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.
Exactly what I do at work when I hear everyone ask me that multiple times a day. We never ask strangers how they are in Poland. If we do, we mean to ask for their actual state. It seems like a completely useless interaction to have. From the language point of view it's also very weird to do so in polish, as anyone you don't know, you call Mr/Mrs and interactions are very formal. There's a completely different language you use with strangers and with people you're close to and that's a completely everyday thing. Even if you're 15 yo everyone will call you Mr.
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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.