r/AskEasternEurope 13h ago

Culture I need help understanding this dynamic

3 Upvotes

I grew up in America with an American father and a mother from Moldova. I spoke both Russian and English in the house and I do associate myself heavily with both Russian and Moldovan cultures because some of the traditions in my house were of that background. I live in a small town where there are not a lot of Russian speakers around so the only other Russian speakers I knew were a family that has a similar background to mine except the mother was from Moscow and not Moldova. Now more Russian speakers( specifically from Russia such as St. Petersburg) have moved to town and all the women became friends with my mother. There’s just one thing though, they all treat her differently simply because she wasn’t from Moldova, such as pointing out her heritage and her background whenever they get the chance and not seeming to understand how Moldovans lived their lives. When I started going to college there were a few Russians that I have met, both of them happened to be from Moscow. The first girl I met my freshman year actually ran into my grandma first, and being that my grandma only spoke Russian, she mentioned me to her and the girl actively tried to find me. We ended up getting coffee together and chatted for a bit but that was it. After a while of trying to reach out again and attempting to plan another time to hangout, I noticed she grew distant. Whenever I would say hi to her she would act all serious and I could tell by the expression on her face she wasn’t to fond to see me anymore as she once did. She never answered the last message I sent her either which was asking when we could hangout again. It just seemed weird how she switched up all of a sudden. Now being that I met her during the second year of the Russo-Ukrainian war I tried to be polite and not ask her what her stance was and talk about something political like that, so I dont think I couldve said anything to upset her. When I noticed she wasn’t as eager to talk to me anymore I gave up trying to talk to her all together, even unadding off of instagram and snapchat because I did not want to bother with her anymore. Now this is where I notice a pattern, my second year I meet this Russian boy( from Moscow) in my class, we talk and we get along and he seemed so happy to know that I spoke Russian too, i even followed him on instagram and we became mutuals(if thats what that means lol). We would chat all the time in class and such but towards the end of the semester whenever I would talk he would just look at me funny or just not even try and talk to me, it was a bit of a different switch up, nothing that I expected from the girl but surprise surprise, they happened to know each other (they both did sports and were on the volleyball and swim teams at my college). I never talked to him again after that semester but almost two years later her unfollows me off of instagram yet he still follows other people from that same class. Even as I transferred schools I met this one girl in my class that happened to speak Russian, but her mother was from Moscow and she was born in California, we chatted for two days and then she decided to sit completely on opposite side of the class room the rest of the semester. I used to be so eager making friends I could speak Russian with, and the only people I can connect with are people that either have eastern European backgrounds or are from any post Soviet country besides Russia, but I could never bond with Russians. After a while I gave up trying to befriend Russians and just went with whatever happens. Even Romanians think of me as one of them and are more eager to interact with me. I just want to understand why I am experiencing this and is it the fact that Moldova isn’t the same as Russia and they feel the need to treat me this way? How come both my mother and I experience some sort of issues when it comes to befriending people from Russia? Ethnically and culturally I am Russian, my nationality might not be, but suffice to say I am not necessarily a Moldovan either in that manner, I am just an American. No hate to the Russian people in any way, I just have a hard time understanding why I run into this pattern.


r/AskEasternEurope 3d ago

Why Do the Ukrainians want Donbass and crimea anyway

0 Upvotes

>majority ethnic Russia

majority want to be part of Russian Federation Home of pro-Russia revolt by local militas

Its pretty clear they do not want to be Ukrainian, so just let them go.


r/AskEasternEurope 4d ago

Ask me about russia

1 Upvotes

I am a 15-year-old Russian child. Ask questions about our country, culture, stereotypes, and anything else.


r/AskEasternEurope 6d ago

What are Russians opinion of the UK and its people?

0 Upvotes

What is the perception of the UK in Russia?


r/AskEasternEurope 8d ago

Hi, I'm trying to find a comrades Russian, Ukraine, German pls

1 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 8d ago

Kind of racism

0 Upvotes

hi everyone. I’m from Russia and I want to know, how people in Europe feel about migrants from Slavic countries like Belarus, Ukraine or Russia. Is there Russophobia in your country, or any other kinds of distorted perceptions of these countries?


r/AskEasternEurope 9d ago

Is this normal dating behavior in Eastern Europe?

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2 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 12d ago

Any Ossetians living in Ireland?

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2 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 14d ago

poss-soviet housing in Ukraine

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1 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 15d ago

Books about ethnic diversity in Russia

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1 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 15d ago

Discussion Why do Czechs and Poles kinda look alike in the facial features?

0 Upvotes

Same eyes, just on average Czech’s are narrower and a little smaller.

Not most btw

The look I’m thinking of is more typical in the Czech Republic I think, but Poland has a way way bigger population so idk, more of a Czech look or Polish look? It’s subjective in my opinion, but let me know what you think! :D

I’m a naive and somewhat obsessed American lol

And yeah it often has an angry look kind of vibe, yes scary


r/AskEasternEurope 17d ago

Travel and Tourism Eastern Europe vs Japan vs Scotland

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1 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 17d ago

Books about ethnic diversity in Russia

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1 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 20d ago

Politics AMA. In 2014, the war in Donbas forced my family out of Gorlovka. I’ve been living in Rostov, Russia for 12 years.

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26 Upvotes

Today, I am 21 and live in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. But in 2014, when I was 9, I was living in Gorlovka—a city in the Donbas region.

