tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334205599297722121.post5988524442846379084..comments2023-12-06T14:43:06.715-08:00Comments on Transwoman Times: I Am A Patron Saint In GreenpointJustine Valinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334205599297722121.post-23745446378697571472009-12-25T12:45:02.226-08:002009-12-25T12:45:02.226-08:00Filigree, thank you for your comment. I hadn'...Filigree, thank you for your comment. I hadn't realized, until now, that what I experienced is a common denominator of Eastern European cultures. Now that I think of it, I have also had similar expereinces in Brighton Beach, which is often referred to as "little Odessa by the sea."Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334205599297722121.post-66202117938090229442009-12-24T14:07:44.753-08:002009-12-24T14:07:44.753-08:00Funny, I know the neighborhood you are describing ...Funny, I know the neighborhood you are describing very well, especially the weird feeling of seeing "hipsters" walking along streets with Polish store signs. I am still waiting for Brighton Beach to become the next hip neighborhood. <br /><br />Your observation about the store clerks being nicer to English speakers is spot on. This is non just a Polish thing, but a pan-Eastern European thing. In most E European cultures, it is not normal to be overly friendly in commerce-based interactions, at least not until you get to know the customer better. But at the same time they are aware of the cultural difference, whereby American customers do expect service to be "friendly". <br /><br />This leads to the funny dichotomy you described. Say, if a Russian-speaking customer comes into a Russian deli, the person behind the counter will not alter their facial expression one bit and will say, in Russian: "Yes?" or "What do you want?" or "What do you need?" - all of which are perfectly normal things to say to a Russian potential customer. But if an American walks in, they will attempt to smile and say, in English, "How can I help you?". In Russian (or Polish) "How can I help you?" would sound downright unnatural in that context. Maybe in a very posh clothing store or Investment Banking firm they would use that term, but not in a grocery store.<br /><br /> As for the men's behaviour... Well, that is another topic entirely : )Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.com