Russians

St. Petersburg, Russia

A few observations about Russians.
Things I heard initially were things like "suspicious", "cold", "unfriendly". Fortunately, as it has turned out it's not at all that bad. People have surely not been as approachable here as in other countries I've visited. Some people seem a bit glum or dull just staring at you. Some don't smile easily, some seem rough or crude. The tone here is surely rougher. That may be a matter of language - I think if you don't understand it Russian can sound a bit unfriendly even if it's not at all meant in such a way. Also, generally, it doesn't appear common to bother with pleasantries as much as in UK for example - "hello", "good-bye" and "thank you" are optional.
However, my general experience has been quite positive. Obviously, I'm a bit helpless as a foreigner not knowing the language. But I've had a number of people even go out of their way to help me understand. Like the travel agent here who made sure that I found the correct place to collect my onward train tickets. Or the waitress/owner of the cafe that even fetched raw ingredients from the kitchen to clarify the menu for me. Without that I would not have had lunch that day.
Another thing here is that young Russians seem to hang out in threes. Plus most of the time it's a mixed group. Couples are an exception, of course, but even they often seem to have exactly one mutual friend along. I hear it's because a guy and a girl hanging out together is seen much more serious here than in western Europe. A friendly get-together between a boy and a girl are out of the question, especially if one of them is already taken. So, they need what the Chinese call a big bulb - a third person to ensure both behave appropriately.
Now, in summer, you see lots of these trios and also larger groups meet in the many parks bringing drinks to relax. I like the atmosphere; old and young, couples and friends chatting, laughing as if every evening was a weekend. I guess it happens in Germany, too, but here it seems different. It reminds me of France - just that the red wine is replaced with vodka. It's a nice way to spend the evening. So, I join people on Admirality Square to write these lines.