By Allen Crotty Prof: Dr. Hemby TR 1 p.m.

 IZVIENEETYE  “I’m sorry.”  OCHIN PREEYATNA  “Very pleasant”  SPASIBA and PUZHALSTA  “Thank you”  “Here you are” or “Not at all”

 Vodka  CHOOT-CHOOT  “Just a little please”  ZA VAS  “To you”  The instant toast

 Never use first names  Only for close friends and relatives  Learn the titles of those you are to encounter  Gaspodin or Gaspzhah  Equivalent Mr. or Mrs./Miss  With surname

 Russian Proverb:  “They meet you on how your dressed and they say goodbye to you on how wise you seem”  Large portion of budget to clothing  Brand names or very well made  Light blue, brown or grey are best colors

 If visiting in winter bring very warm clothes  Hat and gloves  Well insulated boots  Men  Suit and tie  All meetings  Women  Long sleeved blouse and long skirt  Hat or scarf when visiting Russian Orthodox Church

 Schedule far in advance  Confirm several times  Try not to schedule near end of July or during August  Russian day begins early  Schedules are constantly subject to change

 Always be punctual  Open ended meetings  May be late to meeting  Them not you  Business hours range from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. are most common working times

 Enthusiastic conversationalists  Changes in living in Russia  Russians are extremely well educated  Can and will start talking about history of their country  Personal topics are best avoided  Approach compliments with caution

 Culturally great affection for children  Showing pictures of you own can build trust and goodwill  Can be very careful about what they say and sometimes speak metaphorically  Great reliance on nonverbal communication  Can sometimes be very frank, depends on the situation

 Welcome topics include:  Changes taking place in Russia, current events, WWII, economic difficulties, books, and films  Topics to avoid:  Complaints about Russia, the Holocaust, the Czars and the monarchy, ethnic minorities, and religion

 Russians take pleasure in giving and receiving gifts  Try to bring an assortment  Try to avoid giving:  Pencils, pens, lighters, cheap wine, or vodka  If invited to a home try to take gifts:  Chocolates, dessert items, good wine, or alcohol(not vodka)

 Wrap more expensive gifts  Acknowledge children with a small gift  A toy or candy  Do not give thank you cads or notes  No practical use  Flowers are best given exclusively to women  Choose pink, cream, orange, or blue flowers in odd numbers  Even numbers are for funerals.

 Take a healthy supply of business cards.  Make them 2 sided and hand them the side written in Russian facing them  Delays are to be expected when dealing with officials  Get to know your Russian counterpart, it is essential for success

 When entering a room knock and wait for admittance before opening a closed office door.  They may have greater expectations if you are from the west  Sometimes will make promises they do not have the authority to make

 Presentations should be simple and easy to understand  Making good impressions important  Company must present a united front  Russian Negotiators will make minor concessions and expect large ones

 Do not expect them to work after hours, weekends, or vacationing  Praising anyone in public is viewed very suspiciously  Contract must be clear and concise  Expect Russians to try to get around the terms of the contract  Express distrust in bureaucracy and authority whenever possible

 Handshakes are common  Keep eye contact during introduction  Thumbs up is a “good job” sign  Call servers with an outstretched index finger

 Do not summon someone with a forefinger  Wearing winter coats and boots in theatres is frowned upon  Do not sit with legs apart or with one ankle on the knee  Many western gestures such as “OK” or the shaking of the fist is considered very rude

 Russians have a very unique culture  The business environment is moving more from the communistic control to a more western style of business  This can lead to misunderstandings and may require you to explain certain concepts  Be patient and understanding to your partners from the world abroad.