You know you’ve been in Ukraine too long when…

Feeling like a Ukrainian

Feeling like a Ukrainian?

Have you been in Ukraine too long? Have you assimilated, forgotten your native personality and started to behave like a Ukrainian?

Here’s a check-list to help you find out. You know you’ve been in Ukraine too long when…

  1. You put ukrop (dill) on everything. I mean EVERYTHING.
  2. Your not scared of the street dogs.
  3. You know how to shout at taxi-drivers to get a better price.
  4. You have two SIM cards.
  5. Cyrillic doesn’t confuse you.
  6. You understand that if you put your girlfriends handbag on the table or (god forbid) the floor – she will probably leave you.
  7. You have perfected your own borsch recipe.
  8. You can pronounce Dnipropetrovsk without having a seizure.
  9. You walk past a litter bin which is on fire and has flames coming out of it, and you think its normal.
  10. You say ‘pajowlusta’ without thinking when someone says thanks.
  11. You only wear a black jacket in winter and think anyone in a sports jacket must be a foreigner.
  12. You have forgotten that the fur industry is cruel and inhumane and started to think that fur is glamorous.
  13. Unless its +20C you would never let a child out of the house without a hat and gloves.
  14. You want to drive a large 4×4 to make yourself feel like a man.
  15. You start to hate Marshrutkas.
  16. You can drink beer like you used to drink coffee –morning, day and night.
  17. You can eat semki with one hand and finish a whole bag during a 90 minute football game.
  18. You have developed a working system for separating all the Yulias and Marias in your phonebook.
  19. You accept that your date will be 30 minutes late.
  20. You’ve forgotten what a queue is.
  21. You stop calling it PECTOPAH and start calling it a restaurant.
  22. You are able to get on the bus before the babushkas.
  23. You have discovered a certain charm in the absolute rudeness of shop staff
  24. People stop assuming you are a sex tourist
  25. You buy flowers for people and you think its sweet.
  26. You play Mafia and take it seriously.
  27. You love Karaoke.
  28. You can use the squat toilets without having an accident.
  29. You go into an Italian restaurant and expect to be able to order Japanese food.
  30. You have forgotten how to use definitive article.
  31. You look at people’s shoes and make judgments about their personality.
  32. You let yourself wear a vest, white trousers and white shoes.
  33. You boil eggs and make a picnic before you take a train.
  34. You’ve forgotten what the following words are or mean: copyright, eco-friendly, modesty.
  35. You are comfortable sitting naked in the sauna.
  36. You give confusing and contradictory answers like ‘da nijet’, ‘mojit bit da’ and ‘mojit bit nijet’.
  37. You stand still and don’t talk on the metro. In fact, you’ve pretty much stopped any public displays of emotion.
  38. You fear drafts and think you’ll die if you walk on a cold floor without shoes.
  39. You stare at foreigners out of curiosity. Especially people with dark skin.
  40. You’ve stopped trying to teach people that politics and governance can be different
  41. For no obv.ious reason, you know the name of 6 oligarchs.
  42. You do NOT think rules are for breaking, no matter how stupid or petty they are.
  43. You no longer need to be drunk to dance and sing.
  44. You ask complete strangers for a cigarette.
  45. You know what a gopnik is.
  46. You don’t panic or call a plumber when your hot water stops. In fact, you don’t even think twice when the water stops altogether because you know someone  else will fix it.
  47. You keep a large water bottle behind the toilet to flush when there’s no water.
  48. You can walk on anything. Broken paths, ice, half-a-meter of snow – you can keep your balance on anything. If you are a girl, you can walk on anything in high-heels.
  49. Buying a ticket for the train, which once took 2 minutes, now takes you 15 minutes because you have a long discussion with the ticket officer about all possible options and prices.
  50. You can (and do) run down the escalators.
  51. You make your self look ‘beautiful’ whenever you leave the house, even if you are going to buy toilet paper or potatoes from the supermarket.
  52. You speak Russian but think Ukrainian should be the only national language.
  53. You are not surprised by anything and you dismiss everything by shrugging your shoulders and saying ‘its Ukraine’
  54. …and finally, the absolute test of  your ‘Ukrainianess’… you can sit/squat on your feet and smoke for more than two minutes.  This squat (also known as the Ukrainian chair),  is the ultimate test of how Ukrainian someone is. If you can do it, your at least 95% genetically Ukrainian.

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130 Comments

  1. alina

    I vote for inclusion of this post in country guide!)))

  2. alina

    I vote for inclusion of this post in country guide!)))

