Russian habits in life and communication | Understand the Russian culture better

Why do Russians use parentheses in messaging? Why do they eat hematogen? Why are they afraid of the triangle of columns? And how to address Russians in formal situations? Let's figure it out! ;)
• Russian culture | Habi... - 9 Russian habits you should adopt
/FAQ/
- What do I do?
My name is Elina, some friends call me Eli. I am from Russia, but always travel for studying or working abroad.
- What is my channel about?
Here I share my experiences of finding scholarships to study abroad for free, opportunities all over the world; I also talk about my home country Russia and compare cultural aspects of different countries.
More videos:
• Foreigners about educa... - studying in Russia, foreigners about living in Russia
• How to find a job abro... - teaching English abroad, how to find a job without a teaching degree
• Video - how to write a motivation letter to apply for universities and internships abroad
• Video - moving abroad alone after college, 5 sources to find opportunities abroad
___
/ elibakunova - on my Instagram I share more content about programs abroad, traveling and my daily life

[@Joseph31458]

Elina, Russia does not realize what a jewel they have in you , your videos are outstanding and so educational. Thank you !!

[@rayyanharahap291]

So informative thanks

[@ehemalssimehtt3739]

joseph rainieri @ I don't think so. Everybody knows which jewel Eli is! :-)

[@JosephAntoniusMarioWijaya]

Yeah, she really doesn't realize on how valuable each information she ever gave. I'd say if she just wanna try such as exclusive dating company, simple business information opportunity, etc But maybe she already had them )

[@hadithsikshachannel]

Eli thank you l come russia❤❤❤❤💝💖🧡👌❤❤❤💖🇮🇳❤

[@barbechivo]

Schmaltzy reply.

[@chilternsroamer872]

my wife (we are both in our 50s, and she is Russian) does the plastic bag collecting thing ;-) EDIT: she puts the TV remote in a little transparent bag as well. EDIT2: and I am not allowed to whistle indoors, either ;-)

[@resourcedragon]

Re EDIT2: As I can't stand whistling, I think that is an excellent superstition. There is the parallel superstition that whistling on board a ship is unlucky. Again, I think that is a great thing about sailing.

[@irmakalember9403]

I am Eastern European my bf is American. I always tell him not to whisper in the house. My mother always told us that so it stuck w me. 😂

[@TatjanaDimitrijevic]

Hahaha I do same (with plastic bags and remote controler) 😊😊😊😊 ussual and for Serbian ppl .😂 and leaves too ☺

[@Carousel-Chimes]

I collect plastic bags too! I put my phone in a sandwich bag to protect it from rain. I don't whistle in the house because, well to be honest, I can't whistle! I try not to walk under ladders. Oh really, you know we are quite similar 🤗

[@chriszenko6355]

i was once in Russia and brought something in a store i was waiting for the cashier to put my items in a plastic bag she was just looking at me and did not know what i was waiting for I had no idea you have to buy a bag and pack it yourself that is my Russian plastic bag story hope you all enjoyed it ))

[@williamgill_esq.6487]

All Westerners especially Americans have the same plastic bag story from their first trip to East Slavic countries, lol.

[@yuliasyoga4768]

I was in Russians shops and had the opposite experience. I was served by cash registers...

[@ethangill9437]

Love the ))

[@ethangill9437]

@@ElifromRussia In the US, you either have a machine, or the cashier does it for you. This especially goes for Walmart.

[@ilshat2955]

I am russian and I was confused when a cashier put my items in a bag in Vkusvill (russian stores) first time. So there are those "western" stores things in here.

[@rickharms1]

I am an American, live in California. My wife of 25 years is a Russian, from Ufa. This video explains many things, her thoughts and habits. Plastic bags, she has collected hundreds. Her superstitions, which she denies.

[@erikravdanbayar]

Elina, we Mongolians have similar habits. Balcony, heating, lots of superstitions, plastic bags.

