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

[alamar.livejournal.com]

Yes, they don't generally.

Why would you smile when there's nothing particulary fun happening?

[alamar.livejournal.com]

P.S. Service doesn't relate directly to smiles.
You can get awful service with smiles and the other way around.

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

Rugged Siberian barbarians smile very seldom and only to persons they like.

[dryoldscholar.livejournal.com]

That's a "good" soviet tradition. Smiling means getting vultarable. One should prevent every possible offence with a more aggressive and repulsive mask on one's face.

[colonelrabin.livejournal.com]

This is an ever lasting general topic.

It's normal in the Russian culture to smile or laugh when something funny happens or if you really want to show your pleasure etc.
A smile is considered a true expression of a feeling or mood, not a standard courtesy sign.
The usual American "smile-of-32-teeth" can be referred to as "insincere" or "artificial" by Russians.

If a Russian doesn't smile, it doesn't meen that he or she is angry or hates you etc.

[tricours.livejournal.com]

Hm, does a smile have to have something to do with fun?

I smile at my customers to be friendly, they are shopping in my store, they're making me a favor (giving me their money). They often smile back at me, and they are in a good mood, and I guess it all has to do with that we think a customer who is treated in that way will shop more :)

I have lots of regulars, so I'm practically friends with my customers and they often ask me about my weekend and so on.

[noiseless-steps.livejournal.com]

I would prefer "smiling" service anyway. I'd love to see smiling faces when I enter a shop of a cafe or whatever=) I always smile when I greet shop-assistants or clerks... I always smile when I greet people. For me smile - is a great part of good service and of the entire life. but nowadays more and more russians... just smile)

what concerns Norway... I haven't seen lot's of smiling faces there honestly=)

and as for the Carribeans... people there are amazing, they not only smiling, they seem really happy, and I suppose they are happy) to my mind nothing can be compared to service in the Carribeans))

[noiseless-steps.livejournal.com]

well said =)

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

It's so simple. We don't smile if we don't want to.
We don't share western standart of neverending smiling without emotions because we think that its stupid, some kind of clown or puppet. To tell the truth, most russians don't like western standarts. Especially, conserning culture.
Sorry for my bad English.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

+1 :-)

[alon_68]

You cannot expect much after 70 years of supressing of the free market. Russian clerk/salesperson yet feels working for boss rather than for customers. I believe the situation is improving but it's difficult and uneven process that depends on many factors.

[tricours.livejournal.com]

It's interesting to see how different cultures are focused on different things when it comes to social interactions. ;)

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

siberian barbarians smile only to medveds with balalaykas.

[tricours.livejournal.com]

Yes I can imagine people truly ARE more happy in those places, where there's less of a stressful lifestyle and relaxing is more socially accepted. The climate surely helps as well!

[evermore-spb.livejournal.com]

How can you tell for 'most russians' so confidently?

[acuzena.livejournal.com]

I think it's a well known fact about Russia that we inherited bad service from the soviet times. Sometimes it is just a lazy person who doesn't care about customers or whatever. But speaking about Moscow I must admit that we have a good progress down here. In most stores, coffee shops and book stores the staff has began smiling and being more polite to you.
I think in some 5 years we'll have just almost the same level of service that an average European country.
As for the others I've been to, the best service was in the US and Check Republic, a regular one in France and Spain ( I mean that it differed from place to place, but was nice in general). The same "lazy facies" I've met in Turkey. Besides in Turkey the personnel of the hotel and shops always tried to fool me (charged me more, didn't give the promised discout or lied about the real qualities of a good).
The only thing that doesn't work here at all - that we don't greet bus drivers and never thank them.

[colonelrabin.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's so. One has just to know the differences. And, to be honest - in this case these differences are not so dramatic.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

nonsence.

You forgot the full phrase:

[colonelrabin.livejournal.com]

Bears wearing red shirts, playing balalaykas, drinking vodka from samovar and serving as KGB agents.

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

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

[cranberry-babe.livejournal.com]

ahahahaha :)))))))

Re: You forgot the full phrase:

[ex-rudm853.livejournal.com]

tovarisch!

[evermore-spb.livejournal.com]

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

Re: You forgot the full phrase:

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

and when they drink vodka from samovar of course

[avla.livejournal.com]

I agree 100%.

Can you imagine a jail? These people are not open-minded. They have high level of agression and distrust.
This is Russia.