National character. Manners, customs, life

Any resident of the former USSR who travels abroad knows how easily foreigners single out our fellow citizens and unmistakably recognize them as “Russians.” It seems that you speak English well, and have shopped around in local stores, but no, anyway, almost any foreigner, taking a fleeting glance at you, immediately guesses that you are “Russian”.

The “Russians” themselves have many hypotheses why they are so easily “calculated”: here are the eternally preoccupied gloomy faces, and the specific “pink” color of gold jewelry... there are so many hypotheses...

But these hypotheses do not explain anything, because the Swedes, for example, walk around Europe with such gloomy faces that the Russians care about them as they care about the Sahara. And pink “Russian” gold has been at the peak of fashion for many years in Europe and has ceased to be a purely Russian attribute.

To be honest, when I used to travel around the world on short trips, it also bothered me quite a lot, that I would be recognized so easily, and I also built theories about why “Russians” stood out so much.

And only after settling in Europe for good, I understood how this is done, and now I can unmistakably recognize a “Russian” from a distance of 100 steps. However, if you ask me to list specific characteristics in which a “Russian” differs in appearance from a European, I am afraid that I will not be able to do this.

Can you list the specific characteristics by which “pop” music differs from “non-pop”? You won’t be able to list them, but when you hear them, you can immediately identify them. This is approximately how “Russian” differs from “non-Russian” abroad.

Formally belonging to European culture, Soviet culture for a long time developed completely in isolation (and even now this cultural isolation continues to a large extent) and eventually acquired such numerous specific touches and nuances in the culture of behavior, appearance, gestures and manner of communication, which, each being insignificant in itself, in total form a very characteristic appearance of a Russian.

• A married couple walks down the street sluggishly quarreling and sorting things out? - Russians!
• Are you arguing at the counter about what type of sausage to buy for dinner and can’t come to an agreement? - Russians!
• The wife lingers at the display window, and her husband impatiently drags her further by the hand - Russians!
• Did you publicly shout at the child or, even more so, spank him? - Russians, definitely!
• A lady is blocking an aisle in a supermarket, people are squeezing past her, and she doesn’t even move or apologize? - Russian, no options!
• Does a person not hold the hotel door when his companion squeezes in with suitcases? - Russian!
• They greeted him, smiled at him, but he doesn’t answer “because they don’t know each other”? - Russian!

The “Russian” generally does not tolerate “fake European smiles”, and therefore smiles only at jokes or at ladies he intends to fuck. Well, or vice versa, for men, if the “Russian” is a lady.

For 100 years, citizens of the Soviet empire were trash, decay and expendable material for the state. This attitude naturally spilled over into the relations of “Russian” citizens with each other.

For a Russian, any other person is a person and a special person, worthy of attention only if he has some kind of personal relationship with this person. If there are no personal relationships, then any stranger for a “Russian” it is decay, an empty place that is not worth paying attention to. Moreover, even the fact that a Russian has a personal relationship with someone does not mean at all that the Russian will express at least some respect for him.

The specifics of Russians’ communication with each other and with other people are so obviously different from the specifics of communication of both Europeans and Asians that they immediately give away the “Russian” in its entirety as soon as he begins to “communicate.” Or vice versa, as soon as he does not start communicating.

However, a lonely Russian in the bare European steppe will be just as easily identifiable as a Russian in conversation.

The appearance of a Russian gives him away.

A Russian may not even suspect that any clothes purchased at the Cherkizovsky market actively broadcast a signal to others - “this is Russian.” Even if it doesn’t seem to differ in appearance from the same clothes bought in Europe, and even if it has a European label on it.

Let me clarify that when I say “clothes bought at the Cherkizovsky market,” I mean “any clothes bought in Russia.” It doesn’t matter where, in the market or in some branded salon, like Zara, Calcedonia or Bershka.

Over the 100 years of isolation of the Soviet empire, world fashion trends somehow reached it in a roundabout way, and therefore, at the very least, Soviet tastes in clothing correspond to European ones. But with specifics.

This specificity arose due to the fact that over the course of these hundred years, semantic gaps in fashion, which invariably arose due to isolation Soviet culture, were filled out based on local realities, local concepts, local tastes and capabilities. As a result, a Soviet style of dressing emerged, which is essentially European, but with a fair touch of Sovietism. This plaque still persists to this day.

Since the beginning of the 90s, global manufacturers of clothes in the “mass ready-to-wear” category, having understood the tastes of the Soviet public, began selling models in Russia adapted to this taste. Not to mention the market know-name, where this taste comes out of all the cracks.

“What are the differences,” you ask?

But who can tell you, this is not a formalized thing. How, for example, does a Van Gogh painting differ from an “imitation of Van Gogh”? Some indescribable, but clearly noticeable touches. It’s the same with clothing. Maybe in some place somewhere there will be more lace and glitter. Or these laces are of a different shape. Or sewn in a slightly different place. Or the buttons are located slightly differently and of a different style. Or some special strip sewn on...

It's difficult to explain. But if you have lived in Europe for at least a year, you will easily acquire the skill of distinguishing “clothes from Russia” at first sight.

However, if a Russian tourist bought all his junk in local European stores, then he will still be different, because he will wear these clothes differently, and combine toilet items in a completely different way than the locals do. No worse, no better, just different.

No English woman, for example, would think of choosing a beach T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops according to color and style. Because it's a beach! Casual! So if I see a lady wearing a beach ensemble like evening dress- that means Russian!

Well, or polka. Only the Polish woman will have a different hairstyle.

Because in all Russian hairdressing salons, both in the cheapest and in the “elite salons”, hairstyles are somehow mystically They make sure that their bearers bear the mark “cut in Russia.” God forbid, I don’t want to say that haircuts are bad in Russia. They cut hair normally, sometimes even very skillfully and beautifully. But it is identifiable. Maybe there are some special cutting technologies there, I don’t know. But the work of a Russian hairdresser is just as identifiable as the work of a Russian plastic surgeon.

Just like the work of a Russian jeweler.

The color of gold is actually nonsense, pink, not pink, it can be different. But the style - yes! The product of any Russian jewelry factory cannot be confused with anything else. This again is difficult to explain. I could probably again refer to the analogy with Van Gogh, but I will do it differently. Browse the Internet through the collections of different jewelry houses: European, American, Japanese... and then go to any jewelry store in Moscow. You will immediately understand the difference. You can't help but understand!

Well, have you figured it out yet? Why is it useless to ask the question: “What can I do so that they don’t recognize me as Russian abroad?”

But if you do ask it, I will answer: “Nothing can be done. To do this, you will have to permanently settle in Europe and for a long, long time, drop by drop, squeeze the Soviet people out of yourself.”

Stereotypes of Russian behavior, of course, depend on which generation someone belongs to. The younger generation and managers who received the best education in Western Europe, behave differently than their fathers’ generation. However, some stereotypes are transferred from generation to generation and can be considered “Russian archetypes”.

How I became Russian (series trailer)

The most important factor that still determines the behavior of a Russian person (and his attitude to housing, clothing, food, cleanliness, order, property) is long-term residence in a totalitarian state.
In particular, the psyche of the population was greatly influenced by both the post-perestroika crisis and the “shock therapy” of transformations in society in the 90s.
The rules of everyday life change often and quickly, and no one knows by what laws and no one explains anything to anyone. In Russia there is a lack of confidence, there is nothing to rely on.

