Красный мак стал причиной скандала между Пекином и Лондоном

В 2010 году между премьер-министром Великобритании Дэвидом Кэмероном и председателем КНР (Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China) Ху Цзиньтао (Hu Jintao) возник спор, который грозил вылиться в крупный скандал.

Прибывшая на переговоры английская делегация вдела в петлицы костюмов изображение красного мака. Для англичан этот цветок - символ павших на поле брани солдат, а для китайцев - напоминание об «опиумных войнах» 19 века, стоивших стране сотни тысяч жизней. Великобритания стала инициатором трех «опиумных войн» и приняла в них самое активное участие. Эти войны стали кульминацией угнетения китайского народа.

Премьер-министр Великобритании Дэвид Кэмерон отказался снять красный мак с пиджака. «Мы проинформировали китайскую сторону, что красные маки значат для нас очень много, и мы будем носить их все равно», - добавил также один из членов английской делегации.

Английские дипломаты вдели красный мак в петлицы потому, что сегодня в Великобритании отмечается День памяти погибших в войнах (Memorial Day). Кульминация скорбной даты приходится на 11 часов утра 11-го числа 11-го месяца (официальное время окончания Первой мировой войны в 1918г.), когда в стране проходят две общенациональные минуты молчания. Завтра представители обеих стран отправятся из Пекина (Beijing) в Сеул (Seoul), где примут участие в саммите Большой двадцатки. Чем закончится этот дипломатический спор, пока неизвестно.

(http://top.rbc.ru/politics/10/11/2010/496503.shtml)

Text 3

Census estimates US population at 306M to 313M

WASHINGTON – Census surprise? The government provided new estimates Monday showing the U.S. population grew to somewhere between roughly 306 million and 313 million over the last decade, acknowledging uncertainty due to rapid shifts in immigration.

The estimates, which are separate from the official 2010 census count, are based on a review of birth and death records as well as calculations of new immigrants as of April 1, 2010. Demographers say the range of numbers offers a rough guide to the official 2010 results that will be used to apportion House seats when they are released later this month.

The numbers show the nation's population ranged from 305.7 million to 307.4 million based on lower rates of immigration, which independent think-tanks (группа учёных, работающая над конкретной проблемой) such as the Pew Hispanic Center have said dropped off sharply recently due to the souring U.S. economy.

In 2000, the official census count was 281.4 million.

The estimates also indicate:

-Hispanics accounted for all the growth in the youth population in the last decade. In 2000, Hispanics made up 17 percent of the U.S. population under age 20. They now represent somewhere between 22 and 25 percent of that age group.

-There were roughly 40.9 million to 41.7 million blacks in the U.S., based on a tabulation that includes Hispanic blacks. That would put the share of blacks at roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population.

-Without Hispanics, the number of young people in the U.S. would have declined between 2000 and 2010. Based on the estimates, the non-Hispanic youth population declined somewhere between 1.25 million and 2.9 million.

"The U.S. population is becoming more diverse from youngest to oldest and Hispanics are the driving force behind this youth diversity," said Kenneth Johnson, a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire, who reviewed the numbers.

"Each decade, census results have a way of surprising us," Long said. "These demographic analysis results indicate that the surprise may be in a downward direction. Most states will find that their population counts will be below what they expected."

The stakes are high. Current projections by Election Data Services indicate that a dozen congressional seats affecting 18 states would change hands. They include four seats for Texas, two for Florida and one each for Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington.

New York and Ohio are projected to lose two seats apiece, while eight states would lose single seats - Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

(http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-7123024.html)

Text 4

Examining the Gender Communication Gap.

Do mеn and women have different communication styles? As increasing numbers of women enter the workforce and join management, аn examination of communication styles becomes especially meaningful - for both women and men. Аn intense public debate has arisen over Deborah Tannen's book Talking From 9 to 5: How Women's and Men's Conversational Styles Affect Who Gets Heard, Who Gets Credit, and What Gets Done at Work. Let's consider some of the male/female соmmunication differences, greatly simрlifiеd, as identified bу Tannen.

