The most common stereotypes about Russia I have met a person from Germany today, he works as a volunteer helping to teach children with disabilities in Russia. He has been here for 3 months and he is still going to stay in Russia untill August 2018. He shared with us that when he was asked by his friends which country he chose to work they got worried about him. Their fears were the existing communism, drank people anywhere because of vodka and the bears just goofing around on a street. I have already heard about these stereotypes several times from different people. On the one side is funny, but on the other hand I want to make people who plan on visiting Russia sure that it is not true. We have not had the communism since 1991, we have some problems with alcoholism among men mostly, but it is not so bad as people think about it and eventually I have been living in Russia since my birthday and I have never seen a bear. So I live in Saint-Petersburg and I can assure you that it is quite safe to travel in Russia. Please check my note!