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We have a very large population of Ukrainian descent in Winnipeg. They’re lovely folks, with a rich culture and many marvelous traditions. For the most part, they’re extremely family oriented, warm, and demonstrative people. One of my Ukrainian friends sent me this, and I found it amusing, so I thought I’d pass it along. I doubt it’s original and may very well have been around before, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. By the way, I’ve spent enough time with my Ukrainian friends that I can tell you these things are true.

Most Canadian Kids: Move out when they’re 18, with the full support of their parents.
Ukrainian Kids: Move out when they’re 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married.....unless there’s room in the basement for the newlyweds.

Most Canadian Kids: When their mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake and you sip coffee and chat.
Ukrainian Kids: When their mom visits them, she brings three days worth of food, begins to tidy up, does the dusting, does the laundry, and re-arranges the furniture.

Most Canadian Kids: Their dad always calls before he comes over to visit, and generally only on special occasions.
Ukrainian Kids: Are not at all surprised when dad shows up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, and starts painting the window frames or mowing the lawn.

Most Canadian Kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need something done.
Ukrainian Kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad’s or uncle’s phone number to get it done....cash deal....no bills. Know what I mean?

Most Canadian Kids: Will come over for a visit and be served cake and coffee. Nothing more.
Ukrainian Kids: Will come over and get cabbage rolls, two kinds of cheese, perogis, roast chicken, koubassa, three salads, rye bread, pickles, fruit, cheesecake, and numerous before/during/after dinner drinks, and take home 25 lbs of leftovers.

Most Canadian Kids: Will greet you with, “Hello” or “Hi”.
Ukrainian Kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, a pat on your back, and pump your hand until you pee your pants.

Most Canadian Kids: Call your parents Mr. And Mrs.
Ukrainian Kids: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

Most Canadian Kids: Have never seen you cry.
Ukrainian Kids: Cry with you.

Most Canadian Kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.
Ukrainian Kids: Keep your stuff so long they forget it’s yours.

Most Canadian Kids: Will eat at your dinner table and then leave.
Ukrainian Kids: Will spend hours at your dinner table, talking and laughing, and just being together, until it’s time to “put out the lunch.”

Most Canadian Kids: Know few things about you.
Ukrainian Kids: Could write a book with just direct quotes from you.

Most Canadian Kids: Eat peanut butter and jam sandwiches on soft, mushy white bread.
Ukrainian Kids: Eat koobassa sandwiches on rye bread with dill pickles.

Most Canadian Kids: Will leave you behind, if that’s what the crowd is doing.
Ukrainian Kids: Will kick the asses of the whole crowd for leaving you behind.

Most Canadian Kids: Are for a while.
Ukrainian Kids: Are for life.

Most Canadian Kids: Think that being Ukrainian is cool.
Ukrainian Kids: Know that being Ukrainian is cool

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