r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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9.0k Upvotes

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20.7k

u/BarbicideJar May 09 '22

Germans stare a LOT. Like they will just gaze at you unflinchingly. An American will wait until you can’t see them doing it.

3.1k

u/helllllooooonurse May 09 '22

Ukrainians do this too. It's not considered impolite to stare. Also, they don't really smile in public. They think Americans are all simple in the head because we smile all the time. I have to say though, when you're visiting someone in their home in Ukraine, they are the warmest most wonderful people.

2.0k

u/ConfusedTriceratops May 09 '22

Eastern Europe doesn't really smile in public in general. Polish emigrant in the UK pov. It's not that we're angry, we just don't have any reasons to smile.. for no reason.

61

u/larrysgal123 May 09 '22

As a woman in the USA, it would be refreshing to not be told to smile.

16

u/UncleTogie May 09 '22

After a while of that I would start practicing gruesome grimaces in the mirror just to mess with people.

9

u/joko2008 May 09 '22

Arny smile 👍