Differences in mentality

Differences in mentality between Ukrainians and Germans

Ukrainians are considered to be very open-hearted people. And not just at first glance. It is even said that there is something Italian about their strikingly expressive gestures. They are tolerant and persistent. And they are proud of themselves and their country, which is also rooted in the past. After all, Ukraine was often not seen as a separate part of the Union during the long decades of the Soviet Union. Ukrainians were ultimately considered Russians. But Russian melancholy, for example, is foreign to them. Ukrainian mentality include thrift and perseverance, mysticism and warmth, conservatism and quick thinking. Ukrainians enjoy life and revere their own family. And they have religious values. They are humane and sentimental, spiritual and a little playful. These may well all be clichés, but that is how they describe themselves, as can be read on the internet.

It is also possible to rent and drive hire cars in Ukraine. Many well-known global companies have branches – especially in the big cities – and offer the service you are used to internationally. There are also local companies that may be cheaper. As a customer, however, you should not necessarily always expect Western standards in vehicles. Driving a car in a big city as a foreigner requires a bit of courage. However, the motorway network has been expanded thanks to the European Football Championship 2012, so that driving pleasure is definitely possible here. If you go into a hire car company and identify yourself as a German, you might be met with goodwill, because Germans are definitely considered friends in Ukraine. And besides, people love their cars.

It is not advisable to pick fights with Ukrainians. They then tend to use little tricks to express their protest. However, they are not aggressive. They prefer to wait until an inappropriate situation changes and a chance for revenge presents itself to them. This can also be read on the Internet. Two sayings express the national mentality: “If you’re not going to eat, at least take a bite out of it.” And, “It’s not my headache, but it’s not my piece of cake either.” The interpretation of these sayings is up to everyone. The fact is, Ukrainians like to use them. They might express a certain indifference. Ukrainians, for the most part anyway, live by the principle: if it’s none of my business, it has nothing to do with me. This attitude could well lead to problems in certain situations on the road, for example, if you are not a local and perhaps even make the mistake of putting on airs and using a few German clichés. And one of these clichés abroad is supposedly to show a certain superiority to the other person. Those who drive a car in the Ukraine will, however, enjoy one advantage: cheap petrol. However, it is always advisable to carry cash for refueling.

Compared to the Russian neighbors, the Ukrainian mentality is rather individualistic. People think less collectively, even or especially not after the Soviet era. Ukrainians shift the public good in the direction of their own interest. When faced with problems, they have the attitude that somehow, somewhere, a solution will be found. Passivity could be understood as insecurity. In the end, though, it’s just the aforementioned Ukrainian mindset again. There is also a saying about this. It translates roughly as “A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.” You know a variation from German. By the way, a big difference to Germany is the way they deal with time. Opening hours, for example, seem to be merely recommendations in many cases. The typical German characteristic of punctuality or a speedy settlement of a wide variety of things is not necessarily to be expected in Ukraine.