  3. Olya Dovgodko

    Omg! Ian, this is absolutely brilliant.
    I even started questioning myself on those points you made..
    Definitely a must-be part of the Ukrainian travel guide.

  4. Olya Dovgodko

    Omg! Ian, this is absolutely brilliant.
    I even started questioning myself on those points you made..
    Definitely a must-be part of the Ukrainian travel guide.

  5. Iryna Nabytovych

    Seems like someone spent way too much time in Kyiv 😉

    And sadly.. I’m so not ukrainian any more.. feel like I would be completely lost if I had to follow all these rules haha
    Good job though

  6. Iryna Nabytovych

    Seems like someone spent way too much time in Kyiv 😉

    And sadly.. I’m so not ukrainian any more.. feel like I would be completely lost if I had to follow all these rules haha
    Good job though

  7. sooo true. and tooo funny!

    thank you for this.

  8. sooo true. and tooo funny!

    thank you for this.

  9. After 17 months in Ukraine as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I can identify with so many of these — thanks!

  10. After 17 months in Ukraine as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I can identify with so many of these — thanks!

  11. Haha. I love it. Pretty spot on.

  12. Haha. I love it. Pretty spot on.

  13. Oh that’s weird… replace ‘Ukranian’ with ‘Korean’ and you’re really close on a lot of them. In fact, the very last one is exactly the same! We call it the Korean Squat though. …and babushkas are adjummas here. Tee hee! This is great!

    • Also, if you check out my blog I’m ’bout to post a reply tailored to Korea. Thanks for the inspiration!

    • Valeriya

      Exactly 🙂 There is prob. a lot of “…-ian/-ean/-ese” one can replace Ukrainian with 🙂

      Ian, Thank You for Your point of view :), though I’d like to know if You out to write the inspirational piece ( as in “101 reasons why Rio rocks ” or “101 Reasons to love Bogotá”) what would that include?
      Very curious to read something of that nature 🙂

      Cheers

    • Yu.

      Hahah, I was just thinking about my 4months life in Korea and the similar to above written list we made with friends about our Korean life 🙂 such a coincidence I have found this comment. Kkk

  14. Oh that’s weird… replace ‘Ukranian’ with ‘Korean’ and you’re really close on a lot of them. In fact, the very last one is exactly the same! We call it the Korean Squat though. …and babushkas are adjummas here. Tee hee! This is great!

    • Also, if you check out my blog I’m ’bout to post a reply tailored to Korea. Thanks for the inspiration!

    • Valeriya

      Exactly 🙂 There is prob. a lot of “…-ian/-ean/-ese” one can replace Ukrainian with 🙂

      Ian, Thank You for Your point of view :), though I’d like to know if You out to write the inspirational piece ( as in “101 reasons why Rio rocks ” or “101 Reasons to love Bogotá”) what would that include?
      Very curious to read something of that nature 🙂

      Cheers

    • Yu.

      Hahah, I was just thinking about my 4months life in Korea and the similar to above written list we made with friends about our Korean life 🙂 such a coincidence I have found this comment. Kkk

  15. A

    Although, some of the statements are stereotypical, this made me laugh.
    I am Ukrainian and it’s very interesting to see foreign nationalities describe you.

  16. A

    Although, some of the statements are stereotypical, this made me laugh.
    I am Ukrainian and it’s very interesting to see foreign nationalities describe you.

  17. Boo for #52. I spent two years in Ukraine and made a point to ONLY speak Ukrainian even if I were in Crimea or Kiev.

    • Kyiv does speak Ukrainian, dear!.. And to have the courage to speak Ukrainian in the Crimea compared to speaking it in the capital is at least inappropriate 😉

  18. Boo for #52. I spent two years in Ukraine and made a point to ONLY speak Ukrainian even if I were in Crimea or Kiev.

    • Kyiv does speak Ukrainian, dear!.. And to have the courage to speak Ukrainian in the Crimea compared to speaking it in the capital is at least inappropriate 😉

  19. Us Peace Corps Volunteers here call your “Ukrainian chair” the “Dima squat.”

  20. Us Peace Corps Volunteers here call your “Ukrainian chair” the “Dima squat.”

  21. Tenka

    Hahahahaha

  22. Tenka

    Hahahahaha

  23. 45 – You know what a gopnik is.
    😀 Nice one!

  24. 45 – You know what a gopnik is.
    😀 Nice one!

