We're Here

We arrived in Kyiv with a sigh of relief. Our flights were relatively uneventful and we arrived at the appointed time to meet our translator/guide (Konstantin) at a flower stand outside of the customs area. After navigating the incredibly packed airport parking lot, he took us to the downtown area and dropped us off at our apartment. We are living on a side street, about three blocks west of the main street. Our apartment is small, but comfortable with working a/c, hot water and a washing machine. We also apparently live in a "tourist" destination as the apartment has the smallest working elevator in the Eastern Block (according to Konstantin -- see photo above). It only fit two bags and our guide; Phil and I had to take the stairs when we arrived. It is about the size of a double sleeping bag and you can barely turn sideways in it.

We spent the first afternoon trying to make up for not getting much sleep on the flight. That evening I went shopping with K and his wife for groceries. We need not have worried about having access to soap, etc.... this place was stocked with inexpensive and sophisticated food and household items--a Ukrainian version of Target. A couple differences include a whole aisle of vodka, mushroom flavored potato chips and a huge selection of "help-yourself" bins with scoops for frozen items from fish sticks to green beans. Yesterday we spent the day walking downtown and getting our money changed. They don't use banks--just currency shops. The exchange rate is approx. 1 US dollar to 5 UAH. It has been beautiful weather and the town is made for walking.

-Robin

[Phil writing now] One thing I should mention is how strange it is to be in a city where everyone is speaking this language that I translate every day, and yet it's the first time I've been in a Russian-speaking country. Therefore I'm constantly trying to talk Russian to waitresses, shop clerks, etc., and the first day they were all answering back in English or not answering at all. Things have improved, however, and I've had some nice chances to practice my Russian. In fact, the w-fi equipped restaurant we're in is great because the waitress speaks Russian to me and English to Robin. I think she knows I want to practice.

What else to tell... Oh yeah, we flooded our bathroom this morning because we have an ancient washing machine that you have to place the drain pipe in the toilet. No, really. We didn't know this, so we set the cycle to run, went out and got a latte, and came home to find 2 inches of water in the bathroom. It took us an hour to clean up. What a disaster.

The city is beautiful, the weather is warm but not too humid, and the people are almost uniformally attractive (at least the women are). Around the tourist areas the service people are aloof, but as you move even a few blocks from the main drag they become much more friendly.

Okay, I'll let Robin write a bit more before sign off:

[Robin]

Some of the pictures we will post include Phil showing how small our loft bedroom is (he has to crouch to get into the room); children taking pony rides through a beautiful park near our apartment (Park Shevchenka); and the funny Ukranian "hut" restaurant we ate at last night. It looked like something out of Hansel and Gretel (minus the witch). We are making our way here and I think it will get easier everyday. Today we bought a skillet (laugh while you can, but I swear I wish I hadn't pulled that out of my bag to save space), a knife and a bottle opener to increase our ability to live comfortably in our apartment. Phil's Russian is definitely coming in handy and I was so proud to see him ordering our dinner last night and my latte this morning. The woman at the coffee shop actually asked him if he had his "discount card" --not a word he knew, btw, but I think a nice acknowledgement for his ability to fit in here.

We have our appointment tomorrow at 10 a.m. Wish us luck!