Why Americans do not take off their shoes at home, and other habits that seem strange to Russians

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

No, even if we assume that they have “the streets are washed with shampoo,” then “our” person cannot but be distorted by the spectacle when Americans, even just heroes of films, wander in street shoes right on the carpet (my mother would have killed for that!), or even lie on the bed. It is clear that the difference in mentality makes itself felt by the difference in habits, but there should be a logical explanation for everything?

All day shoes

It turns out that this is not at all an artistic idea during the filming of films, but a real fact - the overwhelming majority of Americans do not take off their shoes after crossing the threshold of their home. Yes, most of their streets are relatively clean, dirt, in the conventional sense of the word, no. You will not find puddles or dirt roads. In addition, many US residents rarely walk and start driving from school. But the fact remains - the outsole is still dirty. By the way, such a habit seems not only to Russians not entirely hygienic, and many immigrants have not been able to get used to the fact that Americans can comfortably sit on the couch with their legs curled up in street shoes (or even put them on the table), and only walk in them on a light carpet - this is generally the simplest and most obvious. And the habit of covering the floors with carpets with such a love for street shoes is also very doubtful. No matter how clean the American streets are, there are still gray "paths" on the floor, which are practically not cleaned, therefore "you like to walk around the house in shoes - love and do repairs more often."

They do not have slippers familiar to many peoples, they have a home version of shoes, and then they wear them when they do not need to go anywhere all day - something lighter and more comfortable. In other cases, they will walk in these shoes all day and only get off before the evening shower, already somewhere in the bedroom. Therefore, they do not have the usual shoe shelves or rugs at the door. Many sociologists agree that Americans do not divide territory into "their own" "alien" and, going beyond the boundaries of their home, do not feel like they are in a foreign world … Therefore, they have no disgust for the external environment, for them it is friendly. This is also noticeable in the way they behave in parks - they sit and eat on the grass, they can fall asleep right on the bench, read in the bookstore.

Smile but not look

In Russia and the CIS countries, it is customary to consider each other. Who came out in what, how they dressed. The average American values his personal space too much and realizes that it ends exactly where someone else's begins, and therefore absolutely no one will stare at each other on the street. If there is eye contact, then with a greater degree of probability the person wants to chat, say something pleasant, but in this case it is necessary to smile. This is further proof that the world is not perceived as hostile, why frown if everyone is friends?

Flowers are given by … courier

Giving flowers to a girl in person is a rather desperate step for an American. This means practically recognizing himself as henpecked, ready to do anything for her approval. But sending it by courier and with an accompanying note is quite a respectable step. It is not entirely clear what the difference is, but, nevertheless, in America it is rarely possible to meet a man rushing home with a bouquet of flowers for his beloved.

They appreciate the work of mail and deliveries

If Russians see an unconditional benefit on the Internet and believe that in the West all bureaucratic procedures are already carried out in electronic format, then Americans carefully check their mailbox every day. It is through him that a lot of papers, documents and various offers from banks and commercial organizations are delivered to them. They are in no hurry to throw everything away at once, but carefully sort through the correspondence and treat it with respect, as to something important. Needless to say, their mail and delivery service works very scrupulously and efficiently. Apparently this is why Russians find such active use of mailing lists strange.

Early awakening

Judging by the films in which the heroes first get together for a run, then have a nice breakfast with their family, go to the shower, and only then go to work, their working day begins almost at noon. In fact, everything is more likely the other way around, the working day starts at 8 am, and some meetings can be scheduled at 7. This is not surprising, school lessons begin at 7-8. And traditional morning habits, which are really important to Americans, make them wake up at night.

Ice drinks

In any institution, it is customary not only to offer ice to drinks, but to put it right away, as a self-evident ingredient. Most refrigerators are equipped with special compartments for making ice. Ready-made ice is sold in almost any store, even the smallest one or even at a car gas station. Foreigners who are not accustomed to such a system of serving drinks will definitely not be easy, if not sore throat, then teeth aches are guaranteed. If you warn in a cafe that you have no ice, then, most likely, they will carefully bring a sweaty glass with a very cold drink just from the refrigerator. They even drink tea and coffee with ice, but what is there, even in winter they can drink drinks with ice on the street. And having met a small child with a cup, in which a piece of ice is also splashing along with water, a Russian person can experience a real culture shock. Perhaps Americans have a different heat exchange system, but at the same time that even at plus five they begin to wear huge down jackets and generally behave as if the end of the world is coming, in apartments and offices they put air conditioners on a very cold mode and they are comfortable.