  25. Smb said that the author must be living in Kyiv. I agree:)
    Funny list. But I’m Ukrainian and have a different mind on some points
    “You walk past a litter bin which is on fire and has flames coming out of it, and you think its normal.” – I do not think it’s normal! I can can kill the one who does this, RRR.
    “You say ‘pajowlusta’ without thinking when someone says thanks.” – ‘pajowlusta’ is a Russian word, in Ukrainian it sounds like ‘na zdorovia’.
    “Unless its +20C you would never let a child out of the house without a hat and gloves.” – Too cruel to say this.
    “You let yourself wear a vest, white trousers and white shoes.” – I’ve never seen such people on the streets… Oh, maybe once.
    “You’ve forgotten what the following words are or mean: copyright, eco-friendly, modesty.” – Modesty? Haven’t you seen any modest person? Poor you are… You’d better think of new friends.

    “You speak Russian but think Ukrainian should be the only national language.” – Yeah, I’ve met such wonderful individuals.

    I think, something is missed here… but can’t guess what:(

    • ira

      “pajowsta” in Ukrainian – “bud’-laska”, “na zdorovya” is the same in almost all slavic languages, and is used in only certain cases. And generally speaking, most steriotypes here are fair, in my opinion…

  26. Smb said that the author must be living in Kyiv. I agree:)
    Funny list. But I’m Ukrainian and have a different mind on some points
    “You walk past a litter bin which is on fire and has flames coming out of it, and you think its normal.” – I do not think it’s normal! I can can kill the one who does this, RRR.
    “You say ‘pajowlusta’ without thinking when someone says thanks.” – ‘pajowlusta’ is a Russian word, in Ukrainian it sounds like ‘na zdorovia’.
    “Unless its +20C you would never let a child out of the house without a hat and gloves.” – Too cruel to say this.
    “You let yourself wear a vest, white trousers and white shoes.” – I’ve never seen such people on the streets… Oh, maybe once.
    “You’ve forgotten what the following words are or mean: copyright, eco-friendly, modesty.” – Modesty? Haven’t you seen any modest person? Poor you are… You’d better think of new friends.

    “You speak Russian but think Ukrainian should be the only national language.” – Yeah, I’ve met such wonderful individuals.

    I think, something is missed here… but can’t guess what:(

    • ira

      “pajowsta” in Ukrainian – “bud’-laska”, “na zdorovya” is the same in almost all slavic languages, and is used in only certain cases. And generally speaking, most steriotypes here are fair, in my opinion…

  27. I’m 97 percent UA.
    Too sad )))

  28. I’m 97 percent UA.
    Too sad )))

  29. Ой, а можна переклад???
    🙂
    Відчуваю, шо буду довго сміятися… 🙂

  30. Ой, а можна переклад???
    🙂
    Відчуваю, шо буду довго сміятися… 🙂

  31. Andrew

    Haha.. Nice! 🙂

    And it’s true.

  32. Andrew

    Haha.. Nice! 🙂

    And it’s true.

  33. You have forgotten that the fur industry is cruel and inhumane and started to think that fur is glamorous.
    You make your self look ‘beautiful’ whenever you leave the house, even if you are going to buy toilet paper or potatoes from the supermarket.

    These are SO TRUE! Hahaha I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zhytomyr for two years and by the time I left I loved fur and always made sure to put on eyeliner even if just buying toilet paper. 🙂

    However – I COMPLETELY disagree that you have been there too long if you start to hate the marshrutkas. You can be there for less than a week and start to hate them! 🙂

    Here are a few more:

    You stop being amazed that the ladies are ALWAYS in high heels – it’s just normal.
    You start to forget English words like “sunflower seeds” because you ALWAYS call them semichki.
    Friends back home can’t understand you because you say things like “I have to go to the magazine today.”
    You put smetana on everything. 🙂
    You think it’s normal to eat dried fish/crutons/cheese with beer.
    You automatically pick up juice/tea/cookies when visiting someone.
    You think that dessert just tastes better with tea or coffee.
    Near the end of a night of entertaining guests, you automatically ask who wants tea or coffee and then make it.
    You no longer define “sandwich” as automatically having two pieces of bread.
    You expect mayonnaise on pizza.
    You are no longer shocked by someone passed out drunk at 11am.
    Your list of things to do for the day only have 2 things on them, not 10.
    You expect a restaurant bill to be 2-3 times more expensive (GRRR!!!)
    You start to say things like “davai” and “mozhna” even when the person doesn’t understand Russian/Ukrainian.
    You know who all the major monuments are, and even some of the more obscure ones.

    Ah Ukraine. I’ve been back to visit. I had a really good time there. I was there long enough that when a male friend of mine got beaten up I said – You were drunk and it was after midnight – it’s Ukraine – what do you expect? Sigh.

