That's rather correct, I'd say. The thing is, if I remember correctly, the habit of smiling in the photos appeared in the 20th century in the US. So it's still

That's rather correct, I'd say. The thing is, if I remember correctly, the habit of smiling in the photos appeared in the 20th century in the US. So it's still not here. As for public interactions, among Russians the difference is that you have to look at the eyebrows and the forehead, which indicate the person being attentive and welcoming, or relaxed, or tense. When Russians see Americans have smile with lips and cheeks, but forehead and eyebrows relaxed or tense, they probably can't realize it, but perceive this as "fake". The funny thing is, in Scandinavia, especially Iceland people tend to show even less signs of being "open" in public interaction. At least, I felt unease at first.