Understanding Our Russian Coaches Culture

Foreigners who come to Russia are often struck by the indifferent, closed, or even hostile looks from people on public transportation and in the streets. One widespread opinion is that Russians rarely smile. On the other hand, Russians are also well known for their hospitality, and have a reputation for being extremely generous friends.

There are sociological reasons behind both types of behaviour. According to Elena Zdravomyslova, a professor at the European University in St. Petersburg and research coordinator at the Centre for Independent Social Research, the apathy demonstrated by Russians in public could be a means of psychological defence. “In post-Soviet Russia, the level of personal security has decreased dramatically,” she said. “If you are attacked in the street, the police cannot help you. Nobody can really defend you. The instability of social structures also makes people avoid contacts that could jeopardize their safety, or even develop aggressive behavioural strategies. Being autonomous is safer.”

This conclusion is very surprising and to my mind unprofessional. I don’t think it’s correct to explain a cultural phenomenon that is at least 500 years old by some 15 years post-Soviet period. The opinion about Russians as at times unsmiling and rude but in other circumstances as very friendly and hospitable one easily finds in the accounts of European travellers on Russia already in the 15th and 16th century. For example, E. de Corte compares French peasants who are friendly when they are sober and very aggressive when drunk to Russians – when sober they are sullen but when drunk hug and kiss each other.

One only needs to read about Levin’s relationships with his peasants in “Anna Karenina” to find the “secret” of this paradoxical behaviour. Bezukhov’s adventures during the French retreat from Moscow in “War and Peace” also give a lot of insights.

Russian culture is basically the culture of Russian peasantry communes. I believe hundreds of ethnographers wrote about it. Commune here is a key word. Why is this culture so prevailing today? In 1917 before the Communist Coup 87% of Russian population was rural. At the beginning of 1970’s only 18% of Russians were engaged in agriculture. Most of Russians can live in big cities but they still behave as if they belong to a small community and the nearest village is a hundred miles away.

When you live in Siberia in a small rural commune you should be very distrustful of every stranger. Moreover – strangers should feel immediately that you are hostile towards them. Only when a stranger proves beyond doubt that (1) he wants to belong to the commune, (2) he accepts all laws and traditions of this particular commune, (3) he can be trusted; only then he is accepted. And an accepted member of the commune enjoys so much trust, friendliness, openheartedness and sincerity that is very surprising to Europeans and who think that Russian openness is over the top.

Actually the “secret” of Russian democracy is also rooted in the culture of peasantry communes. Inside the commune people have their own laws, traditions, judges, principles and values. Every time the government tries to impose its laws, its attempts are met with peasants’ revolts and revolutions. On the other hand people delegate the tsar and the Orthodox Church all the problems outside communal life. The tsar can make any laws he likes as long as such laws help keeping this huge country together and do not contradict the laws of the commune. Not “commune” in general but every particular commune with its particular laws, be it in Siberia, in the Far East, in the Northern taiga or in the Southern steppes.

Seven decades of Communism have left Russia's civil servants with a well-deserved reputation for being unhelpful and downright rude. It is easy to believe that their favourite word is nyet, usually pronounced with unseemly relish before a shutter or door is slammed in the face of yet another long-suffering citizen.

But tolerance of such behaviour is wearing thin and Moscow's city fathers are among the first to try to put the civility back into Russia's civil service. The Russian capital's chinovniki (officials), reputedly among the most brusque in the country, are being sent on an "art of business communication" course designed to encourage them to treat the public with a modicum of respect.

According to the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, those on the course are being taught never to say nyet or pochemu (why) to a member of the public because such words "tire people and put them at a distance". In the next six months more than 800 city officials will also be lectured on the niceties of how to stand and hold themselves when addressing a member of the public, how to dress, and of course how to smile. Officials are reportedly being told to view Russian President Vladimir Putin as a model of how to talk to the public, as opposed to the former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev.

Mr Putin allegedly looks slightly down and to the left when he is addressing anyone, an approach said to show that he is always in full command of what he is saying. Mr Gorbachev's speech was apparently peppered with too much officialise. In a culture where smiling in public has not always been approved of (smiling too much is interpreted by some as a sign of idiocy) the course's consultants are working hard to get people to use muscles in their face they never knew they had.

"Let's not forget that we're servants of the people," a course leader was quoted as telling participants. "Show that you're ready to communicate by smiling! Even on the telephone."

Many officials still see members of the public as a nuisance while the public regards civil servants as lazy, bribe-addicted good-for-nothings.

Despite this strained relationship, statistics show that the government's love of bureaucracy has grown stronger in recent years. The number of civil servants has risen in proportion to the population by a factor of 14 since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and now stands at around two million or 1.5 per cent of the entire population.