An anecdote from the times after the collapse of the USSR
The state comes to the people and says: “I have two news for you: good and bad. Which one should I start with?” – “With a good one.” – “You are free!” – “And now the bad one.” – “You are free...”

National character

Basic stereotypes about the traits of Russian national character

• “the mystery of the Russian soul” - the mentality of the Russian people is a mysterious mystery that cannot be solved
• “nationality” - patriotism, service to the fatherland, love for the homeland, loyalty to traditions
• “hope for a bright future” - the search for truth, justice, freedom, hope for an ideal state, expectation of a “just ruler”
• “Messianicism” - Russia, as an example to other nations, is ready to sacrifice itself for the sake of others (“They save others, they destroy themselves.”)
• “Fatalism” is resignation to the fact that much will happen regardless of a person’s will and desire, the belief that nothing happens by chance in life. This character trait of Russians sometimes leads to passive behavior, the habit of relying not on oneself, but on God’s will, “good uncle” (sayings: “We’ll wait and see,” “We’re used to...”; “nothing” is the most common reaction to failure)
• “sentimentality”, “openness of emotions”, “pathos” (phraseologisms: “pour out your soul” “open your soul” “have a heart-to-heart talk”)
• “polarization” – dividing the entire diversity of the world into good and evil, truth and falsehood, “us” and “them”
• “maximalism”, “fanaticism”, “extremism”
• attitude towards observance of rituals, traditions, customs

Opposites of the Russian national character

Russians themselves believe that Russian character consists of extremes and opposites. The guiding slogan of the Russian people is: “Either everything, or nothing.” According to Russian and foreign observers, Russia is “a country of systematic paradoxes.”

They contradict each other:

• gullibility, hope for a true ruler - and dreams of freedom
• generosity, hospitality, openness in private life - and formalism, severity, unsmiling in official communication
• great culture (literature, music, theater), the development of science, the ability to achieve better results (excellence) in many areas, the presence modern technologies- and incompleteness, the inability to see the consequences of one’s actions in advance and plan them, half-heartedness, inability and unwillingness to complete the work started - everything is decided on the fly, most institutions work at the limit of their capabilities (post office, public transport) (positive character traits flow from this - “resourcefulness”, “adaptability”, “ability to create something out of nothing”).
• fear of superiors - and persistent non-compliance with prescribed and established rules

Foreigners' opinions about Russians

Russians are a very proud, self-confident people. But on the other hand, Russians deceive, pretend, hide in the face of problems (When German troops entered Kyiv, Stalin claimed that not a single German soldier crossed Russian borders.). When exposed as a lie, they will only shrug their shoulders.
The problem with bureaucracy is that any business takes a very long time and is complicated to process, the rules often change, and people are endlessly sent from one window to another.

Social behavior

Russian collectivism

Russians do not tolerate loneliness well; they are sociable people.
They can even start a conversation with strangers (communication on the train), they like to communicate frequently on the phone (in cities the time-based payment principle has not yet been introduced telephone conversations, and people are “hanging on the phone”).
Relationships with neighbors are still important in the lives of Russians - neighborly ties play an almost familial role.
Russians are characterized by such character traits as compassion, warmth, and pity (deafness, unfortunately for another person, is unusual for Russians).
On the other hand, many of them have adopted this way of life: to live like everyone else, to keep a low profile.
Collectivism includes love for mass holidays, company, and the tradition of hospitality. In the village there is a habit of meeting with neighbors in the same hut - “get-togethers”. Russians value the principle of “conciliarity” – the internal unity of people based on a community of spirit.

„Ruský kolektivismus se v Rusku projevuje sklony k masovosti, Občané se tlačí, vytvářejí fronty a z těch front se vyčleňují přirození vůdci, kteří buď organizují dav nebo sepisují po řadníky. To bývá na úřadech. Kdyby tam nebyla fronta, určitě by lidé odešli, že mají zavřeno. Fronta bývá jedna ústřední, pořadníků více.”
Elizabeth Roberts: Xenofobův národnostní průvodce: Rusové

However, in lately Russians are also characterized by a desire for individualization (with the fall of the USSR, every Russian was finally left to his own devices).

Public role

Russians take on their social role more expressively, observe the rules of formal behavior, and always try to maintain “ good name“, they are characterized by a constant glance at “what other people will say or think about us.”
There is a huge difference in human behavior in the public (professional) sphere and in private life.
“Servile psychology” in relation to superiors is characteristic (one and the same person can show disdain for a person dependent on him and in a minute become slavish, obsequious in the face of the boss), a popular proverb: “You are the boss - I am a fool.” I’m the boss – you’re a fool.” Democratic principles do not always work in society in relation to the terms of holding certain positions (university rector, for example). If a person has already taken a high position, then, as a rule, he “sits” firmly in it.

Essential Values

Russians highly value: courage, strength, good social position, “good name,” reputation in the eyes of friends and neighbors, sentimental and emotional actions.
Especially Russians highly respect smart people. Cleverness, in the eyes of Russians, is not rational ability, but rather spirituality, delicacy, social responsibility, and high moral qualities.
It has long been customary to measure the level of culture by the number of books read.
Oddly enough, a smile is sometimes considered an indicator of stupidity (popular proverb: “Laughter for no reason is a sign of a fool.”).

Money is not considered a particularly great value; Russian people are convinced that wealth cannot be acquired through honest work.

Russian attitude towards...

...foreigners

Back in the 19th century, in all likelihood, there was no xenophobia in Russia. The Russians were ready to quickly come to terms with the presence of foreigners. They treated those who came without malicious intent with friendship, but they treated those who came with malicious intent with cruelty.
IN Soviet era other (better) restaurants and hotels were reserved for visiting foreigners; they were given first places in the queues, but were not allowed into restricted areas.
Currently, everything depends on the nationality of the foreigner. Russians love Chekhov, and Serbs are also close to them. But their relations with the Poles, Ukrainians, and Germans are already a little more complicated.
Some museums have introduced double prices for foreigners (in the Hermitage, a ticket for them is 3 times more expensive than for a Russian).

...beggars

They take pity on the poor in Russia and give them money.

...children

Russians, of course, love children very much and are ready to spend their last funds on their education and improving their future.

Parents

Russians greatly respect their ancestors and old parents and surround them with care. In families, as a rule, more often than ours, several generations live together. Placing the elderly in a nursing home is considered a sin.

...authorities

The Russian archetype is characterized by fear of the state.
The state almost constantly interfered in the lives of its subjects (with violence, ideology) - the Russian person could rarely concentrate on his private life.
The embodiment of evil power, which puts pressure on the people and cynically robs them, for a Russian person is bureaucracy, a terrible and irresistible force.
An “Orthodox type of person” has emerged who is patient, passive, conservative, sometimes even indifferent, capable of surviving in the most incredible conditions, immersed in the past and absorbed in the eternal search for ideals, refraining from arbitrary interference in anything.
Related to this is the Russians’ inability to accept personal responsibility (“My house is on the edge, I don’t know anything.”)
The paradox of the attitude towards power: on the one hand, Russian people are genetically trained not to expect goodness, help, support from the authorities; at the same time, he hopes for a miracle, for a “good king,” a reformer-savior (illusions, euphoria are constantly replaced by disappointment, condemnation of the authorities).
In the history of Russia, the deification of power and charismatic leaders is repeated - an indicator of the sacredness of Russian consciousness.

