Sveta has been (the last two times she has come to the village) amazed by a strange thing happening to the Russians that work and live around the Fish Village. They wave back at me as I drive by and now they even wave first, many times…
Sveta is astounded because she had told me many times, “Russians do not wave to each other! There is no need or reason!”
I guess I proved that concept wrong…
I am one of those who wave in acknowledgment, type of farmer guys. It is inbred in me and I can not help it, as I travel in the rural areas, be it Russia or America. This is just a natural response from me and it has always served well in my life. People need cerebral stimulation and then they will remember and concise who you are in future situations. The wave as you drive does not extend to a big city, but where it counts in the countryside it is necessary…
City guile and country smile…
In a big city, all you do is wave at crack heads and such, therefore it means nothing most of the time. You do not draw attention to yourself in a huge city, for they will try to find out why you are so active and see if you have anything to sell for drugs and such…
Sveta a few visits back, watched as I waved and recognized the people at work around the fish ponds. She finally said something to the effect of, “I do not believe what I am seeing! People are waving at back at you!”
I was actually caught off guard myself and then realized that I had created a different aspect in the fish ponds and fish village and without realizing that I had done anything of the sort. What was natural for me out in the country, just happened and I waved at people I met on the road, be it on foot, in-car or other ways to travel (such as tractors.)
So I have started something that may last or not last, for I am the catalyst, but I will not be here much longer and they will not either, for the pond season is fast coming to an end. Winters are brutal and long in Russia, time crawls to a stand still around an area like this…
I can still see Sveta’s face as she watched the locals do what she had never seen them do in her life; They waved and greeted, sometimes with a smile, at this American who invaded their territory and dared to do what never is done…
Even if it was an accident…
Why those Russians do wave in acknowledgment… 🙂
Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
PS: I caught Sveta waving also last time she was here. The people waved and she responded! I think she liked it…