Book Description
You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices and making friends. There are tips on political traditions, building business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or office.Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Outdated, but accurate
Although some of the information is outdated in places like Kyiv, great insight to some of the other places. I wish she had more to say about the Western (Traditional Ukrainian) half, but still well worth it.

Very good
this is a really good book about Ukraine. It talks about everything you can imagine-customs, laws, people, even jokes. Its very accurate and definately brought back some memories for me. If you are traveling to Ukraine and want some insights into ukrainian lifestyle and people this is the book for you.

Honest, in-depth, and genuinely appreciative of Ukraine
CULTURE SHOCK: UKRAINE ranks as one of the best installments of the Culture Shock series. Straightforward and very thorough, it gave this American reader a helpful introduction to Ukrainian culture. Written by an American, Meredith Dalton, who lived in Kyiv for some time, the book tells expatriates what they need to know for a smooth transition to living and working in Ukraine.

Ukraine is a very different country from the U.S., and things that Westerners would see as corruption and inefficiency are normal matters there. Dalton is very frank about how to deal with Ukrainian bureaucracy, how to maintain patience, and how to refrain from comparing everything to life back home. While she emphasizes to the reader that Ukraine may be a difficult and sometimes infuriating country for outsiders, she is always respectful of the Ukrainian culture and way of life. This is one of the few books in the Culture Shock series that are so admirably dedicated to preventing culture shock.

Meredith Dalton also tackles the delicate issue of ethnicity in Ukraine, and explains how, for some people, the country is polarised into a Ukrainian-speaking half and a Russian-speaking half. However, she also shows how the country is in most respects a united culture in spite of language differences.

I felt the section on Ukrainian cuisine could have been a bit more in-depth. Also, the book is geared towards future residents of Kyiv or Lviv, the two cities to which foreigners are most likely to move. As a result, Ukrainian village life is hardly mentioned. However, the meagreness of these topics left Dalton ample room for discussion of Ukrainian custom, etiquette, and superstition.

All in all, CULTURE SHOCK: UKRAINE is an essential resource for anyone vacationing in Ukraine or moving there. One of the best Culture Shock guides.

Definately Outdated
This book is fine if you are just starting out.I found it useful but you'll need more after this.There are many areas where even the un-educated will realized topics are outdated.

Really outdated!
This book is somewhat helpful but hopelessly outdated. Ukraine is changing rapidly and this book just is not of much use at all! See if you can buy it used, but don't waste your money on a new copy. ... Read more

Book Description
Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Culture Smart!: The title says it all.
A great travel resource, I read this after a trip to Ukraine to better understand interactions we'd had.Boy, do I wish I had read it *before* traveling.I will make a point of seeking out country-specific books from this series to get a jump on transitioning to a new culture. ... Read more

Book Description
CULTURE SMART! is the series of travel guides written for the smart traveler on the go. Each volume is a quick, accurate guide to customs and etiquette. What you'll find in CULTURE SMART!: --All the essential cultural and etiquette points covered, making you confident in a variety of situations. --You'll know what to expect in each particular culture. --You'll know how to behave in specific social and business situations. --Essential attitudes and values are clearly explained. --You'll find the concise writing style makes each topic a quick, easy read. --Each has the same look, page count, and organization for reference use. --Small and light, it tucks into your pocket or purse for on-the-go use. --Culture Smart! books are written by a staff of experts who consult on world travel as a profession. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ukraine Customs and Etiquette
Great Book.I will be going to the Ukraine for the first time and this book was very helpful in understanding the culture before I go.The examples, stories and recommendations were great and the book had the perfect depth to it.Easy reading and packed full of information! ... Read more

Book Description
Drawing on the discourses of postmodernism, postcolonialism, and globalization, Vitaly Chernetsky maps out the new cultural developments in literature, architecture, painting, film, and performance art emerging in Russia and Ukraine, the two largest successor states to the Soviet Union, situating these phenomena in a greater global context. In Mapping Postcommunist Cultures Chernetsky argues that Russia and Ukraine exemplify the principal paradigms of post-Soviet cultural development. In Russia this has manifested itself in the subversive dismantling of the totalitarian linguistic regime and the foregrounding of previously marginalized subject positions. In Ukraine, work in these areas shows how the traumas of centuries of colonial oppression are being overcome through the carnivalesque decrowning of ideological dogmas and an affirmation of a new type of community, most recently demonstrated in the peaceful Orange Revolution of 2004. Mapping Postcommunist Cultures also critiques the neglect of the former communist world in current models of cultural globalization. ... Read more

Book Description
This book surveys the Ukrainian-EU relationship in light of the legacies of Russian rule. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Church and State, published by J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State on March 22, 1998. The length of the article is 2183 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Religion and Culture in Early Modern Russia and Ukraine.(Brief Article)
Author: Dennis Reinhartz
Publication: Journal of Church and State (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1998
Publisher: J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State
Volume: 40Issue: n2Page: 484-485

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first book to offer a systematic and comparative analysis of the regional political divisions in post-Soviet Ukraine and Moldova. The study examines voting behavior and political attitudes in two groups of regions: those which were under Russian, Ottoman, and Soviet rule; and those which were under Austro-Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, and Czechoslovak rule until World War I or World War II. This book attributes the regional political divisions to the differences in historical experience. This study helps us to better understand regional cleavages and conflicts, not only in Ukraine and Moldova, but also in other cleft countries. ... Read more

Book Description
"Fascinating myths, legends, festivals, and stories help students experience the rich heritage of ancient cultures around the world. Detailed maps and vivid illustrations demonstrate how various people lived and what they accomplished. Each book in this s" ... Read more

Book Description
Ukraine has recently come to the attention to global strategic planners.This report puts these executives on the fast track.Ten chapters provide: an overview of how to strategically access this important market, a discussion on economic fundamentals, marketing & distribution options, export and direct investment options, and full risk assessments (political, cultural, legal, human resources).Ample statistical benchmarks and comparative graphs are given. ... Read more