From Borsch to Burgers: A Cross-Cultural Memoir

De: Ruslana A. Westerlund

Narrado por: Ruslana A. Westerlund, Julian Westerlund, Nicky Westerlund, Rob Westerlund, Laura Gallagher

This singular memoir from one of Ukraine’s new literary lights tracks her journey from a little girl toiling in the potato fields of the Soviet Union to the shiny but sometimes foreign new world of America. Ruslana’s From Borsch to Burgers elegantly and humorously captures her gleeful yet puzzling journey through new foods, customs, language, and love. Her message of cross-cultural discovery presents enlightening insights into understanding the nuances found in spanning two worlds. Her tale attempts to answer the questions asked by all people who have left their homeland to seek out a new life, “Who am I now?” and “Where do I fit in?

©2019 Ruslana Westerlund (P)2020 Ruslana Westerlund

Inspiring! I highly recommend it.

I highly recommend Dr. Westerlund’s memoir to anyone who lives cross-culturally (e.g. teaching multicultural students, managing culturally diverse teams, or having family members from different cultures). She is inspiring. Although I have never visited Ukraine, I have Ukrainian friends, and her life experiences have helped me have a better understanding of their stories. As an immigrant, I was able to find fascinating connections in her reflections. It is interesting to see how immigration experiences can be similar even if we come from thousands of miles apart. If you are interested in building your intercultural awareness, you cannot miss this book. I suggest you listen to it on Audible so you can hear Dr. Westerlund’s voice including some sections where she speaks in Ukrainian.

Fascinating memoir

I was truly touched in this memoir by the honesty, with which Ruslana tells it. And I was fascinated by the variation of understanding about other countries. Anyone who has the opportunity to work with individuals from other countries and who are learning English as a second language should definitely listen to this book.