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Tour of a typical Russian apartment

It's not as bad as I worried it might be after seeing the facade and the elevator. The girl seems sweet and she has a great attitude.

Thoughts?

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by Anonymousreply 116October 15, 2021 9:31 AM

So depressing. I'd rather kill myself.

by Anonymousreply 1April 24, 2021 8:33 AM

Hang on. Was this video randomly promoted today? Because it came up as recommended on my YouTube this morning. Weird!

by Anonymousreply 2April 24, 2021 8:38 AM

I'm glad the bitch is so cheerful. No dishwasher? If I had to hand-wash dishes for two adults and a baby, I'd take a header off that balcony.

by Anonymousreply 3April 24, 2021 8:40 AM

How do you say "tasteless friends" in Russian?

by Anonymousreply 4April 24, 2021 8:41 AM

No wonder they drink vodka like water

by Anonymousreply 5April 24, 2021 8:45 AM

She's a lovely girl. Aren't building like that a fire safety hazard? Hope the don't have Grenfell cladding!

by Anonymousreply 6April 24, 2021 8:51 AM

It's very typical for Russia and rather tidy apartment, but on the poor side. Very soviet style. Dishwashers are actually not rare in Russia. Most people i know have dishwashers, including those who are not very rich. But yeah, small apartments, very similar, very standard, not a lot of place for individualism. That's beaten (literally) into russian heads.

By the way, very expensive apartments in Russia sometimes even more gnarly. Tasteless and ugly.

by Anonymousreply 7April 24, 2021 9:04 AM

I saw it a couple of weeks ago as it popped up then when I was watching something else on YouTube R2.

She and the husband seem like really nice people. It's a wee bit depressing. I would hate it that you have to keep all of the landlord's crappy old furniture in the house and can't get rid of it.

by Anonymousreply 8April 24, 2021 9:08 AM

R2 and R8, YouTube uses algorithms that seem to occasionally select certain videos to promote heavily. I posted a video years ago, long and detailed about an obscure topic, and forgot about it, and then last year it suddenly got tens of thousands of views and lots of comments. I looked at the analytics and saw that almost all the views and comments were from people who saw it in their feed, promoted based on looking at videos with similar general topics.

by Anonymousreply 9April 24, 2021 9:14 AM

Very interesting, OP. Maybe there's hope for my fledgling YouTube channel yet!

by Anonymousreply 10April 24, 2021 9:21 AM

Boris, let us dяink vodka and have sex on foolish sofa befoяe we watch Keeping Up with the Gorbachevs on Sputnivision.

by Anonymousreply 11April 24, 2021 9:22 AM

When she said if you live in Russia that is considered quite a good place to live, oh my heart. But she is right, it's all relative. And honestly, what she has probably would seem like a dream to many inhabitants of this earth.

It's good to be reminded of how lucky you are. And I agree with the others, she seems a sweetheart.

by Anonymousreply 12April 24, 2021 9:25 AM

I like watching amateur porn. But anything that clearly originates from one of these apartments — boner-killer. Because you know these are Russians or Eastern Europeans who are truly desperate.

And it's pretty obvious. The visual indicators are almost all in this video: Printed wallpaper, overstuffed sofas, interior doors with frosted insets and horizontal handles, tacky veneer "wardrobes" everywhere.

by Anonymousreply 13April 24, 2021 9:32 AM

NYC probably has a lot of places that are comparatively run down, expensive and a hell of a lot smaller. But probably only NYC and not many other places in the US. It seems like the sort of Muscovite apartment here is the only choice for most people, but people in the US have a huge array of options and some choose to live in an NYC closet with a bunsen burner to cook on and a dorm fridge and a toilet and consider themselves lucky to be in New York. I don't get that at all.

by Anonymousreply 14April 24, 2021 9:38 AM

I understand what you mean, R13. I find it interesting they're nearly all "sharing" videos (one girl, two or multiple men).

by Anonymousreply 15April 24, 2021 9:38 AM

Do they still have 8 families sharing an apartment or have things improved and they are down to just 6?

by Anonymousreply 16April 24, 2021 9:41 AM

People choose to live in NYC instead of in Bumfucke with you, R14, for reasons. Such as not having to be around Bumfuckians. The necessary compromises justify this choice.

