Wow, I can relate to everything she said. I don't like fake smiles or people that laugh when other's hurt themselves. I only have a few close friends and when I am not happy, everyone knows it!
tempest411 And Germans, true! My mother said I would have a hard time building a social network if I moved to Germany because accepting a friend in one's circle is perceived as a big deal. It's the kind of excessive formality and 'closedness' I would expect to see disappear generationally and with the influence of social media. But who can say for sure.
I'm starting to see some pattern here , it seems like this is a general characteristic in europe, it is nice for introverts , and more honest on a bigger scale ,in my country I notice that people make a lot of friends but they are fake friends or not dependable .
I am Ukrainian, 42, and she is absolutely right. Ive got two friends, one of them, for the last 20 years, the other one, for the past 8 years. I didn,t know there are cultural differences, but I really just cant press the invite button to people on facebook whom I know but who dontlive in my town. Olga, you are real handy with your channel for foreigners.
@John Volken As south Slav I can confirm that we like to interact with stranges/smile but don't be fooled... Fake smiles are not part of our culture... If we don't like you you'll now it/ feel it! :D
Name Avela Tegegne Age 24 Marital status single Nationality Ethiopian , Africa Iam need any either Ukrinian or Mexico or Japan girl for love and marrage I dont care about her age Iam kind,sociable,responsible,respected ,hopefull, happy and truly love please contact me for further information whatssapp or direct call +251921283490 or +251915272428 Iam real and serious Please please please help me Iam wating you I hope your response will be allright
This list is “5 things that one particular ukrainian Olga considers as rude and impolite”. I am also from Ukraine - we do use ice in our drinks - yes, we smile less than americans maybe, but it’s fair for all eastern europeans - we are too direct to avoid such topic as someone ‘s problematic skin, and we really love to make remarks about people’s look - younger generation moves a lot: from country side to big cities, renting flats in different parts of the city, working abroad - can’t argue about friendship though
Canadians always smile, we are very polite to each other. If you walk around not smiling in Canada, sooner or later someone will ask you if everything is ok. 🙂
I went to Moscow back in 1994 and the women who took me around and made sure I didn't get into a bad situation told me on the second day to stop smiling. "People in Russia are going to think you are something like crazy person" I laugh about whenever I remember that day. So sad they don't smile.
The main idea about drinking warm water is that you can be sick if you drink cold beverages. My parents never allowed me cold drinks when I was a kid. As for friends/networking/social contacts. It is not so important in Ukraine as in the USA. For example, in Kyiv, Ukraine it is easy to find a cool job in a cool company only based on your skills and experience. But in the US you need to network additionally to be able to find some good position (I am not used for that at all ). A lot of Ukrainians are introverted and we have no much energy to be positive with strangers))
Wow you are so right? Years later still never smile ,drink cool drinks ,never discuss personal issues & few best friends made under5 years of age, it must be genetic? Thank You Olga?
I think this is interesting, and important to know. I have a Ukrainian friend, who is a good and close friend. When I was overseas, a couple years ago, I had my credit card stolen. I asked my relatives for help, but they wouldn't give it. I guess they thought I deserved it, and needed to learn a lesson. But my Ukrainian friend, was glad to help, and sent me a money wire. And just yesterday, I saw a video from a Russian girl, that went and lived in the U.S., for ahile. She also said, that she was surprised, to see Americans smiling, for no reason. I was thinking, they also don't smile much in Ukraine, tho I didn't post that comment. And as for drinking cold beverages, it is actually healthier to drink them at room temperature. However, it is not always easy to do, when you live in a hot climate, like me. Lastly, about having a lot of friends. In the U.S., people think they should have as many friends as possible. But I know from personal experience, having just a few, is better.
Super video, you are so cute! We have a tradition in England when someone drops a plate or a glass in a restaurant everyone will start cheering and clapping. I am sure this would seem very strange to Ukrainians. I will visit Odessa next year, thanks for your advice.
Hello, regarding the cold water - I asked for a glass of ice and just added my bottled water to the glass of ice - number two and three go together for me; I was told that I smile too much and talk to everyone. I told them Americans aren't well liked around the world and I wanted to be the exception - #5 - I have lived all over the US and different parts of the world; so regarding the number of actual friends for me is very, very small - but I do have a lot of acquaintances. Thanks for the video.
Hi Olga it's fantastic episode. I'm from India and an occasional watcher of your videos. Generally I don't comment on ur videos. But I like it very much. Your way of expressions are very homely & very friendly which attract me most. God bless you.
Where to start. In America, people do tend to smile at others but there isn't any "tradition" or "expectation" about it. Most people smile at other people because they are just pleasant people who wish strangers well. Laughing at other another person's misfortune is more complex. Yes, some people are malevolent and enjoy the suffering of others but on the other hand, often people laugh about it do diminish the effects of the mishap. People who can laugh at their own "fails" are revered more highly. You see, a minor fail can make everyone very uncomfortable. So effort is to make light of it to assist the person who failed to be able to laugh, too. Drinking room temperature anything is just gross. Most people have only one or two really close friends but we also have large networks of lesser friends, as well. We don't consider it as "burdening" someone when we tell of our troubles but more like "sharing" or "opening up". Some do it a lot, some almost never do it. IMO-Ukraine is still suffering from the influence of the old Soviet days. Back then, no one trusted anyone (thus one or two close friends), no one had anything to smile about. No one spoke about their troubles for fear of being reported as subversive. I strongly recommend that Ukrainian people adopt a more American style of social interaction. America: "When you see someone without a smile, give him one of yours!"
Well you see, I am an senior citizen who has traveled extensively throughout the United States. The things you are pointing out are valid amongst the younger generation. I think it is driven by the internet. The same thing will eventually happen in most other countries given time. Family is crucially important, no doubt about that. But it is up to parents to actually be parents. Radical forces are at work in the US and have been for some 60 years. I now see the same radical forces seeping into the culture and educational systems of other nations as well. But to believe Americans don't have good relationships or true friends or close families is simply a stereotype. Most Americans are wonderful, caring and generous people. Such people, though large in number do not make much noise while the radical people make nothing but noise. They have already infested Hollywood, television and the music industry. And to our detriment, that is where most young people get their information. This is primarily true in big cities. Most suburban or rural areas are not this way. Americans are the most generous with their treasure and their time towards charities than anywhere else on Earth. Even with needy people in other countries.