[@ThePhantom712]

Do you think its because of past history with Russia Ecko Erka?

[@psalm91.666]

I am from New Mexico we are the same way

[@martamax88]

Serbians too.

[@gt96g]

I'm from the U.S. so definitely what you called a peach culture. But I was actually in Moscow in 2013 on business, and I was fortunate enough to know someone there who worked as an interpreter. He and his wife were also kind enough to show me around the city, take me to some of the landmarks, and took me to some great restaurants. I was really impressed by the history and architecture. I also have some Russian ancestry so it was neat to visit where some of my family came from. What you said is 100% true. Once you know someone well in Russia, it makes all the difference.

[@edwardlobb931]

And thank you, Eli - for your wonderful spirit, that bridges across the gulf of contrived estrangement between our two countries.@@ElifromRussia

[@gabooshi]

The bracket thing is so true !!! I had to actively stop myself from doing it with all of my friends (they are non Russian) because they were always so confused about it 🤣

[@pripyat.sadboi8092]

what does)))0 mean? like) but with a zero in the end?

[@JOHNVS7]

)))))

[@afeelingone]

@@pripyat.sadboi8092 it means a person typing lifted up the shift key too early by the last bracket))))0 like this. On Russian keyboard we have bracket and 0 on the same key

[@julia_urugina]

@@pripyat.sadboi8092 that has also become a meme. ")))0", ")))00))0))0" mean sarcastic smile.

[@glicmathan1771]

I was married to a Russian and must have sat on a corner or walked under a ladder! ))) Yes, the superstitions I found a little too much sometimes- running late to the airport and needing to sit a minute before leaving the house -just for good luck! I was happy to learn about ) etiquette as I often wondered about that! You are a very nice young woman with excellent video content ))

[@leahflower9924]

i didn't realize russians were superstitious i heard that about Chinese though

[@yastyman]

"running late to the airport and needing to sit a minute before leaving the house -just for good luck!" For good luck yeah, but also this is best time to sit for a full unhurried two minutes, got breathe and check with coldmind the last preparations, like documents, phone, cards, keys, tickets... Ok, let's go... Very useful habit.

[@michaelpoland1337]

Здравствуете Элина, The Greater or Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago mayor) is very known the world over! I am from the US, but live in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean tropics for the last 20 something years. That plant is very well known here in folk medicine, and I believe that studies have proven some of its beneficial qualities. In Puertorrican spanish they calle it “Llantén”. I have also seen it growing in New York state in the northern woods on the sides of the roads. Thank you for your great channel! I have learned a lot with you! Я начал изучать русский язык два года назад, потому что у меня есть несколько русских друзей.

[@jonathansamson4942]

I would love to visit Russia one day. I'm from Canada and I love Russian history and culture, especialy litterature. Also great people, Russian communities in Canada are cool. And they are also very talented in hockey, greatest game ever played.

[@elinabakunova2816]

That's nice :)

[@vikkykumardeep8703]

Yes Elina.It's so much similar to our Indian culture.

[@taniabb1988]

Listen to Russian music it's unreal how good it is

[@kevlally]

You obviously have never seen the game called hurling from Ireland... This is the ultimate sport... No other sport come close.

[@ethangill9437]

In America, we treat hockey as a professional sport. I know Canada does, as well. Russia is very big about the Olympics

[@elenahahui7000]

In Romania, we have the same superstitions and habits. Romanian people are much alike russian people. Eli, I enjoy your videos and I love to watch all your trips in Russia, in this way I travel also and discover all those beautiful cultures and landscapes. Keep doing the good work! Greetings from Romania!

