their attitude towards me has not changed, for which I am very grateful to them. We spoke openly. No attacks. No national terror.
I had problems withdrawing cash: at that moment, Visa and Mastercard cards issued in Russia stopped working outside the country. Therefore, my hosts offered to buy them gift cards and certificates and issued cash at their face value. They helped me not to be left without money.
In general, during the time here I have grown social contacts. I am on good terms with all these people, I have never heard a hatred in my direction.
There was one unpleasant moment with my Ukrainian friend. We often met in kindergarten. She took her children, and I took “mine” like a nanny. She left behind a sister and nephew. When we met with her on February 24, she was in a state of shock. She asked: "Why did you bomb me?" She began to speak unpleasantly about me.
True, after a couple of minutes she came to her senses and apologized. But the sediment remained. Now we don’t even greet her, although we continue to pick up children from the same kindergarten. But I would not blame her for such a violent reaction: after all, she still had relatives on the territory of Ukraine.
This year I wanted to become an AuPair in the USA. But the German agency told me that "for political reasons" the States are not currently issuing work visas for Russians participating in this program. They didn't accept my documents.
"Both funny and sad"
Natalia
2.5 years living in the Czech Republic.
Some of my acquaintances had to deal with negativity when the locals heard their Russian speech. Both funny and sad, because Russians, Belarusians, Kazakhs, and even Ukrainians communicate in this language.
So, in early March, a rather absurd situation happened with two familiar Ukrainian women. They were returning from the rally and talking to each other in Russian. A not very sober Czech approached them and began to accuse them of attacking Ukraine.
Personally, I have never come across anything like it. The university where I study is very supportive of students from Russia. The company where I work does not have many employees, but they all still treat me well.
And just recently I met a girl from Kyiv. Helped her settle into the city and find an apartment. We communicate well with her, despite everything that is happening between Russia and Ukraine.
Many media support ordinary Russian citizens. My husband, for example, was recently invited to speak on DVTV (one of the most famous TV channels in the Czech Republic) on behalf of Russian students. The questions seemed to us ethical and clearly not aimed at demonizing Russians.
The biggest change that has happened in my life is the disconnection of Russian bank cards from SWIFT. Most of our savings with my husband, for many reasons, have so far been in rubles. Plus, he continued to work remotely for Russian companies.
Therefore, when the payment systems announced the shutdown of Russian cards, we tried a thousand and one ways to cash out our money. It didn't work to take it all off.
“They are starting to pay more attention to the differences between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus”
Maria
Lived in Germany for 12 years.
People who don't know me well often don't know that I'm from Russia. I speak German with almost no accent, and my name can easily pass for a local one. Perhaps that is why I am not perceived as an immigrant.
With those who know well that I am Russian, there are no problems in communication. Even now, against the backdrop of geopolitical conflict, familiar Germans communicate with me as before. They often ask me to explain to them some things they do not understand, ask about the news, ask how my relatives in Russia are doing.
I do not see any negative reaction to Russian speech, nor boycott Russian culture. The only thing I notice is that Europeans are starting to pay more attention to the differences between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. Until recently, many perceived these countries as identical to each other.
“Coworkers treated me with hostility”
Marina
2.5 years living in Germany.
Over the past month, I have visited several cities in Germany. She spoke Russian everywhere. Nobody said a bad word to me. On the contrary, when they heard Russian speech, people turned to me for help on the street, asking me to show them the way.
I encountered a dismissive reaction only once, when I worked as a cashier in a store. My colleagues, Germans 55-60 years old, treated me with hostility. Only one of them we communicated normally. She once told me: “I have relatives in Russia, so I treat you without prejudice. Others don't, they don't understand."
I don't know if their reaction was caused precisely by the fact that I am Russian. Perhaps they were actually unfriendly to foreigners. I don't know the exact answer to this question. Nowhere else have I seen signs of Russophobia.
So far, I haven't had any problems with learning. The university even offered to provide psychological support to anyone who needed it. Although recently I heard that exchange students are denied further studies. But so far these are rumors, the information has not been officially confirmed.
"Russophobia is a myth"
Oksana
Lived in Spain for 7 years.
I have been living in Spain for 7 years. Here I graduated, got a job, found new friends. During all this time, I have never encountered a dismissive attitude on a national basis. The fact that I am Russian has always been just an excuse to talk about my culture, nothing more.
Even recently, with the beginning of the conflict and the imposition of sanctions against the Russians, my relations with colleagues and friends have not changed.
It seems to me that the locals, on the contrary, have begun to worry more about us, about the Russians. Every time I meet Europeans I know and don't know, they sympathize and ask how my relatives and friends back home are doing, if they are okay.
And the Russian language is considered an advantage in finding a job. Therefore, based on both personal experience and the experience of my friends living in Europe, I can say that Russophobia is a myth.
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