Attitudes between men and women

Men

Men (already boys) should not show their weakness (sometimes rudeness helps them in this). They don't compliment women as often as they would like. When they like a woman, they will tell her about it directly, they show their love with gifts and attentiveness. (This means that it is not so difficult for women to find out whether she loves or does not love?)

„Mladý muž univerzál - nosí černé džíny, černou koženou bundu, černou koženou čepici s nápletem. Tváří se nepřístupně (žvýkačka narozdíl od cigarety není podmínkou), mluví úsečně záměrně hlubokým hlasem. Mladíci se shlukují kolem stánků u výstupu z metra, usrkávají z lahve pivo domácí výroby, kouří, pojídají buráky, plivou (i slupky slunečnicových semínek) a dokáží kolem sebe ělat slušný svinčík.”

Russian woman

Russian women love to feel like the weaker sex. She is able to spend her last money on clothes and cosmetics. Previously women had to work in male professions, they got used to taking care of everything, they immediately became adults.

„Ruská žena je často buď puťka, která se bojí překročit stín svého muže, nechá se bít manželem, tyranizovat synem a vydírat tchýní, nebo je to emancipovaná energetická bytost s v ěčně doutnající cigaretou na rtech a stejně razantním stylem za volantem i bez něj.
D.Šťáhlavský: Rusko mezi řádky

It is considered a sign of bad taste in society...

• blow your nose
• use a toothpick
• have dirty shoes
• come visit without a gift
• show your bad mood
• speak in “intricate turns of phrase” (Russians are also irritated by “empty chatter”; spatial reasoning about something that can be expressed in a nutshell)
• “throw around words” (Russians take what is said too seriously and literally; you can’t just joke).
• Russians do not understand the European manner of “not noticing” something unpleasant that does not correspond to the norms of behavior. They will actively intervene, comment, and correct the situation. (If, for example, someone is in no hurry in line and delays others, his behavior can cause noisy indignation and even a scandal.)
• When sorting out relations with Russians, it is recommended to be more careful in words and intonation - a Russian often intuitively figures out the situation and prefers to act (sometimes it even comes to rude bodily reactions and fights).
• Russians are uncomfortable talking about money; it is also not customary to talk about intimate relationships or make fun of national traits and the dignity of Russians.
• It is better not to ask your interlocutor questions about his place of birth. Due to complicated history Russia (including forced migration of the population) may be affected by very complex things.
• Russians value heart-to-heart conversations – this is a long, unhurried, frank conversation with a good acquaintance, with a close friend. “High topics” are preferred - for example, about the meaning of life, the future of Russia, politics, literature, theater, cinema. You can also talk about family matters.

Gestures

• flicking the throat with the index or middle finger: means “drink vodka” or “he’s drunk”
• knock index finger on the temple: “not a very smart person”
• put your hands on your heart: emphasize your sincerity in a conversation
• insert the thumb between the middle and index fingers with a clenched fist: fig (fig with butter), a vulgar gesture expressing a categorical denial
• Russians count in such a way that they bend their fingers, gradually collecting them into a fist, starting with the little finger

Life

Life - way of life, everyday life, material and cultural development society.

In Russia there is a strong spiritual orientation to the East, that is, a focus on spiritual life (serving a higher goal). Russians have always reproached the West for being extremely consumer-oriented (money, things, personal success).
Therefore, Russians are often observed to be indifferent to money and, in general, to the material side of life, and lack of concern for the comfort of life; on the contrary, they attach importance to values ​​such as education, literature and culture, and respect in society.
The unpredictability and severity of Russian nature and climate and many historical cataclysms made it difficult to develop European pragmatism, the ability to organize time and save space.

„Bolševismus naučil lidi skromnosti, nenáročnosti, ale také rozmařilosti a plýtvání. Naučil je žít s pocitem, že to dnes může být naposledy.”
D. Šťáhlavský: Rusko mezi řádky

Housing

Recently, in many large cities of Russia there has appeared huge amount improved housing, comfortable apartments, but still, only very wealthy people can afford new housing. For Russians, the “housing issue” is still a huge problem. There are still families where several generations live together in one apartment.
Most residential buildings in Russia are huge, multi-story, with multiple entrances. Typical for them are windows protected by bars, heavy armored doors in entrances and apartments, dirt in entrances, on stairs and in elevators.
People have not learned to take care of the house and its surroundings as if they were their own.
Unlike other nationalities, it is not customary for Russians to show guests their home or apartment.

The fashion of wealthy people is to build comfortable country houses, mansions, the so-called. "cottages".

IN Soviet era(especially Stalinist) many people had to live in communal apartments, that is, in apartments that are state property, in which several families live (people not related by family relations, belonging to different social strata). Life in communal apartments has actually crippled the mental health and interpersonal relationships of one generation of Russians.

Cleanliness is a mess

Everywhere in Russia there are many uncleaned places, abandoned wastelands. The strange smell of Russia consists of gasoline, buckwheat and vodka. However, Russians carefully wash their hands, clean their shoes, and wear perfume.
In the toilets you can see the inscription “Big request!” Don't throw paper in the toilet!“.
Some toilets are missing the door or the top of the walls. In restaurants they often do not differentiate between men's and women's.

Drunkenness

Russians have a very frivolous attitude towards their health, including an addiction to alcohol.
Russians usually tolerate alcohol well, they can drink a lot of vodka and remain “sane,” but they quickly become dependent on alcohol.
The causes of alcoholism are harsh climate, difficult living conditions (for centuries Russians have been looking for oblivion of problems in a glass).

The Russian authorities continue to fight alcoholism. Since 2014, drinking alcoholic beverages in public places is prohibited. You can drink at home, in a cafe or in a restaurant.

Rituals

Bath

The bathhouse has been known in Rus' since the 10th century. In the village, this is a separate log hut next to the house. It consists of a dressing room and a steam room. There is a stove in the steam room. When it is drowned, the stones become hot. In order for the bathhouse to be filled with hot steam, the stones are watered with hot water. In the bathhouse they pat themselves with a birch or oak broom.

The role of the bathhouse in the life of a Russian person, its functions: cleansing the body, strengthening physical health, treating runny nose, colds, aches, reset excess weight, prevention, pleasure, relaxation. (The bathhouse “clears the mind and dries the tears.”)
The social function of the bathhouse is making acquaintances, making friendships, a place for negotiations and establishing trade connections.

• Bath day: Saturday
• to those leaving the bathhouse they say: Enjoy your steam!

Family rituals

Wedding

A traditional Russian wedding lasted several days and was preceded by matchmaking and wedding. The wedding was like a theatrical play (theft and ransom of the bride) with sad and funny moments. Most often, a wedding was held between Christmas and Lent to have fun and survive the long winter; there was less work during this period.
In a modern wedding, everything depends on money. The groom must “break through” to the bride by performing various tasks (for example, he must write out the bride’s name in banknotes).
There is also a custom of covering apples with paper money of the same color - the apple turns out to be green, red... A big and rich wedding is a matter of honor.

