Russian in the US. My Culture Shock. Guns, Food and more. 

Don't worry about gun violence, riding a motorcycle without a motorcycle helmet and body suit is much more dangerous. Invest in both as quickly as you can afford, and don't skimp on quality!

Zack, as an old motorcycle rider I have to tell you, you really need to get an approved helmet, and also jacket and trousers to protect your body if you fall.

Omg Zach! I’ve been riding a motorcycle since I turned 21. It’s been 8 years. Pro tip, protect yourself. Get a helmet and some gloves. And enjoy your newfound freedom, open road and ride safely!

Zack, in America, if you can't finish a meal, because of the portion sizes, you can always ask for a "doggie bag" to take what you can't finish home. I frequently can get two meals out of one restaurant dinner by doing that. It's not frowned upon, and it saves money and eating too much at one meal. Rachel is right, please get a helmet. You can recover from many injuries, but if your brain is injured, not so much.

welcome to America Zack. Please know that the country is huge and not everyone lives in a house. there's many of us that do live in apartments but you are right that many of our towns and cities are not pedestrian friendly which is why you had to get the bike but please, as soon as possible, get a helmet to protect yourself while riding it. It's so important because if you do get into an accident, it can help you from having a very serious and fatal injury and no one wants that. So please be safe and enjoy your time here :)

The problem with the conventional wisdom of "US = individualistic, USSR = collectivist" is that in the USSR you are forced to be part of collective, while in the US you are both free to be all by yourself or to associate with others. By not forcing everyone to be the same colletive, people actually bond stronger as the community is formed voluntarily

WEAR A HELMET!!! I’ve had motorcycles most of my life but I’m also a doctor. What a shame it would be if you came all the way to the US and got your head smashed in an accident. Especially as a new rider, you absolutely have to wear a helmet.

Enjoy you life Zahar in our great country. You will have some cultural shock initially as we all do initially. We are also from the south. We are living in south of Florida for the last 33 years. We immigrated from USSR in 1990, and it was the best decision ever. America is a great country, with a great people. We need a better politicians in America. One thing I have to say about America. No one or nation is perfect, but for 247 years, the United States has been a beacon to the world. God bless America and American people!

Shocked! First that your 6’3” Second that the laws will let you ride a huge motorcycle but not a car. Third. Get a helmet. Other than that. Have fun. Watch your surroundings. Always assume people are out to hit you (cuz they’re unaware not intentional).

I bought my first bike at 15. Be careful, they are fun but dangerous. Like everyone says, wear a helmet. Enjoy Amrica's good parts. Ignore the bad stuff. Most importantly, have fun.

14:36 -- If you are served too much food by a restaurant, eat only as much as you want and then ask for a "doggie bag" so that you can take the remainder of the meal home and eat it later at your convenience. I have eaten the same restaurant meal two or three times.

Nice to see you again Zach. I’m glad you’re out of Russia. I’m an immigrant myself and I’m happy here overall. USA is not a perfect country but I like the freedom. I value my work and I respect the rights of other people. I now have a town house here in California and I’m almost done paying for it. Good luck and God bless you.

Zack~I love hearing your impressions of this country. As a retired RN, please please invest in a good helmet?! We call those “donor cycles” in the ICU. Said with love ❤

I'm with you on the SAD (standard American diet). You need to stay away from highly processed foods and sugar, stick with whole foods. Be careful on the bike. Once you're able to get a car sell the bike.

So very happy for you, Zack. Welcome to America. I hope you live your dreams to their fullest!

Peace in Ukraine and freedom in Russia. Again, amazing video! Thank you, Zack!

Enjoy America Zack! Its a big country, lots of different areas and sub-cultures to experience, do it!

Zack, you don't notice it but you are getting an American accent. I'm American (from South Carolina) and I can hear your accent changing. You are definitely getting an American accent! Hope you are doing well!

Another one joins the club! Yea, lived in Poland before which is wildly rusophobic and when I was running away from that to America, I was still expecting same crap here. NOPE. People are very nice and friendly! That was a relief! America is very very far from being perfect and there are things here that make me die inside on a daily basis but it's also better than any place I lived in before and there are things here I'm very grateful for on a daily basis too. You'll probably feel this way as well as time goes by... Glad you're here!

