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RUS-A MEDIA
Russian Information Guide |Rus-a| Tips for foreigners in Russia
Don't forget your passport and other ID documents
In Russia you always need to carry your ID documents, such as passport, diplomatic card, student card etc. Russian police often stop foreigners to check their documents. In our country it is legal and normal way of persons' verification. Rus-a advice to carry passport with visa not to have problems with police. You also need passport for many things in Russia. To buy alcohol, enter nightclub (age verification), get phone sim card, check in a hotel, acquire tickets, get access to some business areas etc. you need your official documents. If you buy something serious or do registrations always use your full name and surname as it is written in your passport. If you shorten personal information details or fill incorrectly you may miss your planes, trains or get no access to the places you need to go.
Russian names, how to communicate with Russians
Full name in Russia consists of a first name, a patronymic and a last name. For exemple Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy.
Patronymic (Nikolaevich) is a derivative from the father’s name. This goes down deeply to our traditions and respect to our family roots.
Sometimes when we address to other people we use only first names, in other cases first names and last names, there are also cases when we use first name and patronymic.
So let’s give some explanations. Our friends and good colleagues we call only first name. Sometimes we use short forms or derivatives from the first name. For example we can say Aleks instead of full name Aleksey or we can call Ivan - Vano (derrivative form). Sometimes we also use nicknames; In Russia nickname is called "klichka". It is one word that people give to a person to describe him.
For example, if you are a foreigner it is very possible that your Russian friends will call you Frenchman, Britainman or Chineseman at least behind your back.
If you address officially to unknown people in Russia we use First name and Patronymic name. For example, Alexander Sergeevitch. Surnames we use when there are many people and we need to find somebody exactly, for example in the queues, different waiting rooms etc.
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Ladies and their handbags
In Russia man never should carry woman's handbag. For Russian ladies their handbags are their 100% integral part that they prefer not to leave alone or transfer to somebody else.
Anyway, man should be polite and don't forget to help with shopping bags or foodbags or assist with other heavy things.
Silence hours in Russia
According to Russian laws you should keep quiet from 23 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. At this period of time it is forbidden to play music, do repairs, watch TV at the maximum volume level etc. The same rules apply for cities' streets.
Russians and guests of the country should not listen loud music in the cars, construction companies stop their operations, fireworks and mass meetings are permitted within the framework of public festivals or national holidays. Sunday is a quiet day in Russia. Following new regulations we can't do bustling, loud repairs in our apartments and houses on Sunday. For loud noise neighbors may call police.
Take off your shoes when you enter somebody's apartment, house or flat
Visiting each other Russians always take off their shoes while entering. You will show very strong disrespect to people who invite you if you do not do this. There are many reasons why it is necessary. Some Russian flats have expensive parquet floor that was very popular in USSR times. Shoes and heels may easy damage it. Another reason - among Russians - home is a sacred place, personal fortress, where people feel themselves very secure and free. It is a place, where we try to maintain cleanness, order and comfort. For guests and for hosts Russians keep in their living areas special home shoes named "tapochky". Don't hesitate to ask for them because in 90% of Russian houses floors are very cold and in some locations there are also draughts.