Funeral

Funerals are traditionally held on the third day after the person's death. The believers are buried in the church. Throughout the year, a wake is held, a ceremony in memory of a deceased relative, conducted by members of his family - 3, 9 and 40 days after death.
The funeral ritual includes home prayers, a visit to the temple and the grave of the deceased, and lunch at which vodka, pancakes, kutya (sweet porridge made from millet or rice with raisins) and a funeral dish - white jelly - are served.
Russians come to the graves of their relatives on Easter; In this case, a glass of vodka, covered with a slice of bread, or other treats are usually left on the grave.
Previously, the ritual of mourning was widespread in Russia. Good professional mourners who sobbed at the grave were highly valued.
Expression of condolences: Please accept my deepest condolences. We share your deep grief.

Housewarming

Moving to new apartment or a new home - important event for the family, has long been accompanied by rituals (in modern times a feast is obligatory).

If you have “strong cards” in your hands, do not abuse them. Russians - proud people, and they cannot be humiliated. They are not as interested in money as you are, so they are more willing to walk away from a deal than you are. You can base your decisions on facts that are neutral to you but arouse emotions for them. They are more people oriented than business oriented. Try to please them. If you succeed, they will encourage you to “cheat the system.” They don't like strict instructions any more than you do. In this respect they are very similar to the Italians. Show your distrust of blind authority or excessive bureaucracy as often as possible. Do them a favor from the very beginning, but show them that it is not because of your weakness. Such a service should be addressed more to the person than to the matter being discussed. You don't need to be overly affected by their theatrics or emotionality, but you should show your sympathy for the human aspects of the negotiations. While showing your firmness, also show your kindness. They act mostly collectively, so don't single out anyone in particular. Envy of other people's success is also a trait of the Russian character. Have drinks with them between meetings if you can. This is one of the easiest ways to “build bridges.” They prefer to drink while sitting and often make toasts and short speeches.

They love praise, especially if it is related to Russian achievements in technology, as well as major successes in Russian art.

They are sensitive to talk of war, believing that Russia has fought most wars in defense against aggressive neighbors. They don't know your version of historical events.

They view America with suspicion, mixed with undisguised admiration.

They love their children more than many of us; exchanging photos of children with them is a great way to establish contact.

They respect old people and despise the way Americans treat older people. In the brutal Russian environment, family love was often the only lasting form of wealth. Show affection for your own family, if appropriate.

Show the human side of yourself - your feelings, hopes, aspirations, etc. They are much more interested in your personal goals than commercial ones.

During a business discussion, they give priority in this order: personal relationships, form, appearance, opportunity to earn money.

They often appear nervous but have good self-control.

The mixture of Eastern and Western elements in their character often resembles the split personality of schizophrenics. Don't let this confuse you - when necessary, the other side will always appear.

They have never had a developed democracy in their history, so don't expect them to automatically be egalitarian, fair, impartial and open to direct debate. In this regard, it is wise to show them clearly what you think about these concepts and why they essentially motivate you.

Terms like "democratic", "fair play", "profit", "turnover", "cash flow", "public relations" and "informal relations" mean little to them in any language, so use these words carefully.

They like to say that they understand, although in fact they do not, and they also try to say what they think they want to hear from them (Eastern habit), so do not take everything said or heard for granted.

They will be suspicious of anything you present as an official directive or instruction. They welcome what you present as a personal recommendation.

They treat too high profits as illegal. Don't be greedy, either for yourself or for them.

Russians are inherently conservative and do not accept change easily. Present your new ideas to them slowly and don't push them at first.

Russians often "push" you and understand when you do the same to them, but they protest when they feel the pressure is getting too much.

We still have to see how much risk they can take in a free market.

Dissent in general is not popular with them, since historically group, conformist behavior has been safe for them. Do not try to separate a Russian from his “group,” whatever it may be.

The decision about what is right and what is wrong, in the view of many Russians, is determined by the feelings of the majority, and not by the law.

Russians have a very strong sense of nostalgia - the present does not have power over their thinking, as it may, for example, be the case with many Americans and Australians.

They love to talk. Without hesitation, bare your soul to them. They, like the Germans, love to have heart-to-heart conversations.

What they have achieved in their country has been achieved mainly through a complex network of personal relationships: you for me, I for you. They do not expect any help from officials. Like the Germans, they come to a meeting without a smile. Like the Germans, they can be “melted” by showing mutual understanding and sincerity.

When they touch the other person during a conversation, it is a sign of trust.

Russian values deeply human, their heroes are universally authentic, their external manifestations and symbols are full of artistry and aesthetics. In order to succeed in relationships with Russians, you need to keep these qualities clearly in your mind, rather than paying too much attention to the mysterious and paradoxical aspects of their behavior and their modern attitudes.

