In the country of Maghreb and habibi

When meeting a man, look at his left ear, drink tea with nuts, and look for a rose in the lake. I learned this and much more while traveling in Tunisia.

To Africa for two hundred bucks

I ended up in Tunisia by chance - at a press conference that turned into a noisy buffet, one of the owners of a network of travel agencies offered me to go to any country in the world for two hundred bucks. Of course, I agreed and the next day I was already standing at the door of his office. Sobered up and slightly taken aback, he nevertheless turned out to be a real gentleman and a man of his word. A few days later, at the Sheremetyevo-2 airport, I registered a ticket for a flight to Monastir airport. By the way, in the next window, the flight to Haifa was arranged by Efim Shifrin.

The flight was smooth and comfortable. It is worth noting that for me flying is a special adventure, I just love airplanes. Below is the beauty of the earth: the snow-white peaks of the Alps, the European coast of the Mediterranean - the Riviera with neat, white hotel buildings, the blue waters of the sea ...

The country of victorious feminism

The first thing you pay attention to upon arrival in Tunisia is the intoxicating smells of flowers: oleander, jasmine, bougainvillea. And very tall grass - that's Africa for you! I traveled all over Tunisia from south to north. One of the countries of the Maghreb - an ancient Arab conglomerate - today is a symbiosis of the European-Arab power. Before gaining independence, the French ruled in Tunisia. They left behind colonial architecture, French- the second state after Arabic - and baguettes with croissants. Islam here is not as decisive as in neighboring Algeria or Libya, the attitude towards believers is calm. There are almost no large families in Tunisia, there are two, rarely three kids in families. Tunisian men jokingly call their homeland the country of victorious feminism. Indeed, this is perhaps the only country in the Arab world where the equality of women is guaranteed by the constitution. Girls study here, women work. And the traffic police do not have the right to stop a car for a violation if it is driven by a woman.

Unlike other Islamic countries, polygamy is prohibited in Tunisia. And it's not easy for a man to get a wife. The applicant for the hand and heart must be rich enough to pay the bride price, and have a steady income, so that the girl's parents marry their daughter to him. Yes, weddings are expensive. The bride must be provided with dresses that she must change at the wedding three times: gold, silver and silk. Previously, every bride had to have robes, and they passed from mother to daughter. Today they are for rent. The rental price is about $30 per day, while the average salary is about $200 per month. As wedding gift the groom is obliged to present the bride with at least 3 kg of gold jewelry. Tunisia has the largest number of unmarried 25-30-year-old men. And same-sex relationships between men are also not uncommon.

In general, in Tunisia one gets the feeling that only young people live here. There are especially many children on the streets who feel completely independent, and young people.

man with jasmine

Having been in Tunisia, I now clearly know which of our compatriots is the most popular. When they heard that I was from Russia, local residents, demonstrating remarkable knowledge of politics, declared: “Oh, Putin!” And when they saw our blondes, they shouted: “Hello, Anna Kournikova!” But more often they called Natasha.

Having seen enough of the Tunisians in fez with bouquets of jasmine behind the ear, I asked one of them what this outfit means. He cryptically said: "Habibi" ("beloved") - and handed the flower, without explaining anything. Then a few more men on the street gave me similar gifts. Intrigued by this, I turned to our guide Sasha. He laughed: "You missed the chance to marry a Tunisian!" It turns out that this is a traditional way of getting to know each other: the guy holds out a sprig of jasmine to the girl he likes, and she herself decides whether to start a relationship. Also, by flowers, you can determine the marital status of a man. If he wears a branch with flowers behind his right ear, then he is married, behind his left - he is single. But do not be encouraged by the fact that crystal honest men live in Tunisia.

Troglodytes - the ancestors of the Slavs?

There are a lot of attractions in Tunisia: the famous Carthage, the Roman Colosseum in El Jem, the world's largest salt lake Chott el-Jerid, the unforgettable Sahara Desert, and the beautiful Atlas Mountains. And Tunisia can be called the African "dream factory". Many popular Hollywood films were filmed here. In the Serpent Canyon - tape " English patient”, in the El Jem amphitheater “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe, in the town of Matmata - the second episode of “Star Wars” by George Lucas with his famous lunar landscapes. It's hard to believe, but Lucas did not even have to build special scenery - everything was already created by nature.

