Ukraine Again: Something Old, Something New...

[Simoni]

THE FLIGHT

As I waited to board the plane on the day and half trip to Ukraine, I wondered how different things would be than my last visit to Marina’s home town.  Would her mother be more accepting of me than the last time I saw her, on the verge of  “taking” her daughter away to America for a year?  Would the city of Dnepropetrovsk be different than 18 months ago?  Would I be bored? And how would Marina’s friends accept me?  I had only met a few of them, and Marina had meetings scheduled with a dozen of them on this trip.

My first leg was a nonstop to JFK.  As I got off the plane in NY,  I was presently surprised to find that I would not have to change terminals—the Delta gate to Kiev was two gates down!  This was a first to me, and very welcome. No in and out of security at JFK!

A few hours later I was jetting toward Kiev on Delta flight 88, with a young Ukrainian man making conversation beside me.  He had finished his first year of studies in the US, and was eager to get home for a few weeks.  He was 24, and a very likable guy.  Again it crossed my mind about the unfair way FSU men are talked about online—drunks and bad husbands.  I knew dozens of FSU men, and none of them fit that description.  Just as the MOB industry paints a picture of FSU women being docile homemakers, the picture of drunkard FSU men is also largely untrue.  We exchanged emails, and made plans to connect in the future.  He  lives on 70 miles from me in the US.

After dinner, we both popped sleeping pills.   Five hours later, the smell of coffee and breakfast awoke us…

[Simoni]

BORYSPIL

Knowing the delay in baggage delivery at Boryspil airport in Kiev, I was one of the last off the plane.  I made my way around the crowd pushing toward the nonresident passport control, to the crew line, where no one stood. Two bored agents waited in their booths.

The agent took my documents, and was almost done processing them when a fellow passenger followed my lead to the crew line.  An American. Who talked to much…

He jabbered on in a loud voice, explaing that he had a beard this year and that's why his passport picture looked different.  That he was coming to Ukraine to meet a girl…

I sent a mental message “just shut up!”  But he did not get it, and blabbed on.  My papers were stamped, and I escaped.

Ten minutes later I had my bag, and made my way to customs.  I veered to the right, away from the red line and to the green, and within seconds was exiting the doors…to see

MARINA!

She had insisted on flying from Dnepr on the 7 a.m. flight to greet me….

[Mir]

Are you Flippo Simoni?

[catzenmouse]

Simoni,

 I'll bet your floating in the clouds now being with Marina again! Glad you made it safe and sound.

Ken

P. S. I got the package for Sergei but have not opened it. Thought it would make a nice welcome home treat for him. Spassiba Balshoi!

[Thor]

THE FLIGHT


He was 24, and a very likable guy.  Again it crossed my mind about the unfair way FSU men are talked about online—drunks and bad husbands.  I knew dozens of FSU men, and none of them fit that description.  Just as the MOB industry paints a picture of FSU women being docile homemakers, the picture of drunkard FSU men is also largely untrue. 

The same goes for me Simoni. The men in Ukraine Iknow are not bad at all. They are hardworking and takes good care of the familly. The MOB industry try to paint a unthrue pickture of FSU men. They are just like all other men in word, some good and some bad. But most men are hardworking and nice when you get to know them.

[Simoni]

Mir- Yes, I'm high right now...great to be back with my wife and great to be in Ukraine again.

Cat- Yes, floating on the clouds :-)

Thor- Since arriving here, I've met even more good family men.

[Simoni]

To Dnepropetrovsk

Marina later told me how happy she was to see me with these words…
“my heart beated so fast when I got your sms that you had landed in Kiev.  And when I saw your tired eyes, I felt like something that belonged to me had returned to me.”

I had not seen her in three weeks, but it seemed much longer. We had been together for nine months in the US. ** We had already vowed not to be apart this long ever again. Marina shared that Ukraine had lost its old magic for her…that although she loved it, she loved me more and it was better to be with me in the US than to be in Ukraine alone.

The flight from Kiev to Dnerp was uneventful; I had flown on this old Yak many times and did not have the anxiety experienced on my first flight.  Plus, it felt great having Marina at my side, as a buffer to any language encounters that might come my way. On my first flight on a Yak I had made the mistake of sitting in an exit row, which is a no-no if you don't speak Russian.  And you can imagine what it's like being removed from a seat by the flight crew when you have no idea what you've done wrong!