SPAIN

THERE IS ONLY ONE ENGLAND AND ONLY ONE FRANCE, but there are several Spains. Spain, according to the Romans, consisted of many countries, which is still reflected in the diversity of clearly distinct regions within the country. The Castilians make up the majority of the population in Spain and still predominate there, but before you deal with a Spaniard, it would be a good idea to find out his origins. The people of Galicia are practical and melancholic and in some ways similar to some northern peoples. The tenacity of the Aragonese echoes the Finnish tenacity. The Basques are talented in industrial and commercial activities and, along with the Finns, Hungarians and Estonians, do not have Indo-European ancestry. On the one hand, the northern peoples, with their cult of efficiency, are similar to the Catalans, who are more oriented towards France than Spain. On the other hand, they have little in common with two other regions - Asturias, where people are extremely arrogant, and Andalusia, where every inhabitant is an orator, and the daily routine exists only for cats and dogs. Having talked about the regions of Spain, let's now take a closer look at Castile and the Castilians. The Castilians are essentially representatives of the Roman peoples and indeed for many centuries were the guardians Latin heritage, protecting its linguistic and literary monuments, as well as its traditions during the era of the Roman conquests and the Roman Empire. The Castilians exhibit traits characteristic of Romance peoples - verbosity and eloquence (the Castilian word hablar - “to talk” comes from the word fabulare, meaning “to invent, compose, enjoy conversation”). Northerners hardly feel comfortable when faced with such verbosity of the Spaniards, as well as with the Spaniards in their favorite role of “great romantics”. Proud of their history and the purity of their blood, the Castilians are at heart crusaders, mystics and impractical individualists who were once great conquistador conquerors, but were never able to create their own empire. The English and Americans may admire Castilian individualism, since it is a trait they especially value in themselves, but individualism in Spain developed into defiance of authority and institutions, and even contempt for government. In the northern part of the country, the "hot" climate further contributes to the manifestation of apathy and inertia where laws and regulations are concerned. The poor in Spain are considered the same noble man , like the rich man. Beggars are treated with understanding, the poor and needy are shown respect, and an innate aristocracy is visible in the poorest people. According to the Castilians, a person should not lose personal dignity even in cases where he has nothing more to lose. Time, money and even prudence are of secondary importance. If pragmatic northerners find even this difficult to accept, they are even more baffled by Castilian fatalism. “Why worry so much about your fate?” says the Castilian. “Everything that happens now has happened before and will definitely happen again in the future.” Full of indefatigable energy in periods of feverish activity or moments of great insight, the Spaniards have little predilection for the routine and banal tasks of consolidation and coordination of action. "And tomorrow will be the day; if this is our fate, then so be it." Northerners, who have little time for fatalism and who consider themselves masters of their own destiny, have little sympathy for this position. We can argue that facts are stubborn things, but the Spaniard declares that things are not at all what they seem. “There are two truths,” he says, “the truth of each mortal particle and the truth of the poetic whole.” The second truth is more important for the Castilian because it gives him faith or vision for life. A person must realize the futility of his material ambitions. From these Spanish concepts and beliefs, it is quite clear that the Spaniard and the northerner have completely different perceptions of reality. Dialogue between these people is never easy. A pompous, verbose speaker and “great romantic” addresses a passive listener and silent pragmatist. There may be a language barrier between them, but dialogue must still take place - in the world of business. There are some bridges between Spanish culture and the culture of the northern peoples. Castile is a barren land with huge differences in cold and heat. The severity of the climate and landscape taught the Castilians to asceticism - a phenomenon not unknown to northerners, hard times in many countries have developed frugality. Although Spain is a land of rich and poor, egalitarian Britons, Scandinavians and Americans can see in the Spanish desire to protect the weak a version of true democracy characteristic of this country. Those who want to have. dealing with the Spaniards, we must first of all recognize that the Spaniards never behave like the northerners, and that their scale of values ​​is very different from that of the modern era. Like other people, they buy and sell and are friendly while doing so, but they treat you a little old-fashioned and are more interested in you than in your goods. I once acted as a translator for three German salesmen who were presenting their new products to the board of directors of a company in Madrid. The Germans gave an excellent presentation, lasting about 30 minutes, using slides, photographs, diagrams and videos. The six Spanish managers sitting opposite them were hardly paying attention to the product presentation at all. They observed the salespeople: are they the type of people worth doing business with? do they like them? are they human? The Germans are always excellent at their presentation, so why watch it? When the demonstration of goods ended, the Germans waited with bated breath for the hosts' reaction. The Spaniards invited them to lunch, which lasted until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. After that, everyone went to rest. You need to work hard to please a Spaniard. If you succeed in this, things will take care of themselves. You need to show what you have kind heart and that you don't take things seriously. Northerners are good-hearted, but they often hide it well. You need to speak to Spaniards in such a way that they see the twinkle in your eyes. Their “comfortable communication distance” is much smaller than that of most Europeans, and they like to have eye contact with your interlocutor. They are ruder than the French, Italians or Portuguese. This is the rudest of all Romance peoples. Macho ("aggressive, real man") is a Spanish word, and the natural masculinity of the northern businessman stands him in good stead in the company of the Spaniards. Business women from the north also quickly find mutual understanding in negotiations with Spanish businessmen, since a certain aggressiveness of the latter produces positive results. The Spaniards are very humane. When talking to them, it is best to abandon your coldness, forget about the dictates of time, admit that petty scams do happen in your country, confess to some personal sins or misdeeds, ask them some rather personal questions, have a drink with them if necessary , until 3 a.m. and generally relax a little. While relaxing in the company of Spaniards, keep an important thought in one of the closest corners of your mind: they are touchy and sensitive. You can laugh at the French and Germans as much as you like, you can even criticize some Spanish customs, such as the siesta or the bullfight, but under no circumstances should you say anything that could be construed as an attack on their personal dignity or honor . For many Spaniards, the word "honor" is the most important word in their language. They may be poor, but they are noble. They may have done jail time, but they are honest. They may not be punctual, but they are honest. They may owe you money, but they will definitely pay you back when they can. They may fail, but they cannot be humiliated. Like the Japanese or Chinese, they cannot “lose their face.” This respect for Spanish dignity, the careful nurturing of their personal, human valor, the manifestation of respect for their social position, personality and soul, is the key to cooperation, to alliance with them and to their sympathy for you. The Spaniards will fully reciprocate your feelings - if you have won the devotion of a Castilian, he will be your best friend, will buy your company's products and send you Christmas cards for 25 years. He will lie, and if necessary, he will die for you. He is a man of honor.

SWEDEN

APPEARING TO BE, AROUND THE WORLD, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD, Swedes enjoy universal recognition. The well-established image of the Swedes as honest, caring, knowledgeable, skilled workers who produce quality goods and deliver them on time is quite consistent with their grooming, ability to dress well, and, in addition (sorry for the stereotype), the Swedes are blue-eyed blonds. Their English language- grammatically correct, pure and lively - like the language of a Scotsman who studied at Oxford. As for their social behavior, they at least have impeccable manners and say what needs to be said within the first 15 minutes. It is therefore surprising that in the Scandinavian region they are unpopular, often ridiculed and sometimes even despised. The fact that none of the Swedes' neighbors - the Danes, Norwegians and Finns - can be accused of aggressiveness makes such antipathy even more unexpected. What are the shortcomings of the Swedes? The Swedes themselves try to answer this question within several last decades. If you rely on statistical data, then almost everything is going very well for the Swedes. Excellent medical care has contributed to the emergence of the oldest population in the world (18.1% of the population over 65 years old), because only the Japanese have a higher life expectancy (Japanese - 79 years, Swedes - 78 years). Infant mortality here is one of the lowest in the world (4th place).

In Sweden, 8.6 million people live on an area of ​​450 thousand square meters. km, so the population density in this country is low - about 19 people per square kilometer. Although Sweden is only 54th in size in the world, it is 18th in GDP and holds a respectable 5th place in GDP per capita at $25,487 per year. This wealth is reflected in the Swedes' standard of living. Sweden is the first country in the world in the number of telephone owners, fifth in dishwashers, sixth in microwave ovens, seventh - for refrigerators and video recorders and tenth - for cars. With a literacy rate of 99%, the Swedes have the second highest percentage of labor force participation in the world for 1990-1991. (after Zimbabwe!), equal to 69.7%. Sweden's foreign debt is very small, but its foreign aid is very high: Sweden is the world's ninth-largest country in providing bilateral aid (as a percentage of GNP (gross national product)). Sweden ranks high in industrial output (14th in the world) and 15th in trade volume. These figures are excellent for a country with a population of less than 9 million people, given that Sweden is not a sweatshop. With low population growth (Sweden has the smallest family size in the world at 2.2 people per apartment) and ample land, mineral and energy resources, Sweden would seem to have little material problems. According to the UN Human Development Index, Sweden is again ahead. According to this index, which takes into account factors such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, adult literacy, number of years of schooling, purchasing power of the population, etc., Sweden is in 5th place (after Japan, Canada, Norway and Switzerland). The only significant negative statistics for Sweden are heart attacks - the highest percentage of deaths in the world (37.3%); murders - Sweden ranks 18th in the world; Drug-related crimes are 2nd in the world. Swedish brides are the 2nd oldest in the world (27.6 years old), and the country has the 7th highest cost of living, but the last two factors can also be considered positive. Clearly, Sweden is a well-functioning country, as the healthy statistics above clearly demonstrate. Where does this tension between the Swedes and their neighbors come from? Firstly, they are neighbors, and love for one’s neighbor is not particularly characteristic of people. Norway, Denmark and Finland are less impressed than others by the brilliance of Sweden's social security system, having created similar ones themselves (and all four have growing doubts that such a system will actually work for long). Their cynicism towards Sweden seems to stem from various historical factors: Denmark has long played main role in this region. The Swedes often besieged Copenhagen and ruled Finland for 600 years. The union between Sweden and Norway before 1905 was unsuccessful for both countries. Norway, Denmark and Finland were defeated in World War II, but Sweden was not. Swedish industry flourished in 1945-1960, when Norway and Denmark were just starting their post-war development, and Finland was experiencing serious difficulties due to the need to pay huge (and unfair) war compensation to Russia (1945-1952). Large Swedish transnational corporations - Volvo, Saab, Electrolux, SKF, Axel Johnson, etc. - experienced a boom during these years, since Swedish steel was considered the best in the world. Success often causes the envy of neighbors, especially when it is accompanied by a certain complacency. In the Scandinavian region, Sweden was perceived as a major export-oriented power, strong in financially, well supplied, and at the same time like an annoyingly smug neighbor.

