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	Create New Topic   My Posts   My forum buddies   Invite friends   Private messages Russian brides > Main Forum > Ukrainian Etiquette and Social Customs Author Post scottlf Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/21/2004 1:35:53 PM   Though this has been mentioned in part in several forums, I felt it worthwhile to create this new subject, and include a few items: Referring to Ukraine as part of the Soviet Union, or even worse as part of Russia, is a downright insult. Also note it is "Ukraine" not "the Ukraine"; this too is seen as referring to Ukraine as part of a larger nation. If you take flowers, ensure that it is an odd number. Ukrainians use a lot of time introducing themselves. In formal situations, shake hands when being introduced or introducing yourself. When shaking hands, remove your gloves. It is considered bad luck to shake hands across the threshold of a door. Be prepared to remove your shoes upon entering a home. To keep apartments clean, most hosts will provide you with a pair of slippers. On public transportation, give up your seat to mothers with children, the elderly, or the infirm. Be ready to give toasts at dinner, for guests are often asked to do so. Offer to share your snacks and cigarettes with those around you. - Be prepared to accept all food and drink offered you when visiting friends. Ukrainians are known for their generosity when it comes to feeding others. Turning down food may be considered rude. It is considered a very rude gesture to place one’s thumb between your first and second fingers. Refrain from doing so. By the way, I don't have this book but it might be usefull in that regard. Culture Shock-Ukraine: Ukraine by Anne M Dalton I bet Ptichka can quickly validate, expand, or refute any of these pretty quickly. Anyone else wish to add to the list? scottlf Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/21/2004 1:38:14 PM   Ptichka, I suppose I should have included this. What is the situation with Russian and Ukraine language? Do the majority of citizens in Ukraine speak Russian? Marsh Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 5:12:35 AM   Scott, They do. The language spoken is Russian, so that is what you should learn if you are serious about studying the culture. It was obligatory to speak Russian when the Ukraine was the part of the Soviet Union. Majority refused to speak Ukrainian after dozens of years. People who live in Wester Ukraine speak Ukrainian. But their Ukrainian comprises a lot of dialects due to the influence of Poland. Ptichka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 5:35:59 AM   Actully Scott, only the majority of people in the East, and South parts of Ukraine speak English, though many children study in Ukrainian schools (where all the subjects are taught Ukrainian and everybdy speaks Ukrainian) still many elderly people speak Russian as they got used after 70 years, and many of them are afraid to speak Ukrainian as they remember then reaction on Ukrainian speaking person in the USSR was. In North and West the majority of people speak Ukrainian, though as Man rightly said it is influenced by Polish, and also by Romanian languages as well, but the words that came into Ukrainian language from Polish and Romanian are not difficult in general:) In West and North parts of Ukraine if you will speak Russian people will treat you polite but cold, but if there you will speak Ukrainian no matter how bad or slow, you will become the best friend for them, all doors will be open for you:))) And I'm not kidding, reaction of people in those parts of Ukraine on people, especially from East part of Ukraine or from other countries, speaking Ukrainian is very kind, and that person becomes a friend to everybody. In East and South Ukraine, you may speak Russian or Ukrainian, everybody understand the 2 languages so it's not a problem. As for East Ukraine, last year a group "Okean Elzi" came to Lugansk (they sing only Ukrainian) and the concert was held in the very big music hall, and there were so many people that they were standing in the passages, and it was so hard to walk through the crowd (these were young people and people of middle age) and all sang Ukrainian, and after the concert was over the majority of people still spoke Ukrainian, and the change of the language wasn't clear to them, they just spoke and that's all:) What I want to show is that the language is a habit and not more:) idiotdetector Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 5:51:55 AM   scott, you gave very useful information which I will use. You had reasons for most things and of coarse some things needed no explanation as the answers where obvious. But the thumb between the first and second finger sound a bit odd. I know there is a reason as it generally is used with children, similar to a stern voice saying no. I have also seen statues of hands doing this for sale to put on diplay, but that was in Russia. Is there some other extremely rude and offencive meaning that it has in Ukraine that we should know about. Marsh Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 6:15:35 AM   All common sense rules which work in the USA are true for Ukraine as well. So be polite and behave like you do back in the US and everything will be all right. Ptichka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 6:58:42 AM   "But the thumb between the first and second finger sound a bit odd" ID