Foreigners about the Russian soul, people and orders. East-West: what most irritates foreigners in the Russian character
Surprisingly, for many centuries, foreigners, under any regime and political system, noted the same realities of Russian life, the same traits of the Russian character. Foreigners described the unpretentiousness and endurance of the Russians, kowtowing before the authorities, and the unrighteousness of the courts. But let's start with the good...
There are no people under the sun so accustomed to a harsh life as the Russians: no cold bothers them, although they [Russian soldiers] have to spend two months in the field at a time when there are frosts and more than a yard of snow falls. A simple soldier has neither a tent nor anything else to protect his head ... What could come of these people if they were trained and trained in the order and art of civilized wars? .. I am convinced that the two best and powerful Christian sovereigns would not have been able to fight him [the Muscovite Tsar], taking into account the degree of his power, the endurance of his people, the modest lifestyle of both people and horses, and the small expenses that war causes him, for he does not pay salaries to anyone but foreigners.
Richard Chancellor, English navigator who laid the foundation for trade relations between Russia and England; was in Russia, in particular, at the court of Ivan the Terrible in 1553-1554 and 1555-1556
There you can see seventy-year-old old men who retained all their strength, with such strength in their muscular hands that they can endure work that is not at all possible for our young people. One must think that healthy air helps a lot to such good health, which is not disturbed by learning in any of them, as it is with us.
Augustin Meyerberg, Austrian diplomat, envoy of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in 1661-1663
The good-natured disposition of Russian peasants is evidenced by the fact that, having become tipsy, these people, no matter how rude they may be, soften and, instead of getting into a fight and beating each other half to death, like the drunkards of the whole world, they cry and kiss.
The painful feeling that has not left me since I have lived in Russia is intensified by the fact that everything tells me about the natural abilities of the oppressed Russian people. The thought of what he would achieve if he were free infuriates me.
The Russian people are immensely dexterous: after all, this human race, contrary to the dictates of nature, was pushed to the very pole ... The war with the elements is a severe test to which the Lord wished to subject this chosen nation in order to one day elevate it above many others.
Armed with an ax that he carries with him everywhere, he [the Russian peasant] turns into a real magician and creates in the blink of an eye any thing that cannot be found in the wilderness. He will be able to deliver to you in the middle of the desert all the benefits of civilization; he will fix your stroller; he will even find a replacement for a broken wheel... If you decide to spend the night in the forest, this master of all trades will build you a house for the night. Having placed you with all possible comfort, he himself will wrap himself in an inside-out sheepskin and lie down to sleep on the threshold of your new dwelling ... and it will never occur to him that in all fairness he himself could take a place next to you in that hut, which just built for you.
Astolf de Custine, French writer, traveler; visited Russia in 1839, during the reign of Nicholas I; it was his book about this journey - "Russia in 1839" - that brought him world fame; a convinced monarchist, he described with horror the extremes of the Russian version of autocracy, while speaking positively about the Russian people
Stereotypes are a contradictory but very tenacious thing, especially when it comes to people from other countries. Many firmly believe that all Italians are expressive and emotional, all Germans are stingy and pedantic, the British are all snobs, and the Japanese are perverts ... There is probably some truth in these judgments, but every person is unique, and you can’t judge everyone the same.
By March 8, the editors of Reedus had collected for you the opinions of foreigners about Russian women. And among them there are both pleasant and surprising and absolutely outrageous.
France, Frederic, 45 years old
“In my country, there is an opinion that Russian women, like all other representatives of Eastern Europe, are a little bit of a slave. They obey their husband in everything, do not argue, do not contradict, jump up to clear the table and serve the next dish. I don’t know how it is in other countries, but ladies from Russia are definitely not like that - proud, self-willed, with character.