There is no doubt that the arrogance of Swedes today has decreased markedly compared to the 1950s and 1960s, but in a recent study I conducted among 100 Swedish businessmen, the list of qualities they attribute to themselves is as follows: conscientiousness, honesty, loyalty, tolerance, equality, love of peace, love of nature, cleanliness, kindness, modesty. It is characteristic that these respondents chose 10 only positive values ​​and not a single negative one. Lane-Sveiby notes that Swedes fail to see themselves from the outside the way other people see them; in this respect they differ from the more "secular" Danes, as well as from the Finns, who are very interested in cultural differences and are constantly worried about what others will think of them. The Swedes, in turn, are very concerned about what other... Swedes will think about them!

Decision making Management in Sweden is decentralized and democratic - the organization of a typical Swedish company has a clearly horizontal structure. The power distance is small, and the company manager is usually accessible to staff and open to discussion. A Swedish company has fewer echelons of power than, for example, a French or German one. In Sweden there is actually a law (MBL) that states that all important decisions must be discussed with all employees before they are made! Logically, this is because the better informed employees are, the more engaged they are, and therefore the better they perform. This collective form of decision-making has an interesting resemblance to the Japanese one. In both countries it is considered important that all employees have a good opportunity to discuss projects in detail, since the right to discuss and express their opinions pays off in that, once a decision is made, employees strictly follow company policy. In Sweden, as in Japan, a decision can be delayed for a long time, but once it is made, it is unanimous, and after that all employees work in the same direction in accordance with this decision. This contrasts sharply, for example, with the situation in many American companies, where personal beliefs often lead to disagreements and conflicts within the company. However, the main difference between the Swedish and Japanese models is that in Japan the power distance between managers and employees is actually much greater than in Sweden. In both systems, extensive discussion and evaluation lead to good information exchange and create feelings of mutual trust and responsibility among employees. The Swedish model has not escaped criticism. Moran notes the following weaknesses of the Swedes in conducting the case:

They avoid conflicts or supporting one of the conflicting parties;

Fear of confrontation;

Rely on group initiative;

They try to avoid competition within their company. Despite the fact that in modern companies The participation of employees in decision making can only be welcomed; the speed of business transactions, increased thanks to modern information technology, often requires making quick and accurate decisions. Apparently, business decisions are made faster in the US than in any other country; This is being done the slowest in Japan and some other Asian countries. Majority European countries in terms of decision-making speed it is located somewhere in the middle between these two countries. Sweden is dangerously close to Japan in this regard. The word "dangerous" is used here in the sense that, although in the East it is customary to spend months on serious decisions, in Europe and the USA the situation is completely different. Managers from France, the UK and Finland working with or in Swedish companies are frustrated by constant consultation at all levels, endless meetings, habitual procrastination, obsessive people-orientation, over-caution, confusing HR policies and unclear "guidelines" from managers.

Swedish manager

Swedish managers skillfully work with employees using their charm, soft but persuasive communication style and smart psychological approaches. They are good leaders because they have to be! A difficult lot fell to their lot. As in Japan, in Sweden it is not easy to get rid of an incompetent, even careless or not entirely honest employee. And since, moreover, it is not customary here to strive for wealth, Swedish managers are deprived of both the “stick” and the “carrot”. They can neither inspire people nor greatly incentivize them with money (bonuses and use of company cars increase taxes). Therefore, they have to make great efforts to get the best results from those they command. Unfortunately, they are not very much in command: they do not give orders, but what they themselves call “guidelines” and which are often nothing more than suggestions. And they do not even carry out these directives themselves, but send them down to their subordinates for execution. If such an employee is incompetent or lazy, many tears will have to be shed before results can be achieved. To their credit, the majority of Swedish employees are extremely conscientious, cooperative and dedicated. Problems arise (as they often do in Japan) when the task at hand is too complex for one person to complete. One Swedish professor noted that to exercise power in Sweden is to create an image of an uninfluential person. Swedish managers walk the line between excessive personal intervention and rigid, ineffective control. They try to carry out their line through careful planning and detailed operating procedures. They say that such detailed planning helps Swedish managers sleep soundly!

Sorority Society

In his well-known study business cultures G. Hofstede concludes that of all the cultures given in his review, Swedish is the most feminine. In masculine cultures, the dominant values ​​are success, money, rewards, goals, things and property; in feminine ones - interpersonal relationships, quality of life, a friendly environment, the opportunity to provide services and the manifestation of caring - in short, the creation of a caring society. As for modern Sweden, Swedes themselves and others are beginning to ask themselves: is this country too caring a society? Maintaining a social security system - perhaps the best in the world - requires a lot of money. The Swedes suffer from too high taxes, and the country is rapidly aging. Every year the number of breadwinners decreases, and the number of dependents increases. If there was no competition in the world, Sweden could continue to sell at high prices its quality products to maintain a high standard of living, but in the 21st century. competition will be even tougher. Asian and American businessmen do not allow themselves six-week vacations and all sorts of long weekends, and in the summer they are in no hurry to leave their offices at 4 o'clock. Swedish managers are constantly faced with demands from their employees for maternity leave, sick leave for children, Saturday leave, study leave, for service in local self-defense units, for work in trade unions, etc. Capital and industry in Sweden are mainly located in private hands, but the tax system is structured in such a way that you cannot get rich legally. Those who threaten to do this (Ingmar Bergman, Bjorn Borg) are forced to leave the country and live abroad to avoid paying taxes. Which can reach more than 100% of income. By the way, the climate in Monte Carlo is better! It can be assumed that the Swedish system has more shortcomings than the Swedes themselves. They are kind, intelligent, resilient people who want things to go well, although it is not easy for them to fundamentally change their mentality (to work by the rules) when things get worse.

An over-regulated society, regardless of its policies, can produce very boring people, the spontaneity of which is erased. When dealing with Swedish businessmen, remember the following.

They believe that they are honest and always tell the truth.

They don't like to argue with their colleagues.

