10 true stereotypes of foreigners about Russians

A foreigner who is going on a trip to Russia, most likely, has already heard a lot about the people of our huge Eurasian country. Much of this is facts about the culture and lifestyle of the typical Russian, and some are just fables. Of course, not all people correspond to the stereotypes associated with their home country or city of life, but if we talk about Russians in general, some of this is very true.

In this article, we will tell you about 10 true stereotypes about Russia.

1. Russians love vodka

From the point of view of a foreigner, all Russians can drink vodka like water, and most Russians always have a bottle hidden somewhere. And this is regardless of whether they are often applied to this bottle or not. At any event organized by the Russians, there will always be vodka, and, of course, everyone will be offered!

But it is not true that Russians are offended if they refuse a glass - rather, they are surprised. It's just that for us it’s quite a trifle and the custom of hospitality to have a glass or two. And, of course, the fact that our people love vodka does not mean at all that everyone in Russia is alcoholics!

2. Russian grandmothers are real

One of the most popular misconceptions is the stereotype of a Russian miniature granny with a scarf tied on her head. For foreigners, it comes as a surprise that a Russian grandmother is a woman whom her grandchildren call her.

There are indeed many older women in Russia who look just like the stereotypical "grandmothers" but show respect for older women. Foreigners are very surprised when such a "grandmother" overtakes them in line for an escalator or demands to give her a seat. In our country, older people are respected and no one will support a person arguing with a grandma about a seat on the train!

3.Russia is full of corruption

Many abroad say that Russia is a very corrupt country, both its government and the people themselves. Although, of course, this is somewhat true, but it cannot be said that Russia is superior to other countries in terms of the level of bribes.

However, if you are stopped by a police officer in the subway and you do not have your passport with you, or even in the event of a traffic violation, you will be offered to issue either an official fine (and in some cases imprisonment), or pay on the spot directly to pocket to this guy.

Also, Russia is full of speculation with the bureaucracy and in the government, but usually a foreigner does not have to deal with this when traveling in case of compliance with the rule of law. But in any case, anyone is advised to be careful and always have their passport with them when arriving in a foreign country.

4. Russians are rude and too serious

For foreigners, Russians are too serious, at least in public. In Russia, it is considered impolite to express strong emotions in front of strangers, and if you are too loud, they will at least look at you strangely. Of course, things are completely different in small friendly companies, but that's another story.

Russian people are rude and prefer to speak to the point right away; they do not tolerate the so-called "smalltalk" or exchange of pleasantries and immediately talk about the main thing. Only young (Americanized) people, passing each other on the street, can still exchange the question “how are you?” - but in general, this question is intended for personal conversations and requires an honest answer.

5. Russians are superstitious

Russians have many "superstitions" which are mostly habits. Here are some examples of such habits: knock three times, sit "on the lane" so that the trip goes smoothly, break something out of the dishes "for luck", spit over your shoulder so as not to attract trouble. Most Russians do not believe that this works, but for some reason they still observe these rituals sacredly.

Other well-known Russian superstitions, which seem wild to foreigners, are that one cannot greet and say goodbye on the doorstep, an even number of flowers is supposed to be brought to the funeral, and an odd one - on holidays; you cannot whistle indoors, sit at a table or on stones, and you cannot pre-congratulate on the holidays.

6. Russians love to dress smartly

One of the biggest misconceptions about Russians is their penchant for fancy clothes and lavish jewelry. Although the tradition of debutan balls is still alive in Russia, the average person dresses quite casually. To understand this, it is enough just to walk on foot in any major Russian and European cities and compare.

Nevertheless, for holidays and celebrations, ours dress more brightly than foreigners: on Russian women you can see uncomfortable high heels, and shiny mini-skirts, and fur coats, and on men - suits according to the latest fashion trends.

When our people just go to work or go out to a cafe to eat with friends, most of them are dressed rather modestly and in muted colors. Only when you get into one of the exclusive clubs, you can see really luxuriously dressed Russians.

7. Russian clubs are luxurious

It is true that many Russian clubs, especially in Moscow, are aimed at very rich people. These are clubs with very strict face control and exorbitant entry fees - and this rip-off is just the beginning, you still have to pay for the drinks!

Although you can find affordable clubs in Russia, chances are good that you will still face high admission fees. You may not even get inside if you don't go through the dress code. But do not be discouraged, instead go to the bar, there are no fewer people there, but the prices are many times more pleasant!

Nevertheless, exclusive clubs in Russia offer a higher class of entertainment, so a foreigner who comes to Russia for the first time, we still advise you to take your clothes with you on your way out and go on exploration in some of the best clubs in the world.

8.Russia has specific gender roles

While many abroad believe that gender roles in Russia are outdated compared to other world powers, Russians are not all that different in everyday life from Americans or Europeans. Many perceive Russian romance as nothing more than the fact that men should behave like knights and bring money into the house, while women should maintain a home. In fact, these are just stereotypes when it comes to employment and daily life.

In fact, Russia has the largest number of women in the world who are business leaders, according to a 2016 Reuters article. This article challenges the stereotype that women should be housewives. Nevertheless, gender norms exist in the homes of Russians: men should be courageous, and women should be kind, delicate and beautiful.

For a foreign traveler, there is no difference in attitude towards him because of his gender, just like in the United States. Basically, Russians treat men and women alike, which does not mean that you cannot face misogynistic tendencies in the same way as in America.

On the other hand, in our country, men are quite gallant with women, and if you are a foreign man traveling in Russia, the same is expected of you.

9. Russians smoke a lot

Although the Russian government is gradually beginning to introduce rather stringent anti-smoking measures in an attempt to end the epidemic that has gripped the country, Russia still has one of the highest smoking rates in the world.

This does not mean that secondhand smoke is almost unavoidable on Russian streets, but keep in mind that there will be a crowd of smokers at the entrance to most clubs and bars.For a non-smoker traveling in Russia, going outside with busy nightclubs can be a real nightmare due to cigarette smoke.

However, Russia is a huge country, so you are unlikely to find yourself in a cloud of smoke for long. In addition, many young Russian people are extremely health conscious and do not smoke at all.

10. Russian women are very beautiful

It is true, there are indeed a lot of beautiful women in our country, but still this cannot be said about absolutely all Russian women, just as it cannot be said that all cities in the United States are the most beautiful.

Nevertheless, Russian women pay a lot of attention to their appearance, they often go out in luxurious outfits, fur coats with exquisite jewelry and impeccable makeup and hair. If a foreigner, traveling in Russia, nevertheless decides to enjoy the nightlife of our country, he will surely come across dozens of Russian beauties. But having talked to them, he will quickly understand that Russian women are not only very beautiful, but also pleasant to talk to them - in any case, as long as they are interested in you.