    I wrote about Ukraine and Peace Corps on my older blog here:
    http://teacherjulia.blogspot.com/ My current blog is all about jiu jitsu. 🙂

    • Hahaha you no longer expect toilets to have toilet seats!

    • kwas

      Julia, your list looks much more like sober reality. But the topic poster have fantasized bit too much, I’d smile&agree only with 10% of it. Rest of it reminds me “Simpsons way”. I say so cuz I lived my all life in Ukraine and :-p

    • Well, I must correct you a little bit. (I’m from Ukraine, Kiev)

      “Marshrutka” (it is a “Taxi bus”, usually have yellow color) – we all hate them, but only because it is not enough of them (especially in rush-hours).

      We are not putting “smetana” on everything. Smetana is something like your cream. Usually we put them to soups, “borsch” and on pancakes, dumplings and vareniki (as a sauce).

      We never use mayonnaise with pizza (and I do not understand why you think so).

      “To do lists” – it is personal thing… someone have 2 things, someone have 20…

      Restaurant bill depends on the restaurant, not on the country (GRRR!!! =)) ).

  34. You have forgotten that the fur industry is cruel and inhumane and started to think that fur is glamorous.
    You make your self look ‘beautiful’ whenever you leave the house, even if you are going to buy toilet paper or potatoes from the supermarket.

    These are SO TRUE! Hahaha I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zhytomyr for two years and by the time I left I loved fur and always made sure to put on eyeliner even if just buying toilet paper. 🙂

    However – I COMPLETELY disagree that you have been there too long if you start to hate the marshrutkas. You can be there for less than a week and start to hate them! 🙂

    Here are a few more:

    You stop being amazed that the ladies are ALWAYS in high heels – it’s just normal.
    You start to forget English words like “sunflower seeds” because you ALWAYS call them semichki.
    Friends back home can’t understand you because you say things like “I have to go to the magazine today.”
    You put smetana on everything. 🙂
    You think it’s normal to eat dried fish/crutons/cheese with beer.
    You automatically pick up juice/tea/cookies when visiting someone.
    You think that dessert just tastes better with tea or coffee.
    Near the end of a night of entertaining guests, you automatically ask who wants tea or coffee and then make it.
    You no longer define “sandwich” as automatically having two pieces of bread.
    You expect mayonnaise on pizza.
    You are no longer shocked by someone passed out drunk at 11am.
    Your list of things to do for the day only have 2 things on them, not 10.
    You expect a restaurant bill to be 2-3 times more expensive (GRRR!!!)
    You start to say things like “davai” and “mozhna” even when the person doesn’t understand Russian/Ukrainian.
    You know who all the major monuments are, and even some of the more obscure ones.

    Ah Ukraine. I’ve been back to visit. I had a really good time there. I was there long enough that when a male friend of mine got beaten up I said – You were drunk and it was after midnight – it’s Ukraine – what do you expect? Sigh.

    I wrote about Ukraine and Peace Corps on my older blog here:
    http://teacherjulia.blogspot.com/ My current blog is all about jiu jitsu. 🙂

    • Hahaha you no longer expect toilets to have toilet seats!

    • kwas

      Julia, your list looks much more like sober reality. But the topic poster have fantasized bit too much, I’d smile&agree only with 10% of it. Rest of it reminds me “Simpsons way”. I say so cuz I lived my all life in Ukraine and :-p

    • Well, I must correct you a little bit. (I’m from Ukraine, Kiev)

      “Marshrutka” (it is a “Taxi bus”, usually have yellow color) – we all hate them, but only because it is not enough of them (especially in rush-hours).

      We are not putting “smetana” on everything. Smetana is something like your cream. Usually we put them to soups, “borsch” and on pancakes, dumplings and vareniki (as a sauce).

      We never use mayonnaise with pizza (and I do not understand why you think so).

      “To do lists” – it is personal thing… someone have 2 things, someone have 20…

      Restaurant bill depends on the restaurant, not on the country (GRRR!!! =)) ).

  35. Wow ))
    This is marvellous ))

    Also sitting on a squat is called ‘na kartanAkh’ – locals would appreciate ))

  36. Wow ))
    This is marvellous ))

    Also sitting on a squat is called ‘na kartanAkh’ – locals would appreciate ))

  37. Andriy

    This is all Bull shit! I`ve been in USA and in UK. You have got enough weird people there. And I must agree with Vira – You have to find a new friends.
    I`d also like to say: it is likely that foreign tourists don`t like to follow the rules as they would back home. Shame on you!