In Swedish companies, authority is delegated to subordinates, so in negotiations you may not hear what their boss really thinks. The price set by the Swedes may remain unchanged, as they consider it fair. They may appear inflexible in other ways as well, as they place complete trust in decisions made by group consensus. Like the Japanese, it is difficult for them to change their individual position, since this will go against the generally accepted opinion. They are good listeners and are sympathetic to your point of view. If they want to make concessions to you, then they need time to do this. They are not as profit-oriented as you are. Despite their sympathetic nature, they are more business-oriented than people-oriented. They are pragmatists when it comes to technical quality. The selling points of their products are quality, design and fast delivery. When purchasing, they also pay special attention to the quality of the product rather than the price. They treat generously if it is part of a business program. Like Americans and Finns, they pay little attention to food at a “work” lunch and continue to discuss the details of the case while eating. The French and Spaniards cannot stand this attitude towards food. They can endlessly discuss technical details, but for small talk they only last 10-15 minutes. However, their jokes and anecdotes are first class! They make formal toasts and expect speeches to be made during and after dinner. They are extremely informal in their address, using only the "you" form. Silence in Sweden does not necessarily mean a negative attitude. They are thoughtful and rather introverted.

They do not belong to a "contact" culture, so try not to get too close to them. During business meetings, they use very little gestures and facial expressions, although they smile much more often than Germans and Finns. They remain calm and polite during discussions, but do not know very well how to react to rudeness or to the expansiveness of the inhabitants of Romance countries. They do not show much respect for the rank of the interlocutor and treat important people as equals. The French, Germans, South Americans and Asians do not always take well to this very egalitarian behavior. They never suppress their interlocutor or resort to rude pressure, even if they have superiority in some way. It will be best if you give in to their desire for lengthy and comprehensive consultations and clearly demonstrate your patience and understanding, combined with firmness and integrity.

ARAB COUNTRIES

IN THE WEST AND IN THE ARAB COUNTRIES THERE EXIST ABSOLUTELY different views about what is good and evil, what is right and wrong, logical and illogical, acceptable and unacceptable. They live in completely different worlds, each of which is organized in its own way. Until a deep understanding of the differences between these two worldviews is achieved, one side will be negative towards the other. Therefore, it is worth listing the main cultural differences, perhaps this will help explain the current situation. Below is only summary these differences. The West believes that the Arab countries are in a state of decline and are temporarily supported by oil revenues. The Arabs, on the other hand, are very proud that their civilization once ruled the world, and believe that they are capable of doing so again (in a moral sense).

In the West, the church is generally separated from the state. In most Islamic countries this is not the case and religion has an influence strong influence on social behavior, politics and even business.

In the West, the basic social unit is the individual, while for Arabs the family is recognized as such a unit.

In the West, a person's status is determined by his achievements, and in the Arab world - by class.

Westerners like to deal with impartial facts; Arabs do not allow facts to spoil their reputation.

In the West they want to be honest but fair; Arabs want to be not only fair, but also flexible.

The West believes in organizations and social institutions; Arabs believe in leaders led by God.

The West is, in principle, a supporter of the new; Arabs are trying to adapt to modern forms behavior without violating the traditions they value. Most Western countries succeeded in establishing equality between men and women. Arabs are convinced that the two sexes have completely different personality traits.

Western societies differ greatly in their worldview. The Arabs, on the other hand, adhere to much of the same moral principles. Arabs travel less often than Westerners and are therefore more conservative.

In the West, people must behave rationally. It is important for Arabs to come across as a decent person.

In the West, strength is respected. IN Arab countries mercy is one of the most revered qualities, so the weak must be spared and protected. The Arabs introduced this feature into the culture of Spain.

In the West, friends are good company. For Arabs, a friend is a person who cannot refuse your request. You have no right to refuse their friends either.

In the West, people usually give a limited amount of information about themselves when introducing themselves to each other. Arabs tend to talk about their families and connections.

In the West, people mainly use official channels to push their business agendas. Arabs resort to personal connections for this. Arabs constantly expect praise for a job well done, while in the West people are satisfied that they have not lost it. Arabs are more sensitive to criticism than Westerners.

During negotiations, Westerners try to find logical arguments, while Arabs resort to personal arguments, appeals and persistent persuasion.

Arabs stand or sit much closer to their interlocutors than Westerners do. It is considered normal for them to breathe on the interlocutor and often touch him.

Arabs are less "closed" than Westerners. They have frequent visits and long conversations.

In Western societies, men and women communicate freely; this is not the case in most Arab countries. The separation of the sexes among Muslims receives territorial expression. Women visiting public places(“for men only”), must wear a veil to hide their face. Westerners rarely see women in Arab homes as they are confined to the inner rooms. Hospitality in Arab countries is more welcoming than in Western countries. By tradition, their door is open even to strangers. And the Bedouins, they say, can slaughter the last camel in order to feed their guest.

Westerners, especially the Swiss, Swedes and other northerners, try to be on time for lunch or other appointments. The Arabs are much less strict in this regard. Social events or business meetings do not usually have a specific start or end time.

Unlike Westerners, Arabs prefer arranged marriages. In general, these marriages are more stable and are characterized by mutual respect from both spouses.

The principles of morality in Rus' were very different from modern ones. Society argued: a woman should be moral - after all, she was considered the spiritual support of the family and the face of her husband.

It was believed that if a woman behaved in an “inappropriate” way, then the family would literally fall apart before our eyes. A man was allowed to “educate” a woman in word and “deed” so that this would not happen. That is why wives who did not meet the criteria of “morality” were often beaten, and this was perceived in society as the norm.

Behavior before marriage

Since girls in Rus' were married off very early (at the age of 12-15), the main requirements for observing moral standards were imposed specifically on married women. Before marriage, a girl was considered practically a child, and she was supposed to be obedient to her father and mother. Obedience and meekness were the main requirements for a potential bride.

If a girl behaved “provocatively” - she was excessively noisy, laughed loudly, drew attention to herself, chatted a lot with strangers, did not lower her eyes bashfully when they looked at her - she was considered shameless. Nobody wanted to marry such a girl, because she “knew no shame.” Young girls were supposed to be meek, obedient, hardworking and incurious. If a girl snapped, argued and generally had an obstinate disposition, there were no people willing to marry her.

At the same time, our ancestors made no claims to the physical purity of the newlywed. The bride did not have to be a virgin, since the Slavs calmly viewed premarital sexual relations. Even if the bride already had an illegitimate child, she was calmly married. The presence of a baby, on the contrary, was a guarantee that the girl was fertile, capable of giving birth and would bring offspring to her future husband.

Moral standards of a married woman

For married ladies there was a whole code of rules and norms of behavior. First of all, a married woman had to dress in accordance with her status. Having married, she forever lost the right to walk in front of strangers with her head uncovered. It was indecent. A married woman braided her hair in two braids and arranged them in a special way around her head. On top she put on a kokoshnik, kichka or scarf.

If a woman appeared with her head uncovered - “like a girl” - she was considered indecent, almost a public wench. By this she dishonored herself, her husband, and her parents, who “failed to raise her correctly.” Also, in public, a woman did not dare argue with her husband or contradict him. It was believed that this demeans the man's dignity and demonstrates that the woman is poorly educated.

A woman had to submit completely and completely to her husband in everything. She had the right to leave the house only if he gave her permission. The wife did not dare to have any secret conversations or affairs with strangers, accept gifts from them or give something without the permission of her husband. She did not even have the right to eat or drink anything in secret from the head of the family.

