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SF21
Joined: 05 Jun 2007
Posts: 72
Location: California
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 Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| newsygirl wrote: |
Even after I caught them starring at me they continued to look at me and make eye contact, but not say anything to me. It was like they were waiting for me to "perform" for them or something. I imagine your experience was the same in Japan.
TESOL is a great way to see the world and experience new cultures, however, working for a poor company can impact your entire stay in a negative way. |
Sounds like my experience in Budapest... to the T. Oh, but the skinhead who broke silence and insulted me in Deutsch was interesting. After a while I just ignored the curious stares, and occasionally blurted a big "Hi, how are you?" if they continued. That was always fun to see a stoic face turn to utter social despair.
And to take it a step further, typically if a girl stares long enough at a guy in the States, there's an interest, typically. NOT in Central/Eastern Europe. 99% of the time a smile given to the opposite gender will only get you an emotionless, blank stare in return. That really confused me.
I've come to realize that staring is ingrained in Eastern/Central Euro culture, something I didn't want to be a part of anymore.
One. |
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miski
Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 298
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Accom in Bratislava? Can anybody give me a link as to apartments for rent for a full month ? October and May? Thanks. |
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Kootvela
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Location: Lithuania
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| SF21 wrote: |
And to take it a step further, typically if a girl stares long enough at a guy in the States, there's an interest, typically. NOT in Central/Eastern Europe. 99% of the time a smile given to the opposite gender will only get you an emotionless, blank stare in return. That really confused me.
I've come to realize that staring is ingrained in Eastern/Central Euro culture, something I didn't want to be a part of anymore.
One. |
We don't smile much in eastern Europe because we do it naturally. In the States it's all fake smiles (to show off new set of teeth?) and 'how are you' when you really don't care for an answer. In Eastern Europe we smile when we mean it and if we ask 'how are you' we really want to know it. It's a cultural thing and we're worlds apart in this respect. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| I have to agree with Kootvela here. Czech may seem reserved or even unfriendly on the streets, but they are very genuine when they do know you - it takes time to make friends, but when you do, they're REAL. |
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john_n_carolina
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 700
Location: n. carolina
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Kootvela wrote: |
We don't smile much in eastern Europe because we do it naturally. In the States it's all fake smiles (to show off new set of teeth?) and 'how are you' when you really don't care for an answer. |
..two in one week? somebody else trying to classify 260 million people into a 2 line statement. there must be more than 10 million E.Europeans in the U.S? do they automatically start smiling once they get through Customs? or, are you classifying 'fake' smiling to another genre of the population (i.e. Cali girls)? were the Pilgrims smiling back in 1600? is Abe Lincoln smiling in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial?
maybe it's more enjoyable to talk to a smiling person. who would you rather talk to? a toll collector or David Letterman? |
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johnnyenglishteacher
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 41
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: Being stared at |
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| Definitely don't worry about the stares. I'm white and I got them all the time. People are just very, very surprised to see a non-Slav (or non-Hungarian) outside Bratislava. |
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newsygirl
Joined: 09 Oct 2007
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="johninmaine"]
| Kootvela wrote: |
We don't smile much in eastern Europe because we do it naturally. In the States it's all fake smiles
..two in one week? somebody else trying to classify 260 million people into a 2 line statement. there must be more than 10 million E.Europeans in the U.S? do they automatically start smiling once they get through Customs? or, are you classifying 'fake' smiling to another genre of the population (i.e. Cali girls)? were the Pilgrims smiling back in 1600? is Abe Lincoln smiling in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial?
maybe it's more enjoyable to talk to a smiling person. who would you rather talk to? a toll collector or David Letterman? |
I totally agree with you johninmaine!!!! Kootvela, why do you generalize American's? How come you don't accuse other cultures that smile and greet people as fake? I've visited the islands on the Pacific, West Indies, Canada, Western Europe, Isreal and people there smile and greet you (ok, maybe not everybody, but you get a ton more welcoming smiles and greetings anywhere outside of Eastern Europe). When I was in Slovakia and walked into a store and didn't feel welcomed I would simply leave, however the few times that I did feel welcomed and recieved a smile and greeting I would often buy somthing from their shop, just to thank them because I was tired of the lack of hospitality that I recieved in other stores. I think Eastern Europe would gain more tourist if they were bit more welcoming to their guest.
When I smile, I do it it naturally. I smile when I am happy and/or to warm up to people and welcome them into my surrondings. Who wants to be welcomed with a sour looking face? |
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Chris Westergaard
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Prague
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:47 am Post subject: |
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| The average American is friendly and outgoing. The average Czech is closed and private. I think we can all pretty much agree that Czech people are not a very friendly people when you first meet them and it takes a lot longer for them to open up a bit. |
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parrothead
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 342
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| Chris Westergaard wrote: |
| The average Czech is closed and private. I think we can all pretty much agree that Czech people are not a very friendly people when you first meet them and it takes a lot longer for them to open up a bit. |
From my experience it takes exactly one pivo for them to open up.  |
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Chris Westergaard
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Prague
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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I would agree too. How long does it take you to ask the woman/man at the grocery store if they want to get a beer during their break?
That's the point that I'm trying to make. If you are friends with them, then of course there is no difference. What people have problems with is the whole "stranger" syndrome |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:06 am Post subject: |
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I didn't have to treat the grocery cashier to a pivo to get them to treat me civilly. It just took a little time. And I don't see why they should be required to smile.
It's different in the tourist areas, where there should be some improvement in the politeness level of people waiting on tourists (hotels, restaurants, pubs, etc). They have to deal with people from more service-focused cultures and some awareness of working across cultural norms would be useful.
But in my small town, the service staff aren't paid or trained to work with tourists - and why should they be? The sour ones are sour to most everybody, meaning Czechs. The nicer ones are nicer to everybody as well.
I don't need a smile from the cashier to be happy in the CR. |
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Chris Westergaard
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Prague
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Hey I like Czech people. I can speak the language pretty well and in my own experience they are great people. However, MOST people will say that they are not an open people or an outgoing people. Sure once you get to know them they will open up but most of my North American students do have a culture shock when they walk into stores or other places of business and they don't get the same reaction they do in the States. |
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parrothead
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 342
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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In general I tend to agree with you. I have a feeling that customer service skills and a bright smile are not prerequisites for landing a job at a neighborhood potraviny. It's easy to laugh off, but for some foreigners it wears on them over time.
I will say, however, that once you get to know them most Czechs are very very lovely people. I don't live in the CR anymore, but I still consider the Czech friends I made there some of my closest. |
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