I think the best way to convey my feelings about this is to call the people “white trash.”

No, I don’t like calling people names, and of course, identifying people by their racial characteristics is a definite faux pas, and only makes the speaker sound like the real ass. Nevertheless, in this case it fits.

As an aside… there are more or less only white (of Eastern European descent) people in this country. It is quite strange, for me, coming from (perhaps) the most culturally diverse country in the world. Shortly after living in Ukraine, I realized that I miss colors, languages, characteristics, sounds, shapes, styles and other cultural associations that different peoples naturally exhibit and exude. Here in Kyiv, one only occasionally sees a foreigner that is immediately identifiable. For example, it took me at least a month after leaving the airport, and I’m not exaggerating here, before seeing someone of African descent (“black”) in Kiev. I distinctly remember seeing a black guy on the marshrutka. My instinct told me that he spoke English – but I quickly realized that I was probably wrong, and if I attempted to say hello in English, we would look at me with a very puzzled expression on his face. So I sat, stared at the dreadlocked and brown-skinned individual for a while, tried to guess why he was here, and allowed myself to reflect upon some of the things I miss about being in America. Yes – I miss color. This country, as I’m guessing many countries around the world are, is quite culturally pure.

So, back to the white trash comment. I only use this slander because it fits. There is a large population of people here that don’t give a shit about anything BUT themselves. They don’t care about other people, the environment, the city, material objects that aren’t theirs, rules and laws that poeple live by, etc., etc….

They simply care about their own advancement in a dog-eat-dog world.

My example today:  Smoking in an elevator. Isn’t it WORLDWIDE ETIQUETTE to not smoke in an elevator? I’ve discussed how I feel about smoking cigarettes before. No, I don’t like it. Yes, it’s a personal choice, but I think it’s unhealthy and disgusting, and I hate being in situations where I have to inhale other peoples exhaled (or wafting) smoke. In Kiev, almost everyone smokes, and it is completely nauseating.

Today… you guessed it –> I walked out of my apartment to one of my building’s elevators (the nearest one)… and BLAMMO!  I could literally SEE THE SMOKE still wafting in the elevator. Evidently some white-trash asshole couldn’t wait to exit the building (or elevator!) to light up their f’n cigarette. It was probably already their 10th of the day, it being almost noon. But that 11th one just couldn’t wait. Unbelievable. How can people be so ignorant, so self-centered, so careless, so stupid, as to light up a cigarette in an ELEVATOR?

The craziest part of this story is that it brings me to want to discuss deeper issues pertaining to the Ukrainian culture. I won’t press on about it here too long, but I have to say that the Ukrainian People do not like to initiate confrontation: they don’t like to fight. Even if it is standing up for themselves: they often roll over and concede during confrontation. They would sooner just bite their lip and  later talk trash about the inconsiderate soul that committed the indecency than to confront the person perpetuating the obnoxious act. Of course there are exceptions – but most people truly avoid conflict with strangers (conflict at home is something widely accepted!). Overall, I would say that most people here really don’t want to “shake up” their lives in any significant way. Even their daily routines are meant to stay the same – day after day. I’m assuming it has something to do with living under the control of the Soviet regime for so long – and adopting (to the core) what it means to be socialistic in the existing generations.

Anyhow… I am particularly afraid of “speaking out” when I notice indecencies because I don’t necessarily like to attract attention to the fact that I’m a foreigner. I am feeling ever so slightly more comfortable as time passes – but I am still very sensitive about and reluctant to say anything that would be considered confrontational.

THAT BEING SAID — I promise… if I ever catch someone smoking in my elevator, I will ask them what in the hell they are doing. Hopefully my wife will be there to translate “shit for brains” into Russian. Or, maybe I should just learn and practice saying it so that it comes out naturally.

Hopefully it won’t lead to a scuffle in the elevator……. that could turn ugly, quickly.