After landing at Dnepr, we took a cab downtown that Marina had ordered in advance, where we picked up the keys to our flat.  We had opted for a little space from mother-in-law by getting our own place to say for the three weeks we would be visiting.  Our flat was in a great location, with a balcony overlooking European Square, and just two blocks from the new Most shopping center.

Our studio apartment is first class, with nice furnishings and the touch of an interior designer.  The drapes and bedspreads and carpet over the hardwood floors were all matching.  Even the cabinet paper matched the table cloth on the kitchen table.  And I was able to pick up some US stations on the satellite TV.   But best of all, we had great air conditioning.

We did have one event that I won't be too specific about…our bed fell in the first night!  But I sent a text message to the Cindy Agency, the owners of the flat, and by 10 the next morning they had a man out.  He totally redid the bed and foundation.  I think it will “hold” for the rest of our vacation.

Here's a picture of our flat (look right of the MONARH sign), from European Square...

[Simoni]

DINNER

Despite my jetlag,  mother-in-law (MIL) insisted on cooking for us that night.  And I’m glad she did.  That lady absolutely makes the best borsch (Ukrainian traditional soup)  in the world!  We also had great Georgian wine, cheese and bread…and vareniki, both cheese and vegetable.   The meal was topped off with boiled cherry pies.

MIL had a totally different attitude toward me that the last time I met her.  I suppose I had passed the test by taking her daughter to America almost a year ago, and had now returned her fit and happy. Or perhaps MIL was simply resigned to the fact that her daughter had found a new life and was happy in it.

I managed to get by during dinner with my 30 word Russian vocabulary.  MIL greatly appreciated that I had taken time to learn some of her language.  At one time, MIL explained to me in English how to say something in Russian!  Marina and I laughed and laughed about this.

[Sohkay]

Excellent trip report Simoni. Keep it coming. And her words at the airport...poetic!

[Simoni]

ATM DELIGHT

The next morning I made my way down the street to get cash from an ATM.  You'll find ATMs every block in Dnepr now, and they have the added advantage of spitting out money in grivnas, the local currency. Most of them accept the PLUS system used by US banks.

Plus, guys, take a look at this picture.  It's not an unpleasant thing to stand in line at an ATM in Ukraine.  Very interesting, in fact ?

[Simoni]

Excellent trip report Simoni. Keep it coming. And her words at the airport...poetic!

And your words made Marina's day, Sohkay!    She says "thank you very much."

[Sohkay]

Pozhalusta.

[Simoni]

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!

It’s still a shock to walk the streets of Ukraine.  So many beautiful girls!  And they dress in very provocative and attractive ways.  It’s one cultural difference that I like a lot!  I snapped this picture for the single guys reading this.  And no, Marina was not with me when I used my camera phone to capture this…of course only in the interest of serving the readership of RWD ?

[Kuna]

Simoni,

You're killing me here!!!  Yep... nice pics but I've only been home for a few weeks and that last pic took me straight back to my trip.

*sigh*

Missing my girl but loving your pics!

[Simoni]

STRANGE DISAPEARENCE

It began to bother me the second day.  I ordered one at lunch and they did not have it.  Again at dinner-no luck.

And the next day at the movie theater it was confirmed- it had dissapeared from Ukraine...

[Mir]

What?

[Kuna]

Simoni...  can you go me a favour???

Can you go to globus park... (hmmm maybe I should draw you a map of this)...  if you enter from Karl Marx and as you walk /down the path road that has the ferris wheel at the far end (on the hill) you'll see a little Georgian cafe on the right hand side... It has about 3 big canvas tent things and is before you get to the lake...

Anyway...  can you please go there and have the shashlik WITH the Georgian sauce and find out what is in it???  I need to make that!

[Simoni]

FOUR

Four things that are better in Ukraine..,

1- foot long shoe horns!

2- electrical plugs!

3- prices!

4- girls walking down the street!!! :-)

[Simoni]

STRANGE DISAPEARENCE

It began to bother me the second day.  I ordered one at lunch and they did not have it.  Again at dinner-no luck.

And the next day at the movie theater it was confirmed- it had dissapeared from Ukraine...

TERRIORISTS

No Diet Coke! (called CocoCola Light in Europe).   

I like CocoCola Light a lot better than the full sugar version, and Ukraine has always had it.  But not this time.  Not in the grocery store.  Not at the movie theater.  Not in sidewalk kiosks. Not in restaurants.

