Do Russians mix with westerners?

[TheNativeSon]

conservative bible thumping middle america DESPISES the so called effete socialist degenerate culture of europe

Dude, that pitiful "bible thumping" bunch of puppets, are the largest demographic collective of "losers" in the entire U.S.A. They are "themselves", the most despicable, hypocritical and reprehensible examples of American values, ever represented in Thailand. They should DESPISE themselves, for their own blatant "red-necked" stupidity. Cheers

[Wat dee]

For all intents and purposes, a lot of Russians are "Westerners"

Sorry but you are wrong!!

[dao16]

For all intents and purposes, a lot of Russians are "Westerners"

Sorry but you are wrong!!

No, you are both right (THERE!), hahaha...

The Russian identity is "a thing", er, you know, in the the parlance of our times. Check out the famous Russian writers....Chekov, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Solschenizyn and many more. I won't go into it since hundreds of years of literature and philosophy have dealt with the question, and you can find a lot about it on the interwebs.

[hanno]

For all intents and purposes, a lot of Russians are "Westerners"

Sorry but you are wrong!!

Not at all. Culturally, Russia has always been oriented to the West. They married French or German Royalty and were leading in the arts and sciences. I am obviously talking about Western Russia, not Siberia.

[hanno]

conservative bible thumping middle america DESPISES the so called effete socialist degenerate culture of europe

Whilst putting their feet on the table, an American habit I HATE!!!!!!

[commie]

Interesting topic. Yes Russians are generally seem to be "rude" and "unfriendly" at the first glance, but that's just because they seldom smile at strangers. Here is a good article explaining that, worth reading - http://blog.properrussian.com/2011/05/why-russians-are-not-smiling.html

Language barrier is an issue as well, many have basic English skills but are too shy speaking it being afraid of making a mistake and being laughed at for it. But all in all once you get to know them Russians are very kind and open hearted people.

[Jingthing]

conservative bible thumping middle america DESPISES the so called effete socialist degenerate culture of europe

Whilst putting their feet on the table, an American habit I HATE!!!!!!

Kind of irrelevant. What percentage of people are Americans in Pattaya? 2 or 3?

[hanno]

Fair enough. They are about 10% of my guests here in Siem Reap, but 100% of the guests that put their shoes on the lobby tables ate American:-)

Never seen Russians do that.

[eddie61]

I have met them many times in the Thai hotels/resorts. They walk next to eachother and will never give way for anybody else. They take all the beachbeds at 6 am and start drinking there right after breakfast, yelling, rude behaviour, being very wild and drunk at 1pm before they go take a nap. At the breakfast buffet a fat russian bloke grabbed the whole pile of plates while my arm allready was reached out to take a plate. He waited for his group of friends who came a few minutes later and gave them all a plate. They piled them plates up, ate only half of it and went for a new pile. Leftovers disappeared in their bags for lunch.

They barely speak english, don't care at all for other tourists, are agressive and only drink/eat all day.

I know there are other nationality's which also can be rude but the russians are the worst for me.

Just my own experience and opinion. From now on i only want to go in a hotel where there are no russians.

Quality tourists

[forumuser10]

Russians are Westerners by their culture.

By region they are everything from Westerners to far east.

People from America might think of Russians as Westerners.

But we who comes from the NorthWestern Europe, knows, Russians, and Eastern Europeans have very little in common, if anything at all, with Western Europe.

Russians, Slovakians, Polish, Serbians, etc, have NOTHING in common with Western Europe.

No they are NOT Westerners by culture.

[wileycoyote]

Yes ,they are OK .

Good and Bad in every country

[commie]

Yeah they still refuse to acknowledge pedophilia as sexual orientation and frown at gays. Bloody barbarians!

[stoli]

In high season, over half of the tourists in town are Russian. MORE than represented. They are OVER- represented.

I would have to question your figures. Do you have a source for us to look at?

In a related article:

In the first 10 months of this year, Thailand welcomed 791,755 Russian tourists or 5.72 per cent of 13.85 million visitor arrivals at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, according to the TAT. The number rose 33.84 per cent from last year.

It is always provided that the Chinese are the largest group of tourists in Thailand.

[hanno]

Russians are Westerners by their culture.

By region they are everything from Westerners to far east.

People from America might think of Russians as Westerners.

But we who comes from the NorthWestern Europe, knows, Russians, and Eastern Europeans have very little in common, if anything at all, with Western Europe.