  38. Andriy

    This is all Bull shit! I`ve been in USA and in UK. You have got enough weird people there. And I must agree with Vira – You have to find a new friends.
    I`d also like to say: it is likely that foreign tourists don`t like to follow the rules as they would back home. Shame on you!

  39. YuTs

    😀

    “You are comfortable sitting naked in the sauna” – hm… Have you ever been to sauna in Germany? 😉

    “You accept that your date will be 30 minutes late” – only 30? You’re lucky man!

  40. YuTs

    😀

    “You are comfortable sitting naked in the sauna” – hm… Have you ever been to sauna in Germany? 😉

    “You accept that your date will be 30 minutes late” – only 30? You’re lucky man!

  41. YEAAAAH!!!!! Thumbs up for ‘Dnipropetrovsk’ from all the citizens)) just a point of information – when you say Dnepr you’ll sound more local)

  42. YEAAAAH!!!!! Thumbs up for ‘Dnipropetrovsk’ from all the citizens)) just a point of information – when you say Dnepr you’ll sound more local)

  43. Karina

    ahahahahahaahahahahah fantastic!!!! but I would changed the dill on the bay leaf

  44. Karina

    ahahahahahaahahahahah fantastic!!!! but I would changed the dill on the bay leaf

  45. Karina

    i think after this, everyone who would like to go to Ukraine must get visa! quite fair

  46. Karina

    i think after this, everyone who would like to go to Ukraine must get visa! quite fair

  47. Simono4ka

    Well, i can’t say i didn’t laugh…but it all went too sad in the end 🙁 i would also say that some things are a bit harsh! it’s all about people in the end…you can explore the country the best only through its people…your mates and friends! too bad they showed you no modesty….the thing about the language – well i would say that you can get it only if you are born there…i also speak Russian, but truly believe Ukrainian should be the one! And one more thing to add – we make us beautiful sometimes even if we don’t even need to leave the house!!! :)))

  48. Simono4ka

    Well, i can’t say i didn’t laugh…but it all went too sad in the end 🙁 i would also say that some things are a bit harsh! it’s all about people in the end…you can explore the country the best only through its people…your mates and friends! too bad they showed you no modesty….the thing about the language – well i would say that you can get it only if you are born there…i also speak Russian, but truly believe Ukrainian should be the one! And one more thing to add – we make us beautiful sometimes even if we don’t even need to leave the house!!! :)))

  49. Svetlana

    Not funny! If you feel your superiority over us, why have you come here and stayed so long?

  50. Svetlana

    Not funny! If you feel your superiority over us, why have you come here and stayed so long?

  51. Pi Po

    Funny:))) Take it easy guys. Of course we all dont like, if somebody makes jokes about us, but no need to be offended! And some of them are quite good compliments!

  52. Pi Po

    Funny:))) Take it easy guys. Of course we all dont like, if somebody makes jokes about us, but no need to be offended! And some of them are quite good compliments!

  53. Well well well, where should I begin…
    With the strangest things according to your list, I guess =)
    I’m a 100% Ukrainian girl, cannot walk in high-heels, don’t wear make-up, even for dates or parties, I have no black jacket for winter, cannot stand beer but in Bierplätzchen, ukrop makes me feel giddy, I’m eco-friendly, not modest at all and at times I violate the copyright, I am true-blood Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainian and I think Russian can be spoken by those who hasn’t got the guts to learn Ukrainian, though I will never turn down a Russian-speaking tourist asking for the right direction, and I feel I have the right to defend my right to speak, listen to ads, read newspapers and watch TV shows as well as news in UKRAINIAN cause this is MY country, called UKRAINE!
    For an obvious reason, I know the name of an oligarch, and I think you do know him and the reason I’m talking about, too – Victor Pinchuk and the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv… I bet you’ve been to the PAC, and I bet you’ve enjoyed yourself there, unless you aren’t interested in contemporary art 😉
    I don’t stare at foreigners out of curiosity. At all. But I do understand what German, French, Italian, Russian and all the English-speaking tourists and guests are talking about. Especially if they are talking about Ukraine with disgust. In such cases I feel a bit awkward. And I keep wondering why they prefer to see the negative side of our country. Yeah, I liked #53. I use to say it with a smile ’cause a single person cannot change an entire country. So there is nothing left for me but to smile when saying it =)
    #29 was the best part of your list! My friends and I usually avoid restaurants where you can order Italian AND Japanese food. A clash of cultures you have there, and a nation – my nation I’m writing about – which sees no difference between those cultures. Though I really miss a British restaurant here in Kyiv. We’ve got plenty of pubs but it isn’t enough =(
    What did you mean by #31, Ian? Of course I can tell by looking at people’s shoes where they’ve bought them, how much they’ve paid for them, and what person I’m looking at right at the moment – a white-collar, an emo kid or a person who’s not afraid of wearing bright colours and thus bringing light into their lives! I love comparing people’s shoes in the metros in different countries, and I absolutely like what I see in Berlin. Well, but that’s not the point, I can talk about shoes for all eternity! =)))))))
    It’s for sure a great job you’ve done here, but I feel like I’ve got no right to say that I’m Ukrainian any more. That’s weird, don’t you think? 😉

