So, I took a Global Perspectives class on Russia and Eastern/Central Europe this semester. It was a lot of writing, but interesting none-the-less.

And it has opened my eyes to a couple of characters in my Hetalia fanfic.

Basically, Slavs in Europe are split into three groups. West, East, and South. West Slavs hate East Slavs, East Slavs hate West Slavs. South Slavs hate each other.

West Slavs include the countries Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia

East Slavs include countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus... and I think Bulgaria? I think Georgia as well

South Slavs include Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, etc. basically, the entirety of former Yugoslavia.

Hungary and Romania are not Slavic even though they're in wedged in this region. Hungary's closest relative (when assessing languages) is Finland, and Romania's is countries like Italy and Spain.

So, in my Hetalia fanfic, Czechia is stuck in a unit with his former Soviet Bloc companions (for lack of a better term), including Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These countries, essentially, all despise each other.

My main re-evaluation comes down to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their characterization is based on the idea that "Bosnia" and "Herzegovina" are essentially the exact same person.

FALSE.

Herzegovina was basically a large faction of Croatians living within Bosnia.

When Bosnia finally broke away from Yugoslavia (aka Serbia), Herzegovina wanted to become a completely autonomous nation. Not an autonomous province- a whole nation. Bosnia wouldn't be able to survive without Herzegovina, so they worked out some stuff and combined.

But they don't like each other that much.

Also, Bosnia actually has a sizable Muslim population, so I need to change her appearance according (I mean, the Muslims that live there are still white, just the product of generations under Ottoman rule and converting to the religion, but I can have her wear proper clothing and such).

Yeah, so when I start back up on my Hetalia fanfiction, there's quite a bit I need to shift around, especially with those two.