A recent study showed that only 2 per cent of ordinary people and 16 per cent of officials believed that bureaucrats were interested primarily in the prosperity of the country. Equally, 71 per cent of people said they considered bureaucrats a hindrance rather than a help and nearly 90 per cent associated the word "bureaucrat" with negativity.

Corruption is the biggest problem, with many officials expecting increasingly large bribes to do what they are paid (badly) to do by the state in the first place. Indeed a study last year showed that Russians forked out £183bn a year in backhanders and that the cost of the average bribe (now around £57) had rocketed by a factor of 13 in the past four years. So bad is corruption that the maverick MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky has suggested putting CCTV cameras in officials' offices. "We need strict control over the handling of documents as they are passed from office to office," he told Russian television.

If you are from Western Europe or The US, then Russians would seem rude. But you must try to understand that its a totally different culture. I am a westerner living in Russia and at first it used to annoy me when i would do something like hold a door open for a group of people and not one person would say Thank you(Spasiba) but as it's not part of there culture to thank you for something small like this, it isn't rude by Russian etiquette. Like wise when i get invited to somebody house (which happens frequently as Russian hospitality as second to no where else ive been) you must take a gift. When you give the gift, they just take it without any acknowledgement because it is expected just like holding the door, so it seems a thanks isn't necessary.

People in some of the ex USSR countries that are now independent have a negative view of Russia and its people because of over 40 years occupation of the territory.

Cold? The country is in the winter but the people not once you get to know them. Perhaps its just that they are not used to dealing with outsiders, which under the Soviet Union were seen as bad influences and it was closed to foreigners  (to travel freely) so they don't have much personal experience of associating with non Russian speakers.

Russian people can seem unceremonious for people from other countries. They can touch your clothes, ask where you bought it and what is their price.

They can stare at you or your things and they think that it is normal. Foreign people usually think that their behaviour is too personal. But a long stare at the eyes is considered to be immodest in Russia.

Russians are very social. They can’t understand if a foreign person came to them and is sitting in his room. It is strange for them that he doesn’t want to communicate.

When a Russian person speaks with somebody or sits down near them, the distance between them and another people are usually shorter than in other countries.

That is why they always think that Americans and Europeans keep away from them. And foreign people usually think that Russians are unceremonious.

Europeans usually think that Russians are very familiar with their relatives.

And Russian people think that Europeans treat their relatives like strangers.

Russian people are very superstitious. They spit over the left shoulder, if they see a cat crossing their way. They also get upset when they or somebody else spill salt or break a mirror.

They are very interested in horoscopes. Especially at the end of the year they want to know the sign of the next year according to oriental horoscope and to know if it will be good for them.

If you meet a Russian person in the street and ask him about his life you will have to listen all about it. He will tell you all about his problems, illnesses, not only his but his relatives’ and so on. So be careful about it.

The most favourite topic of conversation is politics. All Russians have their own views on political situation in their countries and want to share them with others. They also like to argue what politicians are better.

Today they can criticise their country, their politics and life in them.
And tomorrow they can tell you that Russia is the best country in the world.

When Russian people speak badly about their country, people think that they are not patriotic and that they do not love it.

That’s not right. Russian patriotism is rather special. They love their home and their country but they do not like their government. They usually call it “they”. The government is their enemy and it must be avoided. They think that the government can’t be good and nobody expects it to be good

In Russia, one needs to know people in power to make things work. This is why they maintain more friendships than an average American. They often have to rely on their friends to help them out. They are very social. Russians are smart. They have so many difficulties and problems in life, that they can easily find a roundabout way for anything. They don't have a deep respect towards any law, including traffic rules. It is said that Russians are of some of the most reckless, but at the same time skilful drivers, and the most careless pedestrians in the world. (A small hint for teachers to remember)   The majority of Russian people do not really understand the huge difference in the life in Russia than that of the US. Russians do not consider their life as miserable. They feel that things are changing for the better and "everything's starting to work out" in their country. The frantic desperation of early 90’s when there was no food in shops, and late 90’s with their economical roller coaster is no longer there. The child birth rate is on the raise, which is a sure indicator people feel more confident about their future.

Russians like to emphasize their different attitude towards material values and consider themselves as sincere, cordial, understanding and unselfish. Generally, Russians love their country. They can criticize it severely, but if you try to do the same they will defend it furiously. They feel like citizens of the largest county in the world, which has rich history and deep cultural roots, and they are proud of it.

