(survival tactics)
First
of all, be ready for disappointments: 1) we do not drink vodka all the time (some
of us have never tried it, some of us -
like me - tried it twice in our lives, mixed with juice, at a party with Austrian
friends), 2) KGB will not follow you – it even does not exist anymore. I will dispel
other myths about Russia next time, today I will get you morally prepared for
travelling to my beloved mother country.
 |
| Cathedral of Christ the Savior |
·
Learn Russian or take a Russian-speaking friend with
you, because not so many Russians speak English
or another foreign language. Well, Moscow or other big cities are
better, but if you go to a small town, at least download a phrase book on you phone. Do not
repeat to Russians in Russia the phrase that some Russian friends of yours taught
you when they were visiting your country– most probably they are swear words;
·
Do not ask a Russian “How are you”, unless you have an hour or so to listen to the
answer. If to that question a Russian answered just “fine” or “good”, it means
that 1) the person does not speak English or 2) the person does not want to
speak now or 3) the person has experience in talking to foreigners;
·
Do not drink alcohol at all if you rent a car – drinking while driving (even
a glass of wine/beer) is prohibited;
·
Be ready for long distances – if someone invites you to a dinner to his house and
says “it’s close”, it may be an hour or more away by car/subway from where you
are;
·
If a friend or colleague invited you to his house, do not eat beforehand: it is 99%
probability that they will serve you a dinner. The rest 1% will at least offer
you tea with biscuits or something sweet. If none of that happened – your
friend is not Russian. If you are visiting a small town, the dinner will be
substantial and they will be disappointed if you do not eat the food prepared
especially for your visit. So, as I said, do not eat beforehandJ;
·
Take off your shoes when you come to someone’s house – we wear slippers at
home, and not only after having shower (no need to bring your slippers with you though);
·
If you
go somewhere by subway, and a woman on
the opposite is closely watching you, do not think she is from KGB (remember:
it does not exist), she is just interested – Russians are interested in foreigners
and like to communicate with them;
·
Or –
maybe that woman is watching you reproachfully because you are seated while an
old woman is standing in front of you as there are no other seats available: we give places to the old and the pregnant.
Girls also appreciate when a man gives place to them (even if they are not
pregnant) – it is natural and polite, even though it does not happen often;
·
Be ready for all sorts of personal questions – it is OK if your colleagues ask you whether you are
married or not, if yes, how you met your husband/wife, what books you like to
read, where you go on vacation, etc. It just means we like you and we are interested.
If you feel being interviewed and do not like answering such questions – just ask
the person same questions and see how he/she will enjoy talking about
himself/herself;
·
When in Russia, do as the Russians do – in my next posts I will tell you in more details
what to wear and how to behaveJ
“Next
time you come to Moscow I will give you a romantic guide!” – I said cheerfully to
my British colleague Fred when he came to Moscow office on business. Fred
looked confused but smiled politely, as he was a gentleman. Well, I did not
mean that some romantic person will escort him around Moscow, I just wanted to share with him a book where the most beautiful
and romantic places of Moscow were marked. The conclusion from here is that even
if we speak English, it is not always that understandable. So be ready to guess
from Russian “English” what we mean.
Well,
if you have any questions about travelling to Russia and survival tactics there,
please contact me at tatianagloba@gmail.com,
I will be glad to help. I still have that romantic guide (a book) that I can
give youJ
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