This woman and her husband have chosen to live in a cement gulag instead of the countryside. They want to be in a city center, and this is what's available in that vicinity in their price range.

by Anonymousreply 17April 24, 2021 9:47 AM

Some of the spoilt little bitches on this threat should shut the fuck up. Ohhh what a horrible world to have to wash your own dishes! Or god forbid have tacky furniture.

Although i do feel a bit sad for her, i have also seen plenty of images of slums and beggers with no legs holding out their children to beg for money... They would love to have her apartment or even just a bedroom with real walls. Where is all the compassion and love gone in this world.? I am on DL i know. The fuckface ration is a bit blown out here.

by Anonymousreply 18April 24, 2021 9:48 AM

[quote]i have also seen plenty of images of slums and beggers with no legs holding out their children to beg for money... They would love to have her apartment or even just a bedroom with real walls. Where is all the compassion and love gone in this world.?

Are you one of those people, R18? Send us your Gofundme. With photos.

by Anonymousreply 19April 24, 2021 9:57 AM

R19 You obviously picked up what i was putting down. I am in an apartment (in Australia) with horizontal door handles and a tiny balcony that you would probably throw your fancy, shiny self off because...like... ewww! Right? Fuckface!

Peace be with you!

by Anonymousreply 20April 24, 2021 10:14 AM

R20, just do your Chaturbate sessions in a room without printed wallpaper, interior rooms with frosted windows and horizontal door handles, printed curtains, and a tiny, glassed-in balcony, and you'll make much more.

Thank me later.

You should send me a cut, actually.

by Anonymousreply 21April 24, 2021 10:25 AM

There's a great and very unsettling 2014 movie about a Russian apartment building from hell called "Durak". The building in that film makes this girl's home look like The Ritz.

by Anonymousreply 22April 24, 2021 10:36 AM

R22 Durak (English title The Fool) is worth seeking out - it's great. But I don't see the comparison to The Ritz which is set in a gay bathhouse.

by Anonymousreply 23April 24, 2021 10:46 AM

What is the point of this? Does the young mother want to be a writer, actress, or what -- I take away the feeling that everything is rather unsanitary in Russia. The baby doesn't have good coloring. = entire thing was depressing as hell. Her whole family lives there? Sweet.

by Anonymousreply 24April 24, 2021 10:56 AM

You know the thing that got me too.. where were the signs of life? I know it's snowy as fuck and freezing but there was hardly even any noise or traffic. It seemed abandoned somehow.

by Anonymousreply 25April 24, 2021 11:09 AM

R21 Why, thank you kind gentlecunt. I always like when people pass on their mothers hard earned wisdom.

by Anonymousreply 26April 24, 2021 11:12 AM

so for everybody out there throwing around "the affordable housing" and "unhoused" meme. this is the solution here. This is what it looks like. There are millions of these structures in E Europe and Russia. Thius is how you house the masses.

by Anonymousreply 27April 24, 2021 11:23 AM

Now THAT is depressing R27... and very true. Let's just be thankful none of the precious ones on their high horses will ever be so human as to only be able to afford a place like that. They couldn't even jump off their glassed in balcony!

by Anonymousreply 28April 24, 2021 11:33 AM

my professor brother in Wisconsin lives like this and has for 42 yrs in an old post-war brick apartment building

by Anonymousreply 29April 24, 2021 12:10 PM

Are thee any cute gays in the video ? Otherwise it’s a shithole.

by Anonymousreply 30April 24, 2021 12:42 PM

It looks like heaven to me.

by Anonymousreply 31April 24, 2021 12:46 PM

I wonder if Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are her neighbors.

by Anonymousreply 32April 24, 2021 12:47 PM

That elevator would terrify me.

by Anonymousreply 33April 24, 2021 12:54 PM

She keeps all the food in the fridge because her building has roach and rodent problems. I know that trick.

by Anonymousreply 34April 24, 2021 12:59 PM

This apartment is truly an opportunity and project for the lovely Miss Nicolas Fairford. He’d make cucumber sandwiches look elegant and sophisticated in that kitchen.

by Anonymousreply 35April 24, 2021 1:06 PM

Check out the horrors in this video. I watch a lot of Russian videos on YouTube and I honestly don't know what keeps the people going there, between the shit weather, shit government, shit salaries, etc.

