Kiev advice... how to keep out of trouble if you are a Mixed looking guy

[ttboy0]

Hi,


    First, I would like to say that I've really enjoyed reading all of the posts on here. It's been an experience learning from each member's posts!

    Here is my situation: I'm traveling to Kiev in April. The flight has been booked and the Apartment is almost confirmed. I will be meeting one lady who I talk to every day. She is not from the city so she will travel 16 hrs to meet with me. (I know some of  you recommend meeting as many women as possible but I like one at a time).

    My background: I'm 36 6'2 200Ibs light skinned Black dude from Canada. I'm in Software Eng in downtown Toronto. Fairly good looking if that is important to this discussion.

    My inquiry:

     * I know I will stick out over there but if I stick to central Kiev where all the tourists are will I be ok? My lady thinks its safe but my Russian friends think that I am crazy to go to the Ukraine when I'm a Black guy.

     * Does anyone have experience with using this service to rent an apartment? http://www.rentapartments.com.ua/index.html

Thanks for your time!!

[docetae]

It will be totally ok if you stay in the center and avoid drunk people at night. I have seen several mixed couple in Kiev and never saw or heard about a problem regarding them. For appartment, I don't know this agency but I recommend mala Zhitomirskaia as central location.

[OlgaH]

2008 Hate Crime Survey: Ukraine
Hate Crime in Ukraine

http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/discrimination/reports.aspx?s=ukraine&p=index

[Shadow]

Stay away from dark areas and drunk people. Do not go to places that you would avoid in Toronto.
Then probably you will be fine.

[GoodOlBoy]

......She is not from the city so she will travel 16 hrs to meet with me.

She is not from KIEV?

If she is not a local and doesn't know much about Kiev, I would pay close attention to the other members on this forum on where to go in Kiev (and more important where not to go) and all other pertinent advice.

Good Luck.

GOB

[Diplomacy]

16 hours from Kiev, that is likely Lugansk.  Care to tell us more about this woman please?

[ECOCKS]

As several people have mentioned, you should be fine if you stay in center at the mainstream clubs, on the main streets and in the restaurants.  Don't wander around the side streets after 6:00/dark (even in center) or try to take your gal to the outlying areas even just if that means just to the metro stop (not sure where she will be staying).  Stay near large, diverse groups of people.

My impression is that downtown Kyiv is a bit safer than downtown Moscow, but if you catch the eye of the wrong person or group of persons troubles can occur. Remember that if you get into it with the police after something happens, there's darn little sympathy on the force.  Keep the embassy after-hours number at the top of your contacts listing.

It is still worth the trip, particularly if the gal is mature with the quiet confidence that comes from being street smart.  Soviet gals are, on average, a bit tougher than their North American counterparts. 

Hope that helps, PM if you get too paranoid!

Oh, you definitely want to get to the embassy's Pub Nights (held on alternating Friday's) while you are in town.  Absolutely safe, great crowd, good beers and possible connections to get you into some small groups while in town.

[ttboy0]

Thanks for the comments I really appreciate them. I'm pretty street smart having grown up in Toronto, but when you don't speak the language its a new ballgame.. !!

About the woman; She is 26 from Lugansk. Great guess!!! We talk daily on cam so I have a good measure of her and her family. I've met her mom on cam as well.... A rare beauty that doesn't drink, smoke or go clubbing. I think I've dated every type of woman and I'm a very good judge of character and she is just a decent woman that would rather stay home than party her life away... 

I just hope that when I get there I will see 1 or 2 other types of nationalities! One thing she said that was interesting. She thinks I look more like a Ukrainian man with a shaved head and a tan than a Black man... lol its the light complexion. Her mother said the same.

[ttboy0]

Thanks ECOCKS,


    Embassy's Pub Nights sounds very tempting! I'm Canadian and we do love our beers!!!! For this trip I'm going to be low key.. After 6 I'll be in my apartment with my lady. .

[ECOCKS]

Perhaps, but consider that the Maple Leaf Pub is actually attended by many of the embassy staff.  Not a bad place to have a friend or two if you begin visiting regularly or get to the point where you are processing your letter of non-impediment or a spousal visa to take her home.

