A Guide to Belarusians, Belarus and what makes the country unique. Being
on the crossroads between invading armies since time immemorial, Belarus
has emerged with a growing sense of identity that sets them apart from
their neighbours. The author opens the lid on the background, attitudes
and behaviour of a people about which little is known. 'Belarusians
often describe themselves with the word 'Pamiarkoŭnasc'. This spans the
kaleidoscope of attitudes such as 'moderation', 'self-restraint',
'patience', 'resignation', 'tolerance' and an excessive interest in what
other people think of them.' 'Whereas in the UK politeness is generally
applied in order to preserve a general sense of harmony, in Belarus it
is selective and done for specific reasons and in specific contexts. A
Belarusian is polite when the situation demands.' 'In the bus, there may
be an empty place in an otherwise crowded interior while many are
standing uncomfortably. The empty seat is like the last biscuit on the
plate - everybody wants it but are too polite to take it.' 'Generally,
the Belarusians are a law-abiding folk. This is not necessarily an
instinctive need to adhere to the rules or a paranoia about the results
of not following them. In fact in most cases, there is a feeling that it
is better to stay within the rules which amount to one of the few
uncertainties in life than to go out on a limb and risk unforeseen
consequences.'
