Russian culture question

[tricours.livejournal.com]

One thing that I've remarked several times when reading the blogs of Scandinavians or other westeners who've spent some time in Russia, is that they comment on how Russians don't smile. I've read lots of "I went home for the holidays and once again I was met with a smile when I went to the store to shop" etc. etc. Also one girl commented that some railroad personnel at a station where trains come in from Finland greeted her with a smile because "that's what they know westerners expect as good service". Do clerks and shop personnel in Russia not smile? As a clerk in Sweden or Norway it's practically written in your contract that "YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SMILE AT CUSTOMERS" ;)

At the same time, I met this Russian travel agent who's lived in the Caribbeans for the last 10 years and who thought service in Norway was completely awful. But perhaps he was comparing it to that of the Caribbeans, and not to the Russian one?

Comments

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

because I'm Putin. :-)
Why not? Just because I live in Russia.

[evermore-spb.livejournal.com]

Me too. And I dare say, most russians are not such stubborn xenophobs. At least I hope so.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

I guess the only xenophobe here is you, who consider people wrong just because they don't smile.
I guess you live in Moscow.

[evermore-spb.livejournal.com]

You are wrong - maybe you could look at my nick first and not judge people by their place of living? As to not smiles, I never said I consider them wrong. However, don't see the point in arguing with you.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

Of course you don't. Simply because you can't.

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

Noone can argue Putin.
Because arguing Putin is a serious crime.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

Putin is the Priest Warrior of Mother Russia! *crying with proudness*

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

*laughing through tears*

Capitalists, now you can see our the world brightest and glafulest smiles!

[tricours.livejournal.com]

Well actually... that's another thing I read everywhere, that Russians in general are very very xenophobic :/ One girl said that she got away with being a foreigner because she was blonde and very very pretty, but her foreign friends got quite some harassment. This was in the Urals, and I don't know how things differ in different regions in Russia.

[evermore-spb.livejournal.com]

Soviet past and a habit not to think did no good as it was mentioned here. Still there are people who feel very sorry for such incidents and try to change the situation...

[chantfleuri.livejournal.com]

I afraid it's so, I'm living in Moscow and I feel these xenophobic thing, especially to people with other color of skin. But not all Rusians, really.
Most highly educated and smart people don't behave thenselves in this style, doesn't matter what they think about emigre (unlegal, mostly) problem.

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

Of course we are xenophobic. Its because of greedy capitalists thirst our oil, Motherland and nuclear weapon. But they won't get anything except our bear style of nuclear kung-fu.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

tovarisch, have you calculated her disposition? We shall launch our missiles.

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

Calculating in progress, comrade. Electronic data processing machine can't work faster. Please renew reaping-hooks and hammers on them. Bucket with paint in commissary.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

Tak tochno!

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

We shall see "kak tochno".
KGB will see too.

[cranberry-babe.livejournal.com]

please hold on ! I'm writing it down :)))

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

Of couse, beautiful comrade - as you know we, Russians, can hold on longer than buddists and even tantrists.

[cranberry-babe.livejournal.com]

I know, I'm russian :)

sorry for my bad eng.)

[stella-v.livejournal.com]

There's important point of difference. Russians usually (not always, but often) don't like American culture. And we do like European one. So...

Re: sorry for my bad eng.)

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

I don't like European culture too. I don't like any culture at all.
I only like to drink vodka and eat ikra from bochka.

[not always, but often]

[stella-v.livejournal.com]

and because of it you're frightening this poor little scandinavian lady telling about terrible russian habits and traditions?)))

Re: [not always, but often]

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

I shall open her eyes wide - ladyies aren't allowed to talk in Russia! They shall "rojat detey" and bite theis husband with "skovorodka".

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

rugged siberian barbarians don't like blondes. We love shaved girls.

[max-i-moose.livejournal.com]

I would certainly not put it that way. A number of my friends and acquaintances who live in my city come from America, yet I don't seem to recall hearing about hostility towards them, nor did I notice the infamous hordes of Russian xenophobes killing all those alien to Mother Russia when we were hanging out together. That in a city which can't quite boast the title of a cultural capital.
It's true, however, that many Russians are wary of people who come from the Caucasus and, to a lesser extent, from Central Asia, but I can't say that this attitude is completely groundless - see Arabs in France.