The male approach to business is direct, confrontational, and results-oriented. The female method of working, оn the other hand, is collaborative. Collective action and responsibility assume greater importance than personal achievement. Team-playing is natural, and the well-being of the individual is important. Таnnеn argues that little girls playing in groups learn to blend in, bе sensitive to оnе another's feelings, and avoid boasting. Boy groups, bу contrast, are more соmpetitive. Women want to bе liked. Меn want to bе top dog.

In working together, men tend to bе competitive and adversarial. Females are more collaborative, rewarding cooperation and valuing goodwill above measurаblе and immediate gain. The male's goal is respect; the female's goal is rapport.

Women's speech style is hesitant, ingratiating, and indirect. Women ask questions instead of making declarations, saying "we" instead of "I", allowing others to snatch their glory. Women soften the effect of what they are saying for the sake of their listeners. Меn speak more often, interrupt more, take uр more meeting time, and turn up the volume when they hold forth.

In problem-solving, the male approach is to go for the heart of the problem, stripping away аll secondary considerations in order to solve the issue. Females assemble options, looking at ramifications and implications. This approach is seen as time-wasting and is irritating to masculine-oriented colleagues.

In meetings women are often ignored or dismissed as weak. Since time is usuаllу limited, discussion is frowned оn when immediate solutions саn bе presented. Male bulk and aggressive body language establish dominance.

In conversations men like to recount personal experiences and achievements. Women, bу contrast, are more likely to discuss staff problems and personal matters. They analyze and internalize in situations where men are more likely to merely observe and report.

Text 5

The Debate Over Globalization

In 2004 Europeans believed that globalization can enrich their lives, while believing the European Union can help them take advantage of globalization’s benefits while shielding them from its negative effects.

The situation may have changed after the financial crisis of 2007. A recent BBC World Public Poll taken between October 31, 2007 and January 25, 2008, suggests that opposition to globalization in industrialized countries may be increasing. The countries where people are most likely say that globalization is growing too fast are France, Spain, Japan, South Korea, and Germany. There is also the tendency to view globalization as proceeding too rapidly with a perception of growing economic insecurity and social inequality.

In Japan, the debate takes a different form. Japan is resource poor and must promote exports in order to import the raw materials it needs. The Japanese accept that internationalization and globalization cannot be avoided. However, their resource dependency requires them to be as self-sufficient as possible in sectors like agriculture. Most discourse, therefore, centers on the notion of self-sufficiency.

A number of international polls have shown that residents of developing countries tend to view globalization more favorably than residents of the US or the EU. However, a recent poll undertaken by the BBC indicates that there is a growing feeling in the Third World that globalization is proceeding too rapidly. There are only a few countries, including Mexico, the countries of Central America, Indonesia, Brazil and Kenya, where a majority felt that globalization is growing too slowly.

Many in the Third World see globalization is a positive force that lifts countries out of poverty. The opposition often combines environmental concerns with nationalism.

Although many critics blame globalization for a decline of the middle class in industrialized countries, a recent report in The Economist suggests that the middle class is growing rapidly in the Third World. Unfortunately, this growth, coupled with growing urbanization, has led to increasing disparities in wealth between urban and rural areas. For example, in India 70% of the population lives in rural areas and depend directly on access to natural resources for their livelihood. As a result, anti-globalization often takes the form of mass movements in the countryside.

The situation is critical in China, where rapid growth has led to a situation where 0.4% of the population possess 70% of the nation’s wealth. A 2007 article in The Economist blamed increasing unrest in rural China on the growing gap in wealth between rural and urban areas. This, plus growing worker discontent in industrialized areas, has caused a great deal of concern among the nation's leadership.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization)

Text 6

An American Teacher in Papua New Guinea

We were greeted by a group of beautiful people wearing friendly, curious smiles. Naked children hid giggling behind trees. A lively entourage balanced our boxes on their heads as they carried them over the muddy trails.

There were no cars, electricity, or telephones - only grass huts surrounded by large gardens and rain forest. Women spent their days in the gardens. Men worked growing coffee, earning a small yearly income of $200. The village had lived in harmony with its natural surroundings for millennia.

The villagers had built us a beautiful, bamboo-thatched hut. Behind the house was a garden, carefully tended and ready to harvest - with corn, greens, tomatoes, beans, peanuts, onions, potatoes, and pineapples. To top it all off, the path to our new home was sprinkled with flower petals.

