Happy Americans and Angry Russians - on cultural differences
So last night, I was coming back from Devon Market grocery store, waiting for the bus with two Russian ladies in their late 50s/early 60s. Once I revealed myself as a Russian, the conversation quickly turned to cultural assimilation and how - in the two women's opinion - there is some innate Russianess, the indominable Russian spirit, if you will, that survives no matter how long you are in the country. Provided you came to United States when you weren't, like, four.
And soon, the conversation turned to cultural differences.
"You know, everybody always says 'Americans this, Americans that,'" the red-haired woman said. "Americans aren't bad. They are just different."
"Sure," I offered. "There are differences in culture, a different worldview."
"Exactly!" the red-haired woman exclaimed. "They shout across you from the street - 'Hi, how you are you doning, so nice to see you!' even if they only met you once."
"And that constant smiling," her dark-haired friend added. "Took me years to get used to that."
"At least it's better then all the swearing," the redhead said.
And I couldn't help but think of how, when I went to Russia with tweelore, sometime during our second day in the country, she said "Everybody looks so angry. Why does everybody look so angry?"
And soon, the conversation turned to cultural differences.
"You know, everybody always says 'Americans this, Americans that,'" the red-haired woman said. "Americans aren't bad. They are just different."
"Sure," I offered. "There are differences in culture, a different worldview."
"Exactly!" the red-haired woman exclaimed. "They shout across you from the street - 'Hi, how you are you doning, so nice to see you!' even if they only met you once."
"And that constant smiling," her dark-haired friend added. "Took me years to get used to that."
"At least it's better then all the swearing," the redhead said.
And I couldn't help but think of how, when I went to Russia with tweelore, sometime during our second day in the country, she said "Everybody looks so angry. Why does everybody look so angry?"