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by Anonymousreply 36April 24, 2021 1:17 PM

I believe 1967 rang to ask for its colour scheme back.

by Anonymousreply 37April 24, 2021 1:20 PM

R36 what is word for "douchebag" in Russian?

by Anonymousreply 38April 24, 2021 1:22 PM

Interesting that that video also was recommended to me by youtube algorithm. I guess its because I watched the videos on the girl from Svalsbard and Siberia. She is pretty cheerful though, with none of the resting bitch face you typically associate with russians. And the house isnt bad at all, its oretty normal looking, you all are too picky.

by Anonymousreply 39April 24, 2021 1:30 PM

On the outside, her apartment looks like the projects. The inside is similar to a typical walkup apartment in Hell's Kitchen in NYC, but far far bigger.

As a side note, can you post a link to the Youtube video you made, OP? I'm curious. Plus, it will be an experiment to see how much traffic you get from Datalounge.

by Anonymousreply 40April 24, 2021 1:33 PM

Someone says hyperbolically, on a casual thread, that they'd rather die than do dishes by hand, and suddenly "all the compassion and love" in this world is gone? Good lord, get a grip.

by Anonymousreply 41April 24, 2021 1:34 PM

I’ve been hand washing dishes for years. It’s not that hard or time consuming.

by Anonymousreply 42April 24, 2021 1:38 PM

R41 it wasn't me

by Anonymousreply 43April 24, 2021 1:41 PM

I lived in one of those in the 90’s! Depressing on the outside but not bad at all inside. And what she doesn’t mention is that those things are warm as fuck! It can be well below zero and you’ll have to open a window.

by Anonymousreply 44April 24, 2021 2:01 PM

Like someone said I would hate living with the furniture more than the apartment. I lived in Shanghai in an ugly soviet block building, but they are pretty nice inside. The building pictured is exactly like the one I lived in, only mine was vertical when I left.

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by Anonymousreply 45April 24, 2021 2:32 PM

The truly underground gay culture in Russia must be very interesting...

by Anonymousreply 46April 24, 2021 2:53 PM

R40 I was thinking the EXACT same thing. I've seen apartments far worse in HK and the LES that (pre-pandemic) were renting for $2500 and up a month.

by Anonymousreply 47April 24, 2021 3:31 PM

What’s strange about horizontal door handles? That’s the standard direction they have.

by Anonymousreply 48April 24, 2021 6:08 PM

The husband is cute.

by Anonymousreply 49April 24, 2021 6:16 PM

I hope the YouTubers, especially those in America, are being kind and nice to her. Please tell me they aren't snarking on her. She's absolutely adorable and seems very sweet. I would bring her to the States in a hot minute if she and hubby wanted to escape that life and come over.

by Anonymousreply 50April 24, 2021 6:31 PM

She speaks excellent English. Is that common in Russia?

by Anonymousreply 51April 24, 2021 6:43 PM

LGBT in Russia.

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by Anonymousreply 52April 24, 2021 6:44 PM

Honey,Ive lived in places that make her apt look like the Ritz. You do what you have to do. I once renbted a master bedroom closet for a few months,till I could save enough for my own place. It had a little window so it wasnt too bad,but it was a closet! All you high flown bitches with your airs . Like you all grew up in splendor .

by Anonymousreply 53April 24, 2021 7:02 PM

There are a lot of Russians who speak excellent English, r50, at least in the larger cities, but her accent is lighter than most.

by Anonymousreply 54April 24, 2021 9:06 PM

I've lived in worse places, like a 1960's vintage mobile home this reminds me of.

by Anonymousreply 55April 24, 2021 9:29 PM

Videos like this are actually worth you're time, as opposed to some crap churned out by Kylie Jenner or an "influencer" living in Dubai.

by Anonymousreply 56April 24, 2021 10:09 PM

I remember my first Tenderloin San Francisco apartment circa 1969. This looks high end in comparison.

by Anonymousreply 57April 24, 2021 10:09 PM

[quote] She keeps all the food in the fridge because her building has roach and rodent problems. I know that trick. —New Yorker

Exactly.

Mom visits — Why is your cereal in the refrigerator? I can’t find any matches to light the gas stove & make some tea.

Me- No! You can’t turn on the burner!

Mom - Why not?

Me - Things come out of the stove when you turn the burner on! And don’t turn out the bathroom light, whatever you do!

Mom - Why not?

Me - I’ll be too afraid to ever turn it back on again.

Mom - You need to stop coming to my house on the weekend. I’m afraid what you might bring with you.

by Anonymousreply 58April 24, 2021 10:11 PM

Agreed, R56. This is the kind of social media thing that I like because it allows you to learn about and even get to know people in other parts of the world.

