What is a big no-no when living in Ukraine?

Glenn Anderson, History teacher in the States, Peace Corps volunteer in Lviv

It has been my experience that Ukrainians are pretty laid back and tolerant people. I haven’t really found “big” no-nos.

Certainly, there are cultural norms and traditions that any intelligent and thoughtful traveler learns in order to show respect to the people who are hosting him or her.
Many of them are simple customs.

• Take your shoes off when you enter a home.
• Often people wash their hands when first coming in from the street.
• A thoughtful guest will bring flowers (odd numbers only, even is for funerals) or chocolate when visiting.
• Don’t whistle in the house.
• Don’t reach across the thresh-hold to shake hands or give something.
• Don’t give watches as a present.
• Don’t let a pillar or post come between you and your walking companion, lest you argue. If you do, grasp each other’s little finger.
• Don’t offer birthday greetings or celebrate before the day.
• Don’t buy a baby gift before the baby is born.
• Don’t leave an empty bottle on the table.

There are plenty more; so many that even Ukrainians don’t know them all. It is always fun to discuss and compare, but as I said, Ukrainians are pretty relaxed and especially tolerant of foreigners.

В общем, толерастия.уа от толерастии.ру немного отличается, если отличается