Everyday Courtesy and Sensitive Conversations

Why go

Russia’s twentieth-century history can be a matter of family memory as well as public debate. Conversations about the Second World War or Soviet life deserve room for different experiences. Listening before offering an interpretation can make an exchange more thoughtful and avoid reducing someone to a national stereotype.

Useful to know

• Begin a question with a polite Russian greeting, then ask whether the person speaks English.
• Keep your voice low in shared public spaces and follow the tone of the conversation around you.
• Let people decide how much personal or family history they wish to discuss; avoid assuming shared political views.