"I just want people to be nice and polite, to smile and grant me a few words of civility, even though I don't know them, even though it's the first and the last time I see them," he complained. At the time, I did not really understand the meaning of his words. I was adamant in the belief that all those phony smiles and politeness don't serve any use. Now that I have returned from a long holiday in Europe, I'm absolutely all for it.
I felt this shock of being badly treated upon my arrival to the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. The middle-aged woman at passport control, her face absolutely indifferent, didn't welcome me at all. I don't mean that I expected her to greet me with flowers, but just a nice "Hello!" with a quick smile was all that I expected.
Just that morning I had been in the Paris airport with lots of luggage, and the airport staff ran to my assistancewhen they noticed I was having trouble with my juggling act. They didn't even charge me for the extra weight of my luggage. It seemed that everybody smiled and greeted me at every gate. These are just a few examples of their politeness and kindness. I was a foreigner in France, but soon I got easily accustomed to be treated this way all day long: in shops, boutiques, restaurants, pharmacies and so on...
Coming back to Moscow I didn't expect to notice the difference quite so soon. Approaching the passport-control lady, I said in a loud voice: "Hello!" in an effort to greet the lady and my Motherland at the same time. But the lady's indifferent expression said: "Leave me in peace,
I'm working!" I tried again, thanking her in the same enthusiastic way, and said goodbye. She remained poker-faced and replied nothing. Yes, I was certainly back home.
For whatever reason, it seems to be a typically Russian feature to be indifferent, even preferring to avoid any contact with people. Once I got lost in Paris and I decided to ask one woman for directions. The reply was immediate: "No!" And just as hastily, I understood she was Russian. Any other foreigner, I think, would have tried to explain to me that he was a foreigner, too, and he was unable to help me due to being every bit as lost as I was. Why are Russian people so closed and even hostile even when they are on holidays and abroad? I can find lots of excuses for such behavior, for example, feeling unsafe in a big city or simply being in a hurry. But when one is abroad and taking pleasure in relaxation, there is really no excuse.
The only reason for this social blockade that comes to my mind is the effects of the Soviet period. The country was closed, the nation was used to being a "thing in itself," and people had no other model of behavior. The mark was left on the Russian people, and unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a trait easily forgotten. But today we are more akin to Europeans, we travel extensively, have a chance to see the world, to understand the habits and cultures of other nations, and to adopt the best examples of their behavior. I hope all these facts are brought in and that soon the indifferent mentality of the Russian people will change. Still I have grave doubts that the next time I'll go through passport control, the attendant will smile. This transformation is bound to take a long time. ■
By Daria Chernyshova
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