"MO-Ukraine is still suffering from the influence of the old Soviet days. Back then, no one trusted anyone (thus one or two close friends), no one had anything to smile about. No one spoke about their troubles for fear of being reported as subversive" I am sorry, man, but this is a gross exaggeration and straight up false. With all the problems of the old Soviet days, people actually trusted each other slightly more than in modern Russia/Ukraine, and they had a lot of things to smile about. "Being reported as subversive" was mostly restricted to certain categories of people (like, intellectuals and minorities) and even among them was mostly a thing in 1930-1950s, not afterwards. Eastern Europeans do not like to show emotion to strangers mostly because it is considered a sign of weakness and... inefficiency, in a way. Especially for men. For men, being too emotional is considered "effeminate" or "gay".
I appreciate your criticism but I stand by my opinion. So you know, I am an old man. I remember the things reported by people who managed to defect or escape the Soviets back then.
Maybe, that was their perspective, which was exactly the reason why they defected. Please, also do not discount that many of them had to exaggerate some things, in order to get political asylum in the US. :)
Hello Ольга All that was very interesting. Customs in North America vary greatly from place to place. In the country people tend to be more friendly and helpful and smile at and talk more to each other. In big cities people are less friendly and are more cautious. Smiling is a sign of politeness and is seen as a sign of friendliness. It's more natural to some people also. Yes. We smile a lot. Canadians are known for saying "I'm sorry" for everything and we joke about it. Smiling is good for the health by the way. Some people don't smile much and are very serious. People do help others here. Americans and Canadians are ready to help when people need it and maybe more than other people in the world when there are disasters etc even here. I think it's similar everywhere. For sure people smile more when they are happy. I know I do. For someone who says smiling is not natural or customary in Ukraine, you sure do smile a lot! Keep smiling. People who smile are more appealing to others. This means more attractive but not in a sexual sense - just in a person to person way. Also: a tip for your English - the verb is To fail. The noun is failure. Also one would say: as we are used to doing which is the same as saying we are in the habit of doing. This is because the infinite of the verb 'to do' is in the present tense and the form "doing" implies that the action is something that happens throughout time as it passes including the present. It's almost as if the verb has been made into a an active noun. English verbs are very complicated as to tense... again thanks for the information on customs of Ukraine! Дуже дякую!
so true about the water, Ms.Olga - I once volunteered to hand out bottled water during a disaster relief effort & some of the people were asking for ice to go with it - thank goodness FEMA (US) delivers or makes it a point to include it in their logistics
Number 6: Don't look random people in the eye on the street as it implies you want something from them. The first time my wife and her father took me over to Kiev one of the big things they told me to do was look ahead and not at other people while walking down the street.
I think, that's was a little bit of an exaggeration. :) It is true, however, that passer-bys in large cities in Eastern Europe don't like an eye contact - they consider this a violation of privacy. Eastern European city dwellers value privacy very much.
Chris Goshey I was told the same things by my dear Ukrainian friends: don't be too friendly, avert your eyes, etc. When she came to the us,I corrected her cultural mistakes. Underneath we are the same like most people. We have a small circle of close friends and a wider circle of acquaintances. You know who you can depend upon, but you can have fun and enjoy everyone. I think Olga's one trip to the us was to c California. If you define the country based on one area, it becomes very stereotypical.
In my mother's native region, they are more likely to smile on the street, and men would tip their hats to women, and this is also in the mountains, on NC SC border. All of my people drank tea with ice- a southern thing
Yes. the girl is right here. Ukrainians (not to generalize everyone) don't smile at others when they see you. I noticed that when I visited a Ukrainian grocery store today in Cleveland. I am sure it doesn't mean they are cold but a cultural thing that Americans should make note of.
Thank you for this insightful and entertaining video . I like how you eloquently explain the cultural differences in trying to understand this foreign species)))
Maybe it's generational? My parents came to the States after World War 2, they met in Chicago, though both's family trees are deeply rooted in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian community in the Chicago (at least the wide-spread group of Ukrainians my folks knew, many of which having connections to each other since before the war) seemed MOST gregarious and smile-y to me; we had the biggest parties in the summer…Ukrainians as well as American guests…lots of friends, new and old. My Mom and Dad semiled a lot, my Mom in particular would share a a big ol' smile with anyone, and often, too. My Dad loved ice in his water, beverages. What Olga asserts does not resonate with me, but all I have to go on is my own limited experience oregarding an older generation of immigrants; I've most regrettably not been to Ukraine…yet ❤
Olga you are very cute, you seem to get younger with time! Your videos are always enjoyable & informative. An interesting question arose: We learn that with strangers or less familiar people, Ukrainians are not into discussing personal problems, yet with friends they are more likely to share problems, even moreso than with professional counselors etc... We also learn that Ukrainians don't make a lot of friends, at least not in the superficial way that Americans might do at times. So the question is, at what point does friendship reach the level of closeness that reverses the attitude 180°, from it being forward or rude to discuss personal problems, to having a friend be the primary address for same?
While living in Ukraine, I noticed that Ukrainians did not like to talk about anything negative. They would not talk about a certain subject to avoid saying no. I have even been avoided and lied to just so a person would hot have to say no to me. I have never understood this. Also, they do not like emails. It is always better to go in person and wait. I wasted a lot of time with doing this. Even my friends, I have to wait around 3 months to hear from them.
Not sure... Who don't like emails? But if you are writing to company, most prefer whatsapp or Viber. But if to government - sure they never read anything at all.
There’s probably a lot of Canadians not going to Ukraine after this, we are the complete opposite. We laugh we smile we find humor in pretty much anything and everything....except hockey, don’t cross that line... ever.