  54. Well well well, where should I begin…
    With the strangest things according to your list, I guess =)
    I’m a 100% Ukrainian girl, cannot walk in high-heels, don’t wear make-up, even for dates or parties, I have no black jacket for winter, cannot stand beer but in Bierplätzchen, ukrop makes me feel giddy, I’m eco-friendly, not modest at all and at times I violate the copyright, I am true-blood Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainian and I think Russian can be spoken by those who hasn’t got the guts to learn Ukrainian, though I will never turn down a Russian-speaking tourist asking for the right direction, and I feel I have the right to defend my right to speak, listen to ads, read newspapers and watch TV shows as well as news in UKRAINIAN cause this is MY country, called UKRAINE!
    For an obvious reason, I know the name of an oligarch, and I think you do know him and the reason I’m talking about, too – Victor Pinchuk and the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv… I bet you’ve been to the PAC, and I bet you’ve enjoyed yourself there, unless you aren’t interested in contemporary art 😉
    I don’t stare at foreigners out of curiosity. At all. But I do understand what German, French, Italian, Russian and all the English-speaking tourists and guests are talking about. Especially if they are talking about Ukraine with disgust. In such cases I feel a bit awkward. And I keep wondering why they prefer to see the negative side of our country. Yeah, I liked #53. I use to say it with a smile ’cause a single person cannot change an entire country. So there is nothing left for me but to smile when saying it =)
    #29 was the best part of your list! My friends and I usually avoid restaurants where you can order Italian AND Japanese food. A clash of cultures you have there, and a nation – my nation I’m writing about – which sees no difference between those cultures. Though I really miss a British restaurant here in Kyiv. We’ve got plenty of pubs but it isn’t enough =(
    What did you mean by #31, Ian? Of course I can tell by looking at people’s shoes where they’ve bought them, how much they’ve paid for them, and what person I’m looking at right at the moment – a white-collar, an emo kid or a person who’s not afraid of wearing bright colours and thus bringing light into their lives! I love comparing people’s shoes in the metros in different countries, and I absolutely like what I see in Berlin. Well, but that’s not the point, I can talk about shoes for all eternity! =)))))))
    It’s for sure a great job you’ve done here, but I feel like I’ve got no right to say that I’m Ukrainian any more. That’s weird, don’t you think? 😉

  55. Kiev citizen

    hey, from Kiev! author wrote is true for 80%.)) But here, in ukraine, is a lot people who see this curious. And so what can we do? )

    I want to say to ukrainians – take it easy, every guest in our country will have personal experience and view.

  56. Kiev citizen

    hey, from Kiev! author wrote is true for 80%.)) But here, in ukraine, is a lot people who see this curious. And so what can we do? )

    I want to say to ukrainians – take it easy, every guest in our country will have personal experience and view.

  57. I’m Ukrainian and have some corrections for you.

    We not putting dill to everything, just to some dishes.
    I do afraid of street dogs.
    I have one SIM card (and most of us do), but SIM card are cheap and it is expensive to call to the different mobile operator (thats why SOME people have 2 SIM cards).
    About the girlfriend and a handbag – I think that was the crazy girl.
    Litter bin on fire is not normal.
    Black jacket in winter – well, it is just not true.
    You are able to get on the bus before the babushkas. – not true.
    You buy flowers for people and you think its sweet. – is it not sweet?
    You go into an Italian restaurant and expect to be able to order Japanese food. hahaha – the is just one restaurant with this possibility – it is Italian-Japanese restaurant called “Mafia” =)).
    You boil eggs and make a picnic before you take a train. – hmmm, not true.
    You’ve forgotten what the following words are or mean: copyright, eco-friendly, modesty. – you are absolutely wrong here =(((. Ukrainians are really modest. And about “copyright and eco-friendly” – not more or less then everybody else in this world.
    You are comfortable sitting naked in the sauna. – no, I’m not.
    You stand still and don’t talk on the metro. – is is really loud inside the metro train and someone do not like to talk in such environment, but someone do.
    You fear drafts and think you’ll die if you walk on a cold floor without shoes. – it is true just for some persons.
    You stare at foreigners out of curiosity. Especially people with dark skin. – this is so not true!!!!!
    You can (and do) run down the escalators. – well, if I am hurry =).
    You make your self look ‘beautiful’ whenever you leave the house, even if you are going to buy toilet paper or potatoes from the supermarket. – this is not for everyone.
    You speak Russian but think Ukrainian should be the only national language. – I speak both, depends on the person (companion). As an example – I speak Ukrainian at home, but I speak Russian with my friends. And yes – Ukrainian should be the only national language.