Glad to hear your perspectives. Very interesting and honest reactions. As for the big portions of food served in restaurants, you can always ask for a take home box. That is what I do since I often cannot eat all of what is served and I don't like wasting food.

Enjoy your life here Zach. You deserve it. Stay a decent person out there in this dark time! Best wishes

“The US is not a pedestrian-friendly country.” That’s an understatement for sure. Hopefully you do a meet up in Seattle.

I am so excited for you to experience Thanksgiving! It brings America together because it's a non-denominational holiday of gratitude, family, and lots of food! Don't try to eat everything. It won't go to waste. We freeze it for later!

I am glad you mentioned Culture Shock. I am 77 and I have "reverse culture shock?" Let me explain, it will be hard to understand. I live in idaho, out west. My dad gave me a 22 rifle when I was 8. We hunted together as father and son. By 11 or 12, my friends and I would go shooting cans or whatever. A box of 50 shells was about 40 cents back in the day, and I learned to shoot well. We had no military guns, but you could buy an old WW2 gun from magazines for little money, like 10 or 20 dollars. Even kids respected guns, and would never threaten anyone with a weapon. If I knew when I was young, that in my lifetime I would see mass shooting, I simply would have never believed it. It shocks me to think that people just shoot other people for entertainment, it is so crazy. But here in the west, almost every one owns a weapon, and some people legally carry weapons on their person all the time. It is so different now in America than it was in the 1950s when I was a child. I never worried at school and we had no police in school, school was a safe place. Americans struggle with freedoms, now. In some ways it is too free, but we don't dare lose our freedom for fear that we may become an authoritarian state, and we will never do that, Zack.

Go,Zack! you are intuitive and smart and will adjust quickly.

So glad you're enjoying it here, Zack! Yes, overall we Americans eat too much and have lots of unhealthy food, but you'll find there is great variability by region. Where I live in Southern California, there are many people who eat really healthy and stay incredibly active and fit. We even have bread that my visiting European friends love! Very different here from the American South, where I have also lived. If you come to Southern CA and need a place to stay, let me know. We can take you sailing. Cheers. And Slava Ukraini. 🇺🇸☀

Nice bike, Zak. As someone who used to ride them, when I was young and foolish (now I'm no longer the first), imho: get a decent helmet, and take extra care riding when you are either tired, or running late, or mentally distracted, or emotional. Also on wet roads. The risk is not merely that _you_ may make a mistake. It's also that you are better protected against becoming a victim of _other road users' mistakes_ , when you are alert and wearing a good helmet. Human skull is fine for withstanding most collisions, up to about 20mph.

Very interesting perspective about American culture being more community focused than the stereotypical idea of American individualism that is so separated. De Toqueville, a French nobleman who wrote a classic about American life in the early 1800's thought that American religion because it was not state supported created a strong sense of community. It is still considered to be a very insightful book about American distinctiveness. I hope that you enjoy Seattle and can come to the Olympic peninsula to see the wilderness where I live. It is a magnificent place with verdant coniferous forests, glaciated mountains, and azure bays. Abundant wild life too. Bears, cougars, coyotes and deer.

I'm so happy for you that you are settling into your new life in the US. I remember last year seeing your video of the Russian police chasing you and that awful insanity. It was so scary and you seemed understandably sad in many of your videos around that time. Its good to see you happier now and of course the donuts help!!!

The USA is and amazing and often misunderstood place ! It is imperfect yet magnificent in so many ways. Having people like you here, makes it a better place !

I am glad you are settling in and overall enjoying life in the US. The bike is very cool. I agree with others that you need a helmet. I would, as an ex-bike rider, add that you need proper motorcycle gloves and boots. De-gloving injuries to limbs are a risk with coming off a bike at speed and usually result in amputations. Enjoy the bike safely.

I saw your video from early early about you leaving Russia because of political events... can I just say your English accent has approved SO much! 🥰 It was always very good, but it's really cool to see your video from 1.5 years ago and now. Great job my friend! Regarding the video, people abroad have very strong opinions about our culture and life (honestly usually ignorant because they think the TV/movies we produce about ourselves reflect our culture and life), but please keep an open mind: you'll find that the US is diverse in thought, opinions, politics, culture, education levels, etc. And huge. Absurdly huge. Regardless, welcome! 🥰

make sure to wear glasses while riding. most states this is a law plus it's just a good idea to protect your eyes.

