People are more reserved and less openly gregarious than North Americans. It is possible to encounter the thousand yard stare from people. However, once you have been introduced, it is common to find that Russian people are very friendly and generous with their time and hospitality. Quite often they will be very interested in America and Americans. Although reserved in public, few people are as genuinely warm and interested in foreign travelers as Russians. They will extend the hand of friendship freely. It is quite common to make friendships with people that are lasting and genuine. If you speak to someone in an airport, a train or on an airplane you will be surprised at how quickly your social network will grow! Additionally, people will be very warm and even sentimental with a foreign person who they have connected with.

If you have been invited to join Russians in food or drink, it is considered very impolite to decline their hospitality to vigorously. Quite often Americans feel that they should bring something to the party before they can share. Don't worry too much about this. If you think you may be in this circumstance, take food, drink or sweets and it will be appreciated. Certainly do this if you have been invited to someone's home or dacha. It is a good idea to be prepared if you are going to ride on the train any distance as well. Do not automatically decline the invitation to join if you have not. This is a bigger offense! Likewise when in a setting with other people, such as in a train compartment you should offer to share whatever you have in the way of food or drink.

A dacha in Russia is a small cottage in the countryside, often close to many others. Most times there will be no electricity or running water. There will be a garden though and the gardeners put much effort into it and take great pride in the results. If you have the opportunity to visit one and a Russian family it will be a novel experience. If you are invited to a Russian person's home or dacha they will probably bowl you over with hospitality and will share everything that they have with you.

If you are invited to a family's home or apartment, you will usually be expected to remove your shoes. They may not necessarily tell you this, but it will be expected. Often there will be slippers for guests to wear.

The body space between people is greatly reduced. They may stand closer to you when they speak than you are accustomed. Often in lines or in public places you can be jostled by people. Also, don't be terribly surprised if you see people break a line or a queue. This can be quite irritating to Americans, but it just happens in Russia.

Typically speaking, in a public place, most Russian people will speak quietly among themselves. You will rarely hear loud speech and laughter. It can happen that sometimes Russian people will appear to be fighting though, when they are only having a lively and animated discussion. Don't be alarmed if you see this in a crowd of people where everyone else is relatively quiet. If you speak or laugh too loudly in a restaurant or on the Metro you will draw stares from people. Additionally, people will sometimes stare if they see someone who looks different to them. The further you get from the centers of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the more likely this is to happen.

In Russia, it is not considered impolite to take or make a telephone call in a restaurant or when with a group of people in a social setting. This happens very often and the person using the telephone will often speak in a less modulated tone than he or she would in normal conversation.

People tend to be helpful when asked and also to show respect to the elderly.

Typically, Russians are reliable about appointments. If they say they will call, usually they will do so. If they agree to a meeting, they will meet. Of course there are always exceptions.

When in public places, such as the Metro, a traveler may encounter people who do not share the same personal hygiene standards. This can happen anywhere of course, but you should be prepared for this.

In Russia approximately 60% of adult males smoke tobacco. Women also smoke, but in much lower numbers. If you spend anytime in Russia, you will encounter a lot of tobacco smoke.

It is impolite to ask a woman her age. If you must know, you could ask another question that would give you the necessary information, such as her date of birth. But don't insist on this information.

Do not shake hands through an open doorway. Also, do not pass anything to anyone through an open doorway. It is considered to be very bad luck.

If you buy flowers as a gift, only give an odd number of flowers unless it is for a funeral or a grave decoration.

It is polite to open the door for a girl or woman and to extend a hand to help her out of a car, train or bus. Also, a man should give his seat up in a train, in the metro or on any other form of public transport to a woman.

It is considered very impolite to blow your nose at a table or in public. Excuse yourself and do it in private.

Do not whistle inside a house or apartment. There is a very strong superstition about this. Russian and Ukrainian people are quite often very superstitious by nature. They also have a greater degree of belief in horoscope signs than people do in America.

Holidays and birthdays are very important in Russia. Most holidays do not correspond with ours.

Most Russian people are modest in talking about themselves and their achievements. In comparison an American can seem very boastful even when he/she only believes their comments to be factual. Keep this in mind when meeting Russians.