Why do they live in different communities?

[Lena and Igor 5]

I'm wondering if this phenomenom occurs in other US cities; in Detroit, people who emmigrate here from East Ukraine live, work and play in one community and those that come from West Ukraine live, work and play in another area of the city. I understand that many from East Ukraine speak Russian as their language of choice and those from the West speak only Ukrainian by choice. My SO chooses to speak only Russian and when she teaches she must prepare official documents, reports using the Ukraine language. Most of the folks from West Ukraine are of the Byzantine Catholic faith and the those from Eastern Ukraine are predominantly Russian Orthodox. The two communities in Detroit do not mingle with each other from what I can gather. Why?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I'm wondering if this phenomenom occurs in other US cities; in Detroit, people who emmigrate here from East Ukraine live, work and play in one community and those that come from West Ukraine live, work and play in another area of the city. I understand that many from East Ukraine speak Russian as their language of choice and those from the West speak only Ukrainian by choice. My SO chooses to speak only Russian and when she teaches she must prepare official documents, reports using the Ukraine language. Most of the folks from West Ukraine are of the Byzantine Catholic faith and the those from Eastern Ukraine are predominantly Russian Orthodox. The two communities in Detroit do not mingle with each other from what I can gather. Why?

Western Ukrainians are very nationalistic and they do not like Russians in general. It goes back century's ... 17th century to be exact when Hetman Ivan Mezapa signed a treaty with the Russian Tsar for assistance in getting rid of the Poles that were occupying Ukraine at the time. That opened the door for Russian expansionism and imperialism aka the Russification of Eastern and Southern Ukraine.

Western Ukraine was under the influence of Austria, Poland, and Lithuania, and Eastern Ukraine was under Russian influence. It got worse during WW2 when Western Ukraine allied themselves with the Germans for a short time in order to get rid of the Soviets and form an independent Ukraine. Brutalities on both sides were committed and those memory's still form a split to this day. It's so bad in fact that when the FSB / KGB agent aka Russian Orthodox Patriarch spoke in Lviv last year, Western Ukrainians rioted. Again they are a very independent minded people who live for their language, church, and culture.

So ya, don't ever expect your wife to be talking in Russian to the Western Ukrainian population in your city and getting any response back in Russian. Those two go together like oil and water.

[ONA 133]

I really don't know why, I know a lot of people from Western Ukraine and they're great. And they speak Russian to me, while I actually can speak Ukrainian (and I'm willing to, cause I love the language! ).

And it's weird, but some of my friends from Kiev and Eastern Ukraine speak Ukrainian ONLY while talking to me.

I actually met some people from both Western Ukraine (Lviv/Lvov) and Eastern Ukraine (Sumy) when I was in the US for the 1st time, and I made friends with all of them, while they weren't really willing to talk to each other... All of people from Lviv say that it's all nationalistic bs that Western Ukrainians don't like Russians, and I've been dreaming of going to Lviv since i met them, cause I saw the pictures and the city looks fantastic!

[Lena and Igor 5]

Thank you Kip, I really learned something about this. Lena lives in Kharkov, close enough to the Russian border. Everyone (well, not everyone) seemed to speak only Russian but all signage was in Ukrainian. My dad was born in Chernivtsi (Southwestern Ukraine). He spoke Ukrainian but also spoke fluent Russian. My American Ukrainian friends never go to the Russian market on the other side of town. We will! And the Russian orthodox church too. And I will continue to buy varenyky at the Ukrainian catholic church.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

They do the same in Ukraine

In many parts of west Ukraine people will refuse to speak Russian (they know how to) and will refuse to give you service if you speak Russian.

[slim 1,525]

There aren't enough Ukrainians here to notice.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Might be a bit off topic but Lena asked me to find out if when the time comes for her interview in Kyiv, should she speak in Russian or her intermediate English? Will she have a choice? I suggested she converse in Russian so that nothing gets lost in translation. I will be with her at her eventual interview for all of the right reasons.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Might be a bit off topic but Lena asked me to find out if when the time comes for her interview in Kyiv, should she speak in Russian or her intermediate English? Will she have a choice? I suggested she converse in Russian so that nothing gets lost in translation. I will be with her at her eventual interview for all of the right reasons.

She will have a choice. Russian, Ukrainian or English. Her choice makes no difference so choose what is best. Alla chose Russian even though she speaks excellent English.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Ochen khorosho!

[slim 1,525]

It doesn't matter.

However... I've long been a proponent of doing it in English. They're moving to America, right?

[LvivLovers 39]

My wife is from Lviv. In general, she's not particularly fond of Russians because she thinks that they are rude. That's her stereotype, but of course it depends on the individual and as long as someone is friendly to her she will be friendly also. She has no interest in seeking out Russians or Ukrainians here in the states. She definately is pro-Ukrainian and wants me (and our future children) to learn Ukrainian ahead of Russian even though Russian would be much more widely spoken/useful.

[SMR 368]

Might be a bit off topic but Lena asked me to find out if when the time comes for her interview in Kyiv, should she speak in Russian or her intermediate English? Will she have a choice? I suggested she converse in Russian so that nothing gets lost in translation. I will be with her at her eventual interview for all of the right reasons.

Judging from your username both of you are of RUB decent and possibly speak Russian or Ukrainian so this may not be an issue for you. But if the USC spouse doesn't speak Russian or Ukrainian and the consulate officer suspects that the RUB spouse has weak English, they may be subjected to additional scrutiny. I suppose it makes sense to be a little suspicious of a couple that wants to get married but doesn't have a common language. This is probably the only reason that there would be for speaking English.

On the other hand, if the RUB spouse truly does have weak English, you may be better off interviewing in Russian anyways. It's better to raise suspicions than not understand the interview and simply answer questions incorrectly.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Thanks SMR, she will probably stick to Russian for the interview so not to miss the "ra ra ra" as she puts it. I find myself pacing my English slower than normal and I use simpler words and phrases when I talk with her. On the other hand, she has a difficult time deciphering normal-paced English when my sister or my son talks with her. However, I notice her English improving weekly.

[Captain Hammer 113]

Thanks SMR, she will probably stick to Russian for the interview so not to miss the "ra ra ra" as she puts it. I find myself pacing my English slower than normal and I use simpler words and phrases when I talk with her. On the other hand, she has a difficult time deciphering normal-paced English when my sister or my son talks with her. However, I notice her English improving weekly.

I agree, it shouldn't matter what language she chooses for the interview. Probably might help slightly if she demonstrated at least some level of English, but it's not going to hurt her if she doesn't. Having a squared away packet and evidence is really what counts.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My wife is from Lviv. In general, she's not particularly fond of Russians because she thinks that they are rude. That's her stereotype, but of course it depends on the individual and as long as someone is friendly to her she will be friendly also. She has no interest in seeking out Russians or Ukrainians here in the states. She definately is pro-Ukrainian and wants me (and our future children) to learn Ukrainian ahead of Russian even though Russian would be much more widely spoken/useful.

Holy #######! I never heard that. Ukrainians think Russians are rude? A Ukrainian once told me she had to go to a hospital in Turkey while on vacation and said she felt like she needed vaccines afterwards as the hospital was "so dirty" All things are relative.

I have heard that Russians, particularly Moskovites, can be rude to Ukrainians (and basically anyone not from Moscow) but I never heard that about East Ukrainians. Alla HAS been told she "Speaks good Russian...for a Ukrainian"