[@kpkndusa]

I keep plastic shopping bags for trash, instead of using trash bags. I remember when old people used to always have clear plastic covers on their furniture and lamp shades. As for me, my weird thing is that I have 4 or 5 plastic shopping bags filled with paper napkins I get from cafe's or restaurants, been doing that for years, you never know when you might have a TP shortage. )))

[@Sk0lzky]

It's a well researched thing that in countries that banned these the amount of unrecyclable plastic trash increases because people stop using those thin shopping bags and increase the use of trash bags which are made out of thicker material :v It also means it's gonna take more time for it to decompose (as if plastic didn't already take a fuccton) I keep napkins too as well as those paper tubes with sugar, although napkins spend most time in the car or bag X)

[@chris_sndw]

I also use plastic shopping bags for the trash and I'm German.

[@JN-el7qf]

I use plastic bags in place of garbage bags, too !!!!!!! Much love from Texas !!!!!

[@edwardlobb931]

@@Sk0lzky Plastic shopping bags were banned here recently, but I have enough to last two years. In Mexican dominated US areas they should ban Mufflers that ear split, and horrendous auto bass speakers.

[@Sk0lzky]

@@edwardlobb931 Those mufflers that don't muffle anything are hilarious, it's illegal for vehicle manufacturers to sell cars with them but it takes 10 minutes and one AliExpress search to replace stock (for a profit If you sell the old one) As a biker I hate this trend

[@vladodobleja748]

We have the same bracket etiquette in Romania too.Watching your videos I have rarely seen any habits that you Russians have and us Romanians we don't.Visit Romania once and you will understand how similar we are!

[@Matt_from_Florida]

4:49 I'm a physician assistant (PA). Vegetarians are so common in the USA that we ask pregnant women if they eat red meat. That's because for the first 8 years of a child's life there are 2 essential amino acids in red meat that growing children *MUST HAVE* for the proper development of their nervous-system. That's also the case even before the child is born. We advise pregnant women to eat at least 6oz of red meat every month, and for their child to continue to do so until they become 9 years old. 11:18 Actually, spraying ocean/sea-water on a wound every 2 hours will cause it to heal in less than half the normal time. This is because the salt will kill all the germs/bacteria and also desiccate the scab so it falls off much sooner. I'm right by the Atlantic Ocean so I tell patients to get actual sea-water, but you can Google how much salt to add to tap-water (to achieve the same salinity-level) and you'll get the same healing effect.

[@hannah.e.023]

I’m from a peach culture (US) and I’m talking to someone from Kazakhstan; we’ve been talking for a year and even still, he’s pretty private - it feels more rewarding to have him share his personal life with me when he does

[@badanamun9345]

Elina, You saved my life, I'm communicating with my future partner in Russia! During chatting I found there are these )) brackets after every sentence and I was wondering if this is an error or an app glitch! I even never thought about googling it! Thanks for clarifying the doubts! You got a new subscriber! Very informative channel! Keep up the great work! )) 2:52

[@beepb00p78]

Me, learning Russian: "Hmmm I should really learn about some cultural stuff as well. Let's see." Eli: "Russians don't like small talk" Me: "FINALLY YES 10/10 where do I find myself some russians-"

[@leenahornlund5578]

Love to hear about your traditions. In Sweden we also have this healing leaf, at last the older generation, my grandmother taught me this. We also are more of a coconut country, also Finland are...where my relatives lives. At metros we prefer to dit alone and not talk to strangers. I am half finnish and we don't smile, just to smile.

[@yastyman]

Maybe North creates such an impact.

[@nitink.a567]

Coconut, in Sweden?

[@leenahornlund5578]

@@nitink.a567 sorry for that, my phone's auto spelling. I belive I was thinking "silent" 😄

[@amanverma-es8of]

@@nitink.a567 Yes bro this guys is bullshiting. they dont even take care of their own parents, In russia people take care of even their grand parents. Finlans prime misnister has video of doing whore dance while being prime minister, these people have no culture.

[@colinnunn7902]

Love your honesty and courage against critics. Interesting that you visited Dalby Australia. I lived there many years ago. I enjoy your videos. Keep it up.

[@a_1325]

HAhaha ))) Amazing we have a lot of common here in the Philippines. Almost the same cultures OMG.

