If you have questions about Russia - come here! (Poll added!)

[Ssenkahdavic]

Just finished reading this thread (yes, all in 1 day took me awhile!) Its a fascinating read. Thank you for all the effort you have put into your answers (the OP and other members) its really been enlightening.

I actually lived with a very diverse group of guys in College (A Chinese Guy who had just moved to the US for College, a Korean-American who moved here when he was 10 and became a citizen at 18, a Russian-American who moved here when he was 12 and became a citizen at 18 and me born and bread in the USA).

Very interesting times with some great conversations. My roommate from Russia went back once I year I believe, to visit his father (staying for multiple weeks) and he absolutely loved it. I know he was trying to go back once he finished college (I unfortunately have not kept contact with him). Have to say that he was an awesome guy and all the Russian speaking guys he introduced me to (They introduced themselves as Russian but were from many different Countries in that part of the world) were great as well.

First off, I hope this thread has been good for your English training. So far so good as I think you are doing a great job of it. But I did have a question on your use of punctuation. At the end of a sentence you might do something like this:
! )))
or
)))
What does that mean exactly?

Also, one of my roommates friends told me this on the day I graduated and I have wondered what he meant since then. Its possible one of you guys might be able to shed some light on it. We were having a conversation about where we were from and our convo went something like this:

ME: "Well,where are you from?"
Him: "Belarus"
ME: "So you are Belarusian right? Isnt that the word?"
Him: "Some people are that yes, but Im Russian"
ME: "Would you rather be a Russian from Russia then?"
Him: "No, I love being from Belarus"

Unfortunately, someone interrupted our conversation and I never got to really understand what he meant. Maybe something was lost in translation? I am a North Carolinian and also an American (From the State North Carolina and from USA) could it mean something like that? Also did Russians consider themselves Soviets during Soviet USSR? One of my roommates friends called himself a Soviet and was never 100% sure what he meant.