The natives of Tunisia were very surprised - the Berbers inhabiting the desert regions. They call themselves Amazigh - Berbers, or barbarians, they were nicknamed by Europeans. Once upon a time it was a numerous people with ancient history, but today there are no more than 2% of them in Tunisia. Berber blood is in the veins of world football star Zinedine Zidane and French singer Edith Piaf. The Berbers still live in the Atlas Mountains, carving their homes right into the rock. Inside, everything is simple: there is no electricity, furniture and complex household appliances. The scorching daytime sun and chilly nights combine to create a comfortable temperature for living inside the neatly whitewashed cave. And you don’t have to pay for gas, electricity and land rent. But no matter how poor the Tunisian is, he goes for fresh bread three times a day! Having decided to separate from his relatives, a young Berber looks for a suitable hill in the area and digs a large hole at its top - this is a courtyard. From the pit inside the hill, passages-corridors and camera-rooms are being dug. All the premises of such a house are actually underground - hence the second, Roman, name of the Berbers - troglodytes (literally - "living underground"). According to one hypothesis, the Berbers have common roots with the Slavs. And indeed, I saw a couple of blue-eyed and fair-haired Berbers, and the language of one of the Berber tribes is similar to Old Church Slavonic.

The huge salt lake Chott el-Jerid is located in the sands of the Sahara. Surrounded by dunes, an absolutely flat surface covered with a salt crust extends for many kilometers. Water appears here only in spring and is a thick brine of various shades. The only flower that can survive in such conditions is the desert rose, a beautiful formation of gypsum and salt crystals. You can buy it as a keepsake from the Berbers or, if you're lucky, find it yourself on the lake. The flat surface of Lake Chott el Jerid is considered an ideal place for mirages.

Inga IVANOV.

INSERT: 10 things to do in Tunisia:

1. Spend the night in the underground home of the Jedi Luke Skywalker from Star Wars.

2. Drive a jeep through the sand dunes of the Sahara.

3. Find the desert rose at the Chott el Jerid salt lake.

4. Visit the gladiator's chamber at the El Jem Colosseum.

5. Stay in a Berber dwelling in Matmata.

6. View the ruins of Carthage.

7. Take a picture at the monument to Hannibal.

8. Try the famous Tibarin date liqueur...

9. ...and wonderful Tunisian green tea with pine nuts.

10. Buy excellent local olive oil.

In the photo: Fenech - a kind of fox - the national symbol of Tunisia.

This Shell gas station is featured in Lucas' Star Wars.

In a cave-dwelling of a native Berber woman.

The main means of transportation in Tunisia are dromedaries - one-humped camels.

With the onset of the summer season, most people begin to look for the best place to relax. The world's best resorts and exotic countries are especially popular. One of the best places to stay is Tunisia, where there is everything for both active and relaxing holidays. This is interesting to know for everyone: is it worth it for Russian tourists to go on vacation to Tunisia?

Why should Russians go to Tunisia?

Clear sea, white sand beaches, untouched nature and excellent climatic conditions. This is an ideal place for families with children.
Affordable prices make Tunisia popular among tourists from all over the world. In addition to a beach holiday, you can take a course of medical therapy. Tunisia is famous for its healing procedures that restore strength and energy.
Incredible excursions across the Sahara attract more and more outdoor enthusiasts. In addition, each tour is carefully crafted to meet the needs of every tourist. Here everyone can find something interesting for themselves. For example, you can visit the Roman amphitheater, olive groves, troglodyte caves and much more. You can go on a trip on camels or quad bikes.
Developed infrastructure aimed at meeting the needs of every tourist. Everyone will be able to find for themselves both a comfortable hotel and a budget housing option. Also in Tunisia there are many entertainments for both adults and children. In other words, this is a paradise on earth, where everyone can find an unforgettable vacation for themselves.
Affordable prices and excellent service make Tunisia one of the most popular destinations among tourists from all over the world, including among Russian citizens.
In addition, most tour operators offer last-minute tours every year, allowing everyone to relax and at the same time get an unforgettable vacation.

Why shouldn't Russians go to Tunisia?

Compared to Egypt, Tunisia has a low level after-sales service. It's like who's lucky. You can get an unforgettable vacation if you choose the right tourist destination, or you can be disappointed in this country. Tunisia can be divided into tourist and local residents. Areas aimed at accepting a wealthy tourist are characterized by an excellent level of service. If you choose a cheap vacation, you can meet the lack of service. It all depends on the tour operator. It is recommended to trust only leading companies with many years of experience and an impeccable reputation. This will guarantee a quality and comfortable stay.
Ambiguous attitude towards Russians. There is an opinion that Russians in Tunisia are not loved, but all because of their greed. Compared to European tourists, Russians leave less tips, and the service staff really dislikes this. Of course, not all of Tunisia is the same and you can find people who are kind to Russians. In most cases, it all depends on the tourists themselves and their attitude towards the locals.
Men in Tunisia are characterized by increased attention to women, especially from other countries. Therefore, it is not recommended for young women to travel unaccompanied to Tunisia. You don't have to worry too much about this, though. tunisian men are strongly religious and adhere to their laws. They can only be expected a large number of compliments and admiration for women.