Maimafu, our village, was a model of communal living. Men would rally to build a new home; the elderly worked and lived with their families; mothers breast-fed their neighbor's children. The one man in our village with Down’s Syndrome was fed, housed, and clothed by everyone. He would spend a few days with one family before happily wandering away to stay with the next.

One day we were sitting in a circle on the ground and telling stories, the favorite pastime in Papua New Guinea. I passed around photos from back home in Chicago. I was planning to “wow” the Papuans with pictures of the enormous buildings of an American city.

A villager began staring intently at one of the photos. He had noticed two homeless men on a Michigan Avenue sidewalk with crude handwritten signs propped between their legs. "Tupela man wokem wanem?" he asked. (What are these two men doing?)

I tried to explain “homelessness” to the group, adding that the men were asking for food. Crowding around to look at the photograph, the villagers could not understand how men might be without homes, especially in a city of glittering towers, or why others would simply walk past.

I understood from their questions and serious mood what they were thinking - these two men must lack not only food and shelter, but also love and a sense of worth and purpose in their community.

Early the very next morning, we heard a knock at the door. Opening it, I was greeted by Moia, Kabarae, Kavalo, and Lemek. My wife and I walked out into the beautiful sunlit morning. Each man gave us a pineapple. Moia spoke, "After you left last night, the men of the village council had a meeting. For a long time we discussed the two men in your picture. We have reached a conclusion and have a proposal for you."

"What could this be?" we wondered.

"Please contact those two men as well as your government. Ask the government if they will fly those two men to Maimafu, just like they did for you. We have marked two spots of land where we will build houses for those two men, just like we built for you. Our men will build the houses and the women will plant the gardens to feed them."

They were offering to do what? I was stunned and overwhelmed. Their offer was bold and genuine. It was innocent and naïve. It was beautiful. And, as with the twist of a kaleidoscope, my worldview completely changed.

What does one say to such an offer? We searched for a polite response and made some explanations of the possible difficulties - a lack of money or government bureaucracies. But the councilmen would not accept no for an answer. They could not understand that humanity would allow such an injustice. They wanted action.

The villagers were serious. They were offering everything they had. We wrote a few letters to America and had long conversations with the village council. We toured the sites where the homes would be built. We listened to the women discuss the type of gardens they would plant, which would even include coffee trees to generate a small income. And we answered numerous questions from villagers amazed at this foreign thing called “homelessness.” The plan could not work, we finally had to tell them. Their hearts sank, and I could see in their eyes that this dream would not die easily.

"Sori tru, sori tru we no inap wokem dospela samting," they told us (We are truly sorry, truly sorry this can't happen). They clicked their tongues and shook their heads in disappointment.

Text 7

Community Police Get Ahead with Bandanas

The police in southern England have been issued with bandana-style headgear to wear when visiting Sikh temples as a mark of respect to the religion and also to promote a positive image of community policing.

The navy-blue scarves – bearing the Hampshire Constabulary crest in white – have been issued to all beat officers in the town of Southampton. A few will be kept in the headscarf box at the temple for when other policemen pay a visit.

Sergeant Dick Partridge, head of the Community Beat Officers’ Team, and who suggested the idea, said: “In the Sikh religion it is the custom to have your head covered. Until now, officers have usually kept on their hats or worn a baseball cap. I don’t think that looks respectful.”

“We hope this will also have other benefits. Not only does it promote a positive image of the police but it raises the visibility of the constabulary at the temple, Gurdwara, when we are not there,” he added.

Over the past four years official recognition of the importance of cultural diversity in all spheres of national life has been a strong underlying factor in the recruitment drive of more black and Asian people into the United Kingdom’s police and armed forces.

When the Home Office mounted its multi-million pound nationwide recruitment champagne a few years back designed to boost the declining number of ethnic minorities in the police forces, various cultural pointers were acknowledged and addressed.

These included allowing Sikh policemen to wear a special turban; Muslim policewomen to use a specially designed head cover as a hijab; and a Rastafarian policeman to wear his dreadlock hairstyle.

