“It seemed like everyone hates you”: Swede about life in Russia

After the collapse of the USSR, many of our compatriots moved abroad. Some were able to get along well, others were not. A new generation of young people, Russians by blood, but with a completely different mentality, has already managed to appear. Olga, the daughter of Russian emigrants, was born and raised in Sweden. A pure Swede in her head, she came to Russia at the invitation to work in a large company and has been living in Moscow for seven years. About how she saw the homeland of her parents, Olga told the portal Ruopen.





The girl's story is very interesting for comparing the Russian and Swedish mentality. The differences are so great that in Moscow Olga married a Swede whom she met while working for H&M.

What did you expect?

The Swede, accustomed to the negative political coverage of Russia in the Western media, expected the Russians to be rude and impolite people wearing T-shirts with Armani and Versace and plaid bags. The air in the homeland of the ancestors must be bad, and the infrastructure - at the level of the nineties. This was only partially true.

Indeed, Moscow air does not compare with the Scandinavian one, and some Russians dress very specifically, and plaid bags are quite convenient, which is why they are used. But in general, in the Russian capital, Olga met many modern entertainment venues and fashionably dressed people.

The first meeting

She was not very inspiring. As the girl after she realized, she was immediately deceived in a taxi, divorced by 5000 r. for a trip at 2012 prices. It was then that she realized the idea that in the historical homeland she could be deceived everywhere. I really didn’t like that they smoke a lot everywhere. Moscow impressed with its size, the metro visually scared, but it turned out to be an effective way of transportation and liked it.

Everyone hates

The main problems for Olga began due to a misunderstanding related to the difference in mentality. In Sweden, it is customary to be very polite and friendly, everyone is constantly smiling and trying to help. It is different with us. Her new colleagues and Russians initially seemed very rude and unfriendly to the Swede.

At her house, if a person does not smile at you, it means that he shows that he hates you. If the boss did not smile at the subordinate when meeting in the elevator, wait for the dismissal. In Russia, this means absolutely nothing. Realization of this took quite a lot of time, the girl sincerely believed that everyone hated her. Everything radically changed when Olga became pregnant. Everyone began to help, to be friendly and courteous.

Rudeness

There were also unpleasant moments in the service sector that really did not paint Russia. For example, the girl was shocked when the cashier in the store blamed her for not getting the goods. She was treated in a rather boorish way at the box office in the subway, when at first the foreigner had problems reading inscriptions in Russian.

Feminism

It should be noted that Russia reforged the Swedish feminist into a normal woman. In Sweden, women are not too keen on external beauty, preferring health and spiritual development. In Moscow, however, there were more beauty salons than grocery stores. At first, the girl tried to discuss with colleagues and acquaintances about women's rights, but after she “sat down” at beauty salons.

Russians and Swedes

Compared to Swedes, Russians spend more money on things. Scandinavians prefer to put off for the future, invest and save. Russians are more eager for ostentation and travel. Corruption in our country is an everyday norm, which cannot be said about Sweden. Curiously, Olga made a big compliment to the Russians. She believes that in Russia, if something is done, then responsibly, quickly and seriously. According to her, in Sweden they work more slowly, more relaxed and not always at the level of quality that is customary to expect from Scandinavia.

The most beautiful place in Russia

Like many foreigners, Olga visited Baikal and was delighted with it.