◄ Go back
Kolia
10/03/2022

Share:

When You Friend a Russian, You Discover These 11 Things

The cliché that Russians are cold and rarely smile is accurate. Fortunately, this does not imply that Russians lack friends. They do, and as a result of the hostile culture, they favor maintaining strong friendships and valuing them. What can you anticipate if you become friends with a Russian?

There Isn’t a Bad Time to Talk

In Russia, close friends are always available for conversation. No issue is off limits for dialogue, whether you're dealing with a sad loss or aren't sure what to wear to a party. Although they may not have a large group and are less inclined to be pleasant with every stranger, Russians are incredibly sympathetic and have a tendency to create very strong relationships. Simply put, they now have more time to spend with their pals. Your Russian friend will probably end up becoming your go-to person because such connections lead to lifelong bonds.

Friends Are Always Welcome

In Russia, knocking on someone's door is not frowned upon. Russians are taught that all visitors, including those who appear absolutely out of the blue, are welcome. The finest beverage for conversation is tea, therefore if you happen to drop by a Russian friend's house for a visit, chances are there will be tea prepared as well as small nibbles. Even a complete lunch can be offered to you by your buddies.

Friends Are Always Welcome

In Russia, knocking on someone's door is not frowned upon. Russians are taught that all visitors, including those who appear absolutely out of the blue, are welcome. The finest beverage for conversation is tea, therefore if you happen to drop by a Russian friend's house for a visit, chances are there will be tea prepared as well as small nibbles. Even a complete lunch can be offered to you by your buddies.

Money is Never an Issue

Going Dutch or splitting the tab are not extremely popular in Russia. It's inappropriate to keep track of how much each person spent when out with friends or on a date. The same holds true for excursions or even lending money. Friendship requires trust, thus if a friend steals from you, that person is not really your buddy. Be generous with important individuals as a general rule of thumb.

It’s Useful to Have Friends

More importantly, having friends in the appropriate places is helpful. The bureaucratic machine that is Russia can't be stopped, and the system can be used against the people. Knowing people who work in hospitals, courts, and the police is always helpful for getting assistance or for accelerating certain procedures. Generally speaking, Russians are really happy to assist their friends, but you will want to be sure to repay the favor and express gratitude.

Pleasantries Are Redundant

Being too nice and exchanging pointless pleasantries is typically not the ideal approach to start a discussion with a Russian, and this is especially true when speaking with friends. This is not to indicate that being openly disrespectful is acceptable. Russians don't exchange meaningless "How are you?" greetings with one another. They don't even anticipate a "I'm good" in response. Nobody will be offended if you skip that section of your conversation with your Russian friend, as it was done in accordance with social norms..

You Will Meet the Family

When living in a communal apartment in the Soviet era, where a family only had one room to themselves, you could also state that you would meet your neighbors. Naturally, the family would approach you when they saw you and show interest in your life in addition to making an effort to feed you. Expect inquiries about your family history, educational background, and future plans if your friend and you are perhaps more than just friends. His or her parents may also regard you as a potential marriage.

You Will Never be Bored

Russians love a good party. The celebration will take place, whether it's a little gathering at their house or a large and joyful event outside. The party doesn't end until the last guest has left, Russians enjoy playing host, and they treat their guests with respect. But visitors are also expected to participate in the festivities and contribute to the positive environment. No matter if you were planning an early night or have work in the morning, having fun is a commitment in Russia, and your friends will count on you to show up.

Get Ready to Hear the Truth

There must be a drawback, right? Here it is, then. It won't be difficult for a Russian buddy to tell the truth. Do I appear overweight in this? No decent buddy would let you go outside looking obese in something, so if you say, "and you do, then the answer will be a categorical yes. The bottom line is that your friend will always tell you the truth with good intentions.

Friends Help

It's not unusual to ask pals for assistance with chores and errands. Why shouldn't you be there for them through the difficult times if you are there for them during the good times? Any reasonable request, such as helping you move homes or prepare a meal for a gathering, will be gladly accepted. So much so that it might take some skill to keep your pals from becoming involved since, whether you like it or not, they will try to assist or offer advice..

No Thank You Necessary

In Russian culture, it is not necessary to express thanks. You need to say please and thank you less frequently as you get to know someone better. The more polite you are, the more formal the conversations are regarded as being. This is the essence of human interactions in Russia. You'll quickly understand when excessive thanks is unnecessary if you're acquainted with a Russian.

Show Some Affection

Friends often embrace and kiss one another, so don't be shy about expressing your affection. Russians traditionally give each other three cheek kisses when they first meet. Now, a single kiss is more typical, but an embrace is also anticipated. For women, this might not seem strange at all, but for males from different cultures, it occasionally does. Do not worry. There is no condemnation here. Accept the culture and go with the flow. You might not want to embrace someone who was attempting to shake your hand.

Do you want to read more posts like this?

No one has commented yet.

If you’d like to be the first, please login and click on comments.