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Advice for meeting her family

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Evilferret:
Hello I was wondering if anyone who has meet there loved ones grandparents/parents/or rest of family could offer any advice on traditions, and what would to do or not to do, and what topics do you think would be off limits to talk about.
I am getting ready to go to Ukraine for the first time in August and meet my lady and her family and I don't want to look,say or do something stupid that they wouldn't find acceptable.

Thanks

Evilferret

Olga:

--- Quote from: Evilferret on June 25, 2007, 05:27:17 PM ---I don't want to look,say or do something stupid that they wouldn't find acceptable.

--- End quote ---

The parents will have same thoughts as you  :)

My mother bought a new suit for the first meeting with her son-in-law.

I think before all you should ask your lady about her parents: what they like and dislike.


 


   

kleeb:
     You will probably do fine. I have never heard of a bad "meeting the family" story. But now that I said that, we will hear about them. There is probably not a whole lot that you can do. The only thing I can think of that will help is if you learn some Russian. The more the better.
     I've been married for three years and still haven't met her mother and grandmother. I "talked" with her grandmother on the phone for a few minutes one time. She was impressed with what little Russian I spoke, but I didn't understand anything she said.   Lee

Bobalouie:
Legal,

I watched the movie, and that is hilarious! I really liked the Dad, that is my kind of dude!

mendeleyev:
Dear Evil, hope you have a great time.  Be polite and most things will go well.  You can find all the common customs online, such as taking off shoes and wearing slippers offered to you, etc, etc, etc.

You may find this book helpful:   "Culture Shock: A guide to Ukraine's Customs and Etiquette."  You can it online at Amazon.com

Don't forget to take gifts for any family meetings.  Small and lightweight things from your state are excellent as are photo books and/or postcards of the Grand Canyon or Washington DC or Redwood Forest or the Great Lakes, etc.  Use your local 99-cents store for small Disney items, gum and American candy for the kids you will meet.  Don't underestimate the powerful message you send by having the forethought to take something for children.

Russian language is fine.  It's the dominate trade language of the region and will be for decades to come.  It will be spoken everywhere so learn a little.  The more you know of the written alphabet the better you will be able to begin to understand signs on the streets, in bus and train stations, and in stores.  Russian is naturally phonetic so learning the sound of the letter gets you a long way down the road.

Common mistake:  Calling their country "the" Ukraine.  Its the Republic of Ukraine, or simply "Ukraine," without a "the" in front.  That may seem trival but to some nationalistic Ukrainians that pesky little "the" represented the Tsar's and later the Soviet's attempt to train the rest of the world that Ukraine was a territory of, and a natural enclave inside, mother Russia.    Practice calling it "ooh-kry-yee-nah" and you will be the toast of the town!

Have a great trip!

PS...check earlier posts on this forum about what personal items to take with you on a trip.

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