Also, R50, the comments are almost universally pleasant on that video. There are over 6,000 of them, so I haven't read them all, but some from the top are:

"I love how the internet allows us to know people all over the world."

"People are so obsessed with material things these days. If you don't have a luxury car, fancy name brand clothes, or expensive things to show off, people judge you and label you. As long as you are happy, than who cares. It's really a cute place you have."

"I can’t find words to say to you for some reason...I am an American. My husband and I did not have much when we first married. But now we have a comfortable life, retired, 74 and73. You have your whole life ahead of you and I hope you are blessed with more happiness. I will say americans have too many THINGS."

"What a lovely young woman you are. You made me cry, you are so thankful and appreciative of everything you have. Americans can learn a lot from you. God bless you and your sweet family. Thank you for allowing us into your home. A million views on this too!!!! That's fantastic!"

"yes! this is what actually youtube is made for, a genuine and honest vlog, no bullshit no crappy music. love your videos!"

by Anonymousreply 59April 24, 2021 10:14 PM

That young lady truly seemed sweet and appreciative for her family and their apartment. Her world view and that entire apartment made me feel like she's living in a time warp because a lot of YouTube videos are from a place of selfishness and egotism and her video was just this lovely little tour of things in a precious way. Her English is really good!

What do the children do when it gets ever soo bitterly cold? That apartment complex had a cute little playground area with a basketball court of sorts. Do the children just suffer through and play out of doors in the dead of winter in Russia or do they just stay in and read? Nary a clue as to why I'm curious about that, really, and yet here I am.

by Anonymousreply 60April 24, 2021 10:25 PM

What a lovely girl.

by Anonymousreply 61April 24, 2021 10:28 PM

My first apartment was a roach infested studio. It had some kind of desk thing with a few drawers that was made out of something resembling wood but definitely wasn’t wood. Whatever it was, it was heavy. I couldn’t move it, so I left it there & put a tv on top of it. It came with a chair. I slept on a folding cot. I had a folding TV dinner tray table from my parents basement. That was my furniture. And an alarm clock/radio/telephone from Caldor. I kept it on the floor. It was really crappy & didn’t work half the time. I was on the 3rd floor and had a fire escape outside my window, so my window had a locked metal grate inside. I never unlocked it. There was a park across the street with homeless men living in it. The first week I was there one of the homeless guys stabbed another one to death.

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by Anonymousreply 62April 24, 2021 10:33 PM

My first NYC apt was a sublet in Colombia Heights Brooklyn. It was an old walk up. I decided to give it a quick wipedown and reached into the cupboard under the sink to grab some cloths....except the cloths turned out to be a dozen or so mold covered rodents on a glue trap.

I caught 22 mice in my first week there....managed to block all the holes and keep them at bay.

by Anonymousreply 63April 24, 2021 10:37 PM

[quote]I caught 22 mice in my first week there

Well, at least you got some inexpensive protein into your diet then.

by Anonymousreply 64April 24, 2021 11:36 PM

Reminds me of old country 🚬

by Anonymousreply 65April 24, 2021 11:39 PM

I watched hervideo on minimalism last week. I think she’s a little too extreme. Seems like anything that’s nice she does not want to buy. Maybe she hast to be minimalist to save money?

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by Anonymousreply 66April 24, 2021 11:58 PM

R66 she’s trying too hard. Live a little bitch, it wouldn’t hurt.

by Anonymousreply 67April 25, 2021 4:00 AM

I hope the YouTube income is helping her and her family. They seem like nice people.

by Anonymousreply 68April 25, 2021 4:09 AM

The apartment isn't as bad and run down as I thought (the building itself is horrid though). But I can't help but wonder if minimalism is just an excuse for some people to make themselves feel better about not being able to afford, well, better stuff? And what's the deal with putting some stuff of the landlord on the balcony? Doesn't it get damaged by the harsh Russian weather?

What do the parents do in their spare time? I didn't see any books and the TV is ridiculously placed on a table on the couch's side and not in front of it.

by Anonymousreply 69April 25, 2021 6:26 AM

Was the balcony enclosed? I didn't get a great look at it, but I think it may have been, which would make more sense (would still be colder out there though, I imagine).