Russian girls are much better versed in high technology than French women. They skillfully use numerous gadgets and applications, are always in touch and skillfully search for information. It's a paradox, but very often it is these modern beauties who have completely archaic views on some things. I heard with my own ears how young Russian women (25-27 years old) discussed “female” and “non-female” professions, and they also said that the main thing in life is to successfully marry, be a good wife and follow a man everywhere. With all this, they came to France on their own, booked the route themselves and rebooked the train tickets with a cup of coffee. They were superbly educated, smart, well-read, traveled half the world ... But these thoughts and judgments of theirs are the last century.
Girls from Russia are incredibly worried about their appearance. Very much! They increase eyelashes and hair, maniacally monitor the combination of colors in clothes. There are such ladies in France, but there are much fewer of them. The dissonance is that from people who are so concerned about their image, you expect narcissism, coldness, selfishness. But in the case of the Russians, every time you understand that you were mistaken again: they turn out to be sincere, open, warm. At the same time, it seems to me that Russian women are more anxious and less self-confident than French women. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so important for you to make a good impression.
With Russians, everything is not the same as with others, and you need to keep your eyes open, because you never know what to expect from them. You are unpredictable. You seem to have “know limits”. You are sure that “everything is possible”, and it doesn’t really matter in what area: go swimming in the lake at night, get ready for a trip in two hours, open a restaurant, get a job outside your specialty and make a brilliant career, write a book, make a film. You are constantly at a low start and always ready to wave through the barrier. But this quality has a downside. In my opinion, Russian women are less prudent than French women. If they like food, they will eat more than they need; if they come to a party, they can go overboard with alcohol. I don't understand what makes them do it.
Slavs are often attributed to melancholy, but here I agree only partially. Yes, Russian women are more worried about “where is he, what’s wrong with him, why doesn’t he call, and suddenly something happened.” French women are calmer and will not spoil their mood with something that has not yet happened. But on the other hand, Russian girls sincerely show emotions, know how to have fun from the heart and look at the world with optimism.”
Australia, Robert, 37
“Women in Russia are insanely beautiful! When I first arrived, I fell in love two or three times for every subway ride. You know exactly how to look stunning everywhere and always, but this habit has a downside. And I'm not talking about money, although I understand that beauty is expensive. I teach English and once during the lesson the word “narcissism” was discussed. I explained that this concept is negative, and "narcissist" is a person who cannot calmly pass by a single mirror and constantly checks how he looks. The student looked at me puzzled and asked: "What's wrong with that?" I was just stunned, looked at the others and saw the same question in their eyes.
I had a Russian girlfriend who was constantly fixing her hair or makeup, she lost sight of everything that was going on around her because she posted selfies on Instagram. It upset me terribly.
In sex, Russian women strive to fulfill the desires of their partner. I had to come up with new fantasies, because almost every girl asked what I dream about in order to immediately realize it. Russian women are most often confident in themselves and their physical attractiveness, because they spend a lot of time maintaining it. Sex with them is beautiful and full of enthusiasm. But, unfortunately, you can’t build relationships on sex alone.
For some reason, in Russia it is customary for a woman to clear the table. When I tried to help with the dishes at one party, I was looked at in amazement. But in Australia, absolutely everyone, regardless of gender, is engaged in household chores, just to get rid of them faster.
One day in my class, the conversation turned to gender roles. Surprisingly, most of the students vehemently defended the traditional patriarchal system. It was the girls who spoke loudest of all, and the men willingly supported them. A few brave egalitarians were quickly silenced by ladies who wanted to keep the status quo from the 1950s. I met in Russia and independent beautiful feminists with a wild, untamed, free soul. But in general, most Russian girls are subject to stereotypes that are imposed on them from early childhood.
Russian women are frank and directly say what they think - not even the most pleasant things. But they are also surprisingly generous and caring. I like that they are always ready to support you and help with advice, and in this they turn out to be amazingly insightful. I have many female friends in Russia and I hope to keep in touch when I leave.”
USA, Jeff, 29
“Russian women are magnificent - this is pure truth. One morning on the banks of the Neva in St. Petersburg, my American friend and I met two very beautiful girls - short bright dresses, high heels, chic makeup. They looked like aliens! My companion, following them with her eyes, said: “They dressed up as if they were going to a nightclub, but this is just a morning walk!” Russians are much more likely than Americans to dress beautifully. On the one hand, it takes so long that I sympathize with them. On the other hand, it is obvious that they enjoy it, so ... respect!
