Getting to know someone would likely take years or at least a few months. People said, ‘The first impression is the last and the best impression’ though it does not always hold true. How you fathom a person depends more on your view of things, your principle, your values, your beliefs, etc. Obviously, it would also depend on the context in which both you and your interlocutor have come together
Now, with over 100 million Russian people you are bound to meet at one point of your life, you might at least want to learn more about them. So, how do you know if someone you meet is Russian? If we were to understand objectively from a viewpoint to a person’s nature, then consider their basic etiquettes of speech, response, manners or approach. In this article, we will learn how to know if someone you met is Russian. Keep on reading.
1. They Do Not Entertain Small Talk
Russian people do not like to invest their time on small talk and empty words that can hardly mean anything to them. They are very straightforward and prefer to jump right to the point of the conversation. If they meet their friends or neighbors and they do not really have anything to talk about, they will not bother to stop for a chat about the weather or the latest football game. They just greet out of courtesy and carry on with whatever they were doing. If you get a simple ‘how do you do’ from a Russian, then please know that they really care and want to know more about you.
2. They Look Very Serious
Russian people seem to be extremely serious people. It is rare to see them smiling in the street or on public transportation. They might look depressed and unhappy somehow, but that is not the case. In Russian culture, emotions should be private, and it is considered impolite to boast your happiness or show affection in public, so most of the time they frown. This way no one will think that they are goofy or weird. However, they are very open in their trusted circles of friends or family.
3. They are Superstitious People
Russian people, most of them, trust fortune telling, horoscopes, and dream interpretations with almost no hesitancy. Their folklore and urban legends have myriads of superstitions or supernatural qualities to all spheres of life. Even if they do not really believe in myth, hundreds of strange superstitions will still constantly pop up into their head; for example, do not shake hands in front of a doorstep unless you want to have a quarrel, do not sit at the corner of the table because it will prevent you from getting married or do not go back to the house if you forgot something because it will give you bad luck during the day.
4. They Like Soup
Russian people have a lot of soups, for example, Borsch (beetroot and beef soup) which is very popular in all of Eastern Europe, traditional shchi (cabbage soup) or sour shchi (sauerkraut soup) which have been cooked it since the 10th century, Solyanka (spicy soup) which is made from pickled cucumbers and beef or fish), Okroshka (cold soup) which is a great meal for hot summer days since it is made of raw vegetables and kvass. They usually have soup for lunch as a first-course meal and every restaurant or fast food chain in Russia always includes soup on their menus.
5. They are Tea Drinkers
No one drinks as much tea as Russian people do. They can drink about a few liters of tea every day like when they have a cold, when they are bored, when they chat with their family, when they visit their friends, when they have a snack, and before they go to sleep. Traditionally, they like to drink black tea without milk, but often with sugar, honey or lemon, accompanied by sweet snacks.
6. They Enjoy Dacha Labor
Dacha is a country-side house that has a small plot. Russian people who live in big cities usually own or rent a dacha so that they can spend their holidays there. However, dachas are not for relaxation or laziness. Spending holidays at the dacha are mostly about finding peace in physical labor such as gardening, planting vegetables, picking apples and making jam, repairing and rebuilding a construction, and repainting the house. There are always things to improve at the dacha.
7. They Take Off Shoes Inside the House
That is how things are with Russian people. They never walk into a house with their shoes on, like never ever. You may also want to read 6 Reasons You Need to Take Off Shoes at Home in Russia.
8. They are Hospitable
They treat their guests as if they are kings. Once a friend or acquaintance crosses the threshold of their house, that person will get the most comfortable bed, the warmest blanket, and the most delicious meals in the universe.
9. Pancakes For the Win
Blin is a Russian term for pancakes. Russian people love to stuff themselves with pancakes in all possible combinations from vegetables to fruits; all flavors of jam, honey, butter, sour cream, fish, mince, cheese, and caviar. Russian people even have a pancake week called Maslenitsa. Every day during that day, they get to eat different pancakes.
10. Vodka For Every Occasion
It is not about alcoholic sense; it is just a popular national drink that they drink for all kind of occasions because it tastes so good and is now world-famous for that reason. You may also want to read 6 Brilliant Beauty Tips of Applying Vodka to Your Face.
So, that is how to know if someone you met is Russian. Or, if you want to have an easier way, then all you need to do is ask. Ask them if they are Russian.