[@emanuelebabici]

I love Russia! I'm Italian and I'm a ballet dancer in Germany, and I grew up exclusively with Russian teachers and grew up with them... I've always been in love with your culture and I wish to visit Russia!!! Thank you for these videos, I just found your channel but I'm watching them all! Спасибо!

[@manlybaker3098]

You have traveled to most of Russia including cities and rural areas. Many other Russian vlogers have never left their city or region and only have a generalized idea of Russia. Your posts are refreshingly credible.

[@Arthur.H.Studio]

I lived with my wife (and family) in St Petersburg for 3 years. I didn't know one could control the heat at all! It's just one giant hot water pipe that meanders throughout the whole building. I remember we put our wet clothes on these pipes to dry. I don't think this is common anywhere else. I had to keep the window open a lot there.. to my wife's displeasure. And yes, she was always cold when she moved here!))) (usa)

[@tomridgeway9231]

Lol, I’ve been doing the ‘bag in the bag in the bag’ thing for years! 😂🤣😂

[@kivouhsdelinski5311]

It's interesting how certain things are Highly relatable to India- 1.) Balconies being stuffed with a lot of unused goods, 2.) Bags inside bags, 3.)Cover on remotes, books,etc

[@victorajayi9056]

I've been living in Russia for three years now and I honestly can't chat without brackets anymore! ))

[@JamMan6string]

I had no intention of learning anything when I woke up today. Now look what you have gone and done!

[@tlamiczka]

At my place near Prague (Czechia), we separate the trash to: -plastic -paper -tetrapacks -glass -metals -everything else (main mixture bin for your house) Also from time to time, large container for large garbage and for organic waste (grass, branches) arrives to the street. Also - tires, motor oils, paint cans and similar stuff have special collection yards you should (have to) use. It can be little bit annoying to find the nearest one and drive the stuff there...so some pigs sometimes leave tires in the forest etc., but it almost doesn't happen anymore since it's "free service".

[@tlamiczka]

p.s. I would say that at first sight, Czechs are kind of coconut-peach culture - hard on the outside and hard on the inside :-))) But it's only defense mechanism of people living in sea-less country squished in the middle of the Europe (so historically under constant pressure from many neighbours). It just takes them little bit longer to warm up and then Czechs become nice and friendly people (with great sense of non-PC humor).

[@user-iw8tz9zf9k]

Wow I liked the coconat/peach culture' metaphors 👌🏻 By the way there are a lot of similarities between Russian and Turkish habits, culture and lifestyle 🇹🇷🇷🇺

[@meralEdwtDawlatly]

True 🇹🇷

[@user-ug8cx3oj9p]

Yeah , it's true )

[@xVovax]

That’s because Russia has a lot of tatars. I don’t think there are much similarities between ethnic white Russians and your country.

[@pn7134]

Nah. Really not.

[@amanverma-es8of]

@@xVovax Agree turkish are nice people and they smile just to seem nice even if they dont mean it, they are friendly but not trustable, Bit like italians i would say. Russians are more honest and sincere people on general.

[@briankenakin4171]

This video is amazing. I never knew these things about Russians. No other video channels share this type of information. Thank you for this.

[@splifstar85]

She is a traitor, giving away our secrets and making us and our country less mysterious ))

[@guystephenson5794]

Thank you for this update, Elly, it is much appreciated. Above all, I appreciate your honesty and openness and your realism. Keep up the good work-your wonderful, amazingly diverse country needs your voice.

[@la53tj]

Your videos always put on a smile on my face) Thank you!

