My so called fellow Americans when I'm abroad.

[LatinSwede]

It's really irritating when I'm some where in Europe (in my case at least), and all of a sudden a "fellow American" acts like my best friend.  I really want to tell him to piss off!  As well, the silly sod thinks I'm going to be his instants drinking buddy/free tour guide.  He was to dense headed to try learning anything (like the language, culture, etc) before getting there.  It's usually a guy who just stayed in the little tourist district, and needs the English menu.  All I want to do when I'm in Ukraine, is spend quality time with my lady and her family.  She and her nephew are the only real company I need and want. 

Maybe I sound too arrogant, but I don't want to run into a bus load of dorks on a wirlwind romance tour.  I'll pretend I don't speak English.  Too bad I'm not really able to appear local in the FSU, as other parts of Europe.  In Holland, I've pretended not to know English (I speak Dutch) to avoid pushy British tourists.

[Mamma D]

Sounds a lot like the opinion of a friend (Mormon Missionary) who served in Kiev LOL....

But really, it is mostly the losers that stick out and and make fools of themselves, our best go un-noticed!

It was that way in the 1950's, and seems not to have changed much!

Mamma D

[55North]

I have visited Kyiv 3 times this last winter.  My outer clothing was in black, by accident rather than design, and I found, of course, that I looked like a well-off Ukrainian, as testified by my lady who didn't want me to stand out, for economic reasons.  I was always addressed in Russian in the first instance.  Of course, I introduced my lady (who speaks good English) to O'Brein's (Irish Bar), a bit of home from home with the food and football (soccer) (her introduction to my 'culture').  In there, if we wanted to be alone, there wasn't a problem.  Yes, we had casual conversations with visiting English and Dutch, one who lived only a few miles from me at home, but nobody ever 'hit' on me the way that you relate.  Maybe only the cool and organised get to Kyiv in winter.  It was clear that a majority of people there were British or American expats, who, understandably, see us 'social' visitors come and go everyday and need and heed us not.

So, what to wear in the summer.  I'm bound to wear blue jeans and often, a white t-shirt, which my lady says is a sure mark of the west.  Do Ukrainians wear black in summer?  Will there be 'tourists' wandering around looking for someone to ask where the action is?  It won't matter.  I shall be in a small village, at festival time, near the Russian border, where everyone will know that where I'm from, and who I'm with, and why.  My only concern is to at least learn enough words in Russian to be polite.  In that place for sure, if I was to meet another Brit, they will surely have an interesting story to tell.

[Jet]

I'll pretend I don't speak English.

OK, repeat after me "Ya Nee gava-roo pa-an-glee-skee"

[LatinSwede]

Or I can say "Ukadi kyobanoi durak!".