Jan:

I really can't answer your question. While we were driving to the various stops, I just looked out the window. I saw working people in office clothes and factory dress. I saw old women selling produce from cardboard boxes in the morning. I saw 20-something women in what I would call "almost" western fashion. I saw men either moving quickly to go somewhere or just standing around. I saw a lot of smoking.

My comments were based on an impression. I have no facts to support any conclussion. But even if they have a MacDonald's (which they do), it just ain't America.
May I suggest that you (ie. anyone reading this) thank whatever power that you may believe in that you were born where you were. (And I do not mean only America. It is a big world and there are so many wonderful countries in which to live... I'm just not sure that Russia is one of them as yet.)

Doug