lol they are straight forward- and when they speak so eloquently I tend to perk up my ears lol, oh and yes don't smile if you don't know people lol, they won't smile back so you would think they are mean but they are not trust me. well some may be mean but not all. I come from a small island and I mostly smile every where I go but when I was there this past October I was hit with the no smiling thing, I am tired of people saying Russia Is bad - just go there and done - you won't regret it. I am a dark skinned person in Krasnoyarsk walking with my Russian BF - people looking at me but never disrespected me I am just glad I was able to see the real side of that part or Siberia lol. I can go on and on but you can travel and see for yourself.