Welcome

Standing tall beside a crossroad, three wooden statues like this are found. It was in summer of this year. It is a sign of hospitality to welcome guests with flowers as shown in this statue. But what confused me was the the facial expression. Why the knot on the brow? Oh, I forgot, I'm in Russia. Here, people don't smile.

Why are they not smiling? If you ask them, they'll give you a handful of reasons. Wars, weather, difficult life, etc... and oh, they said if you smile often, people will think you're crazy.  Some told me smile is not taken as an honest gesture, while others justified it as a Soviet propaganda which still remains in the mind of those who were raised that time. 

When I was new here, I found it quite bothersome to walk around the city surrounded with grim faces. I simply was not used to it.  Eventually, I've learned to live with it. There is no need to put into question their not smiling. I've accepted it the way it is. However in accepting, I do not mean I was converted into their reasons and explanations. I have a different view about smiling. The people I've talked with may also not be convinced with my views but at least we let each other be the way we are.