[@viktoriyakruske3436]

Thank you for the information about the brackets, that has always confused me.. It is good learning about the oddities of the Russian culture and certainly opened my mind a little with the people I talk with ))

[@user-xo5zt3ig6h]

I don't agree with her reasoning for it though. Colon is just in a far place on Russian keyboard. You have to hold shift with one finger and reach to the very top of keyboard with other. It's inconvenient to do everytime you want to use smiley face, especially if you use them a lot. So we used to skipping it. Even now when people use devices with screen keyboards. And her gradation of them is also odd to me. None of them are about laughing. It's still just a smile either way. The more brackets, the wider the smile

[@ivani3237]

nice )))))))))))))

[@yastyman]

=)))))

[@3wL7]

@@user-xo5zt3ig6h My Russian friend used " )))" or " =))) " as a symbol for "laugh" though...

[@vmizzell]

In the nineties, no one cared what was printed on the plastic bags. Sometimes the bags would have men's magazine covers on them. A man and his wife got on the plane and sat next to me. His bag had a cover from Club International magazine on it. I thought the worst. It turned out he had brought pistachio nuts and piva on the plane. When he noticed I was an America he spoke to me and offered me a beer(piva) so we wound up having a conversation while drinking piva and eating pistachios. It turned out he had a Ph.D is Philosophy. That was my first lesson in cultural context.

[@meralEdwtDawlatly]

These amazing moments on the plane or trips lol 👌❤

[@cesandlin]

Jack is very clever and perceptive. This was an excellent vlog. I wish Jack all the best and a good and prosperous life in Russia or elsewhere! Good luck!

[@keithschultz9406]

thank you Eli for sharing ... great video explaining the habits in life ))

[@tatianabuchanan3627]

This explains why my family does the brackets! I had no idea! Thank you))

[@mikebuenaventura2347]

Большое спасибо, Elina for uploading this video. I was messaging a lovely Russian lady online and she was using brackets as well. She knows I'm learning Russian and so far she's impressed. Anyway, keep up the good work ;)

[@expectingthebeach2368]

Loved it !! Clever video idea to share these Russian idiosyncrasies and you presented it so thoughtfully Eli )) 💙

[@chadbailey7038]

Great video! I love learning how Russian kids text message. I haven’t seen that anywhere else!! And the plantain leaf is hilarious 🤣 🍃

[@HillyHonka]

I enjoy watching your videos and learning about Russian culture. Thank you for sharing )

[@navigator902]

Loved it Eli.... keep it up girl.

[@thevbat]

Great video .very helpful. Lots of very useful information ))

[@davemorgan1]

Great content as usual. I love all your videos and learning about your culture. I really want to visit Russia soon after covid is over. Thanks for your nice videos.

[@pedromanzano3289]

Thank youu beautiful Eli, greetings from Mexico :)

[@ukrainedude88]

Very educational video. Thanks 😊

[@joeltaylor4821]

Eli, your such a wonderful representative of Russia. You've managed to break down the negative stereotypes of Russians portrayed in movies! By the way, who is the Russian equivalent of James Bond in the movies? Love you!

[@QUIESTAmbience]

There are no Russian equivalents of James Bond, but if you're looking for detective/spy movies, I'd advise you to check out Seventeen Moments of Spring (it's about WW2), The Place of Meeting can not be changed (series with Vysotsky as the main protagonist) and Russian adaptation of Sherlock Holmes (with Vasily Livanov as Holmes). All of them are pretty old movies/series, but are considered well-known and loved classics.

[@Luigi13]

Definitely some of the information you provided on this video is very true because I am married to a Russian woman. I had to adapt to some of her superstitions especially the one of whistling. I used to whistle in my apartment of tunes I remembered well, I had to stop doing it. I consider myself the coconut culture. Overall good information and yes I did indeed know some of them, but you made it more clear.