As a Canadian, thank you for mentioning us:) Also, I can kind of relate with the cultural shocks, fist time I went to Austria, I was shocked that you could take a train almost anywhere, and didn’t need a car. And the food is so much healthier and better quality than canada. Seeing you with the donuts was a classic North American moment😅 Fun fact: canada consumes the most amount of donuts per person, we love them 🍩🇨🇦

Pro tip: When you eat out, get leftovers boxed up. You can eat for another 2 to 4 days. It helps that I have an ice chest in my car, and don't go out without putting some blue ice packs in there, but if you can get it home quickly anyway, it can go in the refrigerator. AND GET A FRIGGIN HELMET!!

Those motorcycles come quieter when new but people take the factory mufflers off and put on the noisy ones. You can probably find some quieter mufflers for it. Besides eating too much , Americans seem to like to make a lot of noise as well as being obsessed with the green lawns ( they put lots of chemicals on them that wash out into the water). Have fun and enjoy the nice weather you have there !

I am worried your bike is going to be stolen, it looks so nice! Talk to insurance agents and have the bike appraised. You won't get much from a cheap insurance policy, nothing close to replacement value.

Subtle ways to make Americans very uneasy or angry: 1. *Get in their personal space or touch them...especially men.* 2. *Talk about guns, abortion, or other highly charged politics.* 3. *Drive in the left hand lane when on the freeway other than to pass.* Other than those 3 things, you can do anything you want here.

Very happy to see you're thriving Zack. Definitely get a helmet for your bike!

Zach I'm an experienced motorcyclist and remember to always drive defensively. Every time you get into an accident with a car, you will lose. Keep a distance from cars and you'll do fine because you're not visible to cars all the time. Be careful of getting into a blind spot because cars will often do very unexpected things. Fortunately your bike is not a crotch rocket but a mellow cruiser. It's honestly perfect for long roadtrips if you want to do any. Motorists are often really nice folks so even if you break down, motorists will usually help another motorist. Also buy protective gear. ATGATT = All the gear, all the time. Be safe man. 👍

Really nice video Zack! Just like your videos from earlier times, it was you being yourself. Enjoy every moment. I’m glad that some of your dreams have come true and hoping many more will come true in the days to come! Best wishes to you Zack!

Looking forward to you exploring the U.S. and reporting back on your experiences. Hope to see future vlogs on your excursions. Continued success for you!

Glad you are here. Can't really imagine your all your experiences. Keep doing what you're doing.

I'm glad you are having a good time. You've worked hard for it.😊❤

Glad you are doing (it seems at least) well. Keep posting, your observation are always interesting!

I visited Ukraine in 1995, which was not really long after the fall of the USSR. While in Kiev I took a walking tour of the city center and the tour guide at one point proudly announced that only 4% of Kiev's housing was still "single family homes". It was expected the remaining 4% would be soon eliminated. It was obviously part of the tour guide's "script", which dated from before the fall of the USSR.

Wow 6’3! Nice! Love your bike! Awesome! Drive safely.

Welcome brotha I’m glad your enjoying your new home!

Zach the Biker. Awesome!

America has always been smothered in guns, but these mass school shootings have only been happening for several decades, so guns aren't the problem. The millions of Americans taking prescription psychotropic drugs (which give a small number of users "suicidal or homicidal thoughts"), along with the erosion of the two-parent family are the causes. Both of these factors started plaguing America around the same time that these mass shootings began popping up. I grew up in a household with many guns, yet nobody in my family is a criminal. Why? None of us were on any drugs, and we were a strong two-parent family. Don't get brainwashed by the leftist mainstream media. They have a radical anti-gun/anti-2nd amendment agenda, and they never talk about the prescription drugs factor, because pharmaceutical companies are some of their largest sponsors.

That's a sweet ride! Glad you made it to the US. You seem so much happier! Your English is noticeably better than three months ago.

