Understanding Russians
During today's trip to Monino it made me come into contact with several normal Russians as I had to ask directions on a number of occasions. Each time if they could help me they would and it left me with a favourable impression of Russians overall.
As I think I've mentioned before as well, I've found that the waiters and waitresses in cafes and restaurants, while often speaking very little English, will really try hard to understand you and be understood. It makes it particularly perplexing then as to why those working in the frontline of the tourism industry seem so resolute in being as unhelpful and rude as possible to their customers, certainly the foreign ones at least.
I wonder if it's a continuation from the Soviet era - as those working in Museums are normally at the older end of the age spectrum - whereby everyone had a job but you didn't have to really try hard, or put undue effort into your work. This would explain a lot it has to be said.
It would be nice to think the new generation of Russians will herald a new era of excellent customer service when visiting Russia, although I'm not at all convinced the solution will be so simple. For one thing even with the younger generation I've found English language skills practically non-existent in the majority of cases and I tend to believe that a lot of the tourism industry is institutionalised; state-run monoliths that haven't really changed in decades and are probably unlikely to anytime soon.
For now tourists to Russia will have to continue to contend with museums that are interested solely in taking your money and in navigating foreign cities devoid of any signs that might help them on their way to finding what they're looking for. Instead like me today they'll be better off trying their hand at asking some locals and gritting their teeth when coming into contact with those fascist Russian ticket sellers!
As I think I've mentioned before as well, I've found that the waiters and waitresses in cafes and restaurants, while often speaking very little English, will really try hard to understand you and be understood. It makes it particularly perplexing then as to why those working in the frontline of the tourism industry seem so resolute in being as unhelpful and rude as possible to their customers, certainly the foreign ones at least.
I wonder if it's a continuation from the Soviet era - as those working in Museums are normally at the older end of the age spectrum - whereby everyone had a job but you didn't have to really try hard, or put undue effort into your work. This would explain a lot it has to be said.
It would be nice to think the new generation of Russians will herald a new era of excellent customer service when visiting Russia, although I'm not at all convinced the solution will be so simple. For one thing even with the younger generation I've found English language skills practically non-existent in the majority of cases and I tend to believe that a lot of the tourism industry is institutionalised; state-run monoliths that haven't really changed in decades and are probably unlikely to anytime soon.
For now tourists to Russia will have to continue to contend with museums that are interested solely in taking your money and in navigating foreign cities devoid of any signs that might help them on their way to finding what they're looking for. Instead like me today they'll be better off trying their hand at asking some locals and gritting their teeth when coming into contact with those fascist Russian ticket sellers!
posted by Daniel at 8:17 pm
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