Apres Toi (1972)
Manners are manners period.
You will find very little difference in social interaction in Ukraine from your own country.
But a few things that might be slightly different:
For North Europeans
Ukrainians have a greater sense of social care than some Europeans to the north and west.
Men are always expected to stand up for women and the infirm on public transport.
On a tram never sit on a chair with a piece of cardboard on it! That's for the ticket conductor.
Ukrainians have a collective sense - rather than national individualism - so it's expected that you say good morning to people you have never met in shared spaces. By this I mean hotel lifts, hotel corridors and hotel breakfast rooms. There's no need to continue this process once you are outside on the street - then people will think you are crazy!
For men this extends to events. When you enter a room of people, you will move around the room and briefly shake the hands of other men. Men don't shake women's hands and women don't shake other women's hands. It's a tad cute and a tad sexist all in one go.
There's an ascendancy in religious belief since the fall of the Soviet Union, not a collapse as in West Europe. Women usually put scarves on their heads when entering an operational church. This is more a rule for the faithful, but it shows some respect.
For South Europeans
Men don't kiss each other as a form of public greeting. Young men fist bump and pound hug. Older men shake hands (see above).
Women don't air kiss in public (i.e. restaurants), but they may in a closed environment with close friends. Men and women don't either.
Social étiquette
Manners are manners period.
You will find very little difference in social interaction in Ukraine from your own country.
But a few things that might be slightly different:
For North Europeans
Ukrainians have a greater sense of social care than some Europeans to the north and west.
Men are always expected to stand up for women and the infirm on public transport.
On a tram never sit on a chair with a piece of cardboard on it! That's for the ticket conductor.
Ukrainians have a collective sense - rather than national individualism - so it's expected that you say good morning to people you have never met in shared spaces. By this I mean hotel lifts, hotel corridors and hotel breakfast rooms. There's no need to continue this process once you are outside on the street - then people will think you are crazy!
For men this extends to events. When you enter a room of people, you will move around the room and briefly shake the hands of other men. Men don't shake women's hands and women don't shake other women's hands. It's a tad cute and a tad sexist all in one go.
There's an ascendancy in religious belief since the fall of the Soviet Union, not a collapse as in West Europe. Women usually put scarves on their heads when entering an operational church. This is more a rule for the faithful, but it shows some respect.
For South Europeans
Men don't kiss each other as a form of public greeting. Young men fist bump and pound hug. Older men shake hands (see above).
Women don't air kiss in public (i.e. restaurants), but they may in a closed environment with close friends. Men and women don't either.
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