If they had the power to decorate it themselves, I imagine those places could look quite nice. It must suck having to use everything provided by the landlord even if you don't want to/need to.

by Anonymousreply 70April 25, 2021 6:35 AM

If I lived in an old, run-down apartment in Russia with my landlord's furniture, no option to customize, and little extra money to pay for decorations anyway, I would have a minimalist style, too.

She's in Russia. I doubt there are a lot of CB2 or West Elm-type shops for affordable Modern-style furniture. It's a stereotype—one that seems true based on what I've seen—that people of means in Russia have a very over-the-top, gaudy, indulgent style à la the Trumps and Joan Rivers, with gilded everything, brocades, ornate rugs, hyper-Baroque patterned rugs and tapestries covering every surface. If my options were that or a Spartan existence, I would choose the latter.

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by Anonymousreply 71April 25, 2021 10:48 AM

[quote] Decorations are an essential part if you want to recreate the traditional Russian interior design in your own home. Since the style is meant to express abundance and luxury, you need to use lots of decorations. Drapes, curtains, rugs and other things like cushions, for instance. Also, it is usual to place a chandelier in the room, as opulent as possible. Crystals can be a very good starting point for a harmonious decor style all throughout the room and it allows you to use similar decorations, such as vases or mirrors, also is important that you take care of the roofs.

Abundance!

Luxury!

Rugs!

Chandeliers!

WODKA!

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by Anonymousreply 72April 25, 2021 10:50 AM

That tacky, wealthy style makes me feel breathless... not in a positive way, but in a claustrophobic, I'm struggling to get air into my lungs way. It also, no matter how much money is spent, seems to have the same sheen of, I dunno, poverty? Hopelessness? Over it that a lot of things in Russia seem to, when looking at pictures. That's a horrible thing for me to say, but everything has the tint of a dystopian, sort of "things are just clinging on by the skin of their teeth" look.

by Anonymousreply 73April 25, 2021 10:59 AM

[quote] What do the parents do in their spare time? I didn't see any books and the TV is ridiculously placed on a table on the couch's side and not in front of it.

If you watched the video you would’ve seen the books, as she does a close up on them. She also explains they don’t watch tv.

by Anonymousreply 74April 25, 2021 11:10 AM

I like tapestries as artworks, and I can appreciate the artistry and meaning that goes into Islamic rugs, mosaics, and other patterned artworks that bear meaning.

I also understand castle-like structures using abundant rugs and woven wall hangings to warm up and soften rooms and to improve acoustics.

But yeah, while I can appreciate these works individually, ostentatious displays of overabundance are Trumpy in a tacky way that transcends cultures. American, Middle Eastern, Indian or Russian, people who cover every surface in gold leaf, crystals and Baroque patterns are really just trying to show off wealth and worldly worth. I don't want to know anyone with that kind of sensibility. They think way too much of themselves and want others to be impressed. Nothing good comes of that. They're walking, talking egos.

by Anonymousreply 75April 25, 2021 11:12 AM

Most Eastern Europeans who move to such apartments neglect to tell you they also have a home in the counteyside. They buy apartments in the city for access to work and malls, cafes, restaurants, etc. Apartments are used to sleep in and hardly anyone spends as much time at home as in the US. Here is a link to a neighbor's apartment (now empty penthouse that he rented to another American who went home in April and hopes to rent as an airbnb...in a pandemic). This is almost exactly like the one where I live in now with my roommate in Romania for my tasteful DL-ers. We chose it for the location because we have a mall with everything, an Office Depot, and it is 5 minute from public transport and has a gym and pool. We walk to the historic center in 20 minutes. Flame away!

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by Anonymousreply 76April 25, 2021 11:13 AM

[quote]American, Middle Eastern, Indian or Russian, people who cover every surface in gold leaf, crystals and Baroque patterns are really just trying to show off wealth and worldly worth. I don't want to know anyone with that kind of sensibility. They think way too much of themselves and want others to be impressed. Nothing good comes of that. They're walking, talking egos.

It's always interesting to compare that showiness with people who grew up in wealth, or old money, who tend to live in quite cluttered, messy looking places (like that recent picture of Princess Anne).

by Anonymousreply 77April 25, 2021 11:21 AM

Also a photo of the country house of a receptionist who lives in an old communist building. She goes there in the weekend (and now is there all the time due to work from home). My roommate and I took the train there and stayed one weekend and I took this picture. There is one Carrefour, 2 cafes, one local restaurant, very rustic, internet connectiok is good, and the water is sourced from a brooke. Close to the monasteries in Moldova.

