Ukraine Again: Something Old, Something New...

[Mir]

It's interesting that this should be so because Kharkov used to be the capital of Ukraine during the Soviet era.

During a period in the Soviet era (1917-1934)

[Thor]

Thor, have you been to Dnerp? It's a beautiful city. And it's much changed over tje last 16 months...2 mile new embankment along Dnepr river; new shopping centers, and more.  I like Dnepr even more than Kiev.  Kharkov? Not as nice (and I know her well-had gf there for a year and made 5 trips there).

But we are all different and like different things... :-)

Simoni,

No I have never been to Dnieper. But it seems like a nice city . I also like Kharkov better than Kiev . But I also like Kiev. Maybe some belive Kharkov is a grey city, but I dont think this at all, besides this I can see all the girls here in Kharkov and most men go to FSU to meet girls, or am I wrong here?? But I also love Kharkov because it is a funny city, GREAT discos and nightclubs, Schechenko part, Gorki park, Lenina, Sumskaya, several good restaurangs and it is way much cheaper than Kiev and Odessa......Also the girsl here seems much more down to earth compered with Kiev and especialy Odessa where EVERYBODY says that have the most demanding girls.

When that said I would like to go to Dnieper one day, why not....

[Simoni]

Simoni,

No I have never been to Dnieper. But it seems like a nice city . I also like Kharkov better than Kiev . But I also like Kiev. Maybe some belive Kharkov is a grey city, but I dont think this at all, besides this I can see all the girls here in Kharkov and most men go to FSU to meet girls, or am I wrong here?? But I also love Kharkov because it is a funny city, GREAT discos and nightclubs, Schechenko part, Gorki park, Lenina, Sumskaya, several good restaurangs and it is way much cheaper than Kiev and Odessa......Also the girsl here seems much more down to earth compered with Kiev and especialy Odessa where EVERYBODY says that have the most demanding girls.

When that said I would like to go to Dnieper one day, why not....

Come on over to Dnieper any day, Thor....I'll show you around.   And in my honest opinion, Dnieper has the hottest girls in all Ukraine  LOL

And like Kharkov, the girls in Dnieper are more down to earth than in Kiev, IMHO.

[Simoni]

CRAVINGS

My southern California roots won’t let me do it.  Won’t let me go too long without two things…

[Simoni]

I've heard of black holes in this universe but I think the pink ones are much more dangerous

LOL 

[Simoni]

CRAVINGS

My southern California roots won’t let me do it.  Won’t let me go to0 long without two things…

MEXICAN FOOD

MEXICAN BEER

So after three weeks in Dnepropetrovsk, the urge became too powerful.  I had to chanch it….Mexican food in Ukraine!

I had noticed the “Mexican” restaurant on the embankment of the Dnerp River.  But having had truly horrible Mexican food in New York City, I was not too optimistic…

[Simoni]

SURPRISE

To my surprise, the good was pretty good. Not as good as southern california or even TexMex.  But better than what I had in NYC.

[Simoni]

Our waitress.... even nicer 

[Simoni]

THE WORLD OF HOLLYWOOD

I now understand why many FSU people have a negative impression of America.  They know us through our movies, and accept them as being true.

All the Hollywood movies are showing at the new stadium style at the MOCT Center, one block from our flat.  I have a theory that you learn language holistically, not word by word.  So the context of language in movies seems a good way to tune the ear to the Russian language.  We have caught about 5 movies the last 3 weeks, including Die Hard 4 and last night, Mr. Brooks.   I was able to follow the action flick Die Hard without any problem at all.  With Mr. Brooks, Marina whispered in my ears from time to time.  With Transformers, no whispering was needed. 

[Simoni]

MORE MOVIE PICTURES

A few more shots as we entered the movie last night...

[Simoni]

I can't believe they are here!

But they are....

Ever had a friend call you and say he really wants to meet with you....it's very important.

