You may already know some information about Ukraine, but let us tell you a little more about the life here and the country in general.
Ukraine is located in the eastern part of Europe and because of that our climate can be quite different from the western european countries. Even though our summers are hot and sunny, our winters can be pretty cold. It’s usually warm and comfortable during spring and summer but it gets pretty chilly during autumn and it’s quite snowy and windy during winter. Be prepared to wear sweaters and jackets!
Did you know that Ukraine is the largest country in Europe? It has an area of 603.000 km² and a population of around 42 million people. The biggest city is the capital city of Kyiv and the second biggest one is Kharkiv.
Every region of Ukraine has its own culture. Although they are mostly simmilar, the things that make them different are quite fascinating. People from the west speak Ukrainian and have different dialects that other people can find hard to understand. As you get closer to the eastern border you will hear more and more Russian language being spoken. This is mainly because of the proximity of other Russian speaking countries to the east of Ukraine. Ukrainian is still spoken there, but Russian remains the dominant language. Ukraine also has many types of national costumes. They can be worn casually, but it’s more common to put them on during national holidays. Sometimes people choose to wear a vyshyvanka (an embroided shirt) with a formal dress.
The cuisine is a big part of Ukrainian culture and it can be helpful to know a thing or two about it. The products in supermarkets can be quite different from the ones in your country. Bread, vegetables, grains and various dairy products make up a big part of the Ukrainian diet.
Typical meals include different soups including borsch — red soup with cabbage, beetroot, meat, and potato or any other boiled groats. Don’t be surprised when you are asked if you want to add sour cream or mayonnaise to any meal as these are the most common dressings. Most of dishes have mild taste, neither spicy nor tasteless.
If you have never been to Ukraine you shouldn’t worry about coming here — most people are very helpful and young people speak english very well. We are pleased to welcome you in Ukraine!
Rita Kazmina
