Am I paranoid?

[Trueblue Texan]

Is it just me, or are there others who are noticing an increased number of Russians in their circle of contacts? Is it just that thing where you start noticing those things your attention has been alerted to? Or are there really more Russians around? I hate to sound like I’m a bigot, but I really am noticing this. I don’t notice more Italians than before. Or Brits. Or Germans, Irish, or Chinese. But suddenly there are more Russians. Anyone else notice this?

[obamanut2012]

1. no

[secondwind]

2. I notice more Russian-sounding names, in the news, on Twitter, Facebook and in the workplaces

[CentralMass]

3. Nyet.

[MaryMagdaline]

4. I live in South Florida so yes

They are not your typical immigrants. Ask them what they do/did for a living. No one’s a carpenter, car salesman, waiter, barber, tailor, teacher. The millionaires don’t make anything or sell anything. They are just ”consultants” and the like. The older Refusniks are real immigrants, brought high tech and high education. They work as professionals and regular people. The new bunch seem to have made their money in mysterious ways.

I met a few Russian hairdressers and one handyman/servant to a rich South American family. My best friends live next door to Russians who seem to have a manservant/Russian immigrant, very very poor. We suspect he is not getting paid because friends’ pool guy told him he was being exploited. Gets violently drunk, has no car. Russian owners went into 8 year bankruptcy and when the bank finally got the house and sold it on courthouse steps, the house was bought by another Russian, we think a relative. Don’t know occupation of previous Russian owner or current Russian owner.

Ask any Cuban, Venezuelan, Argentinian, Italian, Israeli, etc. in South Florida you’ll know exactly what work they did in the former country and what they do now, rich or poor. Russians? Not always knowable.

They don’t have Russian social clubs, they don’t sponsor trips to their country, they don’t advocate for other Russians, they don’t hold Russian musical or cultural events, they don’t wear Russian football jerseys, they don’t sell at the flea markets. Years of keeping out of the government’s way? Fear of talking? Dislike of America?

Very, very interesting bunch.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Nope.

Several years ago I worked with a woman from Russia who'd come here for school, married an American, and is now a citizen. But I no longer work there and have lost touch with her.

No mysterious Russians have been showing up in my life.

[MissB]

6. I only know one.

She immigrated here with her husband and young child, ended up divorcing him and marrying one of my coworkers. My coworker has traveled to Russia in the past year (her wife’s parents died so she traveled with her wife to Russia to settle the estate.)

It’s interesting to hear her wife’s perspective on Russian politics.

[democratisphere]

7. I find there is far too much Russian influence in America,

specially with our putin hand picked so-called president drumpf. I also find myself speaking English with a Russian accent and having a craving for Stolichnaya Wodka straight up.

[Raine]

8. I haven't come across any

I don't see or hear of any more of them then there always has been.