Practice the passport photo face. Remember how you had to frown for your official documents picture? Here you get to practice it every day in public places. In fact, the only time you will smile is when you’re talking to someone you actually know and like, not the lady selling metro tokens. Smiling without a reason is considered a sign of a low IQ and it also makes people wonder if you’re trying to trick them into something. So if everyone looks slightly preoccupied and maybe a little mean, consider it your new “international person of mystery” face and give it a shot.
Don't say “hello” to the same person more than once each day. And certainly don’t say hello to strangers if you caught their eye. That’s your cue to go back to passport face. People get genuinely surprised if you say “hello” to them on the second or third encounter of the day and will probably correct you. They’d correct you even if you were Russian.
Keep your jacket on in the metro. You’ve bundled up to brace the cold like you’re related to Amundsen? But the second you step into the metro it’s stifling hot and you’re tempted to strip down to your tank top? The most you’re allowed to do is to unzip your jacket and maybe undo your scarf. Taking your outerwear off altogether would be sort of well.. Too intimate. So hold off on buying that fur coat if you’ll be riding public transport a lot. Instead, download your favorite book or game app to enjoy on your commute.
Take your shoes off in people’s homes. Most people wear something they call tapochki or slippers around their house. You’ll find that there’s a shoe rack by the front door and you’re expected to change into the slippers provided by the host. If for some reason they’re not available, that’s not an invitation to drag the muck from the outside onto the hardwood floor. It’s your opportunity to show off your trendy socks without holes.
Pace yourself at a dinner party. If you’re invited to dinner, you’re not there to just eat. You’re there to socialize, admire the host’s apartment, look at baby photos and try to stay out of heated arguments. The spread you see is not there to be consumed like a fast food combo. It’s an invitation to sit around the dinner table and add a spoonful to your plate once, twice, three time all while fending requests to try slimy-looking mushrooms and beet salad. There’s a good chance that after an hour or so the second course will appear. And then dessert.
Don’t ask for ice in your water. Soft drinks and water are sold without ice here. In fact, oftentimes they’re luke warm. But if you ask for ice, you will get a strange look from your waiter. You’ve just blown your cover.