Russians, Slovakians, Polish, Serbians, etc, have NOTHING in common with Western Europe.

No they are NOT Westerners by culture.

From Google:

From a cultural and sociological approach the Western world is defined as including all cultures that are directly derived from and influenced by European cultures, i.e. western Europe (e.g. France, Ireland, United Kingdom), central Europe (e.g. Germany, Poland, Switzerland), northern Europe (e.g. Sweden, Denmark, Finland), eastern Europe (e.g. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus), southeastern Europe (e.g. Bulgaria, Greece, Romania)

[ElenaBrighton]

There are single male Brits and Brits that come with the family- and they seem to come from different planets..

Russians keep to themselves because of the language problem. Period.

Could be also because they don't think you have anything interesting to say...

[Jingthing]

Yeah they still refuse to acknowledge pedophilia as sexual orientation and frown at gays. Bloody barbarians!

I consider that a homophobic comment. That is typical Russian thinking though -- EQUATING homosexuality with pederasty.

[DrTuner]

Russians are for a part westeners. Check out the pre-PC-era map: http://www.theprintscollector.com/ebay/img/bb06462-3.JPG . Europe as a continent extends up to the Ural mountains.

CCCP time communism is to blame for their current surly disposition.

[CIHUAHUA]

Most of the Russian women I've seen in Pattaya are super hot

But as far as the Russians interacting with others, they appear aloof and uninterested in conversing with anyone outside their immediate group.

I have found groups of Russians tend to be VERY open to interact with OTHER Russian speakers. This supports my feeling that a large part of the perception of coldness is linguistic in origin.

I agree that Russian people interact with the rest of us "westerners" especially when you look at them and ask "paroosky. da ? but it soon turns when they realize that is the only Russian I can speak. But since I'm an American my question is ; What part of Texas is Russia in anyway? AT least they don't call me a colonist.

[ultimate weapon]

Personally i have no wish to mix with any Russians, in Chiang Mai i have found them not to Honest and VERY AGGRESSIVE, my experience came as a result of purchasing a T.V. which stopped working after 2 days, what a load of hastle i had with them, they even smashed the lock on my gate and threatened me with a clenched fist.

So for me i will give any of them a wide berth in the future and certainly will never purchase anything from them.

so because you had issues with Russian you have no wish to mix with them ? with nearly 200 millions Russian , I dont think its right to generalized , like any nationalities, there are good and bad people .... I have met some many bad and agressive americans but still like to go to the US...

Somehow ppl don't apply the same logic when it comes to chinese.

[dao16]

Most of the Russian women I've seen in Pattaya are super hot

But as far as the Russians interacting with others, they appear aloof and uninterested in conversing with anyone outside their immediate group.

I have found groups of Russians tend to be VERY open to interact with OTHER Russian speakers. This supports my feeling that a large part of the perception of coldness is linguistic in origin.

I agree that Russian people interact with the rest of us "westerners" especially when you look at them and ask "paroosky. da ? but it soon turns when they realize that is the only Russian I can speak. But since I'm an American my question is ; What part of Texas is Russia in anyway? AT least they don't call me a colonist.

Hahah.....Texas is a special place. I lived there for a while when I was a kid and we would get that all the time. My parents have said that many times--they were foreigners there, in the eyes of the locals, and we lived close enough that we drove there when we moved. Called "Yankees" all the years we were there.

That's why I always get a kick out of it when the brits call us yanks or yankees. It doesn't bother me (just like brit is not a bad term), but the first thing that comes to mind is being a northerner, and then I remember I am talking to someone from the UK. In Teas, though, hahahah......watch your back, son.

[Gsxrnz]

I have observed more obvious homophobia among the Russians than other groups in Pattaya, even much more so than Muslims from the Middle East or Indians, which might surprise many. The main reason I say this is watching how they react on baht buses when there are either Thai ladyboys or older white man / younger Thai man couples. Sometimes it is overt, pointing and laughing at them directly, more so to the ladyboys. Sometimes it is hostile looks and STARING more so to the gay male intergenerational couples. I have not noticed any visible hostility towards gay men together who are the same race and age but I'm not sure they even register as gay to these observers.

So far I have not heard of any bashing incidents when the homophobic Russians "mix" with visible sexual minorities, but I wouldn't be surprised if I did.

JT - didn't you post a while ago that middle aged Russian women were regularly hitting on you at Big C?

[Mudcrab]

Russians are Westerners by their culture.

By region they are everything from Westerners to far east.

I think your description is way too simplistic.

