" is the term "совок" offensive and derogatory, or it's okay to use? " Yes, it is! Generally, the life in the USSR was not structured or restricted most of the times. I could think of some cases where the difference was noticable. First of all- international travel and generally any information or merchandise from the West. Not that it was expressly forbidden, but it was difficult to obtain. The prices for "grey imports" were astronomical. You could pay a two weeks salary for a pair of cheap jeans or even an LP of a foreign band. Education- there were no "electives" or special programs in schools. In large cities parents could get children in a school with an advanced foreign language or math studies, and that was about it. The same was in the college- you would need to make the choice during the application process and changing it later was not trivial. It also meant that your classmates in the school or college remained the same for the duration. You could not stay unemployed- it was a criminal offense. I'm not sure how exactly it worked if finding an acceptable position was difficult. The real estate transactions were difficult and semi legal. As the result, the mobility was very low. Most apartments and houses remained in the same family for generations.
Yes, it is!
Generally, the life in the USSR was not structured or restricted most of the times. I could think of some cases where the difference was noticable.
First of all- international travel and generally any information or merchandise from the West. Not that it was expressly forbidden, but it was difficult to obtain. The prices for "grey imports" were astronomical. You could pay a two weeks salary for a pair of cheap jeans or even an LP of a foreign band.
Education- there were no "electives" or special programs in schools. In large cities parents could get children in a school with an advanced foreign language or math studies, and that was about it. The same was in the college- you would need to make the choice during the application process and changing it later was not trivial. It also meant that your classmates in the school or college remained the same for the duration.
You could not stay unemployed- it was a criminal offense. I'm not sure how exactly it worked if finding an acceptable position was difficult.
The real estate transactions were difficult and semi legal. As the result, the mobility was very low. Most apartments and houses remained in the same family for generations.
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