I would love to visit the country but I don't think the welfare system is so good in Ukraine?

aholic, you're right. That's why I want to leave Ukraine as soon as it's possible. I know it's wrong cause this is the land of my ancestors and no one will make Ukraine better than we Ukrainians will. But I've never been a patriot. I am selfish in this regard 'cause I just want my life to be full and normal

where would you go then? :P

I want to get away from the post-Soviet territory, so I would like to live either in the Netherlands, or in the Scandinavian countries, or in Germany. I know all European states despise the East Slavs and I’ll always remain a stranger there, but at least I would like to try :(

I don't think they despise the east slavs, they just have some prejudices that needs to be thrown away - I know that here in Denmark people have a lot of prejudice towards people from Poland and Lithuania because of the TV-shows about the gangs from those countries - they commit crime such as stealing and violence, but most of the crime in Denmark is made by Danes! it's just not as interesting (obviously?) because nobody wants to hear something bad about themselves. I'm sure you'll prove people with prejudices wrong :) as long as you speak their language and live like they do I'm sure they'll accept you. Here in Denmark we don't mind people coming to Denmark as long as they get integrated and get a job like the rest of us. My neighbor works in a firm that has a lot of employees from Poland and they have fun - it's just about getting out and be among people with origin in the country instead of isolating yourself with people with the same background.

Pleeease, can you say which stereotypes and prejudices about Ukrainians (or about other East Slavs) you've ever heard about? :D

I think a lot of older people in particular think that the men steal, dress bad and are filthy, the women are cheap and go after people's money when they marry someone from a country in the west and that both sexes have something to do with crime or are corrupted... It's not something I believe but I think some people do think so. All are myths - TV and newspapers only show the negative stuff.

and I forgot old-fashion and 10 years behind. But I'm sure you have some prejudice towards the west in Ukraine too?

It’s true if you say about Ukrainian villages which are the big holes and do become extinct and where people really dress bad and sometimes are filthy (don’t want to insult someone). As for women looking for wealthy men from the west, unfortunately, sometimes it's a truth, too. As for crimes I think it’s the largest problem ‘cause most Ukrainians always look for freebie and aren’t afraid of the law – that’s why we have too many convicts in Ukraine. But besides I expected to hear other prejudices like Ukrainians aren’t smart enough either like most of them are alcoholics or like they always eat pig lard x)
Well, Ukrainians think the western people are too pedantic (although I find this trait an advantage - due to it you have orderliness in everything)

I don't know if other Europeans have the prejudice that most Ukranians are alcoholics - here in Denmark people "only" think people from Poland are alcoholics... but on the other hand, I think a lot of people here think about circus artists and gypsies when speaking of Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia... but perhaps that just has something to do with culture and is not 100% false? I know what you said about Europeans being pedantic isn't 100% false.

Gypsies from Ukraine and Russia? o_O It’s really interesting especially taking into account that the true Ukrainians and Russians have the opposite appearance to them. Maybe Europeans think so because Ukraine and Russia are too close to Moldova and Romania. However to be honest sometimes Gypsies come here from the south and become a very small minority (sorry for the tautology) as Ukraine has never been a homeland for them...
But I can say with certainty that alcohol abuse is connected with our culture and history as you say. For example, when being the Empress of Russia, Catherine the Great allowed and even made townspeople and villagers drink a lot of alcohol to easily control them. So unfortunately this habit has remained in our blood

prejudice is an interesting subject and I guess the reason why Danes often have these prejudice towards Ukraine is because they don't know anything about the country except it's in eastern Europe. If you asked a Dane what the orange revolution was/is about then they wouldn't have a clue. They probably don't even have a clue who just became prime minister.

I suppose it’s not necessary for Danes to know who is a current prime minister of Ukraine or what the Orange revolution was about :D. But if you know these facts, they show your erudition and comprehensiveness. It would be better for people to know what city is a capital of Ukraine, for example, what Ukraine is famous for and that Ukrainians aren’t Gypsies :)

Haha yeah you're right :P but of course, if you know these things you probably also know what Ukraine is famous for and that they aren't gypsies :) but yeah, it's not as important as knowing the basics.

Well .. I live in Czech Republic and I love it there but I have origin a bit ukrainian .. so I don't know

That country is going down the drain cuz of the politic and staff! No way!

I wouldn't want to live in any country that isn't completely free. And I don't think Ukraine's ever been free so far. But if I was wealthy I would travel more abroad and probably visit Ukraine.