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Music and Art at the Ukrainian Institute of America
Posted by Tamara on August 02, 2001 at 00:11:08:
In Reply to: Is Odessa different.......... posted by Oliver on July 31, 2001 at 08:20:17:
I don't have a romantic view at all. I freely acknowledge that it's a tough life there, with many deprivations. To those of us that are from countries that have some sort of "social safety net", Ukraine can seem like a cold, uncaring place. People take advantage of others, not so different from other places in the world. This is a daily part of the life of Ukrainians, the dark side.
My point was, however, that it's a good experience to be in Ukraine when it's not sunny, warm and bright. It's a Spartan experience, when the place you're staying in is cold, or you don't have fresh tomatoes to eat. But, when you can get together with friends and family, and make a feast out of whatever you can buy, have some conversation and pull out the guitar and sing, that's when you learn how people pull together there, and help each other set aside the daily hardships for awhile.
I've been fortunate in knowing some good people there, that help others that have even less than they do. I guess that's kind of romantic.
: from Ukraine or is it your very,very romantic view of the country ??? The most common line I hear here is a friend without money is not a friend in those hard times. Also neighbors avoid mostly contact to each other and screwing up others for a shortterm profit is very popular.
: Don`t think life in Kiew is much different.
: So don`t give people the idea they arrive in some kind of paradise.
: I just cannot see it, even though Ukraine is a beautiful country.
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