3 Reading, Thinking, Sharing

1 * What do the Americans who visited Russia or Belarus think about these coun­tries and their people? Read an extract from a diary and list the areas which provoke culture shock in Russia.

15 August, 1996 - Vladimir

I arrived today from New York. Russia looks extremely poor to me. From the bus, I noticed a lot of cars parked on the side of the main highway leading to Vladimir. It seems to me that people, like in Mexico, simply drive their cheap cars until they breakdown whereby they just leave them. Although I have seen pictures and knew in general how Russians live, I nevertheless was surprised when I saw the massiveness of some of their absolutely huge apartment complexes. Moscow, the little I saw, seems to be a city predominantly composed of these housing units. They are all very similar.

I couldn't believe the main highway leading to Vladimir. It is essentially a large paved road with stop lights. It is only 180 km, but it took at least three hours to travel the distance from Moscow to Vladimir. The lanes are not marked, and the pavement is filled with small holes.

I was surprised to see so much nature. Half the distance between the two cities is made up of forest, with the other half consisting of small village hamlets which look as if they have been stuck in time. Except for the road and power ca­bles, these beautiful (but often down run) wooden houses look like something straight out of the eighteenth century. This scene, combined with the decapitated factories belching out smoke (they are like giant cloud machines really) really shows what a paradox Russia is. Also, occasionally, these hamlets are interspersed with medium sized Soviet housing. The contrast between tradition and beauty and industry, poor quality housing and a repressive political system is fascinating and to be honest, quite unexpected.

Russia has shocked me more in a day than during four months of travelling around Europe.

1 September, 1996 - Vladimir

Well, I've been here for about two weeks, and have gathered enough infor­mation to continue writing again. It is very difficult to describe this place. It's hard to begin. At times there is so much to say that I in fact have nothing at all to say.

The streets are rather neglected. There are no storm drains, and when it rains, the water simply gathers, making small pools out of the numerous pot holes, as well as washes down the street, making walking a somewhat dirty experience

Transport is reliable, however, the number of passengers is truly unreal. I can't even estimate just how many people manage to ride these buses. It's truly in­humane. There must be triple the amount of passengers than these buses were de—signed to hold. It is like a third world-country. The view could only be topped if people actually rode on top of the buses like they do in India or in Sub-Saharan Af­rica for example.

Russians don't seem to be very orderly. They don't line up at windows or counters in stores. They do not enter the bus one at a time, but instead push and shove their way on board. This idea of closeness is also seen in their daily interac­tions with one another. They tend to stand practically on top of you when speaking. On the bus, there is no choice but to push and shove, considering how many people are packed together. Yet, there rarely seems to be any anger about it. What bothers people is when you briefcase or backpack nudges someone.

I've noticed that people don't really smile here. Unless they are with friends or family members, people have a very harsh look on their faces. Russian service people are some of the rudest people I've met. They are very impatient with cus­tomers and show how they feel, not only through gestures of indifference, but will tell you straight out what you have done to anger them. I've never seen a smile in a store. Sales people make you feel as if you are bothering them for having to serve you. You can't help but bother these people. The stores are arranged so that all of the goods on sale are behind the counter. You must therefore ask for every item. Asking to have a look at something without buying it causes more problems than it's worth. Paying for your items is also less than friendly, convenient, or efficient for that matter. You must first push your way to the front of the line, tell the sales person what you want and then wait while they add it up for you. Then you must wait in a different line in order to pay for the thing you want to buy. Finally, you take the receipt, stand in the first line again in order to pick up your goods, present your receipt to the saleswoman, who then thoroughly scrutinizes it, shoves your goods towards you (which you yourself must pack up), while someone else pushes up against you trying to get her attention.

It's also interesting that Russians don't manicure their grass, hushes, or trees on the street, or even in the parks for that matter. Everything just grows wild -weeds and all. By September, everything is very overgrown. Mixed in with this wilderness in the city is garbage - lots of garbage. It's difficult actually to find a trash can. Maybe that's why people apparently just through their trash on the ground.

However, another huge contrast can be made. Although Russians on the street interacting with strangers can be harsh, lack emotion, and boarder on being down right rude, Russians to whom they know are more generous, caring and hos­pitable than any other people I've met. While with Russians you don't know, you have this feeling that they would hesitate to help you, even if you were being mugged.

Can you predict what will shock a foreigner from the target culture in Be­larus? Get into groups of four or five and find people who think that the fol­lowing things will surprise an American and write their names next to each situation.

• Kissing three times when meeting

• Using “uncle”, “aunt” or “granny” addressing to unknown people

• uncertainty in decision making

• children wearing school uniforms

• parties

• buses

Continue the list of situations which provoke culture shock in this country. Speak to informants, if necessary.