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You never arrived! But you will not be able to slip on a new persona. You will always be an immigrant; a Russian immigrant.
Creating drama over the fact that someone has close ties to his roots and keeps some traditions and the language and whose political views may not be yours is your decision.
Keeping your native language, traditions and family from your children will come to haunt you. What the father tried to forget the grandson tries to remember.
Hate takes a lot of your soul. If you cannot deal with a remote coworker get a new job.
There are 2 approaches, both have their merits and drawbacks.
1) Good peace is better than a bad fight. So, keep on avoiding any talks about it.
2) A good fight is better than bad peace. Just say that you're not interested and don't support Russia at all. Insult him and let him deal with it. He also has to work with you, but he will be more careful after that on bringing any of the undesired topics.
Be direct with him and tell him not to bring up anything Russian. You can say it in a tactful way: “Let’s focus on work. I left Russia X years ago and am here to work.”
I understand where you’re coming from; I lived in Europe and hated it when people would speak English to me.
I never met my Grandparents, I had no idea that my Father could speak fluent German until years after his death. I was 10 when he died. I wish he would have taught me to speak German. Having multiple languages is a wonderful thing and good for the brain. Your children are probably grown by now, so it's irrelevant about you teaching them the language. I will guess that events happened, probably horrendous events, to leave you with such distaste for Russia.
I think it's good that you have embraced your adoptive country. Better than missing your old one. As for your work associate, could you tell him that you are grateful to have become a Canadian and that you no longer have any interest in anything Russian? That you have no love or fond memories of Russia? If he asks why, calmly , because calm is important, say it's personal and you will not discuss it.
I am pro Ukraine, but I don't hate the people of Russia, as in I don't lump them all together.
OP, not to be picky, but...since when is Russian (Orthodox) Christmas celebrated on Jan 13? Why the 13th? Here in the US, it's always been on January 7. You can go to the churches and see. I assume it's the same Canada....?
I never met my Grandparents, I had no idea that my Father could speak fluent German until years after his death. I was 10 when he died. I wish he would have taught me to speak German. Having multiple languages is a wonderful thing and good for the brain. Your children are probably grown by now, so it's irrelevant about you teaching them the language. I will guess that events happened, probably horrendous events, to leave you with such distaste for Russia.
I think it's good that you have embraced your adoptive country. Better than missing your old one. As for your work associate, could you tell him that you are grateful to have become a Canadian and that you no longer have any interest in anything Russian? That you have no love or fond memories of Russia? If he asks why, calmly , because calm is important, say it's personal and you will not discuss it.
I am pro Ukraine, but I don't hate the people of Russia, as in I don't lump them all together.
It teaches you, that there are many different ways of looking at life, reality, different phenomena. Your mind becomes more flexible, and can naturally balance multiple viewpoints and worldviews. It's enriching.
It teaches you, that there are many different ways of looking at life, reality, different phenomena. Your mind becomes more flexible, and can naturally balance multiple viewpoints and worldviews. It's enriching.
In case it is a stone into my direction... I am trilingual (Ru-En-Fr- 1/2 Ukrainian). I should be laughing at monolingual (or 1.5-lingual) people here teaching me the value of "flexibility" and "multiple viewpoints", but I will let it pass. My kids are bilingual, as well.
OP, not to be picky, but...since when is Russian (Orthodox) Christmas celebrated on Jan 13? Why the 13th? Here in the US, it's always been on January 7. You can go to the churches and see. I assume it's the same Canada....?
Yes, on the 7th... see, I don't really care anymore
Good for you. If only more people were like you. Too many people come here expecting the US to change for them. Awful.
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It teaches you, that there are many different ways of looking at life, reality, different phenomena. Your mind becomes more flexible, and can naturally balance multiple viewpoints and worldviews. It's enriching.