What Does It Mean to Be Ukrainian?

I always rely and act according to what my rational sense tells me. That is how my parents raised me and their behavior was an example for me. As a result, I rarely follow my intuition or bliss. When I face difficulties, I usually list all the advantages and disadvantages and based on them make my decisions. However, sometimes I feel like I should have done some things the other way, though they seem logically based.
My parents always tried to persuade me that Ukraine is not a good country to live in. As I studied in a Ukrainian school that propaganded patriotism from the first grade, it was very hard for me to understand and accept their point of view. To help me decide they gave me a chance to travel and see the world and to choose the place in which I feel most comfortable. During the last five years I visited three different countries. Each one of them changed me in some way and helped me to understand who I am inside. In each country I traveled, even though it was difficult at times, I tried to remain Ukrainian and not hide my Ukrainian culture.
The first country I visited was Italy. When I was thirteen years old I went there with my classmates for a month. From the first moment I was in love with the gondolas of Venice and the numerous monuments of Milan. A year later I traveled to France twice; and then to the USA. Those three countries changed me completely on the inside as well as on the outside. I started to view the things not only from one point of view, but from a lot of different ones. Now I cannot imagine my life without visiting Paris again; and I will never forget the shining downtown of Chicago. However, that love for these three countries did not make me forget that beauty of my own one. Instead, it gave me willingness to tell and show all the great sides of Ukraine to everyone. My trips made me feel that Ukraine is not the only country that shines; that there are a lot of other cities and towns that are as beautiful.
However, the beauty is different. There are things in Ukraine that cannot be found in any other part of the world. For example, there is nothing like Ukrainian villages in the summer. Only there you can smell the adore of fresh milk mixed with the fresh-cut grass; only there you can walk barefoot all day long and not feel tired; only there you can lay all night at the straw and watch the stars, listening to people singing national Ukrainian songs and dancing near the campfire. No where else there are people that are always ready to help and are so sincere in their feelings and expressions; and there is no other place in the world where I feel that strong connection with my ancestors. How can a person live without loving his/ her home country? Not knowing or not loving your home country is like not knowing and not feeling anything to your mother. Ukraine gave me birth; it raised me and taught me through all my life.
I appreciate what Ukraine gave me and the lessons it taught me. I would not be the person I am now if I would live in another country. I hope I will always stay Ukrainian in my soul.
Being Ukrainian means loving Ukraine with all your heart; loving each and every part of it; being proud of its past, trying to develop its present and thinking how to develop Ukraine in the future. Being Ukrainian means being different and showing that to the others. There is no other nation talking in the same melodious language, singing the same type of songs, wearing the same national outfits, and cooking the same national dishes. Each Ukrainian should realize that.
I also believe that no matter where you live, and no matter what kind of people surround you, it is always necessary to remember where are you from and that deep inside you are a citizen of your own country I feel that no matter whether I stay in Ukraine, travel or leave forever my heart will remain Ukrainian and I am proud of that.