Belarus: My Weird Home Country

Reading time: 5 min

So, Belarus. My home country. The place on the map where most people go, “Wait… isn’t that somewhere near Russia?” Yeah, thanks Google Maps, we exist. And no, it’s not Siberia, and yes, we do have electricity, Wi-Fi, and even memes.

Belarus is one of those countries that gets overshadowed by its louder neighbors — Russia shouting from the east, Poland flexing its pierogis to the west, Ukraine getting all the global headlines. Meanwhile, we’re sitting here like that quiet kid in class who actually has the best stories but nobody asks him to share. Well, buckle up, because I’m about to share.

For me, Belarus isn’t just a pin on the globe — it’s where my roots are. Born there, spent time as a student there, lived enough life to get the “authentic experience.” And by authentic, I mean eating draniki (potato pancakes that could end wars if deployed correctly) until you question your life choices, and dealing with winters so brutal your eyelashes freeze if you so much as think about going outside.

But here’s the thing: Belarus teaches you toughness. You don’t complain about -20°C; you just layer up and walk like a penguin on ice. You don’t whine about slow bureaucracy; you master the art of the silent sigh while holding 14 papers stamped in triplicate. It’s part of the national training program. Survive Belarus, survive anywhere.

Belarusian culture is a strange and beautiful cocktail. Slavic roots, Soviet leftovers, a pinch of European flair. You’ll hear both Belarusian and Russian spoken everywhere — sometimes in the same sentence, sometimes in the same swear word.

And the people? They’re reserved at first, like your quiet neighbor who never smiles. But give them five minutes and some vodka (trust me, this is not just a stereotype), and suddenly you’re family. Hospitality is big here — we’ll feed you until you regret accepting the invitation.

Traditions? We’ve got plenty. Folk songs, embroidery patterns that look like they were coded in 8-bit pixel art before Minecraft made it cool, and celebrations like Kupala Night, where people jump over bonfires for fun. Or maybe because central heating didn’t reach the forest, who knows.

If you’re actually thinking about visiting Belarus (respect), here are a few things worth seeing:

• Minsk – The capital, where Soviet architecture meets coffee shops that try way too hard to be hipster. Wide avenues, massive monuments, and more Lenin statues than you thought still existed.
• Mir Castle – A medieval fairytale fortress that screams “Instagram me, now!”. Bonus: you’ll feel like a knight defending potato pancakes.
• Brest Fortress – Not just bricks and cannons — this is where WWII left its scars, and Belarusians left their mark in history. It’s powerful, sobering, and a must-see.
• Belovezhskaya Pushcha – A forest so ancient it makes you feel like you’ve walked into Slavic Middle-earth. Also, yes, we’ve got bison. Giant, hairy, “don’t mess with me” bison.
• Villages – Because the real Belarus isn’t just in the cities. Wooden houses, storks nesting on telephone poles, and grandmas selling cucumbers the size of baseball bats.

Belarusian cuisine is the love letter potatoes never knew they wanted. We don’t just eat potatoes — we worship them. Mashed, fried, baked, shredded, boiled — if it’s possible, we’ve done it.

Signature dish? Draniki. Imagine hash browns, but on steroids and cooked by someone’s grandma who won’t let you leave the table until you’ve had fifteen. Pair that with sour cream, pickled everything, and maybe a questionable homemade liquor from Uncle Vasya’s garage, and you’ve got yourself a Belarusian feast.

Now, let’s not sugarcoat it. Belarus today isn’t exactly Disneyland. Politics? Yeah, messy. Economy? Let’s just say we’ve had better days. But here’s the thing: life goes on. People still fall in love, build families, study, work, and complain about the weather like everywhere else.

Belarus is complicated — part Soviet nostalgia, part European ambition, part “leave me alone, I’m just trying to live my life.” And honestly, that’s what makes it fascinating. It’s a place caught between eras, still figuring out what it wants to be when it grows up.

I’ve lived in other countries, sure. I’ve seen shiny cities, modern skyscrapers, and places where coffee costs as much as a small car. But Belarus? It always pulls me back.

It’s the smell of wet pine after the rain, the silence of a snowy street at night, the way strangers turn into friends faster than you expect. It’s messy, beautiful, frustrating, and hilarious — just like family.

Belarus might not be everyone’s dream destination, but it’s mine. It’s home. And like every home, it comes with its quirks, its flaws, and its weird comfort. You can take me out of Belarus, but you can’t take Belarus out of me.

So, next time you hear “Belarus,” don’t just think “that country near Russia.” Think of castles and forests, potatoes and vodka, history and resilience. Think of a place that’s not perfect, but real.

And if you ever visit? Bring a warm jacket, an empty stomach, and an open mind. Oh, and maybe some extra luggage space for the cucumbers.

Hey, want to see more from my travels? Check this out: Travel Blogs