this is just cocking a snook, not very polite thing to do, and i wouldn't recomend doing that not on sale, nowhere in Ukraine. Of course this gesture is not as polite as showing the middle finger, but is thought not to be a polite thing. nasfan6 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 7:23:54 AM   Pitchka I glad to know showing the middle finger(Or as us yanks refer to it as flipping the bird) has universal communication implications. Very common gesture here in the states.Drive around a major city and it is displayed often. On a lighter side, it's just a reminder to our friends for that moment in time they were number one in our life!!! Ptichka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 7:42:55 AM   nasfan6 sorry for giving you the bad idea, I missed the word not. Showing the middle finger is a very rude thing here!! It is a rude symbol of a "penis" and showing this middle finger means that you insult the person you show the finger to. Marsh Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 7:44:44 AM   "I glad to know showing the middle finger(Or as us yanks refer to it as flipping the bird) has universal communication implications." Nas, It aquires universal implication only thanks to Hollywood industry. Ptichka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 2:50:54 PM   Wanted to add another idea to the list which Scott started. When going to your girl's home, notice that she greats people that are sitting on the bench near her house, and I think it would be good if you would great them too, even with nodding. It would be a polite thing:) We usually great people with whom we live in 1 appartament building, even small children, as we all live "together" and the "wars" between neighbours are not needed:) Also it's a custom that you great your girl's friends even if you don't know them. People here always do that, you may not say a word, but nodding is a need, so that people don't think that you're afraid, or that you're not polite:) Thunderdome Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 3:10:42 PM   "Be prepared to accept all food and drink offered you when visiting friends" No, you better don't. By all means try any food offered, but if you like to keep your wits go easy on the drink. Most will loose a drinking match especially when wodka is served (not per glass but per bottle), and quite likely you'll make an arse of yourself to whoever you're there for. A few beers (few spelled: f e w) or some wine (identical spelling) will impress, (over)indulging in hard liquer will not. Just a - HIC - thought :)) scottlf Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/22/2004 9:38:06 PM   Speaking of drink, can you address this small question, Ptichka? When my parents were last in Europe, one difference they noted that is generally different in the U.S. is ice for drinks. I was told that Europeans use little if any ice in their drinks, and the American desire to have a glass full of ice is odd. Ptichka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/23/2004 2:29:49 AM   Well Scott as for ice, we don't almost use ice in drinkcs, just in cocktails 2-3 pieces of ice must be put. Any alcohol or non-alcohol drinks we drink without any ice. OK one can ask to put some ice into his Martini, but some drink Martini just with an olive...so it depends on a person. Vodka, wine, bear...and so on go without any ice of course:))) In bars they put 2-3 pieces of ice into juice if it's not cold, but usually all the drinks are kept in the freezers so the drinks are cool. Marsh Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/23/2004 8:20:27 AM   "Europeans use little if any ice in their drinks" Russians are more likely to burn their drinks rather than use ice. Ptichka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/23/2004 8:24:15 AM   Well Marsh it depends on a person:))) I know for sure that I wouldn't ever in my life want to put ice into wine...I want to admire the pure taste and not ice:))) And cold wine is a bad drink...not any smell, favour, nothing to admire IMHO:) Marsh Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/23/2004 8:49:26 AM   That's what I saying, Ptichka. But you are absolutely right about the taste. scottlf Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/23/2004 10:11:02 AM   Ptichka, I should have been more specific. I was not referring to alcholic drinks, but soft drinks, water, fruit juice, etc. As for wine, your absolutely right. The desired temperature for wines depends on the type as well, but none should be served cold. Ptichka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/23/2004 2:47:28 PM   Oh I see now Scott, we actually cool water, juices in the freege, but don't put ice into that, just to admire the complete taste of juice for example:) In bars they may put some ice into juices...but it's not a common thing. scottlf Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 6/23/2004 3:06:24 PM   As a child, I remember putting ice in about any drink. When I moved away from home, I came to realize it was a waste of ice. It's already cold from the fridge, as you said. Of course, almost any American drink is so sweet, I may put ice in anyway to dilute it. And people wonder why Diabetes is so widespread. Your Reply: Your name:   New Registration Password:   Forgot password?   refresh Code:   Russian brides > Main Forum > Ukrainian Etiquette and Social Customs
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