Americanization of OurSociety

Tetyana Svelyka from Ukraine

Kirovohrad State Pedagogical University
School of Ukrainian and Russian Languages
We often meet features of Americanization in our
life. As you know, the United States of America
have great influence on our culture, on our
customs, values, and people, too. I know that some
people want to be look like Americans and they try
to do what Americans do, they try to live how
Americans live, and these people think that they will
live better on their native land, because they will be
look like Americans. Thats why some of our
Ukrainian families try to be similar to Americans.
They dont learn the language, but they inherit the
American customs and holidays, style of their life,
their traditions.
I like American customs and style of their life, but I think that this inheritance can
influence negatively on our traditions. When people learn foreign traditions, they
forget their own. I think that each country should have its own culture. And each
culture is interesting.
But there are many positive sides of globalization. Nowadays Ukraine has
diplomatic relations with the USA. Our government has relations in politics,
economics, culture, sports, and other sides of life. True friendship is built by the
people of our two countries.
Tourism is very popular now. You can see a lot of Ukrainian tourists in the USA and
a lot of American tourists visit our country. We also exchange students and
teachers. We have close relations with ethnic Ukrainians who live in the US. In the
Soviet times it was forbidden to keep in touch with Ukrainian Diaspora. Besides, I
like American fashion and I think that fashion has a good influence on the
relationships between different nations.
However, there are not only pros, but also cons. As you know, fashionable brands
of cigarettes come to us from the United States. They are advertised on the streets,
in the shops, and on TV. Teenagers begin to smoke, because they think its cool.
Our teenagers buy cigarettes, selling cigarettes to teenagers is prohibited only at
the big shops, but it is possible to buy them on the street. The problem is that
smoking is too fashionable. They think they are already adults. They see handsome
smoking men in American films too often. I think that it is a very big problem.
So, I think that the influence of globalization on our society in general is good, but
some people are fond (cario) of the West too much. I think that everybody who
lives in Ukraine should remember Ukrainian traditions and customs.

Photo: YuliyaMelnyk
When people learn foreign
traditions, they forget their
own. I think that each country
should have its own culture.
And each culture is interesting.