Real World, Real Problems= Real People. Keep your mouth shut. Life ain't a game, don't go around being disrespectful to people. Nobody says much because of respect, respect that in the ability of the other person to take them out back and whip their ass or worse. Longevity is often successfully accomplished by minimal human interaction, as with nature. I am so glad I'm not crazy or alone. You are our people Olga. I can see it in the intent of your vlog to 'manually kickstart' US - Ukraine relations at a ground level on a purely intellectual basis, which is so beautiful and gentle nature for a modern human being living today and your valiant patriotism and goodwill. I salute you. Whatever Ukrainians you have that need a basic job and can find a way to get to California, I'll personally get them jobs, sort out living, and help get them integrated into our local society with open arms if they should have the need for it. I work alongside Hindus, Mexicans, Blacks and more wouldn't mind you guys at all. We're the last ones to be United, it's a shame it has taken such dire circumstances. It is already written is it not? We love you guys over here. Please contact me if you are serious. Hopefully my long comment gets your attention.❤️
I liked your videos in general, thank you. But what I understood foreigner=American regarding your comments. There are still around 200 countries having different culture. One point I recognized in Ukraine is there are too much prejudice in minds about others. I think it is always better to have a neutral mind
Some people in USA move to different locations and some do not. Most of the people who move still stay in the same general region. The differences between Ukrainians and Americans are being overly stereotyped in this video. Olga needs to live in Indiana for about a year. She is trying to describe some yuppie type person who lives in silicon valley California.
Yes she is describing people who are on youtube and people who spend their money to visit Ukraine "to meet beautiful girls" when much of the US midwest has families from central and eastern european immigration and similar norms
Однак я погоджуюся з бiльшiстю, тем: пункт п'ять - this conception of friends. I'd say that's a thing that is subject to change, if not for anything else, due to necessity. In a modern and more competitive economy, networking becomes increasingly important, thus so does casting a wider, more comprehensive web of friends and acquiantances, and keeping increasingly more people close. Strength in numbers, it just makes too much sense, rather than being stuck in one's old ways for the sake of comfort.
These things are considered silly in my opinion. Girl should be friendly in every situation unless you are completely cold hearted person. Few things Ukrainian women needs to change learning from western countries
I'm late to the party, but I live in the US and have many friends. We help each other without compensation, pray for each other, confide in each other, ask advice, etc. My friends are always offering to help me work on my house, I sometimes say yes, but usually just work at my own pace, but it isn't for lack of volunteers. I also lend money and offer to help with unexpected expenses - occasionally someone will take me up on it, but usually not. I haven't needed financial help, but so I'm not sure if I would ask or not (probably only from family). I guess that I have a few very close friends and many, many good friends that aren't as close. I guess that my relationships aren't shallow, but all aren't deep. When my kids were younger, about half of the families in my community had been in my house at one point or another. I'm just a little more gregarious than most. I think it is a good way to live. I enjoyed the video, it is good to have perspective.
In Canada if you don’t smile it means your are miserable even if you are going through really bad life situations they don’t care in public they want that fake smile
Olga, i liked so much those conversation that i've.learned so it's my big favor to know that to be real applying residently Ukraine citizen.God bless us all
Moving to different areas is normal in America. One of the main reasons is because of job opportunities. If I move from chicago to California I will make new friends so I have a social life. It's one thing taking a train from Odessa to kiev. But if you take a train from chicago to California, it would take 2 days. Either way Слава Украине!
Great video thanks. I was amazed about the ice water bit ! According to Ayurvedic medicine and TCM ( traditional chinese medicine ) drinking ice cold water delivers a temperature shock to the stomach ( temperature: 36.5 to 37.5 celsius ). This in turn leads to various body ailments.
Great points, It’s a challenge to make a girl smile and laugh there but I do well, 😂😂😂😂😂, I’m very happy with my Ukraine 🇺🇦 Friends. Be Safe,Peace Belus Traveller
Great video. Thank you. All those "rules" seem sensible and natural to me except smiling. When I go to Kiev on Friday (first visit), I'm going to smile at people.😉 And you look better than ever.
Sarcasm and dark humor also dont go over well in the Ukraine, at least not in my experience. My girlfriend got furious with me for joking with my British friend and saying "isnt it nice how war always brings us together" I mean, I get that it's dark humor, but the two of us have ended up in Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria and now Ukraine together. And she knows that both of us are ex-combat arms who then worked as security contractors. And it wasn't like we were in public or anything. Anyway, my advice is avoid sarcasm and dark humor. I barely escaped that one with my balls intact. I should have bought shares in Roshen, given how much chocolate it took to save my ass...
In my country having lots of friends is good, BUT for me is not good unless you have a real friendship. And I hope don't be impolite with rule number 3 but you look soooo good with those glasses 😎😍 Pd. I think for US people must be hard be polite in Ukraine with those rules.
I drink room temperature water. İce water isn't weird, but I don't prefer it. I smile only with people I am comfortable with. I don't talk about my problems with strangers and I don't understand why others do it. İf I laugh at my own misfortune or someone else's it's only to help relieve them of the awkwardness or embarrassment of something we all do from time to time, (a habit I picked up from the Buddha I guess.) I have more fingers on one hand then real friends in my heart. Maybe that's because I laugh at their misfortune, don't share my problems, don't smile and drink warm water?
Water, and any other beverage, shouldn't be ice cold because it's bad for your digestion. Sure, if you're hot it's nice to have something to help cool you down but otherwise drink at room temp. Your digestion system is meant to work ate body temp, when you drop that temp it becomes less efective. Also, your body will always fight to maintain it's temp, if it's doing that to much it draws down everything else, your energy, immune system....
The other day the temperatures rose to 42 (Celsius) here in Texas and it was almost 49 in Phoenix. We do get used to ice and air conditioning and then expect it always.
Well, in Ukraine, average temperature in summer is about 20 C and -2 C in winter. Their average salary is 2200 USD per year (!!). So that's why you will not find too many ice and air conditioning over there. You can expect whatever you want but reality is different.
Nah.....I'm American and we use Fahrenheit. I quoted Celsius for Olga's benefit. When people use strictly base-10 systems they become lazier and dumber.
It's because they're not basic bitches that try to display fake happiness. The irony is they're probably happier than the people that go around faking it all the time, because faking emotions tends to be exhausting after a while.
OLGA...you are looking very different in this video. Very good video. Informative for us. You are already an ambassador for Ukraine...good to hear from you on this topic. Voice as usual is cute.