What do tourists say?

Jenny

Tunisians are very specific, I had to work with them, I can say that they don’t treat Russians specifically badly, they simply divide all people into Tunisians, that is, first-class people, and everyone else, like “third-class”. On the other hand, if we turn to statistics, tourists do not disappear there, they do not get into accidents, they return alive and healthy.

Igor Boldyrev

Russians in Turkey have nothing to fear. The attitude towards our compatriots is even, cordial, and the sellers have not yet forgotten the language.

Tunisians are very friendly to their guests. They treated the first Russian tourists in the same way as the rest. But I will tell you this: now Russian tourists are not liked anywhere. This is the stereotype created by Russian citizens. More and more foreigners do not go where Russians rest, they are even ready to pay extra for it. Lack of culture, drunkenness, boorish behavior, and I don’t even talk about buffets - only Russians take out food.

Tunisians are friendly and welcoming people. I was alone in Hammamet at the Sentido Aziz Hotel. The hotel rested the French, British, Germans. I was alone among the Russian speakers at that time. Treat everyone equally. Outside the hotel it is quite safe at any time. Attitude in hotels in Egypt and in hotels in Tunisia is heaven and earth. True, they speak little Russian (almost nothing), but a minimum of knowledge of English, and better than French, plus international language gestures make communication accessible and enjoyable. I really liked Tunisia and Tunisians. I would like to return there.

Natalia

Russian people there are tourists, and tourists bring money with them. And therefore, there can be no negative attitude towards them, do not be afraid. Especially in tourist areas, everyone is very polite to Russians. Moreover, many graduates of Russian universities work there, so there will be no problems with the language.

nata_popova

External affection for Russian ladies, however, does not prevent the Tunisians, to put it mildly, from openly disliking our people in principle.

Tatyana

In Tunisia, Russian tourists are treated friendly. I was in Tunisia two years ago - they just periodically broke out unrest, and there were armored vehicles in the central squares of the capital. But life went on as usual. If I asked something from the locals, they always stopped and answered. There was a small problem with the language - French is more familiar to them than English, but oriental hospitality does its job and everyone tried to help. I was very surprised by the merchants in souvenir shops, who, unlike the Egyptians, are more restrained and civilized.

Irina

Ordinary Turks think differently. Some, thanks to propaganda, began to see Russia as the source of their troubles.

Elena

I want to add my review about the rest in Tunisia. Twice rested in this country in the resort area of Sousse. We were met very kindly. The administrator spoke quite tolerably in Russian. True, there were few Russians in the hotel. The Tunisians were pleasantly surprised to be greeted in French and Arabic (not hard to learn). The entire staff is very reserved. If you do not forget to thank the dinar (Tunisian currency) - you are always welcome by the staff. Tipping is given in hand. Special attention is paid to women without men. But no one will show rudeness and arrogance. This year I will go to Tunisia again. I do not feel any barrier in this country, especially knowing a little French. Be polite and considerate! Tunisia will meet you with gentle sea and generous sun!

Africa in French, Tunisia - these are white-sand beaches, the ruins of the great Carthage and healing thalassotherapy, just a 4-hour flight from Moscow. The capital of the same name accepts around the clock. More precisely accepted. Following Egypt and Turkey, or somewhere in between, Tunisia has become an undesirable holiday destination for Russian tourists.

Increasing terrorist attacks and a tense situation discipline any sensible traveler. But the article is not about how everything is bad or good. I will not remember what it was like before the situation in the world began to heat up, and why the routes of Russian travelers from exotic turn into tarnished and tired Sochi and Crimea.

Nothing personal - I love Russia with all my heart (avid travelers will probably understand me to the bone marrow), but somehow it’s not very right to move around the planet in search of new sensations, relaxation, beautiful landscapes ... in obsessive and clearly dictated directions.

The world of the traveler, the Russian tourist, has faded a bit. From freedom of movement, choice, speech, democracy, tolerance to a ban on the widest choice of countries potentially suitable for recreation. Today, you are no longer completely free to decide where to fly. Everything is dictated for you, and from all this truncated list of cheap habitual rest, you, as it were, choose your own route to the Mineralnye Vody and Sochi.