Back then, as the political crisis escalated, people in my city expected a peaceful political transition to Russia, similar to the Crimean scenario. Instead, a full-scale war broke out by the summer. Due to heavy shelling, my family had to leave everything behind and relocate to Russia, where I’ve spent the last 12 years.


r/AskEasternEurope 20d ago

Travel and Tourism Birthday trip to Eastern Europe — flying from Boston, July/Aug, 15-30 days. Group tour recs needed! 🎂

1 Upvotes

Hi! I'm a solo female traveler from Boston USA (BOS) treating myself to a birthday trip through Eastern Europe. Budget is a real priority right now, but safety and comfort matter too — private rooms only, no dorms.

I tried solo travel once but no more. I need a small group tour with an English-speaking guide where I'll actually connect with people, not just sightsee alone in a crowd.

I want to go beyond the Budapest/Vienna/Prague/Berlin circuit — Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, and the Balkans are all calling my name. The more countries the better.

Looking for:
- Small group tour, English guide, solo-friendly (no or low single supplement)
- Budget-friendly, reliable, high-rated
- Any European-based operators cheaper than G Adventures/Intrepid?

**Questions:**
1. Which tour gave you the best social experience — where you actually made friends?
2. Hidden gem cities worth adding?
3. Solo women — which cities felt safest and most welcoming?
4. Best cheap routing from Boston into this region?

DM me if you want to swap notes. Thanks! 🙏


r/AskEasternEurope 21d ago

Discussion What Ukrainians think about immigrants?

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1 Upvotes

We hit the streets of Khreshchatyk, Kyiv's main avenue, to ask locals what they think about migrants moving to Ukraine during the war. We got some incredibly diverse and interesting opinions!

full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91knbY1_fz4


r/AskEasternEurope 23d ago

What do you think this Eastern European was trying to say with "pickle"?

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1 Upvotes

I've been aware of this video of a man who sounds Eastern European who initially seemed to be psychic about trying to find a pickle. He then clarified and said he was asking about love.

I'm trying to figure out what he was trying to say.

Any guesses?


r/AskEasternEurope 23d ago

Discussion (American here) don't you guys have ac? I get that it doesn't get very hot over there most of the time, but why no ac?

0 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope 24d ago

Can someone identify this possibly Easter-European movie?

1 Upvotes

Release date: Probably 1990-2017.

Country of origin: Unknown. Predominantly Caucasian actors.

Genre: Probably drama.


It's set in a rural environment, in and around a small village.

The main character is a middle-aged man. He tries to earn some extra money by teaching the neighbor's kids how to use a bow and arrow, but the kids refuse, saying that nowadays "everybody uses Kalashnikovs".

The village shopkeeper leases some land to the main character.

The shopkeeper falls in love with the protagonist's wife.

Out of envy and anger, the shopkeeper finds a bogus reason to sue the main character. He claims that the protagonist fenced off a well without his permission on the land he rented to him.

The defendant claims that he did it because otherwise the droppings of his grazing flock of sheep would pollute the well.

A scene from the trial:

A friend of the defendant, who was not called as a witness, appears at the trial and approaches the judge:

The judge asks: What are you doing here?

The guy says: Well, all my friends are here, with whom I play cards, so I thought I'll come too!

The judge: Okay, since you are here, you might as well testify.

The guy then says that before the trial the shopkeeper had thanked the defendant for building the fence because the sheep manure actually fertilizes his land and increases its value, and because of this testimony, the shopkeeper loses the case.


https://www.gyakorikerdesek.hu/szorakozas__filmek-sorozatok__13178064-mi-a-cime-egy-link-ferfi-nyilazni-tanitotta-volna-penzert-a-szomszed-gyerekeit


r/AskEasternEurope 25d ago

Gastronomy What eastern european foods should I try?

6 Upvotes

I love borscht, olivier salad, and pierogies. What else should I try?


r/AskEasternEurope 28d ago

Culture Did your parents make you pay rent once you had a job?

3 Upvotes

As per question.


r/AskEasternEurope Jun 22 '26

is there any book to explain "personality" differences between us and western cultures

6 Upvotes

Hey guys,

I moved abroad few years ago and I can see the differences between Eastern European personality traits and people from the West which can lead to miscommunication/misunderstandings.

I come across reels on ig which can describe the differences quite well. I was wondering is there any book? Sometimes it would be good for me to have a point of reference when I chat to my friends in the case of misunderstandings.

I have a couple of friends who are culture nerds and they'd be keep to read as well.


r/AskEasternEurope Jun 21 '26

Travel and Tourism Weekend in Vienna or in Budapest?

3 Upvotes

Hello!

My GF and I are planning a trip to a few eastern european countries and we're having some issues deciding where to spend one of our weekends there.

On one hand, we heard that Budapest has an amazing nightlife, on the other, there's going to be a really cool band playing in Vienna on the same weekend.

We'll be travelling in October this year and our budget is rather small, around 100 euros per day, though we don't mind spending a little more for the weekend.

This post is mostly concerning the nightlife since we'll be visiting both cities regardless lol.

Can anyone who has been to both cities chime in? Thanks!


r/AskEasternEurope Jun 21 '26

[TOMT] Children's book from ex Yugoslavia

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1 Upvotes

r/AskEasternEurope Jun 11 '26

Russian stereotypes

2 Upvotes

hi! i’m from Russia, and I'm really curious what others think about our country and the people here. I can also answer questions about Russia