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by Anonymousreply 78April 25, 2021 11:23 AM

That's a lovely view, R76.

The apartment in your original post is fine, and I wouldn't complain about living there, though on a personal level there isn't as much character in those places as I would like if I had a choice. But to live somewhere close to everything like that as a person making my way in a city, I would feel very happy if I had that.

by Anonymousreply 79April 25, 2021 11:26 AM

But are you really a minimalist is you ain't got a choice?

by Anonymousreply 80April 25, 2021 12:37 PM

I would imagine Bobby Trendy could be a very popular decorator for rich Russians.

by Anonymousreply 81April 25, 2021 1:00 PM

R80 Plenty of poor people in trailers hoard things and collect tacky yard ornaments, figurines, curios, Beanie Babies, art prints from Michael's, découpage, sponge or do other paint treatments to their walls. So yes. Poor people can and often do have over-the-top cluttery tastes, and yes, you can still be poor and have good, minimalist Modern or contemporary taste—you just can't have expensive designer shit.

by Anonymousreply 82April 25, 2021 2:26 PM

It takes a lot of money and planning to execute minimalism well. Like, custom made cupboards which hide everything and fit seamlessly with the walls.

by Anonymousreply 83April 25, 2021 3:26 PM

R83 You are *really* rigid about what you are willing to acknowledge as minimalism.

It means streamlining, eliminating what's not necessary, rejecting being attached to collecting material goods.

If you want to assign it a specific, rigid aesthetic that is available only to the wealthiest people, then you are free to do that, but that is not what minimalism means to everyone.

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by Anonymousreply 84April 25, 2021 3:35 PM

Minimalism is a specific visual and performing arts style, but it's also a lifestyle that is alternately known as 'simple living.'

[quote] Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include, for example, reducing one's possessions, generally referred to as minimalism, or increasing self-sufficiency. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they have rather than want.

It does not require living in Beverly Hills and paying hundreds of thousands to pretentious designers to have luxury-branded white cabinets installed to hide luxury-branded jewelry and clothing. That's pretension, not minimalism.

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by Anonymousreply 85April 25, 2021 3:39 PM

[quote] [R83] You are *really* rigid about what you are willing to acknowledge as minimalism.

Here's what I wrote:

[quote] It takes a lot of money and planning to execute minimalism well.

Notice the word "well"? If you think what she's presenting is the greatest example of minimalism ever then that's your opinion. I have a different one. My issue isn't what minimalism is or its definition. It's about how to execute it well and aesthetically pleasing. You can live under a bridge and call it minimalism, that doesn't mean I have to find it aesthetically pleasing or a great example of minimalism.

by Anonymousreply 86April 25, 2021 3:46 PM

[quote] that doesn't mean I have to find it aesthetically pleasing or a great example of minimalism.

Long live DataLounge Anonymous User 32562, global arbitrer of "well-executed minimalism."

by Anonymousreply 87April 25, 2021 4:00 PM

Are you the Russian girl by any chance, r87? Check the "Tasteful Friends" threads to get some perspective what Datalounge is about.

by Anonymousreply 88April 25, 2021 4:03 PM

She would have loved living in Soviet times, they knew how to do minimalist living right:

No bread, no beef, no cheese, no fruits, no vegetables (except cabbage), no cars.

by Anonymousreply 89April 25, 2021 4:12 PM

I think she and her little family are adorable. I love how she is so happy and content with what she has; which is not a lot. It always amazes me how people can live full, rich lives with very few possessions (perhaps we could ALL learn a thing or two from this).

I guess DL wouldn't be DL without the snarkasm and the mockery. Thanks for sharing this, OP.

by Anonymousreply 90April 25, 2021 4:32 PM

R90 there are people far worse off in this world who live meaningful lives too. Greed is a terrible way to go through life.

by Anonymousreply 91April 25, 2021 4:36 PM

R91 100%. agree.

by Anonymousreply 92April 25, 2021 4:40 PM

The more conveniences a society has available to it, generally, the more anxiety and depression people have. That doesn't mean that the more an individual personally owns in a consumerist society, the more depressed they are, necessarily, but un-industrialized cultures obviously have a lot of human suffering but many have no concept for depression. It seems to be longing for "more" of anything that makes people feel depressed, and the more that's available to have but out of reach makes people long more for what others have.

My dad grew up poor without running water, and everyone in his family except the ambitious, materialistic people always have been perfectly content with life.