What struck me was the absolute indifference of your women to feminism. Many smart, educated, strong-willed Russian women consider feminism to be some kind of stupidity. I, like most Americans, consider the feminist system of views and values normal and obvious, so I have a hard time in Russia.
Russian girls are very modern and at the same time very conservative. You are able to run companies and solve a lot of issues at the same time, but when my friend says something like “I’m a typical woman: I drive like an idiot” or “I’m just a stupid girl”, I want to take her by the shoulders, shake her and say: “Never don’t say that, you’re smart!“.
It's hard not to fall in love with Russian women for their generosity, kindness and attention to others. Whether it's a grandmother, scolding you for the lack of a hat in the cold; or an official making an effort to help with your problem; or girlfriends who manually make gifts and beautiful cards for you. I tell them that they don't have to take the time to make all these beautiful things, but my heart melts every time. All Russian women with whom I communicate at work, at home, in stores, make me happier. They are not only sweet and caring, but also heartbreakingly good-looking. Sometimes I even feel like an energy vampire.
In many ways, Russians are more straightforward than Americans, and that's usually great. But when it comes to sex and relationships, most begin to speak in riddles and expect miracles of deduction from a man. Sometimes I get the impression that I was inside a Russian drama, where asking a young lady to dance or help with English suddenly means that I am in love with her and want a family and children, although I just wanted to be kind. I made a lot of stupid mistakes, not understanding what the girl really wants from me.
Russian women are very generous in sex. But their conservatism shows up here too. Blowjob is included in the obligatory sexual program of the night, but at the same time, half of the girls are extremely surprised, and sometimes scared, if I suggest doing cunnilingus. I always try to be attentive to my partner and take care of her pleasure. But with some sex turns into a show for me alone. Once I asked a girl in bed: “Do you want me to help you achieve an orgasm?” - this is after I finished myself, but she obviously did not, because she was too carried away by incredible acrobatics. And she answered me: "Stupid question." OK. I took it as 'No, but thanks'. It was a fiasco."
Italy, Cataldo, 39 years old
“Russian girls are too fond of intimate haircuts. They shave everything clean. For what? It's completely unnatural."
United Kingdom, Jason, 31
“Russian girls worry too much about little things. I understand that the 90s were difficult in Russia, but not at all in England, we had different childhoods, hence the problems. I am a spender, and my Russian wife is extremely frugal, and sometimes we argue about this. But that time has passed, and I think it's time for you to stop worrying about it."
Switzerland, Lucas, 31
“The average Russian woman is more savvy in matters of fashion - both women's and men's. In sex, Russian girls are more passionate. And I also heard that there are two categories of Russian women. The first are rich, spoiled sex dolls who have not worked a day and are burning their parents' money. The second - unprincipled, cold as a stone, ready to sweep away everything on the way to their goal. I have not met the first, but I really believe in the existence of the second.
In general, after talking with representatives of the United States, I realized that the citizens of this vast state have a very approximate, and sometimes completely erroneous idea of what is happening in our country.
What do Americans think of Russians? Well, I would say that in general they think about the inhabitants of our state no more than about any other nation in the world. Although, of course, it should be noted that Russia, due to the scale of its territories, has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years.
Section 1. What do Americans think of Russians. Where we live
For the most part, US residents believe that we all live in a huge, politically and economically powerful country. In addition, our military power may well be considered a matter of pride.
However, in their erroneous opinion and geographical illiteracy, it is a huge refrigerator, in which it is not just cold, but terribly cold. And, in general, Americans believe that the words "Siberia" and "Russia" are simply synonymous.
Further, it is even more interesting: ask one of them to name several Russian cities. I am almost sure that in response you will hear: Moscow, St. Petersburg, well, maybe even Kazan and Kaliningrad. Although, probably, there is nothing to be surprised at, because now it is only necessary to leave the boundaries of large cities, as even we get the feeling that civilization, and with it high-quality roads, street lighting and common areas, are simply ending.