If a woman did any of the above, she was considered shameless, obscene, and poorly mannered. A married woman who did not honor her father-in-law and mother-in-law was also considered shameless. If a daughter-in-law dared to argue with one of her “second parents,” she could be known throughout the village and even flogged. The daughter-in-law in her husband's family was a person with absolutely no rights.

And, of course, the wife was not allowed to flirt, chat or exchange jokes with strangers. This was tantamount to physical betrayal and was severely punished. A woman in Rus' was completely immersed in household life, raising children, running a household and pleasing her husband. Any social activity was considered excessively free behavior bordering on indecency.

Surely there have been times when you flew thousands and thousands of kilometers away and, walking along the beach or along a mountain slope, suddenly clearly understood that in front of you were “your own”. In this material we talk about stereotypes and cliches regarding Russian tourists: why our people are not loved abroad and why there is a grain of truth in this

Our upbringing is not only our own merit and not even exclusively the work of our parents or teachers at school. There are broader factors that influence how we grow up and how we behave in society. Mentality influences the character and behavior of each person to a greater or lesser extent. This is why stereotypes about nations not only exist, but are also partly true. And of course, readers of this article will have many arguments against the painted portraits, indignation at the unattractive image of their compatriots and accusations of the author’s “flat” stereotyped thinking. Remember that this material is dedicated to the most stereotypical but, unfortunately, sometimes true differences between tourists of Russian nationality.

Photo: infoforesist.org

As you know, they don’t interfere with someone else’s monastery with its own rules, but many still try. It is because of this that representatives of other countries often seem to us to be ugly ignoramuses with strange and wild habits. In most cases, such things are dictated sociocultural characteristics each individual people. So before you accuse any nation of behaving badly abroad, ask yourself whether they behave differently at home and why such behavior is considered the norm among them. Here are some of the most common cliches about the distinctive features of Russian tourists.

Scandals

There is hardly a person who, during his holiday abroad, has not encountered scandalous Russians. Either the towels in their room are not the same, or the air conditioner is blowing too much, or the fish is over-salted. And all these points must be clarified by shouting and accusations. Perhaps this is all because Russians are used to fighting for “service” all the time: in savings bank queues, with conductors on trams, with saleswomen hanging out in stores. This list can be endless. Residents of Russia are accustomed to the fact that if they do not start shouting first, then a service worker will probably beat them to it.

Photo: mashable.com

Rudeness

This trait is directly related to the previous one. For some reason, it is customary for Russians to be rude to each other in any situation and place: from passenger transport to the offices of officials. Everything, of course, can be explained by the difficult fate of the average Russian, but the fact remains a fact. A real case from the practice of our editorial team: several years ago, having found ourselves in all inclusive Sharm el-Sheikh with a 100% Russian-speaking contingent, we asked for a drink at the beach bar, after which the Egyptian bartender called his partner with the words: “Look, this is the first person on the beach who said “you’re welcome.”

Appearance

Another stereotype about the features that “give out” a Russian person has developed around the manner of dressing. It's no secret that European girls on vacation and at home often prefer comfortable and unpretentious clothes and a minimum of cosmetics. Russians are completely different in this sense. Taking several suitcases with the best outfits with her on vacation, our woman considers it her duty to “walk” each of them. Moreover, it doesn’t bother her much that it’s time for breakfast, and she’s wearing diamonds. Still in Sharm el-Sheikh, it is absolutely typical to see a beauty in a swimsuit with makeup and stiletto heels by the pool. Here we can talk about the desire to find a wealthy foreign groom or even about an inferiority complex that one wants to compensate for with rich clothes. Again, we must admit that yes, at home our girls also dress up like this when going to the store to buy bread. This is probably a feature of the mentality - to try to look like a queen in any situation. However, it is not only the style of Europeans and Russians that differs so significantly; take, for example, Indians, whose color preferences seem downright strange even to our women.

Photo: easythai.ru

Queues

Perhaps this habit comes from the Soviet Union, because otherwise we can explain this thirst for standing in line everywhere and jostling with elbows just to get a seat. best place, cannot be explained. It seems that sausage is not in short supply in stores, and you don’t have to stand out from six in the morning to buy a piece of fabric, but still, apparently, nostalgia for the old atmosphere awakens from time to time. It’s our people who come to the beach at seven in the morning to throw a towel on the sunbed, saying it’s busy, and go back to their room to get some sleep before lunch. It’s our people who storm the tourist bus in order to have time to take seats closer to the guide. It’s our people who scatter the kebabs and seafood from the buffet within five seconds of their appearance on the common platter. There is a social background to all this, determined by the Soviet past. For comparison, remember that you have most likely seen eloquent photographs of Indian trains being stormed by women, men, children and the elderly. This behavior fits perfectly into the norm for the inhabitants of this country, in which total poverty and overpopulation lead to similar consequences.

Seriousness

Many foreigners note that Russians do not like to smile. Moreover, at first glance there are no obvious reasons for such seriousness, but the regime of Princess Nesmeyana often betrays our compatriots. Moreover, if someone dares to smile at a Russian person, he runs the great risk that his emotion will be perceived with hostility, as mockery and ridicule. In this sense, in comparison with our people, the people of Asia look most contrasting with their constant optimism and friendliness on their faces. Not only mentality differences play a role here, but also religious ones. Buddhist and Hindu laws call to enjoy every moment of life, while Orthodoxy instills fear of God, repentance and sorrow for one’s sins. However, perhaps the harsh living conditions do not give Russian people much reason to smile, or maybe it’s all because of the frosty winters and angry bears. A mysterious Russian soul, in a word.

Alcohol

The relationship between Russian people and alcohol has always been and will be special. For our man, a vacation is not a vacation without a hundred grams. Usually, close communication with strong drinks begins from the plane. You know that you can’t actually open bags of duty free booze on board? This, of course, does not bother us at all. However, most often the tanks are emptied before takeoff. If flight attendants serve free alcohol on a flight, then guess who will demand two double whiskeys for “me and my friend”? That's right, of course he's Russian. The same picture is observed in any hotel in Turkey or Egypt with an all inclusive system. And only Russians are willing to overpay for low-grade swill in countries where the drinking culture is not developed. Our man is able to find a wine shop in a provincial Indian town or in the Emirates, even if he has to take an outright risk and adventure. So the chance of meeting a compatriot increases sharply if you see a drunk tourist.

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With all this, one cannot deny the obvious positive traits. It is Russian tourists who are distinguished by their sincerity, willingness to help and generous celebrations.

For greater objectivity, let’s say that unflattering reviews are also written about tourists of other nationalities. For example, the Chinese are disliked for being extremely loud, fussy, manic for photographing attractions, mountains of garbage left behind, and the habit of not tipping waiters. The British are often accused of rudeness and drunkenness, often on a larger scale than the Russians allow themselves. Italians are accused of having a tendency to communicate loudly and emotionally, even at night, when they clearly disturb other hotel guests. Truly, no one is perfect.

Of course, all of the above in no way applies to all Russians without exception, and, moreover, in recent years Our compatriots began to travel abroad more often, which had a positive effect on their behavior. In a word, you don’t need to take this text as criticism, try to find the speck in your eye and correct some points if you suddenly recognize yourself at some point.