9 Culture shock in Russia: Realia and Artifacts
When you live and work in another culture, it’s important to know about the little things of everyday life, whether it’s artifacts or more philosophical concepts.
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When you live and work in another culture, it’s important to know about the little things of everyday life, whether it’s artifacts or more philosophical concepts. Understanding the significance of these realia, artifacts, or concepts of Russian-speaking cultures can not only enhance your interactions with people there but also make acculturation much easier. Below, you will find several galleries that present concepts for various categories. The information on the slides is presented in a highlight-style: just the basic information to highlight concepts/artifacts/realia worth noting. As our resource expands over the years, we will be adding more specific information about each of these concepts. In the meantime, simply look through them to see which ones are worth researching more.
The concepts presented below go beyond the traditional matryoshka dolls by focusing on subtler nuances that can be different for representatives of Western cultures. For instance, Russians often have a tendency towards melancholy, a deep, reflective sadness that is sometimes seen as a philosophical appreciation of life’s complexities. This can be quite different from the often more upbeat and optimistic outlook typical in American culture. Or consider the different words that exist in the Russian language for a social get-together, based on subtle differences. Knowing these subtleties can help you navigate social interactions more effectively and build stronger relationships with your Russian-speaking colleagues and friends, as it shows a deeper level of cultural awareness and respect.
A similar collection for the U.S. realia can be found here: It can be interesting to explore it too, to know what American concepts are foreign or new to the representatives of the Russian-speaking cultures.
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