Safe and really good people around you.  Last Call is around 9:00 or 9:15 and they shut down by 10.  Take a taxi back to your apartment and you have a solid evening.  BTW, your GF will meet some other UW married to as well as dating WM, so it is good for her too since she will acquire a support group of similar-minded women.

[TwoBitBandit]

Depending on how dark-skinned you actually are, you may need to be ready to have the n-bomb dropped on you.

This particular word doesn't have the same connotation that it does in English.  Russians use it in the same context that an American might use black.

Just be ready for it, and decide in advance if you're going to let it slide or not.

[Mir]

She is 26 from Lugansk.

Hmmm Lugansk? Be carful

As for Kiev it is quite safe in the centre.
I would recommend taking taxi and not bothering with the metro.

[felix8787]

As several people have mentioned, you should be fine if you stay in center at the mainstream clubs, on the main streets and in the restaurants.  Don't wander around the side streets after 6:00/dark (even in center) or try to take your gal to the outlying areas even just if that means just to the metro stop (not sure where she will be staying).  Stay near large, diverse groups of people.

Hey ttboy,
I was in Kiev just last end Sept beginning of Oct. Now from my experience ( I am of mixed race, somewhat light brown skin) I had absolutely no problem there. Where I stayed at it was dark, not in the central Kiev. The grocery store was quite a distance (yes, walking down a road with no street lights).

I didn't do nightclubs, just not into them. I hung out at night at the square with my bud Sergi the taxi driver. I wasn't anywhere near a large diverse group of people, if anything I avoided them. About 95% of the time there I was by myself, cause the lady I went and seen had to work (Not a problem with me).

I didn't get hassled by anyone, nor did I get any strange looks, I did see one black guy there but that was all, I wasn't really looking for anyone that was not Ukrainian. The police didn't give me any problems either, but just in case I was prepared to call the US embassy. Other then that, I had a great time.

Enjoy your time there, if you have any questions, I will try to answer them in a reasonable time, right now I am in Nikolaev about 6 hours south of Kiev.

felix8787

[Diplomacy]

ttboy:

I would be careful, but not act differently than you normally would.  If she starts asking you to buy things, then drop her quickly.  The issue is that Lugansk and Krivoy Rog are very poor cities.  They are industrial cities similar to Detroit or Pittsburgh in the USA.

Now my Fiance is from Lugansk, and her friend has been married to an American for 9 years.  It is just a larger percentage of women, that use WM to get things.  Gifts, Green Cards, and Holiday.

My fiance will be the first to say, there are a lot of no good people in Lugansk.  Treat the trip with no expectations.  It is interesting she is meeting you in Kiev, instead of having you in Lugansk.  It would be easier to explain, if you lived and breathed in Lugansk for a week or two.

Just keep your right head thinking please.  If it does not feel right, then do not do it.  See how she reacts, if you say no to something. 

There are just a few factors that are of concern to me, with your trip.  Just do not try to talk yourself into something is OK, that does not feel right to you.

[ttboy0]

Thanks for the synopsis of her city .. She does complain about the quality of people there. Now I understand why. I've talked every day for months with her. If she wanted money I would've known earlier. She's actually buying me a gift

I do however understand your point and I have no expectations.

felix8787: Thanks for your impressions of Kiev...  I was reading about the amount of Skin Head attacks and was a little concerned. Its funny I grew up in Hamilton with a lot of Skin Heads and never had a problem....

[GoodOlBoy]

Hello ttboy0.

I found this older thread (from a different forum) that I remembered reading about Lugansk.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS315US315&q=lugansk+women+bad+reputation

It is titled "Lady from Lugansk suggest meeting me in Kiev"


I have posted it here on RWD for your inspection, I hope Dan won't get to upset with me. 

I am not connected with, nor have anything to do with touting any other forum's.

It is just FYI.

You might want to pay particular attention to OlgaS's post. I found her post quite interesting.

Have a good one.

GOB