Loving your country is good and right, but what about those who have already seen enough of Sochi, satiated with the sources of the Mineralnye Vody, breathed in the Altai fresh air ...

And again it carries me - I want to write an article about the oddities of the Tunisians that will surprise any Russian traveler, but no - it’s pulling to speculate - to speak out ... Surely, the reader will be surprised - they say what do we care about Tunisian troubles, write more about Russia and the intricacies of local tourism . The answer is: curiosity has not yet been canceled, and perhaps someday my experience will be useful to you)

So - Tunisian oddities - the revelations of a Russian traveler, I share my experience. “What is good for a Tunisian, a Russian cannot understand.”

8 ODDITIES OF TUNISIANS

1 | They slurp and eat with their hands

Tunisians have no problems with appetite, while at the table they like to slurp savoryly and often forget to use appliances. Although no - they just don't need a fork. It is much nicer to use a slice of bread that you can dip into soup or pick up some salad with it. All the hottest sauces are also eaten with bread. In a restaurant, the meal begins with the waiter placing a basket of baguette and a plate of harissa and mishuia pepper salad (composed of egg, pepper and butter) on the table. Ten minutes later they bring a hot dish and drinks. Tunisians do not hesitate to drink cola or sitronado (lemon juice with sugar) with food. At the same time, they will gladly climb their bread into your plate. Friendship here truly knows no bounds!

2 |They greet in transport

In the Moscow metro, people unsuccessfully try to isolate themselves from each other: they turn to the window, close their eyes and put their headphones in, turning the music on to the maximum. In Tunisia, passengers do exactly the opposite. They love to chat in a taxi, so all passengers are sure to greet and smile at each other. Then there is a political argument or a trifling conversation about how hot it is today. Even though it was hot yesterday. And it will be hot tomorrow too.

3 |They laugh until they drop

Whatever anxieties and worries may overwhelm the head of a Tunisian, when you can laugh and have fun, he will discard other worries. Sincerely and selflessly, he will plunge into the atmosphere of the holiday at any outstanding opportunity. That's what friends are for, to forget about everything together, - this is what the native Tunisians think. If you do not want to be considered a gray mouse at a big party, join the iridescent mood of the crowd, and problems will wait at home.

4 |They love to lie

This is the way it is in this country, but Tunisians are better at making up stories than telling the truth. It is not customary here to immediately reveal all the cards. Not a single resident of Tunisia will refuse the opportunity to “embellish reality” by talking about his life to new acquaintances, especially if there are attractive people among them. It is not uncommon that even after two years of dating you do not have the opportunity to find out how everything really is there ... A person can invent a high position on the go and compose a story about a mysterious past. Ten minutes ago, your new friend seemed like a very ordinary hardworking guy, and now he has already grown in your eyes to a massage specialist, whom he studied for ten years in China, and at the same time he keeps a nice cafe nearby and sells oils abroad. A successful businessman can easily turn out to be a fruit seller in a nearby shop. You will have to debunk the myths on the spot, but be prepared not to succumb to cheap tricks.

5 |They count other people's money

Local girls and boys have one weakness - expensive things. Apartments, cars, any luxury appliances and accessories are discussed everywhere in this country. Many people like to complain that in neighboring Libya every second person drives around in a luxury foreign car, and in Algeria people are born with money in their pockets. At the same time, Tunisians often mention that their gasoline is more expensive than in other Arab countries, and it is difficult to buy a car, even a simple one. So if you own the latest iPhone or a good tablet, don't be surprised by the increased attention. They will definitely ask you for a price and, perhaps, they will look enviously: “Nice phone ...” There is a special attitude to phones here.

6 |They love to tease

Well, something, but Tunisians know how to ask, and this does not bother them at all. There are cases when young guys from Tunisia, after a week of acquaintance, managed to beg a lot of money from tourists who left for their homeland. Our ladies are so naive that they are ready to believe terrible stories about the loss of money, work, housing and generously help new friends. Tunisians skillfully use such spiritual openness and kindness and accept gifts from "rich friends" without pain in their hearts. They can use the most cruel tricks and, with the dexterity of conjurers, influence the most vulnerable points of a woman's heart. Be careful!

