Learn more about customs and cultures all over the world, from your fellow members of PTPI.
We believe that greater understanding between individuals and peoples, worldwide, reveals universal values and aspirations. We believe that if people can better understand other cultures, they are more tolerant and accepting of differences.
Name: Dayana Ofiy
Country (Territory) of Residence: Ukraine
1. What is your favorite cultural tradition?
My favorite tradition is stitching embroidery. Embroidery symbolizes belonging to our nation. It is also the symbol of the transfer of energy from person to person, from generation to generation. (Handmade embroidery in most cases is done for you dear people.) In addition, it is believed that each pattern on the embroidery means something, and patterns may preserve, protect and help the person the embroidery was done for. In addition, this tradition has great originality because the person creating the embroidery can supplement it with their own designs and symbols. So there are no two identical handmade embroideries in the world! Since this tradition is available to everyone, anyone can do it, and this is why embroidered shirts are so different and creative in our country.
2. In your opinion, what is the most significant issue facing your country in the present day?
In my opinion, the most significant issue is lack of identity. At this point, I think it is our nations’s major problem. As a consequence of this, a lot of our people lack a sense of belonging to the state. Because of this, problems of morality and faith arise (and I’m not talking about religion, but about faith in government). A person does not think about how to make a better country, he identifies himself as an individual rather than part of the people, and makes everything better only for himself. People do not think about the interests of the country, do not believe in the country, and do not feel like they are part of the people.
3. What do you consider to be the most important holiday in your country and how is it celebrated?
Independence Day. In our country the celebration of this holiday is only developing. But there are still a lot of wonderful and interesting ideas for celebrations that have seen created by people in our country. The most interesting fact is that we have no special rituals or traditions for celebrating this holiday (our country is only 20 years old) and our government still has not created a form or system of celebration. But still there are some organizations that try to revive old traditions or create new ones for celebrating. For example, this year I especially liked the parade of embroidery and ethnic festivals (festivals were held in important historical centers of Ukraine) which were devoted to the Independence Day.
4. Which part of your country’s history do you find most interesting?
I think it is the period from approximately 1019-1055, during the rule of Yaroslav the Wise in Kievan Rus. At that time Kievan Rus was the second largest and most developed country after Byzantium. It was a time of education. According to history, Yaroslav the Wise had the biggest library in the country. At that time, churches in our country were famous because of their original design. The level of education in Ukraine was very high. For the first time the legal code Russkaya Pravda was developed. That period is full of events that we Ukrainians can be proud of so it’s the most interesting part of our history for me.
5. What languages are spoken in your country? How many of those languages do you speak and which ones?
It so happens that in our country two languages are spoken. Ukrainian is our official language, so people speak it in their everyday lives, when they are studying or working. In the eastern part of Ukraine, however, we speak Russian. It is not because we don’t like Ukrainian – no. It is just because there are a lot of emigrants from Russia and because at the time of the Soviet Union, only Russian was spoken so people got used to it. Still, for me (as I live in the East and speak Russian in my everyday life), Ukrainian is the language of my nation and I even try to speak it with my family. I wish I could speak it with my friends, and sometimes we practice it. But in the future – in university, for example – we will speak Ukrainian. So I know both of these languages but my mother tongue is Ukrainian.
6. What is the customary form of greeting in your country?
I cannot say that we have any special form for it. Young people usually say ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ and in more official situations we say ‘good morning/evening’ and ‘good afternoon’. When men or boys meet each other they shake hands. And in school we nod when we greet the teacher before a lesson.
7. What is the most popular sport in your country?
I think the most popular sport is football. There are a lot of people who are fond of it.
8. What is your favorite traditional meal and how do you make it?
Borscht and dumplings, of course. It is very tasty. And I need to add that all Ukrainians make it their own way. But I will not tell you all my secrets, I’ll tell you only one thing: there is no use in cooking this dish if you are sad or evil while you are cooking them. You need to cook it with your soul, and only kind emotions. If you do this, every dish will be as tasty as you can only imagine.
9. Do you have a favorite quote or words that you live by?
“The world tried to catch me, but failed” – Hryhorii Skovoroda
10. Where in the world would you most like to visit?
I would like to visit India, at the time of the Celebration of Holi, the festival of colors. It is a very bright holiday, and I think it is just the thing I want to see most.
11. If you are involved in PTPI’s School and Classroom Program, what have you learned from the experience?
We learned a lot of interesting information about PTPI, and about projects. Our students were very amazed when they discovered that they can not only make projects on paper but also bring it to life. Students were very glad to find out that we can change something in the world – that we, a little group of young people, have an opportunity to change ourselves and to change the world.
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