Finally, we asked a waiter last night over dinner what had happened.   His reply was instant…

“It’s the fault of the terrorists!”  LOL

So now I’m drinking Baltic beer instead ?

[Simoni]

Simoni...  can you go me a favour???

Can you go to globus park... (hmmm maybe I should draw you a map of this)...  if you enter from Karl Marx and as you walk /down the path road that has the ferris wheel at the far end (on the hill) you'll see a little Georgian cafe on the right hand side... It has about 3 big canvas tent things and is before you get to the lake...

Anyway...  can you please go there and have the shashlik WITH the Georgian sauce and find out what is in it???  I need to make that!

Kuna, I know the place well…it’s just down the street from MILs flat.  Marina knows the secret, so I’ll share with you what she told me…

First, you do know that it is a Georgian cafe, I see....

They take cat or dog meat and marinate it in cheap white wine for 24 hours.  The sauce is left over ketchup from McDonalds.  Delicious, as you discovered!

I’ll PM you the true recipe, since it’s a state secret…

[Simoni]

SCOUTING

Marina has dozens of friends she wants me to meet.  And one friend she wants to “set up” with a friend of mine.   So we had dinner with Tanya at Yaffo, a restaurant on European Square.  She is a cute, 28 year old marketer who is also an artist.  She has a delightful personality.  And her basic English was good enough to carry on a conversation with me, with occasional help from Marina.  I have no doubt that the best way to meet an FSU girl is through a friend.  That way, you are pretty sure the girl is serious about a foreign relationship and yes, she has accountability to  the friend who introduces you.  But nonetheless, the odds of two total strangers meeting and having chemistry are still long.

[Simoni]

DAR & HENRY

Marina and I have had the opportunity to meet a number of RWD posters this last year.  So it was a great pleasure to meet two at the same time—Henry and Dar. 

We met them at the new Japanese restaurant on European Square, and the four of us had a great time together.  Henry will be in Ukraine one more month, before he has to return to work in the US.  And Dar will follow as soon as she gets her visa.  She is the poster child on why it’s no longer a good idea to do a K-3; they have been waiting almost a year for the visa.  And the K-1 wait time is down to about 4 months for many.  But at least they had the summer together. 

They are a neat couple and we wish them the best in their new life together in Chicago…and Godspeed in starting it soon.

[Simoni]

VENICE, DNEPROPETROVSK STYLE

Last night we met with a friend of Marina’s and her husband for something I’ve only experienced in Italy—a gondola boat ride.

Our point of departure was Bartolomeo, an interesting theme park featuring a restaurant in a ship and lots of artifacts from around the world.

We made our way upstream for about half an hour, enjoying the beauty of Dnepropetrovsk and the Dnepr river, drinking wine and eating fruit.  We left the river near the construction of the new Delta bank and the small island the river had cut.  I got to explain the meaning of the word Delta to the three Ukrainians.

Afterwards, we went to the Ukrainian traditional restaurant Hutor (pronounced Hooter).
 (No Rivardo, not the chain started in Florida). 

The place was hopping, getting ready for 07-07-07, and 40 weddings that would take place there the next day, as couples seek a unique wedding date.

The food was great, and the company even better.  But I gotta warn you—this vacation life is tiring!  I had to take three naps today to make up for all the walking and eating.

[catzenmouse]

Marina and I have had the opportunity to meet a number of RWD posters this last year.  So it was a great pleasure to meet two at the same time—Henry and Dar.

My wife has shared several PM's with Dar. If you see them again say Hello from Elena!

The place was hopping, getting ready for 07-07-07, and 40 weddings that would take place there the next day, as couples seek a unique wedding date.

When I talked to Elena this morning she told me they had so many weddings today (yesterday there) at the Zags office they had to limit them all to 20 minutes and they were still going strong at 11 PM!

Ken

P. S. I really feel for you having to force yourself to drink Baltika instead of Pepsi Light.... NOT! 

[Simoni]

DINNER at MEMENO

We are at a dinner party for a friend of Marina's at a riverside restrauant.  The food is excellemt...salmon and greek salad and ukranian potatoes.  Very delicious! And the price is half to 2\3rds of what I would pay in the US.

But so many toasts! And I'm getting so drunk!  Thank God for public transportation! LOL