Overly Familiar

[jone]

I found this following op/ed to be something that I have experienced in Russia and Eastern Europe.   Overfamiliarity is something to watch for when dealing with friends and acquaintances in Eastern Europe.  We don't mention it much because if you are with a woman, she will certainly tell you if you are being overly familiar.  But I have violated familiarity standards when dealing with Eastern Europeans. 

In the United States reservations about disclosing personal information is not practiced with those people you see every day.  Unless you receive a specific signal from a person that they do not wish to talk about a specific topic, everything is open season with someone that you know well.  My experiences in Russia do not dovetail with the open attitudes of Americans. 

*  One Russian family I knew had a member that had Muscular Dystrophy.  While there was some danger to his traveling outside his home, his family saw to it that he was not discussed, nor even seen outside his residence.  Moreover, all but close family members were never allowed in their home. 

*  A Russian friend I had said that a girl had broken up with him because he kissed her in public.  I asked what the problem was and he said that she did not appreciate others seeing her affection.

*  The first time I met a woman's family in Ukraine, she warned me not to ask questions about additional family members or her family's history.

It is important to understand the difference between Western Society and Society Norms in Eastern Europe.  Please, share your own stories.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/hands-off-the-merchandise/571181.html

[Larry1]

*  A Russian friend I had said that a girl had broken up with him because he kissed her in public.  I asked what the problem was and he said that she did not appreciate others seeing her affection.

Another of the 1,473 reasons that these relationships end.

[cc3]

Only 1,473??? 

[msmobyone]

Interesting article..but not my experience of many Russians - who can be extremely direct in expressing an opinion, asking a question some westerners might regard as 'shocking'.