It LOOKS like a Ukrainian duck, it WALKS like a Ukrainian duck but it doesn't TALK like a Ukrainian duck

You say "Goodbye" I say a word that sort of sounds like "Hello" but my accent tells you I'm probably not from around these parts was never a Beatles' hit, but it is the story of my life in Kiev. Much more here, than in my hometown of Lviv, it is as if every time I open my mouth a banner illuminates my forehead reading "banyak" which is a not so friendly word to describe those Ukrainians who have left the mother-country and thus developed different language patterns. Though this is a truth about me, it was not a pleasant revelation and I have spent the last 24-48 hours coming to terms with this fact. Here is my rant:

During my stay I have been called out on not being "from here", mostly by restaurant staff, on several distinct occasions. Once, the waiter after hearing my accent ridden Ukrainian, simply switched to English. Another girl, after taking my order without a hint of suspicion proceeded to ask later if I was going to be paying in "cash or credit" in English, as if I had not made attempts to use the local language.

Today, things got better. I ordered a beer and the young lad asked if I was from Kiev. I said no. He proceeded to tell me how pure my Ukrainian was and how he figured I was from the western sphere of the country. After a short discussion and the revelation that I had come all the way from America he jokingly said that he could not detect any Arizona-ish influence on my Ukrainian at all.

Though sometimes I do feel like I just bust out of a time capsule that makes me articulate more like an antique from yesterday year rather than a properly modernized slang slinging young lady and I can understand how that coupled with near Ukrainian speaking isolation has turned out a person who walks and looks like one of Ukraine's own, but as soon as I begin speaking ears strain to understand me. I am coming to terms with this.

I feel like I give it a solid go at speaking Ukrainian. Whatever accent or annotation oddness I throw down in my speech is not a shameful sign. Even though I no longer reside on the soil I was born on I continue to speak my mother tongue and most importantly come back with a desire to practice and improve my grasp of the language.

Furthermore, since when is diversity bad? Since when does an accent make one less appealing? Has anyone heard of British people? They are basically riding that accent train from dry humor boring town to conversation glory. Indisputably, their adorable accent is the engine on that locomotive.

But back to this semi-heart broken semi-Ukrainian girl… I was seriously saddened by the strange looks and language switching when I tried to speak Ukrainian. But each day is a new chapter and each interaction is a new beginning so today instead of shying away and switching to English when it was obvious that I was not a Kiev native I held on to the Ukrainian that I can deliver and used it to converse with several waiters. Never having to switch languages and their curiosity rather than disdain for the way I speak made it a very pleasant instead of uncomfortable experience.

The feeling of being understood, validated and accepted transcends any language and I really appreciate being treated like a unique rather than odd member of the Ukrainian speaking population.