1- Ice with water. Remember, Ukraine is not rich. It might be seen as wasting money. 2- Smiling. I think it is useless sign of emotion IF, it is not really sincere. Also, it shows you are not a threat. 3- I think Ukrainian keep their privacy to themselves unless, you are very, very close. (Spouse, friend, family) 4- Laughing at someone failure is highly disrespectful. It depends on the situation. 5- Everybody has few close friends. People who knows you inside and out. The rest are acquaintances. I hope I understand correctly.
Привіт Ольга. Very interesting differences. I didn't know it was so serious in Ukraine about friendship. I am a second gen Ukrainian American and partake in Ukrainian traditions here in America but I agree, people in the USA always are making new friends and they are not super serious commitments always. Ukraine seems to be more reserved culture than USA in some aspects. Also i think it's very funny about the water, drinking warm water is very disgusting to me as an American but we have excellent tap water here and i don't know about Ukraine but i hear some things about their water that it's not so good or clean. Smiling at others in USA is of course usually a fake practice because everyone is expected to keep up an image of politeness so they smile all the time and especially people who work in stores might smile but really hate the customers deeply.
Still probably safer than Flint Michigan. Here in San Francisco Bay, we have very high-quality water from snowmelt in the mountains but in drought not as good of quality. : )
True friendship is rare. No, not all Americans are alike. Each state is like a mini country. Culture changes slightly from the west to east coast, and from up north close to Canada, or south near Mexico.
Olga Reznikova I understand and you know and what is being normal and the best way to be what you are. by the way you are very cheerful person. Cold water and ice was the most funny to me. we love cold drinks. and they even serve in hospitals as well.
Name Avela Tegegne Age 24 Marital status single Nationality Ethiopian , Africa Iam need any either Ukrinian or Mexico or Japan girl for love and marrage I dont care about her age Iam kind,sociable,responsible,respected ,hopefull, happy and truly love please contact me for further information whatssapp or direct call +251921283490 or +251915272428 Iam real and serious Please please please help me Iam wating you I hope your response will be allright
You r really appreciate what you speak 😃 . I am single man from India Mumbai 🇮🇳🙏🌹 You r telling true, I trust in your comments. 😃☺️💙♥️But for communication you should now . English language or Hindi". **"Friend in need , the friend in deed"✝️🕉️👨👩👧👦
One of my bad points which is sort of part of my humour being from Yorkshire is that I sometimes give backhanded compliments to people. So I will say something nice about a friend and immediately follow it with something negative. It leaves some of my friends sometimes speechless because they are shocked to receive a great compliment and then something they don't like at the same time that they don't know how to respond. Everyone else usually laughs. I don't think I smile that much as a Brit. Maybe I am halfway between the Americans and the Europeans? I think it is maybe a cultural thing though there are a lot of exceptions depending on where you go. I wonder if economics and the weather play any part in making people happy and smile? Those Jamaicans, for example, seem quite a happy bunch of people. Maybe it is what they are smoking I don't know? And Americans have some of the highest income on average in the world and it is still one of the most free countries.
I don't know, I know when I went to Odessa I made a lot of friends. One week before my return to Brazil my girlfriend said- I can see , Friday : Bye Katia, wait I have to say bye to Natasha, to Irina, to people from coffee shop. You made friends with everyone in the city! hahahahahaha
And being in the military I noticed all over the world if you ask for help from family and friends they're going to be there for you nothing new here at the Ukraine accept beautiful women and beautiful country
Great explanation ! Are here people who want to learn ukrainian language with native? If yes just let me know and we can cooperate (from you i need good english skills). Just give a response
So Ukrainians: 1) don't smile a lot 2) don't talk a lot of personal stuff … except to their close close friends 3) can be suspicious.... - But they say that they aren't cold? How does that work? - It's ok.… Kinda used to it because I'm Ukrainian as well. My wife 'works on' these qualities in me.
Wow, I can relate to everything she said. I don't like fake smiles or people that laugh when other's hurt themselves. I only have a few close friends and when I am not happy, everyone knows it!
The more I learn about Ukraine and its people, the more I want to go over there.
I have been there 5 times. I love it! Hope to go back.
From what i understand Ukrainians are picky about friendship , not quantity but quality .
Marco Verratti Swedish are like that too.
And Germans.
True story
tempest411 And Germans, true!
My mother said I would have a hard time building a social network if I moved to Germany because accepting a friend in one's circle is perceived as a big deal.
It's the kind of excessive formality and 'closedness' I would expect to see disappear generationally and with the influence of social media. But who can say for sure.
I'm starting to see some pattern here , it seems like this is a general characteristic in europe, it is nice for introverts , and more honest on a bigger scale ,in my country I notice that people make a lot of friends but they are fake friends or not dependable .
I am Ukrainian, 42, and she is absolutely right. Ive got two friends, one of them, for the last 20 years, the other one, for the past 8 years. I didn,t know there are cultural differences, but I really just cant press the invite button to people on facebook whom I know but who dontlive in my town. Olga, you are real handy with your channel for foreigners.
In Poland situation is similar.
Slavic people mostly don't like to show their emotions.
agree . .same stuff in czech republic ...
I was JUST going to say this...
It's because of the freezing bu_s temperatures!
Maybe is dental problem yellow appearence thats why they dont smile
@John Volken As south Slav I can confirm that we like to interact with stranges/smile but don't be fooled... Fake smiles are not part of our culture... If we don't like you you'll now it/ feel it! :D
OLGA look like a TEACHER!
hehe yes yes))
@@Olga_Reznikova Ти дуже гарна посмiхатися с брекети та окуляри, вау-вау-вау😨
Maybe I'm Ukrainian.
Ken Alexander me 2😊
Name Avela Tegegne
Age 24
Marital status single
Nationality Ethiopian , Africa
Iam need any either Ukrinian or Mexico or Japan girl for love and marrage
I dont care about her age
Iam kind,sociable,responsible,respected ,hopefull, happy and truly love
please contact me for further information
whatssapp or direct call +251921283490 or +251915272428
Iam real and serious
Please please please help me Iam wating you
I hope your response will be allright
This list is “5 things that one particular ukrainian Olga considers as rude and impolite”.
