“Vera's monkey brain was "racing." She wanted someone to talk to her and to get some of her words out, but Daddy and the Seal had now switched to Russian and their conversation was growing more somber, because that's what Russian did to you. Her teacher, the other Vera, had never once smiled, even when reading the ostensibly funny book about a clumsy bear who failed to live by the complex rules of forest society and constantly needed to learn distsiplina (discipline) from his animal peers. "We can all use some more distsiplina," Teacher Vera would say. "It is what our vozhd"--or "leader"--"expects from us." Then she would show them the photograph of a man who looked like a sad but disciplined hamster in a suit in front of a tricolor flag.” HumorDisciplineRussiaSeriousnessRussianRussiansVladimir PutinRussian Language Book:Vera, or Faith Source: Vera, or Faith
“I have a great memory. And actually, I remember Russia in some ways better than I remember Queens.” WayRememberMemoriesRussiaQueensGreat Memories Author:Gary Shteyngart
“Russia tried to introduce beer as kind of the new vodka - and it's working with younger people in major cities - but you can have ten shots of vodka and be perfectly okay. If I had ten beers, I would be liquidated.” PeopleIfsKindWould BeCitiesTenMajorsShotsOkayRussiaBeerIntroducingVodka Author:Gary Shteyngart
“You can't have a Russian household without vodka. It's just something to wash everything down with. I can't remember a time when I didn't drink vodka, either in Russia or here. I don't think there's ever a wrong time to start drinking it. My ancestors drank it, and if I ever have any children, they'll be drinking it.” IfsThinkingChildrenI CanRememberDrinkDrinkingRussiaAncestorHouseholdDrankVodkaWrong Time Author:Gary Shteyngart
“Vodka has a huge history in Russia, in that it's almost like a currency. It's the one thing that keeps the country in the dark ages and having a rollicking good time.” CountryAgeDarkOne ThingHugeRussiaGood TimesCurrencyDark AgesVodka Author:Gary Shteyngart
“Italy has sun and tomatoes, and Russia just has real problems.” RealProblemSunRussiaReal ProblemsTomatoes Author:Gary Shteyngart
“Getting out of Russia was the best thing my parents did. I mean, that country will never amount to anything.” MeanCountryParentAmountRussiaBest Things Author:Gary Shteyngart
“I was very, very sick when I was growing up in Russia. The ambulance constantly came to our house. I had horrible asthma that is easily treated in America, but they didn't even have inhalers back in Russia.” AmericaHouseGrowing UpGrowingSickRussiaHorribleTreatedAsthmaAmbulance Author:Gary Shteyngart
“In a strange way, I expected Russia to become more like America since the Soviet Union collapsed, but the reverse is true. America has become more like Russia: a kleptocratic society.” WayAmericaStrangeUnionsExpectedRussiaSovietReverseSoviet Union Author:Gary Shteyngart
“If I still lived in Russia, I'd be dead... or a really effective oligarch.” IfsStillsRussia Author:Gary Shteyngart