[@sergeyka07]

Элина, довольно интересно о жизни в России, я даже подписался. Но позвольте несколько уточнений: 1. Подорожник несомненно обладает бактерицидными свойствами и действительно помогает заживлять раны. От головной боли он не поможет, так что смысла прикладывать его к голове нет. А вот к содранному локтю или колену - есть. Не уверен насчёт его городской версии (загрязнённой средой), но полевая помогает точно. Проверено многократно на себе, в детстве. 2. Там, где я живу сейчас - во Флориде - мало кто заботится о сортировке мусора. Впрочем, имеются баки, куда можно отправлять непищевой мусор (также кроме пластиковых пакетов). Когда-то они даже делились на пластик, бумагу и стекло, но сейчас всё это в одни и те же баки. Но это - глубоко на любителя, довольно далеко от моего дома, но мне, к счастью, по пути. Основная часть народа такими глупостями не заморачивается. 3. Ну, и конечно же, о пластиковых пакетах при Союзе вы передали какие-то невероятные сплетни. Ни один дурак покупать за 20 рублей пластиковые пакеты не стал бы. Это, кстати, не четверть, а чуть меньше 1/8 средней советской зарплаты (170р в начале 80-х). За такие деньги отдельные студенты ухитрялись проживать полмесяца (это была половина обычной стипендии). Действительно нередко задорого покупались импортные пакета (или "импортные") с какой-нибудь картинкой и надписью на ненашем языке. Но не потому, что не было пластиковых отечественных - их было полно, а потому, что это было статусно. Так же, как могли покупать за 150р импортные джинсы "Лее" - именно так их называли - и за такие деньги можно было купить хороший импортный мужской костюм-тройку. Но это именно о статусе: человек может купить за такие деньги - значит, добился успеха. Подавляющее большинство людей такими глупостями не занималось, даже если могли себе это финансово позволить. В остальном всё более-менее точно, как с моей точки зрения. Успехов Вам.

[@Petrarki]

Really interesting - thank you!

[@josedosanjos2200]

That is a helpful lesson !

[@sitthapromwasphornsaran5736]

Thanks for all of your vdos.

[@BeaverOne]

Appreciate this video ! It's very interesting to me to see these sort of habits, minor beliefs coming from other cultures. I do not know if you have been to Mexico but it would be great for you to have a chance to visit there one day. My parents are from there and I feel there is a lot of similarities between the people of Mexico & Russians

[@toyamurphybaby113]

Thank you for this video I've learned so much 😻🕐

[@khecke]

Thank you for all the infos about Russian culture.

[@hammanbanjiram1611]

Great video. I like the peach, and coconut illustrations. They make a lot of sense. I think I may have some aspects of both the peach, and coconut 😉

[@ashleyhockenberry2187]

Excellent. Great explanation

[@hydeyoung9059]

Hello. There has been interesting and useful information about Russian culture. I didn't know them. Thanks.

[@airborneranger-ret]

O...M...G... Thump thump thump goes my heart :)

[@ivanzhovannik5419]

So true!:) This video made my evening!

[@robertluxford5528]

Thank you Elina I really enjoyed that, I guess I lean more towards the peach)) Robert

[@joshthegreatest1198]

@@ElifromRussia hello Elina how are you?

[@Erik250591]

I am Dutch, but I have visited Russia 7 times now (love it! I really feel at home there). I have picked up a few Russian habits (parentheses for example), and some I've always had (coconut). I'd say Dutch culture is a bit of a mix between coconut and peach, depending on the topic.

[@elinabakunova2816]

Cool!!

[@Jaice.s_053]

Ik ben ook Nederlands!

[@jjmjam2749]

Definitely a coconut here (lol) I really enjoy your videos. Thank you from Portsmouth Virginia

[@zulkiflijamil4033]

Hello Elina ). Your channel is excellent )). Спасибо вам большое. 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

[@eemage9476]

Elina, without doubt, you are the best Russian ambassador ever. Please keep rolling these very educational videos. Thank you so much!

[@howardlaunius7484]

Very good information... Thank you ))

[@miamoonshine]

This was really interesting and funny. And you‘re super pretty ✨

[@ntropie1]

Very interesting, keep making these videos :)

[@redagrain8170]

Wow we’re common in all these habits!!Peace from Morocco 🇲🇦

[@richarajesh8098]

Nice channel. Show more about their culture- their daily habits, festivals, ceremonies, eating habits, work culture-, good, dressing, make up, beauty routines etc. Best wishes!

