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

[avla.livejournal.com]

Fuck off, fungus.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

Have you told it with a wide smile?

[avla.livejournal.com]

Certainly.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

good boy :)

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

Quite rught. I've noticed that agressive and xenophobic russians only occur near by agressive and xenophobic people. Some kind of mystic, you know...

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

Nope. I am afraid that my English is too bad to explain so I switch to Russian:
Я хотел сказать что как правило злым и глупым лдям и вокруг видятся точно такие же, как убедительно показал на своем примере наш друг avla

[oryx_and_crake]

Thank you for your contribution. However, I have to remind that the working language of this community is English. Thank you.