Zack, I hope you really enjoy your time in South Carolina. I grew up in South Carolina and spent many summers at Myrtle Beach and a year there after I graduated university. One of my fondest memories is walking along the beach at midnight on New Year's Eve, with a bottle a champagne. It wasn't a long walk because it was quite cold but the sky had no clouds and the moon was full. It was a beautiful night. Please enjoy - I recommend most restaurants in Murrell's Inlet if you wish to try a new place to eat seafood. But, my best recommendation is Inlet Crab House and Raw Bar. Whatever you choose, take some time to cruise south to Savannah and stop in Charleston and Beaufort along the way. You will find some really cool things to see and visit.

Wow, havent seen a vlog in ages!!

Great video, appreciate your viewpoint - I agree.

So proud of you and your content is great , Keep up the great work

I hope you are happy!!!!! Thank goodness you got out of Russia. Cheers to a new and better life!!!!!

Zack, I was raised with that "eat everything on your plate" mentality also. Although I've struggled with my weight most of my life, I've learned that I am not obligated to eat everything. You can change habits. And I'm not too proud to take home half of a restaurant meal and eat it for a later meal. That may not be cool, but it is also not wasteful. Blessings!

Welcome to the US. Enjoy your time here, study hard, and do well! Best wishes.

Love your videos. Thanks for sharing. Peace for all.

The best thing about this vlog is how you reflect on the differences in your surroundings in terms of countries and regions by giving your impressions based on your own life experiences. South Carolina is truly beautiful and looks very relaxing compared to other regions in the USA. I confess that I first thought you were joking about the motorcycle; I hope you are really careful.

Very well done. You have a great future ahead of you. Have fun.

Welcome to America Zack, I’m a US Army Cold War era Veteran, in my time we trained to fight the Soviets. Do I hate Russians? No. Do I hate Russian soldiers? No. Do I hate the Russian government? Yes, absolutely. Since my time of service I’ve met several Russians, and former Russian soldiers, and they were cool people. Even sat and drank Beer with a former Russian soldier, we talked about our time in the military and the differences between the two, and parted on a friendly basis. Don’t believe the rumors that all Americans hate non-Americans, it’s so not true, in fact America was founded and built by people who weren’t originally American. America is a “melting pot” of nationalities and cultures, that’s what makes us so great!

Maybe livestream thanksgiving in New York City for your next content. Glad that you already had a taste of the first big day of Fallzolidays (Halloween) in the United States. Next up is Thanksgiving Day. But basically I call the time from September 1 to December 31 “Fallzolidays” which is the one big holiday that starts with Halloween, then Thanksgiving and culminates into Christmas and the end of New Year’s Eve, and my favorite 4 months of the year to celebrate in the US because of this magical feeling, specially when the color of the leaves start changing.

You look like another person! Relaxed, healthy, young as you deserve to be, smily. Hope life has given you another chance. Good luck🎉🎉

I really love hearing about your perspective of our culture. Thank you. Unfortunately some of the younger generation here think we don't really have a culture, which is unfortunate to say the least. You rock, btw

Along the coast like MB, Charleston, Savannah, it's much more cosmopolitan and as you said many people have moved from Northern states to be near the ocean and warmer weather. You mostly hear the Southern twang in rural areas along the coast and when you go upstate more towards the central and Western parts of the state away from the coast. Those places tend to be more conservative as well.

Greetings from New York and welcome to America Zack!! This is a BIG country and not every place is the same. Just so you know, New York City is very pedestrian friendly. If you can make a trip to NYC, you should! Everything you can imagine, you will find here!! And some of the best food anywhere!! Talk about culture shock!! We have a population of 8.5 million people, and we are the largest and most populous city in the United States. Most people in NYC use public transportation and walking to get around. Everything you would need (food, entertainment, lodging, etc.) is within walking distance. Be safe on that motorcycle and enjoy your time here!! Subscribed!!

