Say "thank you'!

Are you proud that you are Ukrainian? A plenty of reasons make one to be proud of his/her Ukrainian origin.

1) You have the broadest democracy of speech and of mass-media. I don't joke. No exaggeration. Ukraine provides a lot of liberal freedoms in spite of common stereotype. Ukraine has less censure and restriction than eulogized and praised in the centuries other democratic states. Say "thank you" to your country!

2) You are smart if you are Ukrainian. You understand how this world works. The principles of Universe lies in your brain and you are able to think logically. You don't use calculator to subtract 17 from 65. Moreover, your algebra teacher prohibits to use calculator. You know the location of Alger and Morocco.You know all chemical and physical formulas. You know more than 2 languages. You are brilliant. Say "thank you" to your country!

3)You can elect a President. And I don't care about falsification. You, not electorate college, try to influence a situation. Say "thank you" to your country!

4) You have great history and melodic language. You know your history from the early beginning because people wrote it. You have ancient predecessors who lives for you. Say "thank you" to your past!

5) Ukrainians are known as the most beautiful people. We have the attractive features of face and proportional figures. Say "thank you" to your genes!

6) Ukrainians are frank and friendly. Not outside, but inside. That makes a difference! Say "thank you" to your country!

7) We have the funniest President and Prime-minister. Even Russians and Americans can't compete. Say "than you" to your people! (not to President or Prime-minister)

8) Ukrainian people get used to fight against enemies. That's why Army is so weak. We don't need Army. Our children, women, men, everyone can fight!!! Say "thank you" who did it earlier.

9) We meet New Year! We meet new hope! And though we know truth we always hope for better. Say "thank you" for your future!

10) Where else can you meet a melodic tune with delicious words? Our songs makes the world better. Folk songs are the sources of history. Ukrainian rock is the best, believe me! Pop-culture always sucks. But we don;t have Justin Bieber!!! Say "thank you" to Mychail Poplavskiy!)

11) We are the strongest nation in the world! What for should we run fast if we have Klychko and Virastyuk?)

12) You are in your country! You can experience affection, fun, kindness, beauty... And you can enhance your country!!! Say "thank you" to yourself if you did anything good to Ukraine. If not - it's never late!!! But hurry up, deserve a "thank you"!!!

Я пишаюся, що я -  УКРАЇНКА!

Happy World of Weird

Hi! I haven't seen you for ages! There are a lot of changes in my life and in my English, I know. I still keep going and write easily but I should enhance the English level of my readers anyway.

That was lyrical epigraph of my next article: How can one become happy? A plenty of exchange students miss their home, become enervating because of foreign atmosphere. And all of this - now, 3 months ahead as we left Borispil. Why?

The only factor that made them happy was the victory over the difficulties and the happiness because of victory. I doubt, however, that anyone fully realized the opportunities one reveled and hardships one gained. The colorful and picturesque image of the wealthy country could also caused the excitement. Nevertheless, everyone was said about culture shock and homesick. Moreover, we were said to expect 'em exactly in November. Maybe, that's only self-convincing, ah?

I am more exception than normal exchange. Why? Because all September and October I was anxious and annoyed and partly stay the same now. But 85% of students were too happy. And now they are or will be in a short period of time too disconsolate and discouraged. Could anything happen with their dreams and views during these months? Definitely!

The first feeling they probably had was a happiness of adventures, independence and America. Even though they didn't realize wholly a great burden of responsibilities and duties. Now they more or less adopted to this culture, some of them (including me) begin to forget Russian and Ukrainian. Unfortunately, with the languages students forget WHY they are here and WHERE they actually are. No, of course they remember that they are FLEXERS IN THE USA. More? What for?!!

We have gone to the USA to teach them and learn ourselves! We came here to experience new culture and share new. We passed the long way to taste both the victories and the losses. We stepped on the antipodes of our native countries to glance over the advantages and disadvantages of another one. We came here to realize what it means to be nation not the population. We are exchange students who probably have a great potential and can commit either greatness or awfulness. What are we aiming for? Luxurious beaches and rich presents? Adulation? Understanding our moral principles and ideas? Respect? Order? Love? Friendship???

There is nothing here! America has developed feeling of selfishness, strict censure and limited freedoms, masked by over-spaced ones. They have pragmatism and merchantilism, skepticism and partly ignorance. They have citizens not members of nation. But we can teach them! We can teach them to cook their meals. We can teach them to clean, to love, to be healthy! We can show what real friendship means! We can show what nation means! We can teach them where Ukraine/Armenia/Russia/Moldova etc/ is and demonstrate the  wealthy of our countries by our representation and interpretation. We are powerful.

However, we should take punctuality and integrity, compassion and politeness. Dress-code, believe me, and privacy is not the last thing! Their tolerance and tactfulness are really on a high level! We can EXCHANGE our values, cannot we?

Happiness doesn't depend on anyone else except you. YOU have opportunity to be happy or bereaved. That's your choice, your right and your duty. Nothing can make you despairing except you!!! Protect your wish to be happy - and you are and will be! Be happy if you are alive! Be happy you are healthy! Be happy you can read and right! Be happy you can hear! Some people can't! Remember! If you can get an education, if you can have a job, if you have friends and parents - you lucky! Be happy! If you are exchange student - be happy trice!!! You have opportunities!!! Everything else depends on you!  Only you can turn awful village into amazing center of funs! Go ahead! Don't forget - you should be happy anyway!