If you are a tourist in Russia...

[historyfan]

and you introduce yourself to a native, how would they respond?  Would they tell you their given name, or their given name and patronymic?

[nena]

I would guess both given name and patronymic. I have seen in movies, for example, 'Ivana. Ivana Alexeevna'.  SO it would be also name, and once again repeated , just with patronymic added.

[Mike]

For a foreigner to use his/her patronymic, is always perceived as a joke. Just use your first name, irrespective of age and social status.

[historyfan]

For a foreigner to use his/her patronymic, is always perceived as a joke. Just use your first name, irrespective of age and social status.

Oh no, I meant how would the native Russian introduce him/herself?

[Mike]

Very much depends on who the other party is and on the circumstances. Ranges from the first name [I'm Vova] to the full name [Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, glad to meet you].

[Ausmanov]

I readin a travel book that it is unploite in Russia toshake a ladies hand unless she puts her hand forward ready to recieve it, is that true?

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Especially on an initial meeting, it would be extremely rare for me to initiate a handshake with a lady anywhere in my travels, including Russia.  I was taught to permit them the opportunity to first extend their hand.  If they do not, then a short inclination of the head on my part, followed by "How do you do?" (or the local formal equivalent thereof), followed by her name/title.  (Of course, I am certain that there are other introductory variations both in/outside the western world/culture depending on the circumstances.)  AP

[Svetabel]

I readin a travel book that it is unploite in Russia toshake a ladies hand unless she puts her hand forward ready to recieve it, is that true?

Now the etiquette ways are not so strict. I never put my hand forward to a man as well as many other girls and ladies, I just say "hello/ hi/ glad to meet you/ My name is Svetlana" for example. When a man wants to shake my hand I don't see anything unpolite in this. After all nothing offensive.

But if you speak about the business etiquette then could be differencies. In private life we don't mind who put a hand forward first.