Russia's weather in pictures...

[internat]

It's not in Russia. Odessa is in Ukraine although Russian is spoken more than Ukrainian as in much of the central and eastern parts of the country.

Originally Posted by Jammie

Daryl, I wasn't aware of it until a few months ago either, but I understand that Odessa is sort of the banana belt of Russia.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by internat

It's not in Russia. Odessa is in Ukraine although Russian is spoken more than Ukrainian as in much of the central and eastern parts of the country.

So isn't the Ukraine part of Russia? If not, would've it been part of Russia in the late 1800s? I do remember something about a few parts of Russia breaking away~like Georgia and a few others. Anyone wanna give me an updated history lesson on this?

[dxiweodwo]

Originally Posted by Jammie

So isn't the Ukraine part of Russia? If not, would've it been part of Russia in the late 1800s? I do remember something about a few parts of Russia breaking away~like Georgia and a few others. Anyone wanna give me an updated history lesson on this?

Ukraine was part of the USSR from 1922-1991. Most of the people there are Slavic, which is the main ethnic group in eastern europe

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by dxiweodwo

Ukraine was part of the USSR during WWII and become it's own country when the USSR broke up....around 1992 I believe.

Thank you, DX. That explains it!! I haven't had to study history or world affairs since the early 70s. Since then I just pick and choose what I want to read about.

[dxiweodwo]

lol no problem. History is probably one of my better subjects

[Jammie]

Kind of off the "weather" topic here, BUT I watched an episode of "Cops" last night that had been filmed in Russia. I thought it was fascinating! I was so amazed at how different the language is compared to ours and wondered if English is also taught in schools. I wouldn't be able to communicate with Lumumba at all in his native language and I was just impressed at how well he does in English.

[lumumba]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I wouldn't be able to communicate with Lumumba at all in his native language and I was just impressed at how well he does in English.

Thanks for the complement, mate!
To be honest, my English is not as fluent as I want it to be

The Ukrainian language is quite different from Russian by the way. I would hardly get anything if I heard a native Ukrainian speech. On the other hand, my girlfriend is half-ukrainian and her father-side relatives live in Kiev and all of them know russian well.

"Ukraine was part of the USSR from 1922-1991" by dxiweodwo
- in addition to this I can say that Ukraine is more then a former part for Russia. I would say that they shouldn't've been divided! You may remember the ancient times, 9-10th centuries or even earlier, I'm not very good in History either, and at that time there was Kiev's Russia! And the whole Russia started it's existing somewhere near Kiev. And living in Russia I can't remember any person who is not this or that connected with Ukraine.

[Jammie]

OH, I'm loving all this info. I wonder if they have relaxed some of the rules for getting ancestor info out of the Ukraine since the split. My cousin was doing a family tree several years ago and was told that they wouldn't release any info.

[lumumba]

eh, I think so Ukraine is quite friendly with Mr Bush, you know

to be serious, if your cousin had come right to Ukraine he would've got all the information he needed, US $s are still US $s moreover, he would've had a chance to taste real Ukrainien salo (white tasty salted part of a pig) and gorilka (hot hazy water >40%) along with Ukrainien girls, who are the most beautiful I must say!