  58. I’m Ukrainian and have some corrections for you.

    We not putting dill to everything, just to some dishes.
    I do afraid of street dogs.
    I have one SIM card (and most of us do), but SIM card are cheap and it is expensive to call to the different mobile operator (thats why SOME people have 2 SIM cards).
    About the girlfriend and a handbag – I think that was the crazy girl.
    Litter bin on fire is not normal.
    Black jacket in winter – well, it is just not true.
    You are able to get on the bus before the babushkas. – not true.
    You buy flowers for people and you think its sweet. – is it not sweet?
    You go into an Italian restaurant and expect to be able to order Japanese food. hahaha – the is just one restaurant with this possibility – it is Italian-Japanese restaurant called “Mafia” =)).
    You boil eggs and make a picnic before you take a train. – hmmm, not true.
    You’ve forgotten what the following words are or mean: copyright, eco-friendly, modesty. – you are absolutely wrong here =(((. Ukrainians are really modest. And about “copyright and eco-friendly” – not more or less then everybody else in this world.
    You are comfortable sitting naked in the sauna. – no, I’m not.
    You stand still and don’t talk on the metro. – is is really loud inside the metro train and someone do not like to talk in such environment, but someone do.
    You fear drafts and think you’ll die if you walk on a cold floor without shoes. – it is true just for some persons.
    You stare at foreigners out of curiosity. Especially people with dark skin. – this is so not true!!!!!
    You can (and do) run down the escalators. – well, if I am hurry =).
    You make your self look ‘beautiful’ whenever you leave the house, even if you are going to buy toilet paper or potatoes from the supermarket. – this is not for everyone.
    You speak Russian but think Ukrainian should be the only national language. – I speak both, depends on the person (companion). As an example – I speak Ukrainian at home, but I speak Russian with my friends. And yes – Ukrainian should be the only national language.

  59. Vadim

    Half of these claims is biased and racist.

  60. Vadim

    Half of these claims is biased and racist.

  61. Iryna

    ОГИДСТВО!
    I am outraged! How can one write such disgusting things?! We are not perfect, I admit that, but, after years of living abroud, I must say no one is…
    Most of this is not true, just a simple list of bad stereotypes foreigners have about Ukraine.

  62. Iryna

    ОГИДСТВО!
    I am outraged! How can one write such disgusting things?! We are not perfect, I admit that, but, after years of living abroud, I must say no one is…
    Most of this is not true, just a simple list of bad stereotypes foreigners have about Ukraine.

  63. Donetsk

    Hmm … Do you still think that Russia bears on the monocycle go all hog it with vodka. Let’s not talk about your faults. The journalist was found on the right of a drunken man from the village, who told you all, or the tabloids, dear re-read? Author an idiot.
    Ukraine has a problem, but not so. Every normal citizen must respect their country and should not teprpet when so expressed his Motherland!

  64. Donetsk

    Hmm … Do you still think that Russia bears on the monocycle go all hog it with vodka. Let’s not talk about your faults. The journalist was found on the right of a drunken man from the village, who told you all, or the tabloids, dear re-read? Author an idiot.
    Ukraine has a problem, but not so. Every normal citizen must respect their country and should not teprpet when so expressed his Motherland!

  65. Ukr Export

    Ian thanks for the entertaining post.

    A bit about myself, I was born and raised in Kiev Ukraine, moved to Canada when I was 17. Since then I was back in Kiev only once.

    … Andriy and others, who feel that blogger thinks he is superior in any way, you might be slightly on the wrong path here. This thinking can’t be conclusive based on this post.
    As someone who learned about North American culture (I spent twenty years outside of Ukraine), I can re-assure you there is nothing hostile, superior and/or disrespective that I find in this post. I can definitely see that author emphasizes cultural differences but he definitely doesn’t pass the judgement by high lighting those differences through a negative lens. Hence, no harm done by listing the differences 🙂

    And for those folks, that insist on absolute correctness in every statement (aka there is no humor here), please pay attention to ALL the comments following this post. They are mostly happy and cheerful in nature, so right or wrong the author manages to build good-will towards Ukraine and its people. Therefore, as the outcome is positive, one might want to solicit a lot more posts like this to generate more positive perception of the culture, people and the country.

