russian or ukranian soul

[htourrett]

hi
Please excuse me for sounding to naive. I am currently corresponding with a young lady from St. Petersburg and one from Kiev. I happen to live in the States and I am from a mixture of french german and spanish if that is of any inportance, probably not. The question that I would like somebody to respond... Is there any diferance in the russian soul, or are they very much the same?
What are the three most important aspects of the Eastern European soul, I hope my question does not sound naive, or insults your intelligence... I just want to really make sure that I fully appreciate this two persons that I am currently in contact with.
I am interested about knowing about is important in your culture, philosophical, ethical,family, and moral aspects of the eastern European mind. Even though I am mostly from western european stock, I really appreciate the little I know about same of your culture, like the arts, the natural beauty of that part of the world..
can sombody help? thanks


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htourrett

[StasUA]

Greetings,

I could be wrong, and this is just individual opinion, but I think that all souls are different, and indeed at least a little inscrutable.

But if you meant if there are difference between Russians and Ukrainians, yes there are, and there are difference between everybody, for example; western Ukrainian is very much different from eastern.


Stas-UA

[This message has been edited by StasUA (edited 09 July 2000).]

[stevenal_73]

I guess what my dear friend StasUA is trying to say is that each person is an individual and different with different set of values and beliefs. Like in the US and in my own family, we all different...different looks, different thoughts, within the same family. To observe totally different cultures, you would have to compare Asia and Europe. I would have to say the difference is much bigger in a general sense because individualism is not held as highly as it is in the West...in Europe. But even within that culture, there are differences in personality and belief though many times a concept called pride and internal condemnation prevents the differences from surging. If you study oriental cultures and knew many families, you would understand better.Maybe you are talking about language or traditions. Maybe this is what you are looking for...outlooks on life are different like in the US...where even new traditions are picked up from different people and food types. But even in societies, there are accepted norms that may be regional r otherwise....For example: Being slim verses being heavy. Being heavy in the US was once thought of as a sign of verility and now it is not accepted. But there are men and women within society that may think differently. So, are you talking about accepted norms of the society? You must define the term soul more specifically...Got to run....Steve out.

[olesya_p]

I happened to be both Russian and Ukrainian so I guess I do have something to tell you.

Russians... Russians are the most mysterious people I guess. You can't really understand Russiand soul. I mean you really have to be Russian yourself and think like Russian...Russians are the people of emotions. Not like Italians, no no no !!! They do not expose their emotions, but their emotions guide their lifes in the most intangible way. If a Russian is happy, the whole village is gonna know about this and he/she will try to share his happiness with everyone around. If a Russian is unhappy, the misery will leave a trace on his/her trace. Russians plunge themselves into their own emotions and live there.
Russians are also the most willing to help people ever. In the old days, whenever somebody in the village had to have his house fixed, the whole commuinty would come to help and the work would be done in the same day. Russians will share anything they have with the friend. There's actually an expression in Russian " To give one's last shirt" It is very description of Russians. They really will give away their last property to help you out in a rough moment.
Of course you might know that Russians are famous for drinking.. well, I would say it is true, but most people tend to exxaggearate the extent to which Russian people like to get wasted. Most people do not drink like fish, really. However, the emotions of the russian soul are so intense that sometimes drinking is the only way to vent and let the emotions out. Whether it is happiness or misery.

Ukrainians really are different from Russians in more than one way. Ukrainians are distinguished by their dicreteness of emotions. You never know what a Ukrainian beauty is thinking about or what she feels. There's this soft look and a confusing smile. Not even a smile, but a touch of a smile on her face. Sometimes the only way to "read" her is to look into her eyes. You have to be good at that too. You have to learn to look.

God knows why they are so discrete, those Ukrainians...maybe it comes from those times when Ukrainians were not free people, but instead served to Russian and Polish nobles. They did not dare expose their emotions. Could not look into the master's eyes. That's how the mystery of a Ukrainian soul was born.

Ukrainians are the most welcoming people you will ever meet. There'snothing like being a guess in a Ukrainian house. They will gladly assume any inconvenience for the sake their guest's comfort. They will be happy to feed you the best of their cuisine and provide you with the best bed in the house.
However, they are not gonna give you away their last shirt. Not Ukrainians.

Also both Russian and Ukrainian girls are believed to be very pretty. Well, I think that there are pretty girls everywhere, no matter where you go, but the most amazing thing about both Russian and Ukrainian women is that they can preserve their beauty and youthful looks for a longer time. Ukrainian beauty does not fade away at all it seems. When saying this I am thinking about my grandmother who was extraordinary beautiful when she was young and still has this wonderful something in her face that makes her look beautiful in her own way of aged decency.

My father says that Ukrainian women are more attractive than Russian. He says that their beauty is more striking. Also according to my Dad, who is Russian and had lived in Russia for a long time, Ukraine brims with beauties. He says that there's more of a chance of meeting a pretty Ukrainian than a pretty Russian. May be that's why he married a Ukrainian - my Mom.