How surprised they really are when, having finally visited Moscow, they realize that bears do not walk on Red Square. And local residents are by no means forced to earn a living by hunting, dressing in ugly sheepskin coats, hats with earflaps and felt boots.
What do Americans think of Russians? What are we
Interesting and unusual. In general, we can say that the attitude of Americans towards Russians is very ambiguous. For example, many consider us to be a very hardworking nation, for which it is simply unnatural to sit idle: men are constantly making something, and women are regularly engaged in cooking or needlework.
Women dress beautifully and elegantly, even when they go shopping in a nearby supermarket. Men are actively involved in sports, meet friends and buy cars of impressive size.
But, nevertheless, unfortunately, the fame of drinkers has stuck to us, and that is why a Russian person in foreign literature and cinema is very often depicted drunk and with a bottle of vodka. Really, it's embarrassing?
What do Americans think of Russians? Our compatriots in the USA
Before revealing this topic, I would like to clarify that the term "Russians in America" in most cases does not mean Russians, but all immigrants from the former USSR, who consider the great and mighty as their native language - Russians, Ukrainians, Jews , Tajiks.
Coming to America, Russians, as a rule, try to adhere to their traditional way of life. They often go to visit, send their youngest to Russian-speaking kindergartens and schools, arrange plentiful feasts, relax on a grand scale, cook their own food, not succumbing to the temptation of fast food restaurants.
The life of Russians in America is not always as rosy as it might seem at first glance. Due to not immediately manage to find enroll in a university or even go to classes in a driving school.
In fact, the first years of living in the USA are very much like running in a circle, many people return, but only the most resilient and purposeful remain.
Versions of news channels are generally predictable, but what do ordinary people think about our ordinary life? A selection of wonderful confessions entangled in the World Wide Web.
About work
“What immediately catches the eye is probably punctuality, which does not exist in Russia.” Top manager from Germany.
“It was wild for me that Russians work a lot. They may stay up late. They may arrive ahead of time. They can come out on the weekend." Lead engineer from North Africa.
About language
“You can’t understand a word, you don’t even have an idea of when a sentence begins and ends. I can’t separate the words from each other: one big chaos.” Meeri, Finland.
“Russian is very similar to Chinese. That is probably why you are here. What I hear is more like the sounds of a sick bird. It sounds like this: cherek shchik chik th th th chtrbyg. USA girl.
"Russian is almost the same as the language of the minions." Young man from Germany
About a broad soul
“Russians do not know how or do not like to make superficial acquaintances. For them, people are divided into “strangers”, with whom it is not customary to talk, and into “friends”, who can be awakened in the middle of the night and dump all their problems on them. John, Ireland.
“It’s funny that on the streets the smile of a passer-by for no reason is alarming for Russians, but in Internet communication they abuse emoticons. Not a single Irishman, for example, after a simple phrase like "I'm at work" will put three smileys in a row. And the Russian will deliver. And the girl will also stick a heart. John, Ireland.
“Russian men are real gentlemen. They open the door, help take off the jacket. It's amazing".Ploychanok, Thailand.
“Russia is an inhospitable society. Russians are generally very aggressive by nature.” US banker.
