EUROPE IS OUR NEIGHBOUR
September 16 – 17, 2010
More students are ready to share their views on our European roots, identities, ties and other international issues.
ALEX MELNYCHENKO: “As for me Europe differs from the rest of the world. European people are more polite and intelligent. Europeans are wealthier, and a lot of people immigrate there looking for better lives. Europe offers a lot of interesting opportunities.”
ANN ATAMAS: “In my opinion Europe means modern life, modern technologies and highly developed industries. There you can see splendid landscapes, and gigantic air-polluting traffic jams on the perfect roads. Ukraine as an EU member? I don’t know. On the one hand it’s nice to belong to Europe, but I am afraid of our country losing its uniqueness.”
YURI ISCHENKO: “For me Europe is a great world. It’s like a fairy land where people are more polite and have better manners than our folks here. You can’t see a European littering in the street. Also Europe, I mean Western Europe first of all, consists of developed countries that provide jobs for many East European guys, which is quite important. Ukraine should join the EU immediately!”
ANNA CHYKYRYNDA: “Europe is a good example for Ukraine! I’d like to live in one of the European counties because they are better developed than ours. I’d like to visit France, Italy, Great Britain and Greece. I also would like to study in a European university.”
VLAD SMIRINSKY: “For me Europe is the cultural center of the world. All countries in Europe have been developing their culture for hundreds of years, which can be seen when admiring architecture of their cities… I hope Ukraine will join Europe one day.”
VLAD GARANKO: “I see Europe just as a group of highly developed countries. I don’t think people there are friendlier or more intelligent than we are. We are Europeans after all although we speak different languages and go to different churches. I don’t think we should ask Europe for help. We can solve our problems ourselves.”
ANNA DATSYUK: “Europe sets a good example for Ukraine, because the standards of living there are higher than in our country. I would like to visit England, Italy and France. If we want to look like them we have to improve our infrastructure with the help of our neighbours.”
KATERYNA BOIKO: “I don’t know what to say about Europe. There are just some nice places which I’d like to visit: the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Big Ben in London and some other. Nothing else.”
KYRYLO PODKOVYROV: “Europe for me is a gold standard of a place to live. European countries have less political problems. It’s better to work there than in Ukraine. European education is better. I want to leave Ukraine and go to Europe to live there. Ukraine has to learn something from Europe.”
SASHA TRETEVYCH: “For me Europe is a union of developed countries such as Germany, France and Great Britain. The Europeans live among beautiful churches and palaces. For me the cultural center of our civilization is located there.”
ANDREW CHUBKO: “Europe has higher level of development in all areas of economics; higher standards of living. Most people in Europe are happier then people in our country. But it means nothing for me. I am happy that I was born in Ukraine and I don’t think my life would be better if I were born in a European country. I’d like to travel around Europe to get some new experience but the word EUROPE does not evoke any special thoughts in my head.”
Do you remember this Greek myth?
SVETLANA NENYUK: “I like all the European countries. My favourite ones are: France, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Estonia, Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden. I’d like to visit them because they are more developed and beautiful.”
PAVLO TROYANOV: “For me Europe is something new because I have never been there. So, I would like to visit it, Rome first of all since it is a cultural centre. I think we have to learn something from Europe.”
SVITLANA BILOKRYNYTSKA: “European countries have higher level of development than Ukraine. I would like to visit Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Lithuania. I’d like to study in Great Britain to improve my English. It’s a wonderful country with interesting customs, traditions and holidays.”
ALEX NABOKOV: “Europe includes a lot of countries and many of them belong to the European Union – a powerful organization of nations with interesting culture, loads of historic places etc. I see Europe just like that: historical sights, beautiful places, quality resorts, excellent education and high social standards.”
KATERYNA RODYNENKO: “Europe is an example for us, Ukrainians, and for our country. There are a lot of well-developed countries in Europe that I would like to visit especially England, Germany, Italy and France. I think we have to borrow something from their cultures. I’d like to study in a European university, in England or Germany. By the way, situation in Ukraine may be improved with some European assistance.”
N.B. Analyzing this mini-poll results one can see that Europe is seen by our students mostly as
a. a holiday destination
b. a cultural resource
c. an example to follow
d. a possible place to receive further education and/or job.
Notably only ONE respondent (5%!) sees himself as a European, and Ukraine as a part of Europe.
Now, enjoy some humour. What does it take to be a perfect European?
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