Are we misunderstanding a colleagues seemingly rude behavior?
I was born in Russia and spent a bit of time there. There definitely are cultural differences between Russia and the States. Russians, for example, tend to be more reserved around strangers, and less likely to smile at and say “hello” to a person they don’t know. However, Russia is not a country of inconsiderate assholes, even though it has its fair share of such people. You also have to realize that Russia is a huge country, and it is hard to talk about it having any one culture. As with every other place, the specific geographic location from which a person comes, level of education, and class all effect the way a person will behave. I have met a number of incredibly rude Russians, but I have also met plenty who were very polite and very considerate (in the American sense). So, I’d say that the behavior of your co-worker is more a function of personality than culture.
