According to the following article, «Развитию России мешают пять проблем» [The development of Russia is hindered by five problems], the Russian economy will become the sixth largest in the world by the end of this year. This optimistic opinion was shared with the public on the international economics forum during past week by Russia’s first vice-premier Игорь Шувалов [Igor Shuvalov]. But in order for this to happen, Russia must fight five problems, he says, and these are:

«Проблема первая – мы страдаем психологией догоняющего.» [The first problem – we are suffering from the psychology of someone trying to catch up.]

«Вторая – энергетическая западня.» [The second – the energetic trap.]

«Третья – отстающие навыки.» [The third – skills that are lagging behind.]

«Четвёртая – нездоровый образ жизни.» [The fourth – unhealthy way of life.]

«Пятая – стремление государства к росту своего влияния и стремление многих заставить государство влиять.» [The fifth – the aspiration of the state to the increase of its influence and the aspiration of many to make the state influence.]

Couldn’t have said it better myself – especially number 4, even though it seems like Russia is smoking less now than it did when I arrived four years ago. (But that could be just due to me smoking my last cigarette in August 2007…) By the way, today I scored second place in a Poetry Slam in Russian at my university (I’m an eternal runner-up, by the way, it’s my spot in life it seems…) – I read «Одиночество» [“Loneliness”] by Иван Алексеевич Бунин [Ivan Alsekseyevich Bunin]. For those not informed (and I got to admit that six months ago I was among those) the first Russian winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature was more than just the master of short stories, but also a brilliant poet.