7 |They throw trash in the street

After the revolution and the change of government, no one here is obviously worried about cleanliness. Tunisians, without a second's hesitation, throw a bottle of juice right on the road, and after smoking a cigarette, they crush the bull with a boot. Under the government of Habib Bourguiba, who served as president for 30 years until 1987, the country had perfect discipline. Janitors cleaned the streets to a shine, as the local old people say. Everything changed quickly: today people have lost their sense of responsibility for their state, leaving only dissatisfaction and demands on the current president.

8 |They don't keep track of time

It is pointless to complain about the lack of punctuality of the people of Tunisia. If you agreed to meet with a Tunisian at 17:00, he may come at 20:30 or even forget about the event and remember you the next day. At the same time, he may not have special affairs, but perhaps he was invited to visit on the same evening and he could not refuse good people. Only a work contract will force a person to be on time, all other reservations do not work. They do not like problems with the law, but they like being free from obligations so much that the Tunisian will easily answer your indignation: “Everything is in order, there is no problem” - and smile.

They slurp and eat with their hands

They greet in transport

They laugh until they drop

They love to lie

They count other people's money

They love to tease

They throw trash in the street

They don't keep track of time

The Russian diaspora in Tunisia began to form in the 1920s at the expense of white officers, in the 1940s it was replenished by Red Army prisoners of war, and in the last two decades - by the wives of Tunisians who were educated in Russia. Alexandra Azarova told Lente.ru about her life in this African country, who has been living there for a little less than ten years, working for Moscow employers and is in no hurry to return to her homeland.

How did I get to Tunisia

My story is perhaps not typical. Unlike many women who moved to Arab countries in last years, I did not come here with my husband, but simply because I like it here.

For the first time I came to Tunisia as a tourist in 2005, when I was vacationing in the resort of Mahdia. I just graduated from high school and decided to choose a beach vacation as a gift for the defense of my diploma. I thought about Turkey, Egypt, but I was seduced by Tunisia - because of exotic Africa, the opportunity to see the Sahara and general Europeanness.

My knowledge of Tunisia then was limited only to the fact that olives are grown in this country and once filmed here " star Wars". I still vividly remember the first impression: an early arrival, sunrise from across the sea, a series of snow-white hotels along the coast, colored by the sun's rays in delicate pink tones. Humid and salty air, lush greenery, slowness, serenity.

After that, for three years in a row I spent my holidays exclusively in Tunisia, and when I was offered a job in a thalassotherapy center, I agreed without hesitation. My husband helped me to settle in the new Tunisian life, however, due to his heavy employment at work, I had to settle in everyday life on my own.

New difficulties

It's not easy when you don't know where to go to buy meat; how to explain what you need; what time will fresh bread be baked and how to convince a taxi driver that you are not a tourist with "full pockets of currency", but a local resident and prefer to ride at a rate for your own.

There were, of course, some funny stories too. For example, I couldn’t learn to distinguish between sweet and hot peppers by sight, and I didn’t know how to say “mild” yet. Therefore, in an ordinary vegetable salad, which I tried to create from improvised products, a fire often broke out. Once, by mistake, I almost went into the men's toilet at the bus station - instead of the usual silhouette signs, there were Arabic inscriptions on the door. Fortunately, some Tunisian saved me, who at the last moment managed to grab me by the shoulder and direct me to the right door.

By the way, I learned to read by road signs. By the nature of my companion's activity, I almost daily went on excursions with him throughout the country, and all signs in Tunisia are duplicated in two languages - Arabic and French. And so I compared the letters in the names of cities, gradually learning to put words out of them. It also helped a lot that I studied Hebrew at the institute, and this language belongs to the same language family, Semitic, as Arabic, so there general system grammar, word formation and a lot of similar pronunciation.

Soon I got a job in the Tunisian branch of one of the Russian travel companies. She worked as a booking manager, then as a hotel representative. Along the way, I had to move, and I managed to live in Mahdia, Sousse, Hammamet. All this time I worked remotely as an English translator and copywriter. In 2011, I started working remotely for an online travel portal. I write an expert column on Tunisia, answer readers' questions and periodically update information about the country. This freelance job allowed me to get Moscow incomes combined with Tunisian expenses, literally from the couch. In addition, I work as a guide, and still continue to translate from English and French - I already learned it in Tunisia.

The Russians appeared in Tunisia at the end of 1920, when about four dozen ships of the Black Sea squadron with six thousand people on board moored to the shores of Bizerte, a city 70 kilometers from the capital of the country, where the naval base of France was located. By 1930, France had sold Russian ships, and people from Russian Empire remained. In 1937, the first Orthodox church in the country was erected in Bizerte with the money of the community; in 1956, another church was built in the capital. In an African country, they took root with difficulty. Russians were hired as farm laborers, worked in agriculture, construction, and participated in public works.

