I think part of it is a difference in culture. Like the idea that Russians are always grim is bullshit, but like.. there is a difference in whether the polite thing to do when you encounter a stranger is to smile at them or to look away and give each other space. When I was in St Petersburg for a summer programme, the other girls teased me for laughing too much lmao. Then again last time I was in the US it freaked me out that everyone smiled so much.
But I think some of it is historical, yeah - a region and people that have faced difficult times for a long time and are used to it. And some of it is more general stereotypes that people have about cold-weather countries. Depressed, solemn, dour - I think a lot of people would describe the Nordic countries (esp Finnish people) that way.
As a Ukrainian who did her undergrad in the UK - no way lmao. British people don't look each other in the eye cuz they're all awkward af. Russians are more "what is this fake pleasantries, fake smiling, you liar".
I think part of it is a difference in culture. Like the idea that Russians are always grim is bullshit, but like.. there is a difference in whether the polite thing to do when you encounter a stranger is to smile at them or to look away and give each other space. When I was in St Petersburg for a summer programme, the other girls teased me for laughing too much lmao. Then again last time I was in the US it freaked me out that everyone smiled so much.
But I think some of it is historical, yeah - a region and people that have faced difficult times for a long time and are used to it. And some of it is more general stereotypes that people have about cold-weather countries. Depressed, solemn, dour - I think a lot of people would describe the Nordic countries (esp Finnish people) that way.
I'm pretty sure looking away from people in public is common courtesy most cold places.
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As a Ukrainian who did her undergrad in the UK - no way lmao. British people don't look each other in the eye cuz they're all awkward af. Russians are more "what is this fake pleasantries, fake smiling, you liar".