[@bikecyclejournal8949]

Pretty much everything you said in this video applies to Serbs, also . :))) We have the same habits and superstitions :) Great work ! Please make more videos about Russian culture :)

[@amanverma-es8of]

Agreed

[@Fogtownproductions]

Another amazing one )

[@GlowingPie]

I have plastic bag for other plastic bags because it's really handy. I use plastic bags for trash (so I don't buy additional plastic bags for trash). I separate the trash but I need to go to the spots that collect trash for recycling. Our city didn't create good conditions for recycling (unlike in Korean, Japanese, Italian and so on cities). But I'm happy that activists in my university are striving to develop recycling processes in our city. It gives a hope and inspiration!

[@Steelropetom]

Ha very funny presentation Elina )) kind greetings from Vienna^^

[@williamdudleybass9302]

Life sure is messy, plastic bags & old balcony things & all! Fascinating! I enjoy your videos and find them so informative. I’m in Seattle in the US NW. Having been all over the States it seems we have a split personality, LOL! Think of a Giant Peach (oh goodness that’s another story!) around a Coconut. Layers & layers. Superficially Peach. Go deeper but what you think is the pit of the peach is actually the shell of the coconut. Keep going, and, then, you’re there!

[@deemorris9424]

Wonderful. Thank you))

[@Feral.cat713]

I just found your channel and I you’re videos are really fascinating. I’m from America so definitely a peach culture haha

[@pautjevandaag]

In Netherlands we call the plantain weegbree (name also has road in it), and we were told as children to use it as an antidote to the sting of nettles. And ofc another very entertaining and informative video :)

[@binaryboyo9674]

Interesting and educational video Elina about Russian superstitions and idiosyncrasies.👍 I always wondered about the parentheses in chat and thought Russian's were just lazy by not adding a colon! 🙂 Russian heating bills must be very large maintaining such a high temperature indoors all year! 💰 The plastic bags within bags within bags was funny too (I do that too in AUS) and I also thought of Russian Matryoshka Dolls? Is there any connection? 😉 Anyway, keep up the good work and look forward to your next video post. 👏

[@AerialVision]

Excellent video!

[@jaimeshotbuns]

thanks for the new video

[@Fucusasd]

Peach culture is almost everywhere in South America, greetings from Chile! You make amaizing videos ))

[@dineshkumthekar3135]

Madam, your videos are outstanding and also educational. Watching you is fun.. Love to watch your videos for education, travel information and listen to your sweet voice.. Regards from Pune, India

[@jbhann]

Really curious what people actually consider small talk to be. The Easy German channel had a video on that, where the German host was trying to do small talk with fellow Germans on the street, but he asked them questions about the weather, because he said he didn’t know how to do small talk. We don’t even do that in the States, go up to a stranger, and ask how they like the weather. Unless it’s a farmer, and the weather conversation flows into farm related talk. Just confused how a complete stranger could possibly ever get to know a Russian or a German, without first breaking the ice with a non-invasive question…to test the waters? And if there seems to be some connection, then the conversation can expand into deeper and meaningful topics. She said, Russians don’t like the small talk, but prefer long sincere conversations, but once you get to know the Russian, the person is very friendly. This is mind blowing, because I’m envisioning a scene of walking up to a Russian, who I’ve never met before, and immediately jump into a long sincere conversation about all the different battery technologies being proposed. And after a few minutes of me just talking about batteries, the Russian finally says something, and it’s; _Why are you talking to me about batteries?_ To which I respond, _I wanted to get to know you, but had no idea what your interests are as we’ve never met before and heard Russians prefer long sincere conversations. So, it was either battery technologies, the multi-universe theory, or composting toilets on sailboats. I would had mentioned how amazing your scarf looks, but was told Russians hate small talk._

[@hershellacey9405]

Without starting with small talk how do you ever get to big talk?)