The question whether Russia is part of the Western world has plagued

Russian intellectuals and Western observers alike for the past two centuries.

http://www.risingpowersinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/gvosdev2.pdf

Also recently in embracing the strong man leader Putin Russia has endorsed cultural separation from the west especially in modern issues such as advancing gay civil rights. If you read up on this issue, there is lots of rhetoric saying we are NOT the west and we don't accept the values of the west.

You might be surprised by the views of the silent majority in the west on this particular topic. Personally my view is to legalise gay marriage....just don't make it compulsory

[Grant]

There is very old and sophisticated emotional conflict within Russian society between so-called Westerners and Slavophiles. Why Russia is part of Europe continent but still not member of EU - because majority of Russians doesn't feel like Europeans, and they don't want to share so-called "European values". There are many who actually hate that kind of values. They believe that Russia has nothing to do with Europe and always had "her own way". At the same time there are many people who believes that Russia is part of Europe, and Russian culture is not that far from any European cultures.

Speaking about Siberians, you have to understand that ancestors of many of them was a kind of colonizers, people who loves freedom and adventures.

Also for centuries all criminals has been sent to Siberia, same as british criminals has been sent to Australia. It doesn't mean that Siberians are criminals, but the history made they specific characters.

Moreover Russia has about 2 ethnicities recognized by the government, and most of that ethnicities has they own language and they own culture, which is completely different from Russian language and culture.

So, you can meet people who virtually belong to many different groups, and you will see totally different points of view and behaviors.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Grant

[Gsxrnz]

My experiences with the Russians I've come across in Jomtien/Pattaya:

Many occasions they push in at any form of queuing, and generally barge their way around with no consideration for personal space. My daughter's been knocked over by fat women twice in a 7/11.

Generally rude and vocal. Have seen many of them get very vocal with street vendors - yes they can be a pain, but Russians seem to be overly rude in waving them away and speaking in obviously rude tones.

Have seen on 6 or 7 occasions at beach chair places on the beach that the vendor demands payment for the chair as soon as the Russians sit down, and if food/beer is ordered they take the cash C.O.D. No bin in the traditional sense for them. Have also seen 3 or 4 arguments when bins were allowed and the Russians refused to pay for the chairs. The language barrier made it look very unpleasant.

Have been asked for cigarettes by youngish Russian males many times. They just made smoking motions as they approached me while I was smoking. I remembered from a novel I read that Hooy na ny means something like "no <deleted> way" in Russian, so I've trotted that out. None of them expected it and most buggered off smartish. One of them laughed and tried to talk in very bad English - I gave him a ciggie. Of course if a drop-dead little Hottie asks for a smoke (which hasn't happened yet), my response would be somewhat different.

At the markets I've overheard Thai stall holders telling their staff or kids to keep their eyes on the "thieving Russians". They will also bargain on something that is only a few baht, such as 15 baht worth of vegetables.

At my village pool, they generally won't respond when given a smile/wave and an international "Hallo". A few do, maybe 1 in 5. Even their kids don't want to mix with European or Thai kids in the pool.

My general conclusions are that the lack of English language (and our lack of Russian) is a pre-determined barrier to interaction. This in itself will immediately create limitations in possible interaction, and therefore dissuades one (us or them) from attempting.

Secondly, many of the Russian tourists are first time travellers. They have had probably nil experience or exposure to any culture other than their own, and they are now in an Asian country along with westerners from many European countries. This is a totally new experience and probably further dissuades any interaction.

Perhaps the perceived aloofness means that we westerners don't give them a fair shake of the stick and we do not have a true impression of what they are really like. Perhaps in their own environment that act and behave totally differently.

However, from what I have seen, they are certainly a different breed of fish.

[Mudcrab]

There is very old and sophisticated emotional conflict within Russian society between so-called Westerners and Slavophiles. Why Russia is part of Europe continent but still not member of EU - because majority of Russians doesn't feel like Europeans, and they don't want to share so-called "European values". There are many who actually hate that kind of values. They believe that Russia has nothing to do with Europe and always had "her own way". At the same time there are many people who believes that Russia is part of Europe, and Russian culture is not that far from any European cultures.

Speaking about Siberians, you have to understand that ancestors of many of them was a kind of colonizers, people who loves freedom and adventures.

Also for centuries all criminals has been sent to Siberia, same as british criminals has been sent to Australia. It doesn't mean that Siberians are criminals, but the history made they specific characters.

