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Realization of Transformation

May 20th, 2013 kaolse14

A few days ago, I was riding the Moscow metro when two gentlemen entered the wagon. Considering that it was about 5pm Moscow time and, thus, nearing rush hour, the wagon was already filled with people. As I stood near the doors waiting for my arrival at the necessary metro station, the two gentlemen began to speak to one another – and in English. I immediately heard their Australian accents. However, English language does not serve as definite evidence of an individual’s tourist identity. After all, Moscow is a large, cosmopolitan city that many groups of people call home (although I must say that speaking English will raise some eyebrows, especially on the metro). Rather, these gentlemen gave off other clues: they spoke too loudly, leaned against the bars located within the wagon, and didn’t properly move out of the way when others attempted to exit the wagon at their respective stops. In short, everything that they did was wrong, according to Russian standards and metro etiquette. Consequently, they attracted the attention of – and even stares from- Muscovites within the wagon. Muscovites and I knew that these two men were indeed tourists.

I couldn’t help but cringe every time these gentlemen did a wrong action or spoke too loudly. I wanted to gently warn them that it is considered rude to speak too loudly in a wagon. Nevertheless, I didn’t go through with that, concluding that they were not aware of metro etiquette and, thus, would be given a break by Muscovites who were also clearly aware of the tourist identities. Therefore, I remained quiet during my metro ride.

After I exited the wagon and began my on-foot journey back to my Moscow apartment, I came to this realization: that was me during the 2012 Summer, a time when I was new to Moscow, and everything in Moscow was new to me. Like the Australian gentlemen in the metro wagon, I too spoke loudly on the metro, oftentimes in English, with my friends. I did everything wrong, both on the streets and on the metro, because I didn’t yet understand Russian culture and etiquette. Now, after having immersed myself in Russian culture and society for nearly 10 months, Russian behavior and etiquette come automatically. I don’t have to think about my behavior- I simply do particular actions that are acceptable under Russian standards, because such behavior has now become part of who I am as a person. My reaction to the Australians was also automatic and inevitable because of this cultural transformation. After the event, I was proud about this realization of cultural transformation. I truly have immersed in the culture and, thus, transformed culturally, having adopted Russian behavior and etiquette.

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