You think maybe they want you to be their son's Godparent or something....

But it turns out to be Amway????

They are in Ukraine now, working the same trick 

[catzenmouse]

Oh No! Not Scamway! Wonder if they're still drinking the cleaning product to show you how natural and safe it is?

We'll know the world has come to an end when we see Walmart there. I'll have to start looking for another planet to immigrate to then! 

[Simoni]

I wonder if the scamway agents here know that AmWay stands for American Way? :-) LOL.

I bet they don't :-)

[BC]

I wonder if the scamway agents here know that AmWay stands for American Way? :-) LOL.

I bet they don't :-)

Hell.. I didn't.. I thought it was a train.

 

[ScottinCrimea]

It seems all of the scam artists and multi marketing (pyramid) schemes are making their way over to the FSU where the people are still somewhat naive and the restrictions about truth in advertising are less.  I see commercials all the time for products that were banned in the US for false claims and advertising.

This week my wife made the mistake of going to an Herbalife salon for a free treatment.  She didn't like the products much, and now they keep calling her.

Also got a big magnet therapy store not far from our home.

[alantodd]

Amway has been in Ukraine since 1993. Company does very well in Ukraine and even better in Russia.  I have a friend who works in Russia for Amway.  Amway was in Russia in the 1980's.

[Simoni]

WEATHER

It's early Sunday afternoon here in Ukraine, and the weather is cool and perfect.  I'm not missing those hot summer days at all!

This afternoon Marina and I will rent a row boat and visit some of the islands in the Dnerp river.  Should be good exercise for sailor Simoni.

[Kuna]

Simoni,

Did you go to one of the "4D" movies at Мост?

A bit cheesy but good for a chuckle...

Kuna

[Simoni]

Yep, we caught the 4 D movie "The World at War" at MOCT.  Marina got frightened and pulled her 4D glasses off :-) LOL

[Simoni]

DIET VERSUS EXERCISE

It’s morning in Ukraine, and my stomach is still churning from those fried veal cutlets our friends insisted I eat for dinner.  It’s Ukrainian food, they begged.  They did taste good, but I wonder how healthy fried bread and cheese and veal is?  Not very, I assume.

Yet, people here in general appear to be more health in terms of weight than in the United States.  Sure, in this city of almost a million and half people, I see many fat people. 

But less than at home.  It’s because of walking.  I’d guess I am walking miles every day.  It’s about two miles to MILs flat from our flat on European Square.  We go there once or twice a day.  We walk a mile or so to visit with friends at lunch.  And after dinner, we walk for an hour or so for leisure.   

I’m losing weight this month. Yet, our diet is not that healthy.

Diet versus exercise?  Exercise it the key.

But the best solution is a healthy, low fat diet with lots of vegetables AND lots of exercise.

[Simoni]

SOMETHING NEW~A NEW Dnepropetrovsk

I was in Dnepropetrovsk about 16 months ago.  At that time I counted a dozen cranes at work just in the Euorpean Square area. There work is complete now, and the result is beautiful. Dnepropetrovsk had been transformed into a modern city, with new glass skyscrapers, shopping centers, and condos.   And the cranes?  They are still here, working on new projects.

In my first trips to Ukraine four years ago, I felt culture shock.  Now I don’t.  Other than the language and seeing so many pretty girls in daring clothes on the street, I could be in LA or Dallas.  All the “comforts” of home are now available here.   American brand foods in stores; even modern grocery stores.   CNN on television.  Internet access on every block. American shows on TV (saw Numbers last night).  American movies here without long delays.

This city has been transformed. Good or bad, you ask?  It’s a mute point.  Globalization is a powerful force that cannot be easily stopped.  Capitalism is at work here, more successful now after a rocky beginning.

What about old Ukraine?  It’s still here.  Still have most of the old buildings.  Some restored to look like they did in 1750.  Others need restoration.   And the beautiful churches remain.

