While the article is just a bit superficial the smiling issue applies to most if not all east european countries.
Indeed, east europeans will mostly have a 'neutral' facial expression which is interpreted by most westerners as a frown. It's not a frown, it's just neutral.
East europeans will smile for a good reason and will not hesitate to break in to a laughter if the situation is funny enough. However, walking about smiling for no reason is indeed considered the attribute of mad men. For example in the romanian language 'vesel' means happy but it can also mean mad, disturbed, absent minded or drunk if put in a certain context.
Not smiling can be an impediment if doing business in the western culture but east europeans eventually get it.
Indeed, east europeans will mostly have a 'neutral' facial expression which is interpreted by most westerners as a frown. It's not a frown, it's just neutral.
East europeans will smile for a good reason and will not hesitate to break in to a laughter if the situation is funny enough. However, walking about smiling for no reason is indeed considered the attribute of mad men. For example in the romanian language 'vesel' means happy but it can also mean mad, disturbed, absent minded or drunk if put in a certain context.
Not smiling can be an impediment if doing business in the western culture but east europeans eventually get it.