I am also from Ukraine
- we do use ice in our drinks
- yes, we smile less than americans maybe, but it’s fair for all eastern europeans
- we are too direct to avoid such topic as someone ‘s problematic skin, and we really love to make remarks about people’s look
- younger generation moves a lot: from country side to big cities, renting flats in different parts of the city, working abroad
- can’t argue about friendship though
I recognize these traits growing up among the Ukrainian diaspora. Thanks for pointing this stuff out.
Canadians always smile, we are very polite to each other. If you walk around not smiling in Canada, sooner or later someone will ask you if everything is ok. 🙂
I went to Moscow back in 1994 and the women who took me around and made sure I didn't get into a bad situation told me on the second day to stop smiling. "People in Russia are going to think you are something like crazy person" I laugh about whenever I remember that day. So sad they don't smile.
Moscow is somewhere in Ukraine, right?
The main idea about drinking warm water is that you can be sick if you drink cold beverages. My parents never allowed me cold drinks when I was a kid. As for friends/networking/social contacts. It is not so important in Ukraine as in the USA. For example, in Kyiv, Ukraine it is easy to find a cool job in a cool company only based on your skills and experience. But in the US you need to network additionally to be able to find some good position (I am not used for that at all ). A lot of Ukrainians are introverted and we have no much energy to be positive with strangers))
Wow you are so right? Years later still never smile ,drink cool drinks ,never discuss personal issues & few best friends made under5 years of age, it must be genetic? Thank You Olga?
I'm Ukrainian and I understand this very much
great!
Olga Reznikova
Yay you replied!!!
I think this is interesting, and important to know. I have a Ukrainian friend, who is a good and close friend. When I was overseas, a couple years ago, I had my credit card stolen. I asked my relatives for help, but they wouldn't give it. I guess they thought I deserved it, and needed to learn a lesson. But my Ukrainian friend, was glad to help, and sent me a money wire. And just yesterday, I saw a video from a Russian girl, that went and lived in the U.S., for ahile. She also said, that she was surprised, to see Americans smiling, for no reason. I was thinking, they also don't smile much in Ukraine, tho I didn't post that comment. And as for drinking cold beverages, it is actually healthier to drink them at room temperature. However, it is not always easy to do, when you live in a hot climate, like me. Lastly, about having a lot of friends. In the U.S., people think they should have as many friends as possible. But I know from personal experience, having just a few, is better.
Nice speak english very clear loudly sounds you'r like a teacher in the school University....great listening....
Super video, you are so cute!
We have a tradition in England when someone drops a plate or a glass in a restaurant everyone will start cheering and clapping.
I am sure this would seem very strange to Ukrainians.
I will visit Odessa next year, thanks for your advice.
Hello, regarding the cold water - I asked for a glass of ice and just added my bottled water to the glass of ice - number two and three go together for me; I was told that I smile too much and talk to everyone. I told them Americans aren't well liked around the world and I wanted to be the exception - #5 - I have lived all over the US and different parts of the world; so regarding the number of actual friends for me is very, very small - but I do have a lot of acquaintances. Thanks for the video.
Hi Olga it's fantastic episode. I'm from India and an occasional watcher of your videos. Generally I don't comment on ur videos. But I like it very much. Your way of expressions are very homely & very friendly which attract me most. God bless you.
Olga I love you're speaking
Where to start. In America, people do tend to smile at others but there isn't any "tradition" or "expectation" about it. Most people smile at other people because they are just pleasant people who wish strangers well. Laughing at other another person's misfortune is more complex. Yes, some people are malevolent and enjoy the suffering of others but on the other hand, often people laugh about it do diminish the effects of the mishap. People who can laugh at their own "fails" are revered more highly. You see, a minor fail can make everyone very uncomfortable. So effort is to make light of it to assist the person who failed to be able to laugh, too. Drinking room temperature anything is just gross. Most people have only one or two really close friends but we also have large networks of lesser friends, as well. We don't consider it as "burdening" someone when we tell of our troubles but more like "sharing" or "opening up". Some do it a lot, some almost never do it. IMO-Ukraine is still suffering from the influence of the old Soviet days. Back then, no one trusted anyone (thus one or two close friends), no one had anything to smile about. No one spoke about their troubles for fear of being reported as subversive. I strongly recommend that Ukrainian people adopt a more American style of social interaction. America: "When you see someone without a smile, give him one of yours!"
Well you see, I am an senior citizen who has traveled extensively throughout the United States. The things you are pointing out are valid amongst the younger generation. I think it is driven by the internet. The same thing will eventually happen in most other countries given time. Family is crucially important, no doubt about that. But it is up to parents to actually be parents. Radical forces are at work in the US and have been for some 60 years. I now see the same radical forces seeping into the culture and educational systems of other nations as well. But to believe Americans don't have good relationships or true friends or close families is simply a stereotype. Most Americans are wonderful, caring and generous people. Such people, though large in number do not make much noise while the radical people make nothing but noise. They have already infested Hollywood, television and the music industry. And to our detriment, that is where most young people get their information. This is primarily true in big cities. Most suburban or rural areas are not this way. Americans are the most generous with their treasure and their time towards charities than anywhere else on Earth. Even with needy people in other countries.
"MO-Ukraine is still suffering from the influence of the old Soviet days. Back then, no one trusted anyone (thus one or two close friends), no one had anything to smile about. No one spoke about their troubles for fear of being reported as subversive"
I am sorry, man, but this is a gross exaggeration and straight up false. With all the problems of the old Soviet days, people actually trusted each other slightly more than in modern Russia/Ukraine, and they had a lot of things to smile about. "Being reported as subversive" was mostly restricted to certain categories of people (like, intellectuals and minorities) and even among them was mostly a thing in 1930-1950s, not afterwards.
Eastern Europeans do not like to show emotion to strangers mostly because it is considered a sign of weakness and... inefficiency, in a way. Especially for men. For men, being too emotional is considered "effeminate" or "gay".
I appreciate your criticism but I stand by my opinion. So you know, I am an old man. I remember the things reported by people who managed to defect or escape the Soviets back then.