About girls
“Your girls are very beautiful, but it seems to me that they don’t know their worth! With us, such a beauty would sit at home and wait for the prince to woo her!” Behruz, Iran
“I was struck by the abundance of purely female companies in expensive karaoke clubs: smart girls come in groups, order a table, a minimum of food and sing.” Daisel, South Africa
“I came to Russia eight years ago, and the first impression was that there was a competition to win men.” Patricia, Germany
About food
“In Russian cuisine, the main thing is meat. Russia is generally like a big piece of meat. Tough weather, serious people." Pedro, Chile
“I fell in love with buckwheat so much that even when I go home, I take it with me.” Sulma, Colombia
“Your borscht is somewhat similar to undercooked gazpacho, I like it.” Daniel, Ecuador
“I like your dairy products the most. Also milk soup is a very unusual dish.” Francis, Australia
“I hope that in Germany they will learn how to make jubilee cookies. Ashchocolate sweets uvas nikchertu. Dennis, Germany
We call Olivier "Russian salad": this is a disgusting dish, but here it is very tasty. Probably the Greeks are copying something wrong. Stratos, Greece
About cinema
"Diamond Hand": "Does anyone know where you can find the lyrics of the song that Nikulin sang in a restaurant when he got drunk?" Alienbychoice, New Zealand
"The Adventures of Pinocchio": "I was not ready for how idiotic and at the same time serious he turned out to be." Bobs-9, USA
“Station for two”: “You know, this must be just an incredible movie! Because five people who do not know a word of Russian (of which one hates this language at all) watched this film without subtitles, and not once, but three times!” Ajigasawa, Japan
"Morozko": "Some kind of silly fantasy about a boastful guy who turns into a bear, an 11-year-old autistic girl he wants to seduce, an idiotic house with legs, a dysfunctional family of ugly Russian Finns, a killer kitten, a long-bearded ugly grandfather who freezes trees and kills birds, sleds in the form of a pig, a mushroom-shaped gnome ... ". US viewer
“Absolutely barbaric custom to drink strong alcohol with soda or juice!” John, Ireland
"Viy": "A very interesting, strange and meaningless story. The special effects for 1967 are simply amazing. I dare say the whole story is a bit crazy. Probably, the Russians understand it somehow in their own way - after all, it is based on their folklore. But I think true horror fans will be pleased." Claudio, Brazil
About life
“The Moscow Metro is the best in the world. Trains every 1.5 minutes at rush hour! Inexpensive tickets and no division into zones! At the same time, there is a whole class of Muscovites who, on principle, will never take the metro, even if they are late for an important business meeting.” From the BBC blog "Strana Russia".
“One day I caught myself looking at the shoes of passers-by and thinking: “Clean, clean, clean, cool shoes, clean.” It's impressive." Nacho, Spain
“I have always said that Ecuador and Russia are very similar. The only difference is that the poor steal from us, and vice versa in Russia.” Louis, Ecuador
"People here are not so dependent from political correctness like in Europe. They say what they really think, they are interested in what you say and what you think. This is wonderful". James, Scotland
“We, for example, if everyone drinks, then there is some reason. Here it's optional." Chris, Cameroon
“A pleasant shock was the silence in the subway. You descend into the subway, you are surrounded by thousands of people, but it is quiet there. Bruno, Israel
“Here people continue to use things even if they are broken. The bombs have a completely crazy system for opening and closing doors. If the table staggers, then, most likely, a piece of paper will be slipped under the leg, and not repaired. James, UK
“When for the first time in a minibus some person put money into my hand, I looked at him with surprise and returned this money to him. He started yelling at me: “What are you doing? What are you, a fool? The money passes over people's hands, the change comes back - for a Spaniard it's unbelievable." Sergio, Spain
“When the weekend comes in St. Petersburg, people discuss which performance or ballet to go to and which opera to listen to. Russians are very smart people." Ellen, Brazil
“In Russia, you can be a bit of a bully, walking down the street drunk and making mistakes. In Europe, you can’t do this: if you take a risk, then You are crazy. And it's just fun here." Leo, France
“Here people constantly live in tension, you get used to it, and then it’s hard to get out of the habit.” Charles, USA
“I have been to 54 countries and there is no nightlife anywhere like here. People act like it's the last night of their lives." Thomas, USA
MOSCOW, April 6 - RIA Novosti, Igor Karmazin. Arriving in Russia, foreigners no longer expect to meet bears with balalaikas on the street and KGB agents in every closet. But Russians still know how to surprise. What exactly - the German, Italian and American told the correspondent of RIA Novosti.
