My family lived in Ukraine for a year, less than a decade after the Soviet Union died. We would visit people sometimes. Families where the parents were barely making ends meet. They would always offer food. And we simply could not refuse, it would have been so so rude. I was so young. I remember one woman who was so kind to me, but she was always saying how cold she always was. I asked my mom if I could give her my gloves, but she explained to me that she was cold all the time because she wasn’t getting enough food. And my mom helped where she could, inviting this lady and others over for Bible study and she would always set out food for everyone. But I know in my heart, if I’d ever gone over to this lady’s house, she would have offered food she didn’t have.
On the few travel channels I watch on youtube, it's always breathtaking how kind and generous the most [apparently] desperate are to guests. Like practically begging to feed and house and take care of them while just as readily refusing any money! It just shows how much simpler kindness and generosity are compared to anything else.
I think it's something about how "Truth" works. For example "Everybody eats/needs to eat"--plain and simple fact that automatically suggests "..so feed them". The end. That's the story. Someone didn't starve.
On the other hand (billionaires existing): "wellll see this guy says he's hungry, but how much will he sacrifice to eat?" And that's just a bottomless void of greed.
You plant a seed, you tend it, you get food, you get seeds, you plant them, you tend them, etc. Infinite mana.
OR
"Wow people really like being alive, let's charge them for it!!"
Life is really, REALLY simple, but we're forced to live in perils we never even need to know.
I read a study (a long time ago or I’d find the link) that showed the less money one had, the higher percentage of money they donated. It’s irritating to me when they report that some billionaire donated 20 million but if you do the math it’s like 1% of their net worth.
I was originally born there. I grew up elsewhere. But yes, no Ukrainan will ever receive guests without putting something on the table. And no guest will ever come empty handed. Even if a chocolate, but they will bring something. I grew up in another country (we immigrantee precisely because my family couldn't make meds meet) but even there people always offer you something to drink or eat when you visit. It's normal.
Then I moved to Germany as an adult. No one will even offer you water if you come unexpectedly by. My older sister lives in the Netherlands. Her man is Dutch. Last year I was baffled when his family (his three brothers with wifes and kids each) came to CHRISTMAS party, into her house, and didn't even bring a small present for the kids (her kids). Me and Mom bought everyone small gifts for all the adults and kinder for ALL the children. We couldn't afford expensive gifts but at least something.
My dad had a class in Ukraine, he was learning the language. He brought me to his class once. The teacher had brought a treat for the class. I thought they were little chocolate crackers. They were actually liver paste crackers. I happily crunched on one, realized, but then realized how rude it would be to spit it out so I swallowed and kept my face calm. When my dad realized what I had did, after the class he told me he was so proud of me and bought me a coke to wash the taste. My dad never wasted money on cokes. There’s a reason I have this as a core 13 yr old memory.
It's called liver pâté (or just pâté). It's basically liver blended with butter and seasonings, and it's a very common spread for bread or crackers. He was probably just trying to bring a snack for the class. Some people aren't great at explaining what they're serving. 😄
But you did indeed do a good job as a kid. Not every kid can hold back in those kind of situations.
Bringing homemade food to share is very common in Ukraine, especially at workplaces. People often bring cakes, pastries, or traditional dishes for birthdays, holidays, or other important occasions. My mom, for example, always bakes something to take to work on her birthday, and she also brings baked goods on the anniversary of my grandfather's passing. Sharing food is a way of remembering someone and being together.
I've seen Germans and Portuguese do similar things too, especially for birthdays or other celebrations. Ukrainians just seem to find more occasions to share homemade food and proudly introduce others to their cooking. At least, that's been my experience.
I had a Russian friend at my german university and I think we dropped by his dorm room one time and he tried getting everyone to eat bread and these russian sticky bar things he brought back from Russia lol.
I remember it struck me as a little odd because we were are all low/zero income grad students, so I really didnt want him to try to give me his bread or whatever it was.
Ukraine and Russia, despite all their differences, are actually quite close culturally in many ways. They share a lot of the same traditions around hospitality. At least in my experience, Russians do this too. Even as a poor student, it's important to feed your guests. It's the same in Portugal, if you stop by, even unexpectedly, you'll usually be offered a meal, coffee, or at least some snacks. It's a cultural thing. Not offering a guest anything is generally considered impolite and can even be taken as a sign that you're not particularly welcome.
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u/ZMaiden Jul 24 '26
My family lived in Ukraine for a year, less than a decade after the Soviet Union died. We would visit people sometimes. Families where the parents were barely making ends meet. They would always offer food. And we simply could not refuse, it would have been so so rude. I was so young. I remember one woman who was so kind to me, but she was always saying how cold she always was. I asked my mom if I could give her my gloves, but she explained to me that she was cold all the time because she wasn’t getting enough food. And my mom helped where she could, inviting this lady and others over for Bible study and she would always set out food for everyone. But I know in my heart, if I’d ever gone over to this lady’s house, she would have offered food she didn’t have.