Compiling conversation ideas--what do Russians like to discuss?
I am going to be spending several weeks in Ukraine, then in Russia. I am a relative beginner of Russian, and I want to expand my vocabulary so I can have some more nuanced, abstract conversations. Thus, I want to gather a sense of what interests Ukrainians and Russians, so I can be prepared for their questions about American life. From your travels, what topics are intriguing to those in the former USSR? For instance, I work with ESL students, mainly from East Asia, and the most common topics they want to discuss are Amish people, sit-coms, and fast food culture. On the other hand, what do Ukrainians/Russians like to share about themselves? I know this is very general and varies highly from individual-to-individual, but it would be helpful to get a sense of what one could expect in conversation, and conversely, what will not be discussed. Do you know of any particular taboos in conversation? I hope to talk about religion in Russia, Putin, Chechnya, and socioeconomic issues, but I don't want to step on any toes. Are there any topics that I should avoid, or handle in an exceptionally careful fashion?
Finally, what are conventions in terms of sharing one's experiences? I am a travel virgin, but some of my friends who are globe trotters have explained that in certain cultures, it might be considered rude to share photos of one's home renovations, for instance, because that could be perceived as bragging. I have nothing to flaunt, but if I show pictures of say, an American Christmas tree with some gifts underneath or old high school prom photos of myself in a fancy gown (albeit a $10 thrift store find!), could that be perceived as boasting? My hope is to share what life is like in America, not offend anyone. I just want to make sure I am being considerate!