And progress is spotty.  Once you get a few blocks off the main drag, sidewalks are still like a war zone… you have to jump from stone to stone.  Streets have 10 times more potholes than in the US.  And liter is terrible.   Smokers dump their butts everywhere and drinkers toss their beer bottles. And no one picks it up.

But a few blocks away exists a modern city.

[Simoni]

SEX AND THE CITY FRIENDS

Since her college days, Marina has shared a close relationship with three girl friends.  They dubbed themselves “Sex and the City” friends, because like the four single girls in the HBO series, these girls were best friends and none were married.

Marina was the first to break from the group, and in a big way as she moved to America with me.  Since then, another girl (Tanya) has moved in with a man.  So two Sex in the City friends remain alone (Sveta and Ira). 

The four girls met before my arrival, and Marina shared that the old chemistry was not there anymore.  The two single girls, Sveta and Ira, were gong to a disco, and did not even invite Marina (she would have declined anyway).   The third girl, Tanya, was better, but was bemoaning the fact that her man would not marry her.  But I liked what she said to Marina—“are you crazy?  What are you doing here in Dnepropetrovsk?  You should be in America with your Simone!”   Marina was missing home at the time and agreed with her.   

A strange force of misfortune visited the remaining two single sex and the city friends last week.  They decided to rent a car and drive to the black sea, renting a cottage on the water.  But on an excursion, Ira fell, breaking her arm at the shoulder.

The girls started back toward Dnepropetrovsk so better medical treatment could be achieved.  But at dusk they stopped at a roadside café.  When they came out, one wheel was missing from the rental car!

A man put the spare on, and off they drove.  But the thieves had loosened the lugboats on another wheel, planning on stealing it, too.  Five miles down the road, the wheel came off, and the girls crashed.

What a trip. What a disaster.  Poor girls.

They made it back to Dnepropetrovsk and Ira had surgery.  A metal plate was inserted, and will remain 18 months.  Marina and I went to visit her a couple of days ago in the hospital.  What a shock!

An old dilapidated building. Six girls in one room.  A shortage of medicine (Marina stopped by a pharmacy and delivered medicine to Ira).  The other five women in the room panicked when they heard an America man was coming!  Tried to put on clothes and makeup, according to Ira.  Consequently, I stayed in the hallway downstairs and Ira came down to see us, taking Marina back to the room.

So, the Dnepropetrovsk “Sex and the City” girls have gone their separate ways.  Marina now feels closer to old friends who are married now, or in relationships.  Those are the people we are spending the majority of our time with.

[Simoni]

MOCT CENTER:  ANTI-CULTURAL SHOCK WEAPON

One of the great new additions to Dnepropetrovsk is the MOCT center, pronounced MOST, with the English translation being BRIDGE. All indoors, it offers protection from the Dnepropetrovsk summers and winters.  It’s one block away from European Square, and one block from the new embankment on the river, and the bridge (hence the name).  It’s beautifully designed, with the top brand names from America and around the world inside.

MOCT has a stadium seating movie theater inside (see pics from this TR above), a disco style bowing alley, a big internet café with free wireless access, and a dozen restaurants and coffee shops.

I’m posting this from the Atrium restaurant on the first floor, with my trusty Dell notebook connected wirelessly and free to the Atrium wifi.

MOCT is a great anti-cultural shock weapon.  When I go there, I feel like I am in the US.  And what happens to your Dnepr girl when she gets cultural shock in the US?  Take her to a shopping center like MOCT, and she will feel at home.

[SANDRO43]

and my stomach is still churning from those fried veal cutlets our friends insisted I eat for dinner.  It’s Ukrainian food, they begged.

Ukrainian food ? Strewth, that's a cotoletta alla milanese, forsooth, which the Austrians have the gall of calling Wiener schnitzel, only because they ruled Milan for a  century or so, and stole our recipe .

[Simoni]

So everyone claims this recipe :-)

Great taste BTW