Maybe, that was their perspective, which was exactly the reason why they defected. Please, also do not discount that many of them had to exaggerate some things, in order to get political asylum in the US. :)
Read Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's "Gulag Archipelago" or anything by Lech Walesa
Hi Olga ! Thanks for sharing this post .
Hello Ольга
All that was very interesting. Customs in North America vary greatly from place to place. In the country people tend to be more friendly and helpful and smile at and talk more to each other. In big cities people are less friendly and are more cautious. Smiling is a sign of politeness and is seen as a sign of friendliness. It's more natural to some people also. Yes. We smile a lot. Canadians are known for saying "I'm sorry" for everything and we joke about it. Smiling is good for the health by the way. Some people don't smile much and are very serious. People do help others here. Americans and Canadians are ready to help when people need it and maybe more than other people in the world when there are disasters etc even here. I think it's similar everywhere. For sure people smile more when they are happy. I know I do. For someone who says smiling is not natural or customary in Ukraine, you sure do smile a lot! Keep smiling. People who smile are more appealing to others. This means more attractive but not in a sexual sense - just in a person to person way.
Also: a tip for your English - the verb is To fail. The noun is failure. Also one would say: as we are used to doing which is the same as saying we are in the habit of doing. This is because the infinite of the verb 'to do' is in the present tense and the form "doing" implies that the action is something that happens throughout time as it passes including the present. It's almost as if the verb has been made into a an active noun. English verbs are very complicated as to tense... again thanks for the information on customs of Ukraine! Дуже дякую!
so true about the water, Ms.Olga - I once volunteered to hand out bottled water during a disaster relief effort & some of the people were asking for ice to go with it - thank goodness FEMA (US) delivers or makes it a point to include it in their logistics
Some good tips, thank you.
Hopefully in the future I will be able to visit the Ukraine.
The photos and videos are gorgeous.
👍
Number 6: Don't look random people in the eye on the street as it implies you want something from them.
The first time my wife and her father took me over to Kiev one of the big things they told me to do was look ahead and not at other people while walking down the street.
I think, that's was a little bit of an exaggeration. :) It is true, however, that passer-bys in large cities in Eastern Europe don't like an eye contact - they consider this a violation of privacy. Eastern European city dwellers value privacy very much.
Chris Goshey I was told the same things by my dear Ukrainian friends: don't be too friendly, avert your eyes, etc. When she came to the us,I corrected her cultural mistakes. Underneath we are the same like most people. We have a small circle of close friends and a wider circle of acquaintances. You know who you can depend upon, but you can have fun and enjoy everyone. I think Olga's one trip to the us was to c California. If you define the country based on one area, it becomes very stereotypical.
In my mother's native region, they are more likely to smile on the street, and men would tip their hats to women, and this is also in the mountains, on NC SC border. All of my people drank tea with ice- a southern thing
Yes. the girl is right here. Ukrainians (not to generalize everyone) don't smile at others when they see you. I noticed that when I visited a Ukrainian grocery store today in Cleveland. I am sure it doesn't mean they are cold but a cultural thing that Americans should make note of.
I guess it might be more valuable for me, Ukrainian rather than for an American, or for a westerner in general.
Thank you for this insightful and entertaining video . I like how you eloquently explain the cultural differences in trying to understand this foreign species)))
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@Olga_Reznikova my special person is Ukrainian , so a lot of things started to make sense now))
Maybe it's generational? My parents came to the States after World War 2, they met in Chicago, though both's family trees are deeply rooted in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian community in the Chicago (at least the wide-spread group of Ukrainians my folks knew, many of which having connections to each other since before the war) seemed MOST gregarious and smile-y to me; we had the biggest parties in the summer…Ukrainians as well as American guests…lots of friends, new and old. My Mom and Dad semiled a lot, my Mom in particular would share a a big ol' smile with anyone, and often, too. My Dad loved ice in his water, beverages.
What Olga asserts does not resonate with me, but all I have to go on is my own limited experience oregarding an older generation of immigrants; I've most regrettably not been to Ukraine…yet ❤
Olga you are very cute, you seem to get younger with time! Your videos are always enjoyable & informative.
An interesting question arose: We learn that with strangers or less familiar people, Ukrainians are not into discussing personal problems, yet with friends they are more likely to share problems, even moreso than with professional counselors etc...
We also learn that Ukrainians don't make a lot of friends, at least not in the superficial way that Americans might do at times.
So the question is, at what point does friendship reach the level of closeness that reverses the attitude 180°, from it being forward or rude to discuss personal problems, to having a friend be the primary address for same?
I liked the energy you had in this video and the way you explain things. Keep up the good work.
Good as always Olga!
While living in Ukraine, I noticed that Ukrainians did not like to talk about anything negative. They would not talk about a certain subject to avoid saying no. I have even been avoided and lied to just so a person would hot have to say no to me. I have never understood this.
Also, they do not like emails. It is always better to go in person and wait. I wasted a lot of time with doing this. Even my friends, I have to wait around 3 months to hear from them.
Not sure... Who don't like emails? But if you are writing to company, most prefer whatsapp or Viber. But if to government - sure they never read anything at all.
I'm half Ukrainian in Canada and all these things are true with me.
There’s probably a lot of Canadians not going to Ukraine after this, we are the complete opposite. We laugh we smile we find humor in pretty much anything and everything....except hockey, don’t cross that line... ever.
Real World, Real Problems= Real People. Keep your mouth shut. Life ain't a game, don't go around being disrespectful to people. Nobody says much because of respect, respect that in the ability of the other person to take them out back and whip their ass or worse. Longevity is often successfully accomplished by minimal human interaction, as with nature. I am so glad I'm not crazy or alone. You are our people Olga. I can see it in the intent of your vlog to 'manually kickstart' US - Ukraine relations at a ground level on a purely intellectual basis, which is so beautiful and gentle nature for a modern human being living today and your valiant patriotism and goodwill. I salute you. Whatever Ukrainians you have that need a basic job and can find a way to get to California, I'll personally get them jobs, sort out living, and help get them integrated into our local society with open arms if they should have the need for it. I work alongside Hindus, Mexicans, Blacks and more wouldn't mind you guys at all. We're the last ones to be United, it's a shame it has taken such dire circumstances. It is already written is it not?
