A good comparison can be made with the distance between people in lines. Americans will form a line with one person standing behind another with an arm s distance of separation. A Russian encountering such a situation would assume that the American is waiting for someone or has another purpose, and will slide in to the right of the first person. When getting onto the metro or onto the escalators, Russian society does not dictate that a straight line should form nor that a person must not come in contact with another. The difference in personal space is also evident in the outward displays of affection.
Russian couples are very affectionate towards one another, regardless of where they are.
This affection and close proximity is not only between men and women, but also between two people of the same gender. Girls can be seen walking arm in arm with each other and men often stand much closer than what a Westerner would consider normal. This space also leads to a difference in facial expressions. Russians appear to be unfriendly with a blank, unsmiling face to those they do not know. They believe that Americans are guilty of portraying a false acquaintance by smiling at strangers.