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

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Servive is improving, say you. There is nothing more dusgusting than a Russian sales manager who darts at you as soon as you enter the premise, saying the most terrible thing on planet Earth:
- Вам шо-та падсказаать? :)
("shall I suggest something to you" -- pronounced with bad Southern accent :))))

[acuzena.livejournal.com]

I usually say "no, thank you", smile and that's enough. I don't think it's a problem, in my opinion it's still better than ignoring you in a premise.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

That's what I do, too, but only when I can keep myself from smacking him in the middle with my balalaika.

[vakhitov.livejournal.com]

Ouch. I hate this too. But a smile IMO never hurts. I think that where the sincerity of the smile really matters is with one's friends, relations etc. - not with shop clerks...

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

I deeply believe that, after all, this -- i.e. in our private life -- is where the smile properly belongs :)
BTW most New Yorkers rarely smile in public, when not in direct social contact. That's why, of all American cities I visited (and I visited plenty,) New York was, and still is, the place I feel myself the most at home when in the U.S.