On July 4th, we all—me, my employer, and her whole family—went to another city to the house of Melissa's (my employer's) father's brother. I didn't even quite get it myself)))

A bunch of people gathered there—mostly elderly folks.

They introduced me to everyone, and at the words, "This is Natalia. She's from Siberia," everyone's eyes would pop out of their heads, and the dumb questions just kept coming: "Oh, Siberia—it's snowy all year round there, right? It's cold, isn't it? And what about the bears?" and all that stuff.

By the first month, I got tired of explaining that I don't live in the taiga or at the North Pole, so the next few times, I told such tall tales about the frost that their ears would curl up.

And I find it hilarious!!!

I've met Americans who don't even know a country like Russia exists!!

I think that's a serious diagnosis...

But, in general, if you don't think about their intellectual abilities, they are the most welcoming and friendly people I have ever met))))