    Diakuyu za yvagy i Vash chas 😉

    … and Ian keep posting 🙂

    Andriy

    FireAway…

    • Ukraine

      That’s exactly how people should look at it. I had fun reading the post, was really surprised to see the corrections. I guess some folks just took it too seriously. I’m Ukrainian myself (and proud of it) and didn’t find anything offensive in the post. A lot of it is right on the money!

  66. Ukr Export

    Ian thanks for the entertaining post.

    A bit about myself, I was born and raised in Kiev Ukraine, moved to Canada when I was 17. Since then I was back in Kiev only once.

    … Andriy and others, who feel that blogger thinks he is superior in any way, you might be slightly on the wrong path here. This thinking can’t be conclusive based on this post.
    As someone who learned about North American culture (I spent twenty years outside of Ukraine), I can re-assure you there is nothing hostile, superior and/or disrespective that I find in this post. I can definitely see that author emphasizes cultural differences but he definitely doesn’t pass the judgement by high lighting those differences through a negative lens. Hence, no harm done by listing the differences 🙂

    And for those folks, that insist on absolute correctness in every statement (aka there is no humor here), please pay attention to ALL the comments following this post. They are mostly happy and cheerful in nature, so right or wrong the author manages to build good-will towards Ukraine and its people. Therefore, as the outcome is positive, one might want to solicit a lot more posts like this to generate more positive perception of the culture, people and the country.

    Diakuyu za yvagy i Vash chas 😉

    … and Ian keep posting 🙂

    Andriy

    FireAway…

    • Ukraine

      That’s exactly how people should look at it. I had fun reading the post, was really surprised to see the corrections. I guess some folks just took it too seriously. I’m Ukrainian myself (and proud of it) and didn’t find anything offensive in the post. A lot of it is right on the money!

  67. Vasia

    I’m from Ukraine and almost all of the list is true, except for 52 and 54.
    52 – Only idiots want ukrainian to be the national language.
    54 – What’s the crap?? Nobody sits like that!!!)))

    • oleg

      Vasya, get out of your hole and look around you. there are people who have a different mind than yours

    • Al

      “Only idiots want ukrainian to be the national language” – вот тут ты чепуху полную сморозил…. Разве что ты сам полный идиот

  68. Vasia

    I’m from Ukraine and almost all of the list is true, except for 52 and 54.
    52 – Only idiots want ukrainian to be the national language.
    54 – What’s the crap?? Nobody sits like that!!!)))

    • oleg

      Vasya, get out of your hole and look around you. there are people who have a different mind than yours

    • Al

      “Only idiots want ukrainian to be the national language” – вот тут ты чепуху полную сморозил…. Разве что ты сам полный идиот

  69. yula

    I don’t mean to sound offensive but for sure half of US nationals – given to the high rate of obesity in the country – would never be able to do any squat:)

  70. yula

    I don’t mean to sound offensive but for sure half of US nationals – given to the high rate of obesity in the country – would never be able to do any squat:)

  71. Ian, it’s very good job! Maybe not all are 100% true, but many things are exactly been noted. Especially for a foreigner ))).
    P.S. You have quoted Ukrainian sites – I think it is a recognition of your work )))
    http://news.liga.net/news/sport/633651-gostyam_evro_2012_54_priznaka_chto_vy_zaderzhalis_v_ukraine.htm

  72. Ian, it’s very good job! Maybe not all are 100% true, but many things are exactly been noted. Especially for a foreigner ))).
    P.S. You have quoted Ukrainian sites – I think it is a recognition of your work )))
    http://news.liga.net/news/sport/633651-gostyam_evro_2012_54_priznaka_chto_vy_zaderzhalis_v_ukraine.htm

  73. Алекса

    This is a great article))), and the site too.

    • Thanks 🙂
      Its always good to know that people are enjoying the site.
      I’ll be back in UA soon, so expect some more articles next month

  74. Алекса

    This is a great article))), and the site too.

    • Thanks 🙂
      Its always good to know that people are enjoying the site.
      I’ll be back in UA soon, so expect some more articles next month

  75. Maryan

    It’s more about Russia than Ukraine!

  76. Maryan

    It’s more about Russia than Ukraine!

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