society

Despite somewhat lower levels of hygiene, Ukrainians are more discreet about bodily functions than, say, in the United States. While belching and farting loudly in public not be totally typical of the U.S., movies such as Dumb and Dumber and the Naked Gun series demonstrate that bodily functions are a topic of joking and discussion. Not so in Ukraine. Passing gas and burping are considered shameful, and people do not discuss their bodily functions with others. However, ironically, spitting and blowing your nose onto the sidewalk or grass is normal in most cities of Ukraine.

Many foreigners note that it is easier to form friendships and relationships in Ukraine. In the U.S., for example, it is easy to get an invitation to do things like play volleyball, go see a movie, go waterskiing, etc., but hard to become someone's friend. In Ukraine people will get together to talk about things that are important to them personally. Westerners often find their emotional needs are met better in Ukraine.

At the same time, clubs and hobby groups and other "collectives" in Ukraine tend to become closed to the outside world because of their emotional attachments and informal relationships. I have seen biking clubs who seem to enjoy hanging out together more than biking and mountaineering clubs with complex rituals and traditions that have nothing to do with mountain climbing. In Ukraine it may be harder to keep focused on one's individual goals because of this emotional collectivism.

Despite the concern with standing out, in Ukraine it is more customary to show negative emotions in public than in western countries that are obsessed with always being positive. Strangers bond by sharing indignation (about packed public transportation, for example) or by making sarcastic remarks. Drivers yell at each other freely. Don't let this rudeness and indifference fool you, however. Ukrainians tend to be warmer in their personal relationships than is typical of most western countries.

The ancient tradition of offering a guest bread and salt dates back many centuries. Bread and salt were once considered necessary ingredients for health in daily consumption. Guests in Ukraine are offered a circular bread (klib) and a mold of salt (sil) on an embroidered ceremonial cloth called a rushnyk (pronounced roosh-nick) by their hosts. The hosts greet their visitors with a humble and heartfelt greeting - "With this bread and salt we greet you. We invite you to preserve the Ukrainian culinary arts, by teaching and passing on these traditions to your loved ones - Welcome - Vitayemo!"

When offered to a guest, the protocol requires the guest to accept the bread and salt in their hands while bowing their head slightly in thanks, kissing it, and then handing it back to their hosts. Often a small piece of the bread is broken off by the guest, dipped in the salt and then eaten. If it is part of a family gathering the bread may be eaten, put aside to be eaten later or taken to one's home.

The bread represents hospitality, the warmth of Ukrainian hospitality from the rich black fertile soil of Ukraine. The salt symbolizes friendship, an eternal friendship that will never sour because salt is never corrupted by time therefore, never loses its taste.

• Odessites
  are fiercely proud of their gorgeous city. Odessa
  was the first city in Russia to celebrate a city
  birthday. Odessites have always been Odessites first
  and Ukrainians, Soviets, or Russians second.


• If a
  person is drunk, wants to drink, or wants to suggest
  drinking, they click their thumb and first finger
  under their neck.


• 
  People,
  >
  
  especially women, have an aversion to sitting on
  >
  
  cold surfaces, feeling that it is unhealthy.
  >


• Older
  Ukrainians often will not open a window for fear
  of a draft


• You
  will quickly notice that the majority of people
  do not wear watches, and if you wear a watch, annoyingly
  you will often be asked you the time.


• Many
  Odessites have dogs, and they often care less were
  the dog uses the bathroom. Some Odessites own huge
  dogs that live with them in tiny a one or two apartment.


• Frustratingly,
  in many businesses, often only one door is unlocked
  if there is more than one door.

Etiquette

When greeting, relatives and close friends often kiss
cheeks. Ukrainians address each other by first name.
A respectful form of address is using the first name
followed by the patronymic, which is the person's
father's first name with a gender specific suffix.
When you ask a Ukrainian their name, they will often
give their first name and patronymic only.

Ukrainians
are uncomfortable by constant eye-contact. Facial
expressions are reserved. Ukrainians rarely smile
at strangers. North Americans will be surprised at
how "unhappy" Ukrainians first appear. In
Ukraine, it is considered dishonest to appear happy
when you are not, whereas in North America it is considered
polite. Ukrainians tend to say thank you and excuse
me less than North Americans. If a person bumps into
a stranger accidentally they will usually not acknowledging
it by saying "excuse me" or "sorry".
Cutting in line/queues is also very common.

When Russian
men engage in conversation, the distance between the
two is typically about ten inches, well within a North
Americans comfort zone.

When women
chat they frequently touch each other on the hand
or arm, even embracing from time to time during the
conversation.

Chivalry
is still important in Ukraine. Women expect men to
open doors, take their coats, carry heavy items, and
help them from buses and route taxis. It is such an
expected part of the culture that women rarely say
thank you.

• Take
  off your gloves before shaking hands