Moreover Russia has about 2 ethnicities recognized by the government, and most of that ethnicities has they own language and they own culture, which is completely different from Russian language and culture.

So, you can meet people who virtually belong to many different groups, and you will see totally different points of view and behaviors.

I love this "the British criminals were sent to Australia". The British sent their criminals to North America before the War of Independence - a lot of people are unaware of this. It was a godsend when Australia was "discovered" as it gave the British somewhere else to send the crims to. Yep the now US was a penal colony for the Brits, and French. Stop knocking the Aussies!!! Just kidding we wear this badge with pride!!!.

Back on topic I have met and worked with a few Russians professionally. They were a mixed bag, some friendly, some not so much...like any other people in the world I guess.

[ukrules]

A lot of supposed 'Russians' will also not be Russian at all. I've come across people from various former USSR countries. Some of these countries are not so far away from Thailand.

If you didn't know better you would think they're Russian.

[weary]

I have met them many times in the Thai hotels/resorts. They walk next to eachother and will never give way for anybody else. [i thought that was the Chinese! ] They take all the beachbeds at 6 am [i thought those were Germans! ] and start drinking there right after breakfast [i thought those were Scandinavians! ], yelling [i thought those were Koreans! ], rude behaviour [i thought those were Israelis! ], being very wild and drunk at 1pm [i thought those were Irish! ] before they go take a nap [i thought those were Caribbeans! ].

At the breakfast buffet a fat russian bloke grabbed the whole pile of plates while my arm allready was reached out to take a plate. He waited for his group of friends who came a few minutes later and gave them all a plate. They piled them plates up, ate only half of it and went for a new pile. Leftovers disappeared in their bags for lunch.

They barely speak english, don't care at all for other tourists, are agressive and only drink/eat all day.

I know there are other nationality's which also can be rude but the russians are the worst for me.

Just my own experience and opinion. From now on i only want to go in a hotel where there are no russians.

Wise men say 'only fools Russian'.

[breaker]

Hi everybody! I'm young man (only 27 years old) from Russia. I travelled in many parts of Thailand during last year (not only in Pattaya, but also in south, north and north-east parts of country). I just want answer to your questions.

1) Russian Mentality
I think, Russian people have European face, but mixed Asian/European mentality. Russian people looks like Europeans (sometimes, even I can't see the difference between Russian and American/Australian/France men and women, because our faces are so similar). On the other hand, Russian mentality so similar to Asian mentality (normal Russian people are friendly and helpful, same as the Asians; many Russian people do everything without responsibility, not thoroughly, same as the Asians; many Russian people throw the trash on the streets and beaches even if they see recycle bin, same as the Asians; most Russians don't understand any rules, never live by following rules, same as the Asians). But Russian people use the western logic (we have the great inventors, engineers, scientists, programmers).

2) Russian Culture
Russian culture is not solid. Russia is a home for dozens nations, each of which have own culture and own language (as a Tatar, Bashkir, Buryat, Yakut, Khanty, Mansy cultures and languages, etc). Everybody speaks Russian language, but many "Russian" people speaks also in their own language. Russia use about 100 different languages (it's mean that Russian culture is a mix of 100 different cultures).

3) Why most of Russian not speak English?
I think, because our country always was closed. In Soviet Union times, nobody can to leave the country. It was like big prison. So, Russia was disconnected from civilized world and nobody not need to know foreign languages (may be, long disconnection from civilized world is a reason why many of Russians are wild, like Chinese people; because we just has never seen civilized world in our lives). But Russian borders are open now and many of young Russians can speak English now (not everybody, but many).

4) Interaction with others

Some Russians want to interact mostly with other Russians. But some other Russians try to stay away from other Russians (avoid them) and try to talk more with Thai or Westerners (Some Russians even shy and ashamed that they are Russians and speak only in English near other Russians). We are different.

Edited November 22, 2013 by breaker

[Jingthing]

JT - didn't you post a while ago that middle aged Russian women were regularly hitting on you at Big C?

Yes, Central food court actually, but I don't know that they don't know I'm not Russian. That's a space where you are assumed to be Russian unless there is strong evidence otherwise and with my looks I COULD indeed be from Russia.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Hi everybody! I'm young man (only 27 years old) from Russia. I travelled in many parts of Thailand during last year (not only in Pattaya, but also in south, north and north-east parts of country). I just want answer to your questions.

...

Thanks for posting that! I'd love to see more Russian posters here, obviously not all can do that because it's an English language forum.