ARE YOU PROUD OF BEING BELARUSIAN?

I am Belarusian because my parents who gave me life and brought me up are Belarusian. And what if I were born in a different country on a different continent? In my opinion, a sense of pride in your country, a sense of belonging to a particular nation develops in a person with time. Therefore at my age, by the way I am 18, I can say quite positively, that I am proud to live in Belarus.

The real treasure of Belarus is its wonderful nature. The country has hundreds of wild forests, rolling hills, green valleys, sweetscented meadows and golden fields. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the only place where you can meet mighty European bison in the wild. Belarus is also famous for its clear lakes and ribbonlike rivers, that‘s why it‘s called a blueeyed one. The resorts of lakes Naroch and Braslav are open all year round and let tourists experience the unforgettable peaceful atmosphere.

I am proud of the rich heroic history of my country. Although for many centuries we were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania1 , the PolishLithuanian Commonwelth2 and then the Russian Empire3 , we have managed to stay united and haven‘t lost our uniqueness. Many foreigners admit that our people are extremely sociable, hospitable, and generous, and welcoming. We are also described as resourceful and peaceful. When socializing, Belarusians are open, warmhearted, funloving, humorous and outgoing in spite of all the difficulties they face in their life.

Of course I‘m proud of our national holidays and traditions, especially those which are deeprooted and typical of our nation such as Kalyady, Maslenitsa, Dazhynki. They are unique and make us stand out. Besides, they are of particular interest for tourists because they reflect our culture.

In conclusion, I‘d like to say that I‘m proud of my country and its people. Each time I go abroad I tell foreigners about our great past and achievements. Each time I leave the country I want to come back again, because I miss it. If I were a talented painter, I would start drawing pictures with its beautiful landscapes; if I could compose verses, I would write lyric poems about it. Belarus is the place where my heart will always belong to!

1 the Grand Duchy of Lithuania [ˈɡrænd ˈdʌtʃɪ əv ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪə] Великое Княжество Литовское / Вялікае Княства Літоўскае

2 the PolishLithuanian Commonwelth [ˈpəʊlɪʃ ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪən ˈkɒmənwelθ] Речь Посполитая – федерация Королевства Польского и Великого Княжества Литовского / Рэч Паспалітая – федэрацыя Каралеўства Польскага і Вялікага Княства Літоўскага 5

3 the Russian Empire[ˈrʌʃn ˈempaɪə] Российская империя / Расійская імперыя