nasfan6, oh I'm sorry that I didn't understand your sarcasm, it is just that I'm tired of people saying "oh it is so good in Russia", "we're forbidden to speak Russian" (these and other ideas are from Eastern region) and I'm already tired of explaining that this is not that so. As for example, about Russian language, if you try here to speak Ukrainian, if you're lucky enough people will understand you and everything will be fine, but if you're not lucky...then be ready to spend next couple of months in the hospital. This is about Eastern region of Ukraine...yes there are some people who will kill you if you speak Ukrainian...so I would rather say about bias of Ukrainian and not Russian language. But the majority people here (in Donbass) can only shout and sway with red flags (symbol of communism)....those who work and work hard are not like that...but the majority is always the majority..
That is interesting Ptichka. I found it just the opposite in Western Ukraine. My lady was married to a Russian military man and spent a lot of time in Russia, her daughter grew up only learning the Russian language. Now that they live in Ternopol her daughter has a difficult time as the people there will not answer her when she speaks Russian and not Ukrainian. One time the three of us were in a shop and when Elena tried to speak to the shop keeper he pretended he could not understand her. Now this guy was my age (55) and I am sure he went to school while Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union and I am sure he learned Russian. I found that area to be very nationalistic.
I also went to school when there was USSR, and I also studied Russian, no Ukrainian. But as I'm a native Ukrainian in 8 generation, I never liked Russian, and Ukrainian is my native language. And can you imagine what I feel when I can't speak my own native language? This tortures me...as in many cases I feel much more easier speaking Ukrainian (I mean it is easier for me to select the proper word in Ukrainian, then in Russian)...but I have to suffer...of course with friends I can speak the way I'm more comfortable. So it is not a surprise for them to hear something like a mixture of words. I would prefer speaking only Ukrainian, but not all my friends know Ukrainian the way I'm:)
So I can also tell you that Donbass is a very nationalistic area, but in a different way. Luckily Ukraunian speaking schools opened, and children study Ukrainian there, and speak Ukrainian, and they make no difference either speak Ukrainian and Russian, I hope that this will change this situation to the better:)
Reminds me of the old days when young men were forced to use their right hand when they were predominantly left handed. Imagine having your hand spanked because you used the wrong one.
Spirit I am still angry with the mother for doing that. Just look what a good left handed pitcher in the major leagues gets paid! She messed me up for life. I threw with my right hand, kicked a football with my left foot and I batted from both sides of the plate.