‘Don’t smile at your students for at least a couple years so that they know you’re a strict teacher and they behave themselves. That’s the tip I got from an experienced professor. Do I follow it? – No. Do I struggle with discipline problems in the classroom? – Never.
Why don’t people smile in Russia? Here a smile can be perceived as a sign of being childish, light-minded and permissive. A bad day or bad teeth might be the reasons. The major one though is the unwillingness to be nice to others especially if those ‘others’ are strangers like your customers. Absence of service industry is another story.
So shop assistants, bank clerks, post office staff, insurance or travel agents, teachers, all in all the majority of people even in personal situations, try not to smile. Serious faces in pictures, when getting presents or listening to a compliment.
To me a smile expresses politeness, readiness to help and a general positive attitude. It’s ‘contagious’ too. Being nice to people often leads them to being nice to you. A smile helps you and others feel at ease. It just makes a lot of things easier which is crucial for Russia (and not only it) nowadays.
SMILE! You’re being looked at.
-
Huangling9429
Daily Motivational Quote
Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
Benjamin FranklinRecent Comments
- Huangling9429 on When in Russia… don’t smile?
- Berschauer on The US Economy Visualized in 10 Horrifying Economic Charts
- Hcealp on The US Economy Visualized in 10 Horrifying Economic Charts
- Dazedandamused on What is art?
- Ken Cauley on The US Economy Visualized in 10 Horrifying Economic Charts
Tag Cloud
2009 2010 advanced media america americans art artist business ceremony communism don't smile emotions forest government ken ken cauley kombo kombo.com life life philosophy man marriage maturity Medvedev modern art Moscow negative past positive Putin reception relationships responsibility Russia Siberia smile St. Petersburg summary trifles valerie vodka wedding winter woman years