Another thing about Russian daily life - they do not really enjoy it. They get awakened not to enjoy a new day but to cope with today's problems. There is little comfort and contentment. Russians are used to minor everyday difficulties, and they don't even bother them anymore. Russian daily life is tough, and it's probably the reason why they smile so seldom. Rarely will you see a smiling face in a bus or on the streets - the fact that usually makes foreigners wonder. And this fact will be mentioned again in this briefing. The very word "enjoy" has some indecent flavour in Russian: it is something that is not very appropriate, but done nevertheless. A Russian would usually say "I love doing that, rather than "I enjoy" doing that. Therefore they love (like) some things, but doing them does not result in the feeling of contentment - this is actually what is mean by saying "They don't enjoy it". This of course doesn’t mean Russians don’t know how to have fun! They do know how to have fun, and many Russians currently in the US miss out on the Russian limitless fun.  Also, the English phrase "to have fun" is hardly translatable to Russian, since Russians do not make their purpose "to have fun" or "enjoy". Fun is just something that happens without plans, when people are happy and cheerful. In general, Russian people are much more spontaneous and playful that Americans. But they still don’t smile much.

Religion

Religion in Russia is said to be Christian, and belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church. They appreciate Christian moral values but do not follow them, most of the time. Religion is not a real part of their life. Russians are more aware of horoscopes than the Bible. Church service in Russia can be attended any day of the week and performed every day 2 or 3 times.  People usually attend the church just to "light a candle" and quickly pray. They do it to ask for something to happen (a business deal, an exam) or to remember a close person who has died. The Church survives selling candles and reminder notes and charging for services such as baptizing, weddings and funerals. A church marriage is not official in Russia. A couple has to register their marriage with government authorities first to be allowed to have church ceremony performed.

Education

Education in Russia is free. One can still get a university education for free by passing the entrance tests, but the universities have to decrease the number of students studying on a free basis because of poor state financing. Since both education and culture facilities used to be widely available, Russians can be considered a highly cultured nation. Their general knowledge is very good: they know a little bit about virtually everything. At secondary schools, they study not only the history of Russia but also the world history, including American and European history. In the same secondary school course (11 years school qualification is mandatory in Russia) they study world literature, world music, and world geography. Many books are from American authors and are mandatory reading in the course of literature (in Russian translation). The standard secondary school program includes studying of a foreign language for 6 years (grades 5-11) usually it is English. Most subjects in the course of a secondary school are mandatory for all schools throughout all of Russia.

On the entrance exams at universities and colleges only questions from the general course of the secondary school can be asked. Universities and colleges accept students according to the results of entrance tests, and not according to their grades at school, though having excellent grades will help. Intellectually, Russians are interesting people to talk to and enjoy deep subjects. I have had a great time gathering all of this information from my friends.

Russian children begin school when they are 6 years old. Elementary school consists of the first 4 grades, middle school consists of 5 grades and high school is 2 grades. It is only required that children attend the first 9 grades. After that a child can go to work or do work/study. If a child wants to go to the University, however, he or she must complete all 11 grades. There are approximately 25-30 students in each class. All students learn at least one foreign language in school. Russian education system has three levels: school (called "school's education"), college ("middle education" and University ("high education"). A University education is more prestigious and higher than a College/middle education. Children either walk or take public transportation to get to school. The elementary, middle and high schools are located in 1 building, so all the children from the neighbourhood go to the same place.

School buses are only used by children who attend private schools. If parents want to send their children to a specialized school, they must arrange for the child's transportation to that school. All grades begin at 8:30 in the morning and children attend school Monday through Friday. There are 4 terms in a school year. Between the terms are vacations. The biggest vacation is for 3 months during the summer; the smaller vacation, in the fall is for 1 week. During the school day, children have a hot breakfast or snacks and dinners. It is very inexpensive to buy these things at school and children generally do not bring their own food from home. After classes children can stay at school, much like after-school programs in the U.S. until 6 pm.

During this time the children can play, do homework, or participate in other activities such as dancing, singing, painting, or sports. These after-school programs are for free. Children are expected to be ready if the teacher calls them to answer homework questions or problems at the blackboard. If a student is not ready he or she will receive a bad grade. The grading system is: 5-excellent, 4 - very good, 3 - satisfactory, 2 - negative mark - if a student is not prepared or if his answer was very bad. Student's grades are not treated as confidential. All classmates know exactly who received which grade; the reason is to encourage children to compete for better grades. Poor grades are an embarrassment. If a student is graduating a school with only "5"s, and has had no lower grades in total marks for all 11 years, he or she will receive a "Gold medal". If the student has one "4" he or she will receive a "Silver medal". Earning a Gold medal is a big advantage for admission to a higher educational institution.

There are many free (state) specialized schools in Russia. In addition to the curriculum taught in general schools, these schools also have a concentration in math or physics or foreign language. There are also separate music schools but this is an extra activity that a student would go to after their regular school day. Admission to these specialized schools is based on an entrance exam or a special aptitude. Some of these specialized schools are boarding schools; where the children live and only go home for vacation times.

