When I came to US I felt weird that unknown people started talking to me out of the blue. I asked myself “Why is this person talking to me?” Suddenly I’ve realized those moments that “Dasha, you are so Russian”.
The thing is, in Russia, it is not that people don’t speak to each other - socialization takes part in a much more framed and longterm manner. Living in Moscow, I would not expect stranger come and talk to me on the street.
But for the past 4 years I’ve lived in the US, my mental program has changed, my brain has been rewired. I am easily saluting and talking with neighbors, unknown people. Especially outside of NYC.
When you move to a different country there are three ways you can relate to the culture. You can:
- Confront - you believe your behaviors are the right behaviors;
- Complain - you will isolate yourself into social bubble of foreigners living in a segregation with the society;
- Conform - you adapt your way to behave, you conform, to the whole society. This way, you can truly benefit from the diversity.
I am choosing conform (absolutely not forgetting my roots) - observing, learning, understanding the behaviors of others and adapting my own.
Any interesting cultural differences you mentioned in other countries, when you adapt your own behavior, or not? :)
by Daria Mudrova
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