“If you are traveling around Tunisia and you see tents in some desert area, then it is better, when approaching these tents, to know a few words in Russian, since most likely it will be Russian there. They adapt to everything, ”said one of the French reference books of that time.

Local customs and nostalgia for the homeland

There is a saying that "a person is born tired and lives to rest" - life in Tunisia flows that way. The Tunisian people are categorically not a worker - in the summer they work here until two in the afternoon with two days off a week, and throughout the rest of the year they are late for work, have a tasteful lunch at a two-hour break and rush to leave workplace early. This way of life, of course, affects me, but I still try not to sit back in my free time, but to devote it to pleasant and useful activities.

The difference in Moscow salaries and Tunisian expenses allows you to do whatever your heart desires here. I go to the gym (subscription is 1.5 thousand rubles a month), I have personal trainer(150 rubles per lesson), I study Spanish at the Cervantes Institute (nine thousand rubles per course against Moscow 28) and plan to take up music in the new academic year. In general, for students foreign languages this is a fertile country - a former French protectorate, in the capital there are Spanish and Italian cultural institutions, the British Council, as well as countless schools of classical and Tunisian Arabic.

I am an introvert by nature, I don’t go to any meetings of the Russian diaspora in Tunisia. I communicate with a good friend, a Russian woman, I have a close Tunisian friend, in Moscow - my mother and several friends, and this is enough for me. All my communication with the diaspora is limited to trips to the embassy for a new passport and common phrases that we exchange on excursions. There are also Russian satellite channels here, but I don't watch them.

I don't miss Russia. There are e-books in Russian on the Internet, you can always cook borscht (in Tunisia there are all the products necessary for this), talk with friends on Skype, and learn the news from tourists.

Once a year I come to Moscow for a month and a half, visit museums and exhibitions, buy books and visit friends. What is missing in Tunisia is Russian products: buckwheat, herring, pickles, Borodino bread.

The local Arab population perceived the Russians as completely alien, but they gradually got used to it, their alertness disappeared. The Arabs nicknamed the Russians "le ruses blanc" (les russes blanсs). In Tunisia, they still say so today, although few people remember the origin of this definition.

The emigrant newspaper Russkaya Mysl wrote: “It should be noted that very quickly after their appearance in Tunisia, Russian emigrants won the most friendly attitude from the native population and are still highly respected in the country.”

The second wave of Russian emigrants appeared in Tunisia during the Second World War, when the country was captured by fascist troops. In 1942-1943, several thousand Soviet prisoners of war were transferred here for road and fortification work. After the Allied forces finally defeated the Nazis in northern Africa in May 1943, some of the surviving Soviet soldiers decided to stay in Tunisia.

In the post-war years, the Russian colony in Tunisia was reduced. Many took French citizenship, and when the country gained independence in 1956, most of Russians hastened to Europe.

How to get settled in a foreign country

It seems to me that when moving to another country, optimism and interest in the world around you are required, and a sense of humor, of course, helps a lot.

When you suddenly plunge into an unfamiliar life, you discover a lot of things that seem unusual, alien, sometimes even frightening. If you do not find common values with new neighbors, it can knock the ground out from under your feet - you don’t know what to grab onto, how to build communication. From the very beginning, I decided for myself that it is important to pay attention to what unites us: we all get upset when we get sick or cannot find a job, rejoice at the success of our children in school, help those in need and congratulate the newlyweds. It serves as a kind of bridge between cultures.

Of course, I feel responsible for my behavior here as a representative of the Russian world. In Arab society, restraint is valued, and I am quite quick-tempered. You have to be very careful with yourself. It's nice when someone later says that I'm calm, and the other picks up: "Yes, all Russians are like that." Tunisians are an open people, accepting everything new. There were Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Spaniards, Turks, French, and everyone brought their own culture. There are absolutely no religious conflicts in Tunisia - there are many Catholics, an ancient Jewish community, there are Berbers who have preserved traditional beliefs. All this helps to feel like a citizen of the world - you are free, friendly, happy and welcome everywhere.

The last wave of emigration, which began in the 1990s, is associated primarily with "Russian wives" who married Tunisian graduates of Soviet and Russian universities. Many of them got jobs in the field of tourism, as guides or representatives of travel agencies. In the capital, you can find Russians among teachers in schools and doctors. In total, there are about three thousand Russian-speaking residents in Tunisia now.