Any relationship can be quite challenging, but when dating someone from another country, culture and background, you may have to deal with such obstacles as language barrier, cultural differences and luck of knowledge on your fiancee's perceptions, both about major life issues and about the little nothings of life. Therefore, learning more about Ukrainian cuisine and drinking habits would provide you with good start in your relationship.



It is important for you to know that Ukrainians are very warm and giving when it comes to feeding their visitors. Perhaps this is an offshoot of their excellent abilities in the kitchen. Our first dating tip is to be ready to be invited and cajoled to eat so much and go for as many helpings as you can when you are invited for dinner at your fiancee's house. If you do not, they will think that you are snubbing their hospitality and do not appreciate the effort put in the preparation of all these food.

Ukrainians have very delicious and exotic foods. Among the famous Ukrainian dishes that they will surely regale you with are Borshch (beet soup), Vareniki (sort of Ravioli), Nalisniki (pancakes), Golubsti (cabbage rolls) and Salo with garlic (Pig's fat). Some of these you may find to your liking, but the others you would not even touch with a ten-foot pole. So another dating tip coming up: be ready with some polite reason why you cannot eat some of the foods served to you.

Be creative with your answers or it could spell doom for your relationship with her family. We know that in most European countries and in the US, nobody eats pure pig's fat. But plainly told to your fiancee's family, will not do you any good. So think ahead of time for some inspired reason why you cannot take part of some of the foods.

Let us look at the Ukrainian drinking habits. Ukrainian men in general drink a lot, imbibing vodka or cognac till they are much too drunk. As a matter of fact, this is one of the major reasons why Ukrainian women shun the local men and turn to foreign men for marriage. So if you are seriously pursuing your Ukrainian dating, Tip No.3 will be of help: Do not drink too much and do not share your "pub stories" with your lady.

Some ladies tend to drink a lot of alcohol too, especially during dates or certain occasions, which they believe is quite acceptable. Besides, some ladies make the men they are dating or marrying promise that they will never take even a single drop of alcohol.

Before seeing your girl's family, you should request her to give you a head's up as to her family's drinking habits in order to prepare for visit. If she agrees, you could get a bottle of good vodka, cognac or wine for her family or her father. At any rate, you have to limit yourself to just a few drinks no matter how much her family persuades you to take some more.

Following these simple tips regarding Ukrainian cuisine and drinking habits could put you off to a good start in impressing your lady and avoiding embarrassing situations which could lead to conflicts in your relationship.