"You're poor!" The American came to Moscow to pity the Russians, but one conversation turned her view of Russia – she is in shock

Sarah's first impression was unexpected. A clean airport, convenient Aeroexpress and beautiful metro stations did not correspond to the image of Russia, which was formed in her Western media.

During a walk in the center of Moscow, the American was surprised by the prices of flowers. Tulips for 300 rubles apiece seemed too expensive. Her companion explained that for Russians, flowers have a special meaning and serve as a way to express feelings.

Sarah countered that with relatively low incomes, such spending is hard to justify. Then the man suggested that she spend a few days in an ordinary Moscow apartment to get acquainted with the daily life of citizens.

In the sleeping area, Sarah saw old porches, peeled paint, a worn elevator and broken asphalt. At the same time, the interior of the apartment was clean and cozy, although the kitchen seemed very small.

Especially surprised the American receipt for utilities for 5.3 thousand rubles. She compared those costs to her electricity bills in Phoenix and noted that Russians are taking advantage of affordable utilities.

However, Sarah drew attention to the shortcomings: the state of the houses, problems with parking and improvement of yards. In her opinion, residents should be more active in demanding that management companies solve such issues, rather than getting used to the inconvenience.

The Russian agreed that problems exist, but noted that people often face inaction of responsible organizations. In addition, he recalled the financial burden of Americans who have been paying mortgages and educational loans for years.

While walking around the yard, Sarah saw how neighbors communicate, parents walk with children and elderly people relax. A local woman told her that neighbors help each other and share homemade pastries. In the United States, people sometimes do not even know the names of those who live nearby.

This conversation helped her see the other side of Russian life. She noted that human warmth is important, but should not be an excuse for the poor condition of porches and courtyards.

Before leaving, Sarah admitted that she could not clearly answer where to live better. She saw the advantages and disadvantages of both countries: the affordability of some daily expenses, the habit of mutual aid, but also the problems of improvement.

Their dispute remained without a final answer. History has shown that ideas about the quality of life are formed not only from income and everyday comfort, but also from personal values, habits and relationships between people.