Tino Künzel, Germany
I moved to Russia in 2004, I work as a journalist, I edit the Moscow German Newspaper. Russia has always been interesting to me. It seemed that this is such a mysterious country that no one understands.
Foreigners are often afraid to move here. And on the spot, many are surprised that life here is much better than they thought. For example, I came to Russia in August 2004. And in the course of a month, two terrorist attacks took place in the country - first, two planes exploded in the air, and then a school in Beslan was captured. My friends in Germany at that moment thought that there was danger at every corner, but I did not feel any threat, fear, it was calm on the streets.
At the same time, people in Germany treat Russia better than the German media. Newspapers, television paint some kind of demonic image, "Putin-Putin-Putin" is constantly heard, while people want to hear more balanced, diverse opinions. The standard situation in the German media: comments on publications about Russia are directly opposite to the mood broadcast by journalists.
At first, some things puzzled me. For example, Russians clearly distinguish between private and public space. General - necessarily not mine, someone else should be responsible for this. It was visible from every entrance. When you go to visit someone, you go up a dark, smoky, dirty staircase. You think: "What is there in the apartment?" And inside it’s clean, comfortable… In Germany, they treat it differently, where people look not only at the apartment, but also at their entrance, courtyard. It also affects the quality of your life.
In my homeland, it is also customary to greet neighbors. This habit even annoyed me a little: you say "Good afternoon" to everyone, even to those who mean nothing to you. On the other hand, it somehow unites. Here, for the first time, I saw how people pass each other without even raising their heads, as if you did not exist at all.
However, the situation is changing. In recent years, Russians have been watching the entrances more and have become more friendly. I attribute this to the fact that the standard of living has risen. Previously, people thought only about how to feed their families, but now they can look around.
I don't have a car, I use public transport or take a taxi. Drivers, having learned that I am German, start defiantly scolding Russian roads, showing me pits. Here I came across different paths. There are excellent routes, for example, a toll highway from Voronezh to Moscow. There are terrible roads - say, in the Saratov region. I don't have any unanimous opinion on this.
The standard impression of foreigners about Russians is that they smile very little. Here I am not original, at first I really lacked smiles. After all, a smile not only expresses a positive mood, it also emphasizes that you accept your interlocutor, speaks of your attitude towards him. Once, when I was in Belarus, some unfamiliar woman was walking towards me and smiling broadly. It was such a rarity that I still remember it. Although there are changes here too: the faces of Russians are no longer so stone, there are more smiles, people are more relaxed.
In general, in recent years Russia has become more understandable and rational. Welfare is growing, people are more likely to travel abroad. The country I came to and the one I live in now are fundamentally different. People are now more polite, more affable, more benevolent. Changes are taking place not only in Russia. In Germany, similar processes. The Germans travel more to the southern countries, and in their homeland the orders are becoming less formal. In 2006, we hosted the World Cup, and we were very proud that our strict, disciplined country was able to create an atmosphere of global celebration.
Amedeo Chigersa, Italy
I started learning Russian in the mid-1990s, when relations between our countries were actively developing. Then it seemed to me that with the knowledge of Russian I would have many opportunities in life. I came here on business trips, I had acquaintances here, so I already had an idea about the country. In 2005 he finally moved to Russia.
Of course, there are differences in character. Italians are more temperamental. In this sense, Caucasians are close to us. Russians are not so open, especially those who live in the North. At first, I worked at an enterprise in the Komi Republic, where I was received with caution. Without knowledge of the Russian language, I would hardly have made contacts with people at all. But in the end, I made very good friends there, I still communicate with them.
My Italian friends often ask about life in Russia. There is little real information in the Western media, but there are a lot of some stereotyped messages, so the country is of interest. There is a set of stereotypes: for some reason, everyone thinks that there are long queues in stores, everything is very gray, there is little sun, it is cold. I tell how people actually live here, but it is much better if a person comes and sees with his own eyes. Italian tourists are amazed at what a modern, developed, huge city Moscow is. It turns out that cultural exchange is the best cure for stereotypes.