My psychiatrist is Russian. Well, she was born in Ukraine but grew up in Moscow. She was an OB-gyn over there, and she said that in Russia, people who went into medicine did it because they wanted to help people; they were not paid well. She changed to psychiatry when she moved here because a friend of hers told her the US is litigious and delivering babies would put her at risk of lawsuits constantly if anything was ever wrong with any babies she developed. She has told me that she moved here for a more convenient life, and she has so much more here than she ever dreamt she could have, but she is also a depressive personality type now and she never was when she lived in Russia. She thinks her depression is directly tied to consumerism.

by Anonymousreply 93April 25, 2021 4:43 PM

It's been a while (most recently ten years ago) but I've been in Russian apartments in Moscow and St Petersburg and this is fairly typical if tarted up with with crappy veneer and furniture which makes stuff from Ikea look upscale. As someone noted above, many families - multigenerationally - have a dacha in the countryside to offset some of the cramped aspects of Russian urban life.

The video doesn't show all of the dreary aspects of post-Soviet residential living, not the least of which to me was seeing the reinforced doors on many apartments: some of them just an iron gate in front of the door, others with the iron gate decorated to look like it wasn't an iron gate with PU leather and nailheads. These were to protect residents from break-ins and his was in a better building than that in the video.

I had dinner one night at the apartment of a Russian diplomat I'd known when he was posted to the US who I came to understand was wealthy by Russian standards - it had two bedrooms; one for the couple and one for their teen-aged soon. Having known her appreciation for it when she was in the States, his wife was ecstatic when I pulled one of the hostess gifts I brought out of my bag: a jumbo roll of Reynolds Wrap. That and the Levis and Gillette razors and blades I brought were still expensive if not impossible to obtain there in the early 2000's.

Crappy as some of these buildings were and still are, there's been a lot of resistance to moving out from the people who live in them: they're moved to Siberia (not literally, but far from the old 'hood) while the developers building the replacement buildings make a (corrupt) fortune doing so.

by Anonymousreply 94April 25, 2021 5:19 PM

R93, that makes complete sense. Also, too much choice can create anxiety in some people too, I imagine. "What do I choose? Will it be the right thing for me? What if I make the wrong decision?" etc.

I work with a girl from the Ukraine and her sister is a doctor there, and that's what she told me too. They don't get paid much at all as doctors over there (her sister still lives with her parents). It's for the love of the job.

by Anonymousreply 95April 25, 2021 8:46 PM

Here she is doing a grocery shopping tag-along. I assume the prices she is quoting there are in US$ - some of you might be interested in comparing prices. I found it quite interesting anyway.

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by Anonymousreply 96May 15, 2021 1:08 AM

Did the guy in R36 learn English by watching the Nanny and old mafia movies? His English has a very NY/NJ sound to it.

by Anonymousreply 97May 15, 2021 1:50 AM

[quote]Someone says hyperbolically, on a casual thread, that they'd rather die than do dishes by hand,

You're forgetting that this place is full of ancient men who grew up in sexist households with mommy homemaker who didn't work because "daddy" was the breadwinner. Their mommy just took care of everything for them. They have cleaning ladies and leave their dishes for weeks at a time until whoever they pay to clean for them takes care of it. Most of the guys here probably never had to do anything other than schoolwork for their formative years.

by Anonymousreply 98May 15, 2021 2:40 AM

I find her accent very relaxing and i've never really thought that about Russian accents. She and her family seem really sweet and they truly come across as very grateful for what they have. her baby's complexion is pale because look at baby's father...you can tell he's super pale too...the only difference is he actually gets out in the sun on probably a daily basis.

I just wonder where they change the babe: on the couch? on the bed? on the floor? i hope on the floor because shit and piss happens. that's why people have vinyl, wipe-clean changing pads. And i think i'd probably use a glassed in balcony and try to move all of the landlord's crap furniture toward the end of it so i could have some usable space. just my thought. i also found her "what i eat in a day" video interesting. Far better content then the usual "look at me!" type shit you find on Facebook.

by Anonymousreply 99May 15, 2021 4:03 AM

I know a Siberian woman who looks so much like this Russian girl, especially the mouth, teeth and eyes, except that she is blonde with pale blue eyes. Their voices are nearly identical. Before I finally asked her, I tried to figure out where she might be from and I assumed she must be Scandinavian. I was totally ignorant and it really never occurred to me that people are brought up in Siberia since all my life I've heard it's a frozen wasteland where criminals are banished. As it turns out, Siberia has great medical schools and ballet schools.