We love you guys over here. Please contact me if you are serious. Hopefully my long comment gets your attention.❤️
I liked your videos in general, thank you. But what I understood foreigner=American regarding your comments. There are still around 200 countries having different culture. One point I recognized in Ukraine is there are too much prejudice in minds about others. I think it is always better to have a neutral mind
Some people in USA move to different locations and some do not. Most of the people who move still stay in the same general region. The differences between Ukrainians and Americans are being overly stereotyped in this video. Olga needs to live in Indiana for about a year. She is trying to describe some yuppie type person who lives in silicon valley California.
Yes she is describing people who are on youtube and people who spend their money to visit Ukraine "to meet beautiful girls" when much of the US midwest has families from central and eastern european immigration and similar norms
interesting thank you for your videos, i am learning alot
Однак я погоджуюся з бiльшiстю, тем: пункт п'ять - this conception of friends. I'd say that's a thing that is subject to change, if not for anything else, due to necessity. In a modern and more competitive economy, networking becomes increasingly important, thus so does casting a wider, more comprehensive web of friends and acquiantances, and keeping increasingly more people close. Strength in numbers, it just makes too much sense, rather than being stuck in one's old ways for the sake of comfort.
These things are considered silly in my opinion. Girl should be friendly in every situation unless you are completely cold hearted person. Few things Ukrainian women needs to change learning from western countries
I'm late to the party, but I live in the US and have many friends. We help each other without compensation, pray for each other, confide in each other, ask advice, etc. My friends are always offering to help me work on my house, I sometimes say yes, but usually just work at my own pace, but it isn't for lack of volunteers. I also lend money and offer to help with unexpected expenses - occasionally someone will take me up on it, but usually not. I haven't needed financial help, but so I'm not sure if I would ask or not (probably only from family). I guess that I have a few very close friends and many, many good friends that aren't as close. I guess that my relationships aren't shallow, but all aren't deep. When my kids were younger, about half of the families in my community had been in my house at one point or another. I'm just a little more gregarious than most. I think it is a good way to live. I enjoyed the video, it is good to have perspective.
In Canada if you don’t smile it means your are miserable even if you are going through really bad life situations they don’t care in public they want that fake smile
Olga, i liked so much those conversation that i've.learned so it's my big favor to know that to be real applying residently Ukraine citizen.God bless us all
i am from Ukraine this is 100 percent true
Moving to different areas is normal in America. One of the main reasons is because of job opportunities. If I move from chicago to California I will make new friends so I have a social life.
It's one thing taking a train from Odessa to kiev. But if you take a train from chicago to California, it would take 2 days. Either way Слава Украине!
Great video thanks. I was amazed about the ice water bit ! According to Ayurvedic medicine and TCM ( traditional chinese medicine ) drinking ice cold water delivers a temperature shock to the stomach ( temperature: 36.5 to 37.5 celsius ). This in turn leads to various body ailments.
Great points, It’s a challenge to make a girl smile and laugh there but I do well, 😂😂😂😂😂, I’m very happy with my Ukraine 🇺🇦 Friends. Be Safe,Peace Belus Traveller
Great video. Thank you. All those "rules" seem sensible and natural to me except smiling. When I go to Kiev on Friday (first visit), I'm going to smile at people.😉
And you look better than ever.
@M Taylor They loved Kiev so much, they decided to stay.
Your information is so useful and reliable nice job done
Sarcasm and dark humor also dont go over well in the Ukraine, at least not in my experience.
My girlfriend got furious with me for joking with my British friend and saying "isnt it nice how war always brings us together" I mean, I get that it's dark humor, but the two of us have ended up in Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria and now Ukraine together. And she knows that both of us are ex-combat arms who then worked as security contractors. And it wasn't like we were in public or anything.
Anyway, my advice is avoid sarcasm and dark humor. I barely escaped that one with my balls intact. I should have bought shares in Roshen, given how much chocolate it took to save my ass...
I also can't travel even to other states outside mine (Minnesota, USA) due to being in remission from a rare cancer. My cancer treatment team is here
Apparently I am a lot more like my Ukrainian family than I thought.
Thank You!!! ☺😊😁 Notice me smile. We must respect our differences, but always remain true to ourselves.
In my country having lots of friends is good, BUT for me is not good unless you have a real friendship.
And I hope don't be impolite with rule number 3 but you look soooo good with those glasses 😎😍
Pd. I think for US people must be hard be polite in Ukraine with those rules.
Another word for room temperature is ambient, but it is more formal, even a little pompous.
I drink room temperature water. İce water isn't weird, but I don't prefer it. I smile only with people I am comfortable with. I don't talk about my problems with strangers and I don't understand why others do it. İf I laugh at my own misfortune or someone else's it's only to help relieve them of the awkwardness or embarrassment of something we all do from time to time, (a habit I picked up from the Buddha I guess.) I have more fingers on one hand then real friends in my heart. Maybe that's because I laugh at their misfortune, don't share my problems, don't smile and drink warm water?
All but smiling in public are typical of my father's native region, Appalachian mountains on VA NC border
I'm American and I don't go around smiling at everyone. I've heard secondhand that people find this really weird about me, but what ever...
Are you Clint Eastwood?
Just joking:)
Water, and any other beverage, shouldn't be ice cold because it's bad for your digestion. Sure, if you're hot it's nice to have something to help cool you down but otherwise drink at room temp. Your digestion system is meant to work ate body temp, when you drop that temp it becomes less efective. Also, your body will always fight to maintain it's temp, if it's doing that to much it draws down everything else, your energy, immune system....
The other day the temperatures rose to 42 (Celsius) here in Texas and it was almost 49 in Phoenix. We do get used to ice and air conditioning and then expect it always.
Well, in Ukraine, average temperature in summer is about 20 C and -2 C in winter. Their average salary is 2200 USD per year (!!). So that's why you will not find too many ice and air conditioning over there. You can expect whatever you want but reality is different.
ah you use Celsius.,,,,,,,
Almost whole planet uses celsius ;-)
Nah.....I'm American and we use Fahrenheit. I quoted Celsius for Olga's benefit.
