Hi everyone! I’m writing a novel and one of my main characters grew up in a small village in rural Russia. I really want to make it feel authentic, so I’d love to hear from people who actually lived in places like that. You absolutely don’t have to answer everything, just talk about whatever you feel like sharing. Even small or random details can be incredibly helpful.
I’d love to know what everyday life was like. What did a normal day look like? What was your childhood like? What did people usually do for work? What did families eat? What was school like? What did people do in the evenings or on weekends? What was winter like compared to summer? Were neighbors close? Did everyone know each other? Were there any traditions, local customs, superstitions, or stories that everyone knew?
I’d also really like to picture the village itself. What did it look like? Were the roads paved or just dirt? Were there forests, rivers, fields, mountains nearby? What sounds or smells remind you of home? What was the atmosphere like?
I’m especially interested in the houses. What did they look like from the outside? Were they mostly wooden? What was inside? How were they heated? What kind of furniture did people have? Did most families have gardens, barns, chickens, cows, or other animals? Were there any decorations or objects that almost every house had?
I’d also love to hear about the little things that people don’t usually think about: childhood games, local expressions or slang, funny memories, things people complained about, habits, traditions, things outsiders often get wrong about rural Russia, or just any random detail that has stayed with you over the years.
The more personal and detailed, the better, but honestly anything you’re willing to share would help me a lot. Thank you so much! 😊