Hey Zack, welcome to the club! I started riding on the back of my father's Honda when I was 8, got my license and 1st motorcycle at 17 and have been riding ever since. I have 8 now. Most are in storage and I'm currently riding a 2016 MV Agusta F3RC 800 limited edition British racing replica. Your Road Star is a beast. That's a big bike to start with. Get yourself a helmet! You're lucky Myrtle Beach has a longer riding season. It'll be getting cold here in NJ soon and time to put the bike away for the winter. Liked this vlog. Looking forward to seeing where you visit with your bike. Be careful. Always be aware of your surroundings. And again, get a helmet. Good luck!

It's nice to see how free you feel. You can literally see this freedom in the way you walk.

Please, make sure you have a proper helmet and riding jacket. Motorcycles provide no protection when something inevitably goes awry.

I’ve been watching your videos for a long time and your insights are always interesting to hear. Good to know people you meet are welcoming, most are of course. Ride safe on that motorcycle particularly as the winter weather sets-in.

A Motorcycle travel blog across the US should be popular content especially since you’re a new rider. 👍

OMG, you look so much better! I've not watched in a bit but you look really healthy and happy. Congrats on the new bike! It's beautiful. Be careful listening to teenagers...they know everything! LOL. Welcome to the US and enjoy the ride.

Those of us Americans who’s grandmas grew up during the Great Depression have the same drilled in habit of finishing everything lol

I just stumbled across your video, so even though I don’t follow you, I wanna say welcome to the USA and we are so happy to have you, please make lots of awesome memories to go back home with when you do! Your bike is absolutely beautiful, I ride dirt bikes but your beast looks great! Yes teenagers here like and are encouraged to start being independent as soon as possible to ensure they can take care of themselves when their older if they want to work (if not that’s ok too) and getting a drivers lic. Is a huge life milestone that we believe every young person deserves to have ❤. When I was a teen me and my friends all wanted to work so that we could buy whatever we wanted because our parents would not or couldn’t afford it lol. We like land because the idea has always been that you can grow your own food or have a small slice of paradise that’s just yours and no one else’s.

Hi Zack it's been many yrs since I left a comment for you I think it was when you showed a tour of your home town and helped your grandma in her garden, a lifetime ago eh, but it does my Hart good to see you in USA having fun when things are not too good in Russia. Best wishes to you my friend.

5:00 _American teens have their own vehicles_ My first thought was Natasha and all the times she took the driving test. 😅

I like the bike and do get a helmet. Having different backgrounds for your videos make them more interesting!

I had to pause this video to comment, aha: you did well to purchase the motorcycle 🏍️. It is actually a dream of mine. I used to own Honda scooters and smaller bikes but I like the one you have. The U.S. is definitely car centric. Your ride will be awesome in the summer and good as long as there is no ice or snow. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

Good to see ur landed, it was a long and special trip. i wish u good luck in the US Zack.

Great to see a new video from you Zack! I noticed that your vocabulary is becoming more American, especially when Aisha was doing the camera work. Good for you! I'm glad you were able to find a transportation solution, even if it is not ideal. Part of the reason we Americans cling so hard to our cars is because we associate them with freedom and independence. For many of us, getting a car is our first "taste" of that independence. I'm guilty of this even though I know it's awful that we don't prioritize public transportation. (To be fair, I do support legislation for public transportation every opportunity I get.) Like other things in life, make sure that you have and use the necessary protection when you ride your bike! Hopefully you will be able to expand your network of local friends and acquaintances now that you can travel more easily. It's important! Travel suggestion: If you haven't done so already, visit St. Augustine, Florida. It's the oldest city in the US, along with being a college town. It's a bit touristy, but it's still a cool piece of American history. Since it's in Northeastern Florida, it's not really that far from you in Myrtle Beach (you can road trip it if you wanted to). Enjoy Seattle!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts Zack. DFWU

I've stumbled on your video, Zach, and really enjoyed it. First, you are a very intelligent and mature young man. Your observations were spot on. We're in the Seattle area! Will you be here for school or just a visit?

I'm glad you're here! Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello and welcome to the United States! I experienced quite a significant culture shock when I first arrived here, similar to your experience in the Southern region of the country. Life in the South, North, East, or West, as well as in a large city or a small city, varies so greatly that it feels like traveling to different countries within the same country. I had yet another culture shock when I relocated to the Northeast lol. By the way, I absolutely LOVE your bike!

