Snapshot from Tatarstan

[peacetraveler22]

I don't know much about the Tatars, but I began to go through old photos I took in Kazan last year and noticed I have a lot of shots of locals walking the streets. I guess their appearance is highly unusual to me, even exotic to some extent. Here's just one example. About this girl (woman?), I know nothing, but find her intriguing. :)

What do I need to know about the Tatars, and this Republic of Russia? My host in this city spoke very little English, so it was difficult to learn a lot about the region from the native showing me around. Please share any interesting facts or insights. I struggle to understand why cities like Kazan are so much nicer than other parts of Russia? Is it because the region is rich in oil, and has more resources? Kazan is now my second favorite city, only Peter is more aesthetically pleasing. Both have very friendly locals, and Kazan has more English speakers than any other city I've visited. I guess because there are so many young students there, but it makes navigation in the city much easier for a foreign tourist like me...

Comments

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

o, man. listen to me if want to know the truth.

kazan is a big city and all big cities in russia look much better than small cities. but yes, some of them looks even better. I would say it concerns to kazan, grozny, vladivostok, novosibirsk, and maybe irkutsk. but i didn't hear about irkutsk too much. why is it so? because there's no enough money to develop all the cities.

about tatars. my father taught me not to marry on them. and there're two strong reasons. 1. their women are too overbearing. 2. and they are so nice when they are young but rapidly getting old and unattractive. but it depends on skin type. not all tatars have a dark skin.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What exactly does it mean to be an "overbearing" woman in your mind? Just curious.

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

have you ever heard about domestic violence? I think they are simply beating their husbands all the time. my father told me so.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Well, this is the first I've heard that Tatar women are abusers...But, of course, it's also possible for women to commit domestic violence on their partners.

[Айрат Ахмадуллин (from livejournal.com)]

Hi, Shannon!
My name is Ayrat. I'm your grateful reader from Tatarstan and I'm so glad that you haven't forgot us yet.
Of course, not all Tatar women are domestic abusers, even a small part of them is not. But they are really tough human beings))
As a Tatar male I think I can tell you something interesting about our women. So, some facts...
1) The Tatar girls are really strong.("girls" might be of age from 0 to 50-60 since then they become 'abi' which means 'grandmother')
2) They are perfectionists. They are always want to be the most beautiful, the most successful and reach and to be a good housemaids and beloved mothers at the same time.
3) They despise any form of weakness and they never forgive a minor fault.
3) You can not beat your tatar wife without taking a risk to be poisoned or slaughtered during your rest time. This knowledge somehow chills even brutal machos' minds))
One tatar man had been beating his wife. She had put up with it until she was fed up with it. Then she cooked a delicious 'pilaf' .'Pilaf' is a common Tatar and Asian food made of sheeps meat and rice.
The fattest sheeps meat is the more the 'pilaf' is tasty. That day it was very - very - very delicious fat pilaf and then she gave him a cup of cold beer. You know, the more beer is
cold the more it tasty. The cold beer frozened the pilafs fat in the mans guts. Some hours later the husband suffered and died from ileus or intestinal obstruction. The wife has never been
accused of murder. I don't know whether this story truth or not, but it is whidely known here as a city legend))
4) The Tatars were ruled by females long ago before The England was ruled by Elizabeth I of England "The Virgin Queen".
I suppose you have seen the Suumbike's tower in the Kazan's Kremlin, havent't you? Suumbike was our queen and she fought against Ivan the Terrible.
And there were many other brave queens who fought.
5) We have 'abstay's here. 'Abstay' is an Islamic femail "Imam" or priest. This is why another muslims like Arabs despise us. They think that we are wrong Muslimins.
They can't get the fact that a women can talk a preach to the men, give them the cermone. Hmmm, may be we are the only nation who has a female priests?)))
6) We even had Muhlisa Bubi who was the only femail 'kady' in the history of the Islam. 'Kady' is a Shariah Judge.
7) I know that my English is poor, so I beg my pardon for all my mistakes))
Good wishes and luck to you))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hi Ayrat! Thanks for your comments, and your English is fine. Don't worry. Well, a strong woman is good. :) I think only weak men are intimidated by such female personalities, but of course being strong does not mean you should poison or beat your husband. :)) Cheers!