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. Shaking hands is not common practice in Russia where it is automatic and unconscious behavior for most Americans. (Said by a woman)

What are the most positive things that happened to you in Russia?

. I met my wife and made some very close friends from another culture. Human contact. You realize you can make close friends and find similarities. I also improved my Russian.

. I had an opportunity to live with a family and be included in family life- crises and arguments included. I really experienced normal Russian life in more depth than many.

. Positive things: meeting very friendly people/ hospitality and the nurturing manner of Russian women. The sincerity I

-have felt from the sympathy expressed by Russians about the attacks in the U.S.

What is the worst thing that happened to you?

. The first week I was living in my flat, and felt like a stranger in my landlady's home, my landlady and her husband would share nothing with me. I had to buy my own dish washing liquid and toilet paper. They would not allow me to wash my own clothes and wanted to charge me 20 rubles per shin. (While this may not be typical, this incident it is a true story.)

. In St Petersburg, I got ripped off. 60 or 70 dollars in a money exchange on the street It can happen anywhere, though, and it didn't change my feelings; but there are nasty rip-offs in St

Petersburg and Moscow.

. Negative things: indifference to issues of lateness and when things don't work or something goes wrong. How things tend to be more black / white or how things are taken more literally.

How certain some Russians are about certain issues.

If you were to compare Russian and American culture, what are some of the broad distinctions you might draw?

. Economics. In the US everything is about money. Sometimes

Russians are very concerned about money and talk about money because it's a necessity. They have no qualms about asking how much money you make. That's a taboo question in the States.

. Russians are more traditional, especially the way women want to be treated by men. Feminism doesn't seem to exist. (Said by a man)

. Russians drink more. There are few laws about drinking in public. You can drink beer in public but not vodka. It's strange, in the springtime, to be the only sober person walking down the street.

. Russians are less tolerant of racial differences and of sexual orientation. Russian men are very homophobic.

. There is no one word or phrase for "cultural identity," vanity, or privacy in Russian language; you would have to explain your intention in order to be understood.

Can you describe some situations/incidents in which cultural expectations caused a misunderstanding?

. American men are not expected to be as attentive as Russian men. Men pour drinks for women, carry packages for women, etc.

. If I'm silent, people see me as standoffish.

. Americans separate business and pleasure

By living in Russia, have you learned anything new about yourself and your native culture?

. I learned a lot of about myself as an American. There are some things I feel proud about. I stopped taking things for granted, things I would have demanded in the past.

. I value independence and self-reliance.

. I notice consumerism in the US more. Everything is packaged, everything is for sale. There's more media and advertising everywhere. People need things NOW: fast food, quick and efficient customer service.

. Shallow, superficial friendliness and customer service. But I like it anyway! Maybe it's not so shallow. Maybe it says something about egalitarianism.

. The number of trashcans and the amount of waste produced in the

US. In Russia there's no place to put trash and there are lots of wrappers and litter on the streets. In America there ate lots of receptacles because we produce lots of waste

-packaging, wrappers, etc. We even sell special 10-gallon trash bags!

. The main thing I noticed and was overwhelmed by was by the amount of choice in everything- it was great but too much to handle sometimes, whether I was shopping or trying to decide what to eat in a restaurant.

. I can live in an arctic climate but I'm still not a fan of long winters.

. Americans value individualism and the right to speak their minds freely

. Some Americans can be as ethnocentric as some Russians can be and more concerned with events at home, but what culture isn't?

RUSSIAN INTERVIEW RESPONSES

When you first arrived in the USA, what stood out?

. The traffic system is orderly and well organized. Drivers are polite and stop for pedestrians.

. How Americans are relaxed, they have a relaxed posture, free behavior, a relaxed way of dressing, usually sports clothes

. Aged parents very seldom live with their grown children and prefer living alone or moving to a nursing home

. Americans prefer to live in suburbs in their own houses and thus a car play a very important role in one's life and there might be several cars in the family

. They use computers a lot in everyday life

Stereotypes of Americans You Were Aware Of

. Pragmatic

. Rich

. Overweight

. Always smile

. Body conscious and fond of healthy life styles

. American women are too independent

How do you think Americans viewed Russian culture, in general terms?

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