Upon discovering her Soviet background, Julia Nalivaiko's friends often ask, "What's it like over there?". To answer, she traveled to Russia and Ukraine with Australian filmmaker Stuart McBratney, in an attempt to better understand the country she left as a child.
Julia explores the USSR's origin in the city formerly known as Leningrad, which was the site of the October Revolution, and also discovers St Petersburg's musical side.
Julia explores the challenges of doing business in post-Soviet Moscow and visits Russia's weekend retreat - the dacha. Julia is now in Russia's capital, a megalopolis of 12 million people.
Julia learns about the Orange Revolution and the ongoing social issues in Ukraine. Julia returns to the city of her birth, Kyiv. She begins her homecoming by touring its picturesque streets and markets with her tour guide Valentina.
Julia visits a monastery famous for its artists-in-residence, and learns about the changing role of women in Ukrainian society. Julia visits the Lavra Caves Monastery.
Julia discovers Ukraine's traditional culture, and revisits her own origins.
Julia explores Kherson, a town in regional Ukraine still largely unchanged since Soviet times, then visits tourist playground Odessa.
Julia explores Russia and Ukraine's culinary delights, from well known traditional dishes to modern fusion cuisine. Julia tours a market in Kherson, searching for quintessential flavours.