Happy Americans and Angry Russians - on cultural differences

[strannik01]

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,

Comments

[benicek]

Britain is a pretty angry looking place too. But we're quite funny really.

[strannik01]

It isn't so much that Russians (or Brits) are naturally angry. It's about what sort of behavior is considered "normal" in any given culture. In America, being cheerful and outgoing means that you are friendly, and welcoming. In Russia, on the other hand, smiling too much and being too friendly is a sign of immaturity. If you want to show respect, you must act seriously. And your culture must have its own inherent assumptions about what is and isn't proper.

It's the sort of thing you don't usually think about. The customs and mores who grow up with become the default way of doing things and, thus, the right way of doing things. Which is why incidents like this fascinate me. Lore made me see Russian culture in a whole new way, and these ladies reminded me just how different American culture looks to Russians.

[hettie_lz]

:)))