Thread: Smile for the people

People complain about this when they come to Scandinavia too. (not enough smiling...).
Personally I often smile to strangers though, because I feel like it - it's my personality.

Perhaps the cold climate and dark season makes people more reserved and a bit grumpy. It is something all Northern countries, including Russia, have in common.

However when a Scandinavian person (or no doubt a Russian) smiles it is because they really want to and it's genuine. I can't stand phony smiles.

Finland is quite extreme in this respect. They don't smile much and they don't EVEN talk much.
But they are very nice and genuine people.

I noticed that English people are a bit more friendly and kind towards strangers compared with Sweden. I appreciate this a lot. For example if you stand with a map and look lost, then someone will come up and offer to help.

Originally Posted by Johanna

Perhaps the cold climate and dark season makes people more reserved and a bit grumpy. It is something all Northern countries, including Russia, have in common.

I don't think it's climate (in Russia).

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by Johanna

Perhaps the cold climate and dark season makes people more reserved and a bit grumpy. It is something all Northern countries, including Russia, have in common.

I don't think it's climate (in Russia).

Of course it's not the same but the two times I was in Brighton Beach I saw very few smiles.

Scott

Песенка про косяк.


Автор текста (слов): Яковлев М.
Композитор (музыка): Броневицкий А.

Поет Эдита Пьеха

Дождевые струны зазвенели
Разогнала всех людей гроза
Но идёт прохожий по панели
Смеются радостно глаза
Он дождя ни капли ни пугается
И хоть ливень грозовой прошёл
Человек идёт и улыбается
Значит человеку хорошо
Человек идёт и улыбается
Значит человеку хорошо
Хорошо хорошо
Как хорошо хорошо

Девушки вослед глядят влюблённо
Вот романтик видно по всему
Даже клёны низкие поклоны
Ветками отвесили ему
Может он в свой город возвращается
Может быть зовёт его большой
Человек идёт и улыбается
Значит человеку хорошо
Человек идёт и улыбается
Значит человеку хорошо
Хорошо хорошо
Как хорошо хорошо

Люди раскрывайте окна настежь
Дождик прекращай-ка свой мотив
Пожелаем человеку счастья
Пожелаем доброго пути
Может быть мечта его сбывается
Может он любовь свою нашёл
Человек идёт и улыбается
Значит человеку хорошо
Человек идёт и улыбается
Значит человеку хорошо
Хорошо хорошо
Как хорошо хорошо
Хорошо

I have heard that often .... American smiles are fake.

My response .... I am not like every other American.

Really ... I try very hard to take people for who they are. An individual person I have come in contact with. There are no preconceived notions or ideas. To me they are a clean slate. I do not judge someone based on culture, religion, sex, color or socioeconomic status. I choose to smile. I choose to be friendly.

However, because I smile and want to present myself in a friendly manner, does not mean I am not wary OR that I am not genuine in my smile.

I wear my emotions quite openly. One can always tell if I am sad, happy, joyful, angry and a whole host of reasons I may wear an expression.

But to smile ... to a person I do not know ... maybe, just maybe with that one small act of kindness ... maybe I have touched them in a way that is good. Maybe they can pass it on to another.

If I frown all the time ... wrinkles, I do not want them. I want joy. passion. even in the bad times.

meh .... to each their own I guess. But a smile makes me feel good.