by Anonymousreply 100May 15, 2021 12:47 PM

Looks like Roosevelt Island in New York City.

by Anonymousreply 101May 15, 2021 1:17 PM

R101 What is Roosevelt Island like? Whenever I've thought about living in NYC, I'm always been drawn to it. It seems like you are both in NYC yet separate enough to not be overwhelmed.

by Anonymousreply 102May 15, 2021 6:41 PM

r102, there is no charm there at all. All of the apartment buildings look like Soviet bloc apartments.

by Anonymousreply 103May 15, 2021 9:00 PM

R103 Really? I've never visited it myself. I've been to NYC several times but I've never ventured out there. From google earth it looks much better and more charming than the old Soviet blocs, it still looks modern and very clean.

by Anonymousreply 104May 15, 2021 9:14 PM

She seems to be making good money on Youtube. A website estimates it could be as high as $120K a year. I guess that's a lot in Russia. They will probably moved to better place eventually. Maybe she could keep this old one to maintain channel content.

by Anonymousreply 105May 15, 2021 9:24 PM

R104, here’s a pic. Unfortunately they overbuilt when they started building on Roosevelt Island.

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by Anonymousreply 106May 15, 2021 9:50 PM

R106 Ok, it does look bad from that angle. It looks totally different than from the street level on google.

by Anonymousreply 107May 15, 2021 9:51 PM

[quote]A website estimates it could be as high as $120K a year. I guess that's a lot in Russia.

That's a lot here in Australia too. Is it not considered a lot in the US?

by Anonymousreply 108May 15, 2021 10:14 PM

R108 Generally speaking, yes, it is, but geography and personal context affect perceptions.

Most of the US geographically is rural, and in most of those places $120,000 a year would be a very good living. In New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Hawaii, Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego, etc.), it's middle class but not at all affluent. I live in Washington, DC and I make slightly less than that and I live in a small, junior one-bedroom apartment, but I do save a good amount of money (I live a little below my means.) and I live in one of the most modest condo buildings in an extremely affluent neighborhood, Kalorama, where the Obamas live and where the Kushners thank God no longer do.

For more context, New York City offers free college tuition to people whose families make under $125,000—that is effectively the threshold in NYC to be classified as low income.

In 2020, average household income in the United States was $97,973.61.

Median household income here in Washington, DC is $85,203, but that represents a ton of lawyers, lobbyists, CEOs and other professionals who make upwards of $200,000 to $300,000, as well as very poorly paid (mostly nonwhite) administrative and other professionals who probably make an average of $50,000 to $60,000.

by Anonymousreply 109May 15, 2021 10:28 PM

But it's in fucking Russia.

by Anonymousreply 110May 15, 2021 10:53 PM

Wow she looks so sweet and wholesome.

by Anonymousreply 111May 15, 2021 10:59 PM

It looks grim. Russia always looks very depressing even when you see the homes of wealthy people.

by Anonymousreply 112May 16, 2021 12:00 AM

She seems happy.

by Anonymousreply 113May 16, 2021 11:36 AM

R99 - there are disposable (and now biodegradable) packs of plastic covers at the market here. I asked my roommate what they were and she says women put it under the baby when they change the diapers.

by Anonymousreply 114May 18, 2021 12:05 PM

R113 - that is a good question. Happiness. I have seen Romanians who make 500 dollars a month who seem happy and carefree and, despite the pandemic, are in the mood for fun, jokes, etc. morning to night. I kind of think these buildings provide an extended family of sorts. In the building we live in, EVERYONE knows everyone. One couple got COVID and I always saw someone leaving groceries at the door. I remember a twink at work who came to the office and was always running in with a lunchbox. Said the old lady on the second floor cooked for him so he didn't have to spend money on food and he cleaned her apartment and ran some errands in exchange. Totally normal set up. This way I assume, isolation and the depression it can bring is ameliorated and nobody feels totally alone. Now at his parents' house he baby sits as his sister can't work online, helps his dad with the garden and animals, and his mom cooks so he saves a lot on food and rent. A kind of barter system that seems to alleviate stress.

by Anonymousreply 115May 18, 2021 12:18 PM

Girls’ Nite Out

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by Anonymousreply 116October 15, 2021 9:31 AM
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