A statement issued by the London Metropolitan Police (often called the Met) spoke for many regional constabularies when it said: “As the Met’s police authority we are determined to stay focused on diversity, not to give preferential treatment to one particular group or another, but to ensure that every man, woman and child – no matter what their race, creed, colour, gender or sexual orientation – is treated with fairness, with respect and with justice.”

“Diversity encapsulates and values the differences of individuals, cultures, religion and ethnicity. In so doing, this leads to a wider range of perspectives and approaches, in turn enhancing operational effectiveness and service delivery.”

Text 8

Sting—An Englishman in New York, The Lyrics

I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear

I like my toast done on the side

And you can hear it in my accent when I talk

I'm an Englishman in New York

See me walking down Fifth Avenue

A walking cane here at my side

I take it everywhere I walk

I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

If "manners maketh man" as someone said

Then he's the hero of the day

It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile

Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien…

I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety

You could end up as the only one

Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society

At night a candle's brighter than the sun

Takes more than combat gear to make a man

Takes more than license for a gun

Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can

A gentleman will walk but never run

If "manners maketh man" as someone said

Then he's the hero of the day

It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile

Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

APPENDIX 3

Author Daniel Goleman claimed that 90% of a person’s emotions are expressed through non-verbal means of communication. This can include body language, gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

Yet, these same non-verbal gestures and expressions can have a different meaning depending on the culture. Because the world is becoming more diverse and people from different cultures are interacting more than ever, it is important to know what is and isn’t appropriate and when it may be necessary to avoid certain types of offensive gestures and expressions.

Questionnaire

1. In Bangladesh, is the thumb’s up sign a signal of something good or an insult?

2. Shaking hands is an accepted form of greeting in America and Britain, but should one shake a Saudi Arabian woman’s hand upon meeting her?

3. In what countries is the All-Ok gesture considered to be an affront, equivalent to using the middle finger?

4. Is it offensive in the Middle East to point at someone with the index finger as if to call them to come to over?

5. In Europe, the V sign can be changed from meaning “victory” to meaning “shove it” by simply doing what?

6. A smile always means the person is happy, right?

7. In what countries does nodding the head up and down mean “no?”

8. In what culture is it considered offensive to touch the top of one’s head?

9. In American and Britain, when place the hand up with palm towards someone means “stop.” What does it mean in Asian cultures?

10. Is putting hands on hips a sign of confidence?

11. What countries consider eye contact to be offensive?

12. What countries require the most amount of personal space?

13. In what countries are the feet considered unclean and showing the heels considered insulting?

14. In what countries is slouching considered to be rude?

(http://www.bodylanguageexpert.co.uk)

APPENDIX 4

INTERVIEWS

For her book Julie E. Zdanoski interviewed different people about their cross-cultural experience. Here are some of the answers:

American Interview Responses

When you first arrived in Russia, what stood out the most?

v People are very thin.

v How many people actually walk. There are lots of cars and good public transportation, but there are lots of pedestrians too.

v How dirty the cities are. I knew they would look a little run down, but there’s more litter and trash than at home.

v People don’t smile.

v Russians are not materialistic. They consider other people more important than what you can buy.

v To some degree, they are less culturally aware. Russia was closed off to the rest of the world and Russians are not used to seeing people of color.

v Crazy drivers everywhere, incredibly long waits for trams and buses, no timetables for buses and trams, people going out of their way to help you find a destination.

Stereotypes You Were Aware of Before Coming to Russia

v Lines everywhere (though I knew it was thing of the past)

v No freedom of speech

v Few products

v Pervasive presence of Mafia

v Young people getting rich very quickly

v Prejudice against people of Southern nationalities

v Russians drink vodka

v Russians are poor, suffered a lot, are very serious, have bread lines

v Never smile

v Bureaucracy is infamous

v Churches with onion domes, great literature

v Russian women dress up, but it doesn’t matter so much what men wear.

v Russians don’t think in or about the future. Americans think about the future, but not the past or present. Americans pay for classes so they can learn to live in the present! Russians don’t plan so far ahead. If they have money today, they spend money today.

v Russians are quite rigid about teachers being authoritative and strong disciplinarians.