When people use strictly base-10 systems they become lazier and dumber.
Tell me, in what way is Celsius more base-10 system than Fahrenheit? ;-) And I know you use Fahrenheit, but you are the only one on the planet :-)
True. It's helpful.
I’m curious is the lack of smiling, caring being more reserved is this due to Soviet / Eastern Block nations history?
It's because they're not basic bitches that try to display fake happiness. The irony is they're probably happier than the people that go around faking it all the time, because faking emotions tends to be exhausting after a while.
No it’s not people just mind there own business. We usually just smile to people we know. Cause we don’t want to seem creepy.
seems like you Ukrainians are more normal and polite i wish the rest of the world was more like Ukraine minus the water tho i love my cold water !
OLGA...you are looking very different in this video. Very good video. Informative for us. You are already an ambassador for Ukraine...good to hear from you on this topic. Voice as usual is cute.
if it is a hot day you probably want ice in drink.....
Olga I appreciate you about habit information your speaking style is clear and fantastic
1- Ice with water. Remember, Ukraine is not rich. It might be seen as wasting money.
2- Smiling. I think it is useless sign of emotion IF, it is not really sincere. Also, it shows you are not a threat.
3- I think Ukrainian keep their privacy to themselves unless, you are very, very close. (Spouse, friend, family)
4- Laughing at someone failure is highly disrespectful. It depends on the situation.
5- Everybody has few close friends. People who knows you inside and out. The rest are acquaintances.
I hope I understand correctly.
Привіт Ольга. Very interesting differences. I didn't know it was so serious in Ukraine about friendship. I am a second gen Ukrainian American and partake in Ukrainian traditions here in America but I agree, people in the USA always are making new friends and they are not super serious commitments always. Ukraine seems to be more reserved culture than USA in some aspects. Also i think it's very funny about the water, drinking warm water is very disgusting to me as an American but we have excellent tap water here and i don't know about Ukraine but i hear some things about their water that it's not so good or clean. Smiling at others in USA is of course usually a fake practice because everyone is expected to keep up an image of politeness so they smile all the time and especially people who work in stores might smile but really hate the customers deeply.
Alex Merenkov every city has its own tap water, but better not to drink it without boiling, if you are not sure about quality;)
Still probably safer than Flint Michigan. Here in San Francisco Bay, we have very high-quality water from snowmelt in the mountains but in drought not as good of quality. : )
I agree with you Olga, my Ukrainian wife has some of these qualities as well
True friendship is rare. No, not all Americans are alike. Each state is like a mini country. Culture changes slightly from the west to east coast, and from up north close to Canada, or south near Mexico.
being natural is the best, but I noticed you smile much more than standard Ukrainians. how come???.
Al Demir because I am always with foreigners;)
Olga Reznikova
I understand and you know and what is being normal and the best way to be what you are. by the way you are very cheerful person. Cold water and ice was the most funny to me. we love cold drinks. and they even serve in hospitals as well.
I don't know, I am not typical)) Too much time spending with foreigners.
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Hi olga,thanks for the tips that was helpful see you soon
You r really appreciate what you speak 😃 . I am single man from India Mumbai 🇮🇳🙏🌹 You r telling true, I trust in your comments. 😃☺️💙♥️But for communication you should now . English language or Hindi". **"Friend in need , the friend in deed"✝️🕉️👨👩👧👦
Thank you for your videos.
You got a proper character. This should be the attitude of a descent person. We have our comprehension.Thank
I m getting sad that I know first time smile with each other will not acceptable to ukrainians
One of my bad points which is sort of part of my humour being from Yorkshire is that I sometimes give backhanded compliments to people. So I will say something nice about a friend and immediately follow it with something negative. It leaves some of my friends sometimes speechless because they are shocked to receive a great compliment and then something they don't like at the same time that they don't know how to respond. Everyone else usually laughs. I don't think I smile that much as a Brit. Maybe I am halfway between the Americans and the Europeans? I think it is maybe a cultural thing though there are a lot of exceptions depending on where you go. I wonder if economics and the weather play any part in making people happy and smile? Those Jamaicans, for example, seem quite a happy bunch of people. Maybe it is what they are smoking I don't know? And Americans have some of the highest income on average in the world and it is still one of the most free countries.
I have problem with problems...Can you fix
Yes I can understand this.... it was very similar in Slovenia
I don't know, I know when I went to Odessa I made a lot of friends. One week before my return to Brazil my girlfriend said- I can see , Friday : Bye Katia, wait I have to say bye to Natasha, to Irina, to people from coffee shop. You made friends with everyone in the city! hahahahahaha
interesting, very much different from my country
that's cool ,which you explained about the culture difference between other countries with Ukraine.
Thank you!
Oh it's difficult... I will try to control myself.
I have to ask for ice everytime, and i know not to go walk down the street smiling.
Good video Olga ty. Seems like i want an friend from Ukraine Please make another video about Ukraine culture and how they are
Oli, I hope this is your natural hair color, I think lighter tones suit your skin shade better.. Also, killer glasses/braces.. Just so cute!! XOX
hehe thanks)
I do not smile that much, I am not upset I just do not feel the need to.
Lol...my gf is ukrainian. Except the warm water thing, she's completely opposite to all these facts....
Are Women in your country offended if a stranger comes up to them and opens a conversation?
Not offended, it just look strange
love you
we drink water with ice in middle east because of the weather it’s so hot 🔥😅
42C now 🤦🏻♂️
Here I'm Brazil we are always up to cold water, I guess is weater related.
And being in the military I noticed all over the world if you ask for help from family and friends they're going to be there for you nothing new here at the Ukraine accept beautiful women and beautiful country
Great explanation !
Are here people who want to learn ukrainian language with native?
If yes just let me know and we can cooperate (from you i need good english skills). Just give a response
So Ukrainians: 1) don't smile a lot 2) don't talk a lot of personal stuff … except to their close close friends 3) can be suspicious....
- But they say that they aren't cold? How does that work?
- It's ok.… Kinda used to it because I'm Ukrainian as well. My wife 'works on' these qualities in me.
thank you ,jackau ;') very helpful,thats a life saver,best teacher ever................. ;';).you are.