[@linhnguyentuan5066]

Спасибо, очень интересный 💯

[@linhnguyentuan5066]

A lot of these things also happen in Vietnam ))

[@kristyaafa2191]

This is so spot on! Even for a Russian immigrant living in the US for 30 years as my self, this is very very true and ingrained how to be/act or what is natural to me

[@PeterSodhi]

So fascinating...

[@AdityaSrivastavahooha]

It was strange but nice. I am soon going to study there,so thankyou)))

[@jaynareynolds3684]

Interesting. Thank you 👍

[@gotchaz45]

People seem to assume that a smile in US is insincere; my first exposure to this idea was from a French Canadian friend. I don't know why one would think that. For me it is easy to see the difference by looking at how I would smile at a man (I am a woman) as opposed to a woman. A man usually gets a small smile. Anothet woman will get a larger smile. For me this is a reflection of our sisterhood, an acceptance of each other. My smile, big or small, is also my reflection of God's love and acceptance for all of humanity. I hope it is something to brighten a stranger's moment and lift their spirit. I can't speak for everyone but that is what is in my heart when I smile.

[@mohamedrebbah1137]

Hello Eli.. what a sympathetic and lovely lady you are .I found You so sociable friendly and very kind , especially with your best and clear English language. gorgeous and affectionate lady with your sweet smiling.

[@shanechristiana137]

Thanks Eli, another fantastic video. I'm currently learning about European cultures and Russia is a must know for me. What a beautiful nation! ❤

[@slapleatheru3]

Hay. I bought a samovar and a bag of Russian black tea. The rolled leaf type and I just love it! Maybe some Russian tea recipe videos would be nice.

[@cbluesbc]

Super interesting! Thank you! --from Canada ((

[@mrbruce7401]

Thank you for your video

[@Zifiron]

When I was in St. Petersburg, we experienced very friendly people. We actually liked the people we met. Young and old. Which was a bit strange to us because in Western media Russia is often portrayed as dark, grim and not very friendly at first sight (what you mentioned in the video), but that's totally not what we experienced in St. Petersburg. I liked that city a lot and it changed my view on Russian people.

[@antoineolivier1287]

Because 99% of Russia is not St Petersburg, nor Moscow.

[@antoineolivier1287]

The real Russia has very little to do with those megacities.

[@Zifiron]

@@antoineolivier1287 That of course I can imagine. But still... Benjamin from Bald & Bankrupt paints another picture than this grimm Russia as well. And I myself am also a patreon of Natasha (YT vlogger) from Spassk-Dalny in the far East of Russia. That's way more rural. So, I do know my Russia a bit. My own experiences are limited to indeed just one city, which is basically saying that I've been to the US (which I've been), but I only went to NYC so far and stayed on Manhattan. I get your point :)

[@Carousel-Chimes]

Добрый вечер, Ели - большое спасибо вам за видео.🎉 Я изучаю русский язык. Очень интересная информация здесь. Каждый день, я понимаю много! Благодарю вас - отличный клип! 😊🌟

[@REPSSTUDIO]

Hi Eli, i really enjoy all your videos, introducing Russia culture, language, habits, etc... Can you make food videos? Introducing Russian food cultures? Planning to move to Russia.

[@Devanite13]

You have filled in quite a few things for me that I was a bit curious about as I do have a Russian woman in my life and I have found some of her behaviour to sometimes be a bit offputting! Ty for this!

[@ban6096]

Eli, Thank you very much for this very interesting video. I learned some new cultural points )) My parent''s culture is coconut culture' and I follow that,too.I live in Spain and contrary to popular belief, it is actually 'peach culture'. After more than twelve years, I have seen that here,when people feel that you are no longer useful to them, they drop you and don't want to keep in touch. I MUCH prefer the Coconut culture way and hence, I get along much better and respect the Russian-speaking people that I know. They are much more sincere.