Advice family and friends gave you before you left home

v Don’t drink tap water.

v Advice to women: be prepared that girls here dress differently: Russians dress for fashion and Americans for comfort.

v Be careful. Russia is not safe because of worries about war, bombings in Moscow, unrest, crime, civil strife. General danger.

v You need to have good health insurance and be prepared to fly back to the US if you need treatment. Hospitals are bad and doctors aren’t very good. In fact, doctors run the gamut from very dedicated to indifferent.

Why questions

v Why is service so bad? Is it because there is no tipping and so no motivation?

v Why can we sit in a café all day without buying very much?

v Why do women wear such high heels?

v Why are things so unpredictable? Nothing is consistent.

v There are no schedules at school. I arrive at school to teach and I’ll be told “there is no fourth grade today.” Why can’t people tell me in advance?

v Why must everyone sit at a party?

v Why can’t people put bags on the floor?

v Why do men carry purses (for women)?

v Why does everything break so easily?

v Why does everything need to be stamped?

v Why are there so many forms?

v Why do women always wear stiletto heels?

v Why do people spit and blow their noses onto the street?

v Why are people so mean to each other (at stores, yelling at customers)?

v Why do people push in front of others?

v Why do Russians drink so much tea? Why don’t they drink during meals?

v Why are Russians so formal when you first meet them?

Things that frustrate

v Large injustices in society, for example, why teachers are paid so little and then expected to buy their own textbooks.

v I’m annoyed at people looking and making an instant judgment.

v Russians are emotional, prejudiced and xenophobic.

v The Russian sense of personal space, especially in public sphere: people stand much closer, pressing up against each other, pushing.

Why questions Russians asked you about Americans

v Why do you want to come to Russia? (most consistent question)

v Why are Americans fat? Why are they so loud?

v Why do Americans drink so much water?

v Why do Americans smile all the time?

v Why are Americans so informal about everything?

v Why do Americans ask so many questions?

v Why don’t you speak English correctly? It’s your native language, isn’t it?

Stereotypes Russians you met had of Americans

v Americans always smile.

v American women are drab, dull and unfeminine.

v American women want to do everything themselves.

v American women are ambitious and individualistic.

v American women are not afraid to speak their minds or confront authority.

How has living abroad changed your original view or expectations about what life in Russia would be like?

v Some stereotypes were borne out. People can be very rude in the public sphere - in restaurants, airports, trains. On the other hand, if you’re invited to people’s homes you’ll find they’re the most hospitable people you’ve ever met. I didn’t expect warm hospitality though I was prepared for inhospitality in the public sphere.

v I tend to try not to have too many set expectations before I go to a different culture. Sure, I have some, but part of the experience is seeing what is there and seeing how you can adapt to these circumstances.

Gestures that are different, etc.

v I always speak with my hands and show facial gestures. Most people here don’t gesture much when they speak. This is true of facial gestures too. My face always betrays my feelings.

v Helping women put their coat on; other women can’t do this.

v Men NEED to carry things and pay. I met a male friend at a cafe, and he HAD to pay, to be a gentleman, even though I know he doesn’t earn a lot of money. No Dutch treat.

v Thumb between the middle and index fingers.

v 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?

v 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.

v 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.

v 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?

v 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.

v 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?

v 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.

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

v Russians are less tolerant of racial differences.

v 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?

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

v If I’m silent, people see me as standoffish.

v Americans separate business and pleasure

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

v I learned a lot 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.

v I value independence and self-reliance.

v 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.

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

v 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 are lots of receptacles because we produce lots of waste - packaging, wrappers, etc. We even sell special 10-gallon trash bags!

v The main thing I noticed and was overwhelmed by was 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.

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

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

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

Middle Eastern Interview Responses

When your first arrived in Russia, what stood out the most?

v The forests, the vast number of green trees I saw from the airplane window.

v It was my dream to study in Russia. It’s a great country and there are many opportunities for study. I love the writings of Gorky, and through reading Gorky I got the impression that Russians are clever and patient - it’s a great country, as great as the US.

What stereotypes did you hear about Russians before coming to Russia?

v People are poor.

v People are hospitable. You can knock on your neighbor’s door. There is brotherly love.

