Neilikka
09-12-2008, 07:34 PM
There is nothing strange in sneezing or coughing, even picking your nose if necessary. Any European can do it whenever the urge arises, not feeling shy in front of other people. These are normal, natural reflexes. In Russia, however, the attitude is different. Upon hearing somebody blowing his nose at a lecture, for example, everyone will turn round to find the source of the awful sound. Don't worry, people won't scold you, but their eyes will tell you everything. If you want to blow your nose in public in Russia, do it either very carefully, or secretly. This way you will look more well-behaved.
One more example. The action takes place in Louvre, Paris. Tired of looking at masterpieces, tourists take a short rest and eat some sandwiches. The café is more expensive than a snack bar, but the staff are the same. I was shocked to see foreigners buying something at the snack bar and then sitting down on the cold, dirty floor to eat. Russians would never do such a thing. Is it because of our extreme cleanliness, a phobia of germs, or just socially conditioned behavior?
Then there is topless sunbathing. In Europe, you are far less likely to meet a Russian woman sunbathing topless than her Western counterpart. Although the culture of nudist relaxation is spreading in Russia, for foreigners it is more normal to follow their natural needs wherever they may be. No doubt a Russian will stare at this ‘phenomenon'. When they spy a same-sex couple or someone dressed in an alternative style, you can be sure that my fellow country men will point their fingers and comment. This behaviour may, to some extent, be justified by the the fact that in Russia we are just getting accustomed to their existence. Whereas we feel that the person who fails to hide the symptoms of his illness can have no excuse.
Are Russians simply more polite and well-behaved in public? Or is this a symptom of our rigid Soviet past? In any case, Westerners have often been regarded as uncivilized, or "ugly Americans." But this can't be true. It doesn't matter if they leave their stuff at your place, blow their nose very loudly, or brush their teeth in front of their colleagues - they never stop to think it to be somehow embarrassing. After all, these are natural things all people do. Then why should Russians shun from it? Someone's dirty coffee mug left on your desk may be easily removed - all we need to do is ask. Maybe the roots of such Russian modesty are in people's taciturnity, a disability to express their opinion and needs. Being silent under the Soviet Union, people trained themselves to hide their nature. I doubt it may be called ‘innate politeness.'
It is better to define it as fear, the fear of being noticed, of standing out in the crowd. But today we speak freely and can express ourselves freely. Still we try to hide our nature, rather then to look strange in a public place. And noticing something ‘strange' we point it out. People may curse a cold, but make fun of those people who blow their noses loudly. We aren't shy until the case attaches to our humanity.
What I suggest is being more open-minded. Russia today is a part of global society, where any expression of self is welcome. Don't be afraid of sneezing - nature isn't an entity to be embarrassed about, and we shouldn't turn around when somebody is "listening to the natural rhythms of his body."
By Daria Chernyshova
One more example. The action takes place in Louvre, Paris. Tired of looking at masterpieces, tourists take a short rest and eat some sandwiches. The café is more expensive than a snack bar, but the staff are the same. I was shocked to see foreigners buying something at the snack bar and then sitting down on the cold, dirty floor to eat. Russians would never do such a thing. Is it because of our extreme cleanliness, a phobia of germs, or just socially conditioned behavior?
Then there is topless sunbathing. In Europe, you are far less likely to meet a Russian woman sunbathing topless than her Western counterpart. Although the culture of nudist relaxation is spreading in Russia, for foreigners it is more normal to follow their natural needs wherever they may be. No doubt a Russian will stare at this ‘phenomenon'. When they spy a same-sex couple or someone dressed in an alternative style, you can be sure that my fellow country men will point their fingers and comment. This behaviour may, to some extent, be justified by the the fact that in Russia we are just getting accustomed to their existence. Whereas we feel that the person who fails to hide the symptoms of his illness can have no excuse.
Are Russians simply more polite and well-behaved in public? Or is this a symptom of our rigid Soviet past? In any case, Westerners have often been regarded as uncivilized, or "ugly Americans." But this can't be true. It doesn't matter if they leave their stuff at your place, blow their nose very loudly, or brush their teeth in front of their colleagues - they never stop to think it to be somehow embarrassing. After all, these are natural things all people do. Then why should Russians shun from it? Someone's dirty coffee mug left on your desk may be easily removed - all we need to do is ask. Maybe the roots of such Russian modesty are in people's taciturnity, a disability to express their opinion and needs. Being silent under the Soviet Union, people trained themselves to hide their nature. I doubt it may be called ‘innate politeness.'
It is better to define it as fear, the fear of being noticed, of standing out in the crowd. But today we speak freely and can express ourselves freely. Still we try to hide our nature, rather then to look strange in a public place. And noticing something ‘strange' we point it out. People may curse a cold, but make fun of those people who blow their noses loudly. We aren't shy until the case attaches to our humanity.
What I suggest is being more open-minded. Russia today is a part of global society, where any expression of self is welcome. Don't be afraid of sneezing - nature isn't an entity to be embarrassed about, and we shouldn't turn around when somebody is "listening to the natural rhythms of his body."
By Daria Chernyshova