Birthday is a sad holiday

Who would doubt that the Americans are far from the breadth of the Russian soul, because they do not conduct any mass parties, with the invitation of aunts-uncles, friends, colleagues. No tables with two hot, starters and custom-made salads. Everything is as simple as possible and without frills. The maximum that threatens an adult who has a birthday is an evening visit to some institution, where they will have dinner with friends or colleagues, and they will collectively pay the bill as a gift. And if at the end they also bring out a cupcake with a candle and even sing "Happy birthday", then we can consider that the celebration turned out to be simply grandiose.

Remarks are bad form

In Russia, calling the police can be considered a "snitch", especially if the reason for the complaint was petty and it was quite possible to make a claim on your own, they say, to make the music quieter or move the car. However, in the states, everything is exactly the opposite. It doesn't matter what kind of violation a citizen has witnessed - he just calls the police, but they will call the police even if they notice a minor violation, even if it does not bother them directly, they will still inform them where they need to be. Why? Well, because that's what good citizens do. By the way, in the United States, children under the age of 14 cannot be left alone at home. Therefore, neighbors may well report such a violation, simply noticing that a car drove off.

The main thing in appearance is the perfect smile

You might think that a snow-white smile is a national trait of Americans, but this, of course, is not so. But the states are sure that the main thing in the appearance of any person is perfect teeth. That is why they can be fat, poorly dressed, slovenly combed, but their smile is always a million. In Russia, everything is rather the other way around, a person can drive an expensive car, dress in branded clothes, but at the same time do not "shine" with a smile at all, and that is, to put it mildly. Dental services in America are very expensive, but they begin to deal with teeth already in adolescence - they level, whiten, correct the bite. Thanks to this tradition, most young Americans have perfect teeth and a "Hollywood smile" by the time they reach their conscious age. By the way, in recent years, the trend for perfectly straight and snow-white teeth is becoming a thing of the past. Natural teeth are in fashion, but also well-groomed, even and white. This is the effect that most dentists strive for.

Cup of coffee

The notorious “for a cup of coffee” came from the Americans. In Russia, they are always invited to drink tea, and they will also cut sausage for tea. Perhaps coffee is the only drink that Americans drink relatively hot, because if you order tea, there is a great chance that it will be tea with lemon and ice. And necessarily from a bag, it seems that Americans do not know at all what loose tea is and how to brew it, so they do not have a culture of tea drinking. But they drink coffee everywhere. But here, too, one should not count on any graceful approach. This is not a Europe where every sip of freshly brewed coffee will be sipped. This is America, here coffee is sipped from huge plastic glasses on the way to work, while driving, during a telephone conversation. It was in America that coffee began to be drunk from plastic cups with a lid that prevents the drink from quickly cooling and spilling and makes it possible to drink on the go. What kind of respect for the drink is there, so take a couple of sips on the run. Nowadays, individual large cups are gaining popularity according to the principle “My water bottle”. You can fill such a glass of coffee in the vending machines, which are found everywhere, especially in shopping centers and working areas.

Put your feet on the table

This is the habit of an American that no native of Russia or the CIS countries will never put up with, so it is with raising his feet on the table and other pieces of furniture. In shoes, of course, they did not take them off when they entered. Often in the cinema, you can see the leg of a person sitting behind the head near the head. It’s scary to imagine what is threatened for such a trick in Russia, but in the states it’s normal. It is also normal to talk to subordinates from the “feet on the table” position, throw your feet on the table from which someone is currently eating … There is no completely accurate explanation of where the legs of this habit grow from, but the fact that many of them are frankly annoying is absolutely … Many habits of the youngest nation are very easily explained by the peculiarities of their mentality and the desire for absolute freedom. Many immigrants are ready to accept them, because America has been and remains an attractive place for those who are in search of a better life. World celebrities, whose ancestors once moved to the states, despite the fact that they completely adopted American culture, do not cease to honor their Russian roots..