What stereotypes do Russians have of your part of the world?

v Everyone is very rich. There is a lot of oil. (They don’t differentiate among countries).

v Women wear veils.

v People ride camels.

v Men marry four or five women.

v Everyone is Muslim. (They don’t know about other religions).

v They don’t know our history.

v Terrorists

Russian perceptions of Arabs/Southerners

v Southerners are called “black.” There is discrimination based on skin color. There are unpleasant encounters on the street. Many international students have been assaulted. Flats have been broken into. Almost everyone has been assaulted, especially in bars, nightclubs, and discos. Students go out in groups for safety in numbers.

v One student had two brothers who came to Russia. One brother was beaten and had a severe head injury. Another had a leg broken.

v Some babushkiyell “Chechens go home!” One interviewee says that he doesn’t pay attention - he understands that they are old and he understands the psychological reasons. Another says they have no right to say those things. We are students here. We have come here for our education. We are spending money and adding to the Russian economy. We are not troubling anyone.

Why Questions

v Why are young Russians rude to older people?

v Why don’t young men give up seats in the bus for elders?

v Why do young people sometimes yell or shout bad words at old women?

Your Perceptions of Russia and Russians Now

v The people are friendly and sympathetic. Teachers are friendly and sympathetic. Sympathy is the key to understanding.

v Russian women are very beautiful. They are patient, they work hard, they are good housewives, they are always loyal, and they dress nicely.

v There are a high number of educated people, especially in the sciences. They are able to work under difficult conditions. It’s a wonder. It’s not about equipment. That’s Russia’s secret.

Major differences between cultures

v Alcohol - many Muslims do not drink.

v Families at home are bigger - 5-10 people

v In Russia, people don’t know their neighbors’ names. They don’t greet each other on the street and communicate.

v Clothes - women dress more modestly than Russian women.

v Women don’t smoke, drink, or dress revealingly as they do in Russia.

v Families support each other more. Brothers and sisters support each other. Russian families seem more isolated and individualistic.

v The divorce rate at home is very low.

Russian Interview Responses

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

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

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

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

Stereotypes of Americans You Were Aware Of

v Pragmatic

v Rich

v Overweight

v Always smile

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

v As far as I remember, everyone I met was very friendly, considerate and helpful and eager to get to know Russians better and learn more about our culture.

Advice friends or family members gave you

v Try to make new friends and make the most of your stay

v My mother told me to try every kind of food I can

Why questions you asked

v Why do they never dress up?

v Why do they mingle at parties? Why do they invite so many people?

v Why do they leave their nests? Why do they so often change cities?

v Why are university professors so informally dressed in class?

v Why do children prefer to live separately from parents when they complete high school and almost never come back to live with the parents again?

Why questions others asked you

v Why do Russians stay at one place (at a table) at a party?

v Why do you prefer jeanswear: is it because you like American style clothing or do you find this kind of clothing more comfortable?

v Do people in Russia know foreign languages?

Stereotypes of Russians you discovered

v Russians dance very well. They like to dance.

v There is Mafia in Russia.

v Russian women do a lot of work at home.

v Russians are strong and hard working.

v Russians don’t know foreign languages.

v Russians don’t smile on the street.

How has your experience changed your original view or expectations?

v I don’t think Americans are rich. They get more money but they economize and spend more rationally.

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

v Russian culture belongs to the eastern type and American to the western type.

v Americans are more matter-of-fact and business-like; they are more active; they are not afraid of making severe life changes.

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

v When you are in Russia, invited to someone’s home, you are asked to have tea or some food. In America this does not happen in every house.

What things stood out the most or what things did you most notice about Russia when you returned home?

v The one thing that pleased me is that my family was so glad to see me.

v People not smiling. Not helpful.

v Gloomy people on the streets; no adaptation of public places for disabled.

v People are less polite; there is garbage everywhere; there are no non-smoking areas.

By visiting the USA, have you learned anything new about yourself and your native culture?

v Russians are hospitable, collective. They discuss things in groups before making decisions. They are always ready to share.

v Russians are more family oriented.

v I learned that I should not feel inferior to other people because of being physically disabled.

v Being in the US I am conscious of being Russian and proud of it. I don’t mean that I stand out in American culture and most Americans can’t say I am from a different country unless I tell them, but somehow I always “feel” Russian and tell people I am from Russia with a sense of pride.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-26