Hi, Thanks for sharing your insights about America. I hope it helps you to vlog about your culture shock. Regarding our American problems with gun homicides, there are some large puzzle pieces you can ponder. The part you know and reference is the way the repeated headlines and actual suburban school shootings are regularly used to call for fewer AR- guns. I’m speaking casually. These are from my observations . The ongoing stalemate, as you said is that those gun owners are prepared to defend themselves in case the government becomes tyrannical a la the 2nd amendment. Ok, the part that isn’t talked about on that is maddening is that far more than 2,3, or 4 times a year, closer to every day of the year, people die by guns in poor neighborhoods whether it’s over gang disputes or personal violence. The topic that our media doesn’t like to produce tears for is when the community, the criminal, and the victim all have some shade of brown skin. A huge, daily problem is all the illegally owned handguns used for doing crimes, or inflicting personal harm day after day. It doesn’t make the national news, usually. Keeping that in mind, but never hearing it mentioned, is what makes it weird everytime a school shooting inspires, “well, we clearly need to take away your registered Semiautomatic weapons”. If the articles we read about the shootings are true, closer to the cause would be having guns in a house with teen boys; or having a teen boy who needs mental health treatment while attending high school or college; or boys who carry unsearched backpacks. I briefly read about one high school dealing with troubled kids at risk of becoming shooters and having them go through a separate entry where they talk to counselors and are searched. That’s my input. I’m old. I taught school for a few years in the 00’s including just one lockdown practice with high school students.

I'm in NC about 4hrs from Myrtle Beach! Never dreamed you would be this close to where I am. Been watching you for quite awhile.

Nice Ride Zack. Good for you! Mobility will open up so many new things. Nice haircut too! Happy to see you are doing so well here. Go to New Orleans!

You look so so so good!!! So healthy and happy looking… welcome to the 🇺🇸

Zack, I really enjoyed your video. Keep up the good work, and above all, be honest about your feelings and experiences. I hope to see more of your videos in the future!

Your alive! Keep that journalism rolling.

I Love your motorcycle. As a teenager i got my first dirt bike at 14 and later I rode motorcycles with my friends. But when I got older and had kids I gave it up. I have an electric bike now, so much fun. I ask you one thing though, wear a helmet. I’ve lost friends in motorcycle accidents who would’ve survived if they were wearing a helmet. 🙏

I've been riding motorcycles longer than you've been alive. I know in SC, only those riders under 21 have to wear a helmet when riding. For your follower's sake. Pretend you're under 21 and get a helmet and wear gloves, too. Also, you might want to clean/polish your windscreen. I don't know how you see through it! On a more positive note, glad you're visiting WA soon. Looking forward to your report on visiting the Pacific Northwet (yes, I said Northwet). The moss grows very well here.

Great to hear that you are coming to Seattle Zack. Yes, please have some type of meet up while you are here.

Im happy you feel well and happy there. You sure deserve a change for the better! ❤ Cool bike! 👍

Damn...a Biker... That made me smile 🙂 Happy to see you continue to do well. Welcome to the States.... you should invite Natasha to visit you in the States....

Hey Zack, always wear eye protection while riding. It's mandatory.

I’m glad life is treating you well these days. I appreciate that you make your own observations rather than repeating stereotypes or the conventional wisdom. It’s important for a good journalist. I’m particularly impressed that you noticed that Americans are not hyper individuals in all aspects. Team work and community are very important parts of our culture. I agree that our gun laws are insane, but I don’t worry for my personal safety or for the safety of my family anymore than I worry about dying in a car accident. Homicide rates vary a lot in the US by state, by gender, by ethnicity, by socioeconomic status, even by neighborhood. Until recently, the US actually had a homicide rate much lower than Russia, but the US has seen a big jump in homicides since 2020, while the rate in Russia has been steadily declining (according to official statistics).

Dude, love your bike. It’s like a knock off of my Harley FLSTC. Love it. Sunny side up buddy!

In terms of new videos - now you are mobile I would like to see you visit some universities that you are considering transferring too...Clemson, USC, or wherever you can go after community college and see your overall impressions. Also please get a helmet so you protect that smart brain of yours when you are out driving around...you might need it to get to uni!!!