Omsk Local Customs

In Russia it is customary to remove your shoes upon entering a home. Russians do not like to track dirt into their homes and often Russian streets tend to be a bit dirty.

Also, it is customary to bring small gifts when visiting.

For more information and cultural tips go to the web site link I have posted below.

Toilet paper - I found that not everyone uses what we know as toilet paper, many people use other means. You may notice a little enveleop hanging on the wall with newspapers cut up in squares, this is to take the place of TP. I recommend that you kind of crumple it up or rub them together to soften them up a bit before using.

Most of my time in Omsk was spent at apartments of family and friends. The apartments may not be pretty on the outside (this is a picture of the apartment I stayed in, in Omsk), but eveyone seems to take pride in the appearance on the inside. One commonality I saw was the hanging of persian-type rugs on the wall. This seems to add color and character to a main living room.

Bearing gifts - I recommend bringing a gift as you visit someone's apartment, even if it's a small one. Liquor, food, or something as you sit around and talk to add to the festivities is always welcome. The people I visited really seemed to try hard to make my visit a special event, no matter what situation they were in. Try to make your visit special for the hosts, just as it is special to you.

Offering Money - If it is a friend, you must be careful with how you offer money. Here is a little story of how I learned this. On my 2nd trip in Omsk a friend was driving us all over the place. After about the 3rd trip I started feeling guilty (maybe my Catholic upbringing), so I offered him money for gas. He was totally offended, like I was thinking less of him. I needed to explain it is common to offer money for gas in the US, which made the situation a little better.

A better approach would have been to go to a store or kiosk and pick up something he would have enjoyed: liquor, a special food treat, or somehting like that. Or, maybe I should have just planned to send him a little package once I got back home.

It seems a gift is a much better appraoch than offering money. I learned the hard way.

Shoes Inside the House - Take your shoes off as you enter someone's apartment or house. You will likely be offered a pair of slippers to wear, I always wore what they offered.