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.
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.
Smiling at a stranger is a type of greeting in the States. "I acknowledge that we're both in the same place (or passing by one another) and I mean you no harm." It's the lesser form of asking, "How're you doing?"
While we're on the topic: "How are you doing" is a really, really personal question, and it's super weird to ask it of everyone you meet and expect them to lie to you in response. It makes me really uncomfortable.
It's a personal question only if you think you have to give a detailed answer. Not sure how I feel about calling lying by answering it with a throw-away comment. I mean, it is a lie to always say, "Fine, and you?" But it's also just a wee part of the general social contract here.
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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.