We love living and serving in Russia. It is really so interesting to live in a country with such a rich tradition, whether it be the age and architecture of the buildings, the fact that this culture has changed and adapted for so many centuries, the food, the people, the language, I could go on.
Politics, now that's something that I don't really know much about and is a topic to be avoided.
I'm just not an expert... even though I teach in the International Relations department.
There are some laws that have really adversely affected us (Russian ban on adoption by Americans).
But there have been some good ones too.
As of yesterday. There is a beginning to smoking reform in Russia! 40% of Russians are smokers according to this article, and the affects smoking has on the Russian population (including a declining population growth) are astounding. I'm actually happy to see that the government is doing something for the people and not to the people. Now, for smokers, I'm sure it feels like their rights are being infringed upon. If there was a ban on coca-cola or sweet chai or the internet... I'd be up in arms. Or a ban on too much sugar or overeating, but I'm glad to see that something that is known to cause cancer, emphysema, and other illnesses is being curtailed.
I've had a problem with smoking since I was a child and it affected my life so profoundly when my mother died from complications from cancer. My father has also been visited by cancer. I know that cigarettes and smoking are not the only causes for cancer, but they are A cause.
http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-smoking-law/1673346.html