Unlike the U.S., students remain in the same classes with their first grade classmates from 1st through 11th grade. The classmates therefore know each other very well because they study and grow up together. After school classmates remain lifelong friends. Sounds like a great idea.

Another very big difference between Russian and American schools is the amount of discipline and respect between teacher and student. Russian teachers are very strict and the children cannot talk, misbehave or be disrespectful in the classroom; it simply is not tolerated. This is true at the college and university level as well.

Family life

The keyword to Russian family life is “dependence”. The family life is built on dependence, and Russians are attached to their family members. Living in small apartments together with parents and/or children makes Russians take care of each other. They have to be considerate and ready to compromise. One has to adapt to the family lifestyle and rules. A decent woman is supposed to stay at home, while her husband is allowed to spend time with friends in cafes, restaurants and discos. All housework is also women’s responsibility, and it's quite a lot if taking in consideration the lack of home electronic utilities. Russian society is pretty male dominating.

Marriage for Russian women is the same type of thing as career for American women - it gives them a respectable social status. All Russian women can sew (sewing is compulsory in the course of 'domestic labour' subject for girls in Russian schools - boys learn to make furniture and fix taps etc). The apartment buildings are tall and the apartments are very small.   Folding up a bed during the day and storing bed sheets.  At night, it is made all over again.  It's work. They also share kitchens and toilets with other families. 

 A favourite childhood food is blinies (thin pancakes served with salmon and other fillings) with sour cream and piroshkises (pastries filled with meat). They are said to be good. Another favourite is borscht, which is soup made from beets.   Shchi (cabbage soup) and tea are also on the favourite list.  Like most Russians, they eat their main meal at midday and have a lighter meal in the evening. This is also in most European countries too.

Traditions

One of the most prominent Russian traditions is hard drinking. It does not mean they all are alcoholics. Russians are just drinking more alcohol when they are drinking. Russian drinking traditions are very much a cultural thing, and the person who drinks and does not become drunk is always respected. It's called "he can drink". The more you drink and don't fall down drunk, the more your friends will respect you.

Russian holidays

The biggest Russian holiday is New Year (1 January). During the Soviet time people were not allowed to celebrate Christmas (Russian Christmas is 7 January when the see Father Frost), and New Year was the most cheerful holiday. The next holiday is the Old New Year (13 January). Russians had a different calendar before February 1918. The difference between Julian (the old Russian) and Gregorian (European) calendars was 13 days, and after the Soviet government adopted Gregorian calendar Russians started to celebrate many holidays twice: according to the new style and the old one.

Non-official "Men's Day" is 23 February, it is a public holiday called "The Homeland Defender's Day". All men in Russia are liable for call-up (including reservists), so they all are celebrities. On this day women usually give men small gifts.

Official "Women's Day" is 8 March. On this day men give women gifts, usually flowers. Men also are supposed to do all the housework, this is pretty nice - at least once a year women can take a break and forget about all those dishes, cooking, kids, take a magazine and relax on the coach...

April 1^st  is non-official "the Day of Laugh". People tell jokes to each other, newspapers and TV publish funny stories and jokes. The motto of this day: Do not trust anybody on 1 April ("Pervoye aprelya - nikomu ne veryu").

May 1^st is the Day of Labour. During Soviet time there were huge demonstrations on this day, as everybody was obliged to show his loyalty to the state; now only communists organize meetings on this date.

May 9^th  - Victory Day. 2-day public holiday (8-9 May), the day when Nazi Germany capitulated in 1945 after 4-year war with Soviet Union and other countries. Soviet Union lost 20 million people in the war. The minute of silence announced on the Central TV in the memory of deceased at 9:00 P.M., and fireworks thereafter.

June 12^th - the Independence Day. It's an official holiday but Russians are not used to it yet. They spend this day on their "dachas" - small plots in countryside where they plant some vegetables.

September 1^st is the Day of Knowledge - it's the beginning of a school year. Children go to schools with flowers for teachers, there are meetings before the classes start - nice and exciting.

November 5^th  - the Day of October revolution (25 October according to the old calendar). It's still an official holiday in Russia though there is not such a huge celebration as it used to be during the Soviet era.

December 12^th - The Constitution Day. This day the first Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted in 1993 (previous Constitutions were all Soviet Union's). It is a recent public holiday, and there are no special customs connected with this day.

Russians LOVE to celebrate. They adopted the American holidays such as St. Valentine, Catholic Christmas (they celebrate Christmas twice - Catholic and Orthodox) and Halloween. They also appreciate Chinese New Year, Muslim and Jewish holidays, as Russians are very tolerant to other religions.

Last modified: 02/12/10.