In fact, life in Italy and in Russia is similar for ordinary people. In the same way, in large cities, the pace is high, everyone is in a hurry somewhere. In the villages, life is more measured. In the same way, everyone works, goes to shops, raises children. There are, of course, everyday features, differences in climate, but basically people have the same goals.
Maxwell William, USA
I have been in Russia since January 2016. For the past six years I have been teaching English outside of the United States. Prior to that, he worked in South Korea for three years. Now I am not only teaching, but also doing translations.
Before my trip to Russia, I had the standard ideas about your country that the American media broadcast. Now it seems ridiculous, but then I thought that someone was constantly following me, I expected that they would interrogate me at the airport, and the phone would be tapped. I thought Russia was kind of like North Korea. I will not hide, there was a certain amount of fear.
On the spot, everything turned out to be not quite like that: either the FSB works so well that I don’t notice them, or they understand that I am an ordinary person who wants to join Russian culture. In any case, I did not come across the special services. Although I like to joke that I'm a spy. I think a free man can afford such humor.
Because of my profession, I also pay attention to how people speak. Here I realized that the Russian accent is not at all like it is portrayed in Hollywood films. I don’t notice any special Russian accent at all, we can rather talk about the peculiarities of the voice of each individual person. Another stereotype: Russians don't smile much. Well, there is some truth in this.
At first I lived in Yekaterinburg. I flew in in the winter, I still remember how cold it was then! It was minus 35 degrees outside, it seemed to me that my eyelids were about to freeze and never thaw. I was given several pairs of boots, it is still a mystery to me why these shoes are so warm. In general, I don’t have the best memories of Yekaterinburg, probably because of the climate.
Quite quickly I moved to St. Petersburg, and I admire it. I grew up in a small town in Michigan in the US Midwest. As a child and teenager, I always dreamed of living in an old European city. Do you know those daydreams about walking through the open-air markets, stopping by the bakery in the morning, sitting in the park in the evening with friends and drinking wine? In St. Petersburg, I live something like this. The city is big but comfortable. The center can be reached on foot, I often meet friends on the street. Compared to Seoul, which was just huge, St. Petersburg is perfect for me.
In communicating with Russians, I noticed one interesting feature: friends are very close to each other, but people on the streets, as a rule, are rather dry. If someone approaches you and asks a question, you do your best to answer as quickly as possible. In America, when a passer-by asks for directions, the conversation can drag on for several minutes. Russians perceive a familiar person differently. For example, on New Year's Eve, a woman who works in a store near my house just gave me two bottles of champagne.
There are features in the behavior behind the wheel. In America, they can eat a hamburger with one hand, talk to passengers. It is believed that for safety it is enough just to stay in your lane. In Russia, they drive as if there are no lanes at all, so you need to carefully monitor all road users.
For a long time I was also surprised by the behavior of people in the subway or buses. Passengers seem to follow some unwritten rules: they do not speak loudly among themselves and on the phone. Nobody attracts the attention of others. I think it's a sign of respect. Americans are louder. I remember once talking to my sister on the phone on the bus. It seemed that he did not shout, but an elderly woman made a remark to me. I did not understand Russian then, but I felt embarrassed. I got off the bus at the next stop, continued on foot, and never spoke on the phone on the bus again.
In general, I think I still do not understand Russia. In some ways, the country is very similar to the United States, I just tell my friends about the similarities, because our media do not mention this. But there are also differences. Russians feel at ease in a situation of chaos and crisis. For example, several of my friends worked in a coffee shop in the center of St. Petersburg. Once they were not allowed to go there, then it turned out that the premises had been seized by someone. Apparently, ownership has changed hands. They did not show any indignation, surprise, they just moved to a new place. Of course, in the USA it would not be so calmly perceived. There would definitely be a scandal, a lawsuit.
In America, people don't like things getting out of hand. In Russia, there are fewer worries about this. The currency may rise in price, wages fall, winter can last forever, but Russians will remain friendly and calm. I have not yet explained this to myself, but this is my perception of the country.