My friend Heather was on the metro going to the hockey game Friday. She heard a commotion, and it turns out some guy next to her had been about to take her phone out of her pocket. A guy sitting near them called him out on it and acted so he couldn't get away with it. Heather of course thanked him profusely. The pickpocket and his friend knocked the guy in the head on their way off the train, but the nice guy still winked at Heather when he got off at a later stop.
It is easy here to feel like everyone is indifferent and cold in public. Smiling and friendliness are reserved for close ones, and especially as Americans we often feel like we are annoying everyone with our loud English or mild confusion about new things in the city. But those experiences are not all we have to look forward to in Russia.
There are good people everywhere.
Lucky for Heather! Be safe, be smart.
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