Trip Fast GApproaching

[smilingjake]

Greetings To All ----

The last I had checked in I advised that I was planning my first trip to Deneptrovosk the first week in October. Well, as what quite often happens to well laid out plans, things change. When shopping for my air fare I found a better price and better times for the end of this month.
I am now in scramble mode as I attempt to bring the plan together. I am looking for a translation device on line as the lady I am  going to see has limited english ability, although we manage to communicate over the phone. She does not wish a third person party to help in translation when we are together as this would affect the "harmony" of us getting to know each other. Anyone have any suggestions?
My biggest concern with my flight itinerary is when I change planes in Vienna to catch my flight to Deneptrovosk. Will I have a problem finding where I need to be so I dont miss my flight ?  I opted for a flight that allows me two hours at Vienna.  Also, what is currency used in the Ukraine ? I was planning on gettting some local currency at AAA and also taking U.S. currency. Yes, I will make sure to get all new U.S. notes. Any assistance to any of these concerns is greatly appreciated.
I am so looking forward to this adventure.

Jake

[ConnerVT]

May I suggest skipping the electronic goodie, and go with what works -- the dictionary.

When I travel to Russia, I always have this little one in my pocket.  It is small enough to take with you everywhere, as it doesn't do you any good when it is in your flat, and you are not.  Everyone, even total strangers, can find a word in a dictionary and point.

http://www.amazon.com/Langenscheidts-Pocket-Russian-Dictionary-English/dp/1585735612/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218073256&sr=8-2

The above one is an essential (emergency) survival tool.  Now, if your friend has some English ability (and I would imagine she will need to gain more), buy a larger, more complete dictionary that you can leave with her after you are gone.  My wife and I bought this one when she first arrived in the US.  Standing in Barnes & Noble, looking at all the dictionaries, we picked out this one as it was the best compromise between being usefully complete, and not needing a hand truck to carry it around the house.  The test was looking up a word she had encountered during an ESL class -- 'deforestation'.

(Funny how you remember this stuff...)

http://www.amazon.com/Concise-Oxford-Russian-Dictionary/dp/0198601522/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218073506&sr=1-1

[steviej]

Greetings To All ----

The last I had checked in I advised that I was planning my first trip to Deneptrovosk the first week in October. Well, as what quite often happens to well laid out plans, things change. When shopping for my air fare I found a better price and better times for the end of this month.
I am now in scramble mode as I attempt to bring the plan together. I am looking for a translation device on line as the lady I am  going to see has limited english ability, although we manage to communicate over the phone. She does not wish a third person party to help in translation when we are together as this would affect the "harmony" of us getting to know each other. Anyone have any suggestions?
My biggest concern with my flight itinerary is when I change planes in Vienna to catch my flight to Deneptrovosk. Will I have a problem finding where I need to be so I dont miss my flight ?  I opted for a flight that allows me two hours at Vienna.  Also, what is currency used in the Ukraine ? I was planning on gettting some local currency at AAA and also taking U.S. currency. Yes, I will make sure to get all new U.S. notes. Any assistance to any of these concerns is greatly appreciated.
I am so looking forward to this adventure.

Jake

The currency used there is "grivna". You can check the exchange rates. I'm not sure about Ukraine, but when you change money in Russia, they seem to accept ONLY brand new bills (such as $100s) that are flawless. No creases, basically never been in circulation. I don't know what their problem is with money that's got a few creases or spots on it, but they won't change it. Bring "new" money. And of course bring your ATM, but only leave as much in your account as you'll think you'll need there. And make sure that if someone steals your ATM, they can't transfer money from your other accounts and fill it up again .... seriously. Notify your credit card company you will be spending some $$ in Ukraine, and the dates you'll be away. That way, they'll clear the charges as they come in. Sometimes, you can be in FSU, and your credit card company will put a fraud trap the first time they see a charge from there, and you'll be stuck.

[CCowboy]

Hi Jake,

I use Google for on-line translation.  No on-line translation is going to be as good as human.  The key thing with using on-line translation is to keep the sentences simple.  Try to avoid words with multiple meanings and compound sentences.  A very good program to add to your laptop is Abbyy Lingvo 12.  It's a super dictionary.  It'll cost you about $20 in Ukraine and you can find it at any computer store.  If you don't have a Russian/English keyboard, you can buy stickers for your keyboard...about $3.  I bought a second small keyboard I plug into my laptop....about $12.  More convenient.  Should have plenty of time going through Vienna.  Directions will be in English as well.  Yes, if you're taking cash, make sure they are pristine bills.  In Dnepropetrovsk you'll find multiple exchange places as well as banks.  If you exchange at the airport, the exchange rate won't be as good so just get what you need.  Your lady friend will be able to get oriented.  You can also use ATMs but I don't use credit cards in Ukraine.  Usually it's safe but there are occasional ID thefts.  If you are going to use your credit cards, make sure you tell your bank you'll be in Ukraine.  Otherwise you may find your bank declining your card.

Good Luck, Robert  

[GoodBrew]

My biggest concern with my flight itinerary is when I change planes in Vienna to catch my flight to Deneptrovosk. Will I have a problem finding where I need to be so I dont miss my flight ?  I opted for a flight that allows me two hours at Vienna. 

You shouldn't have a problem as long as your flight to Vienna is not delayed.  The Vienna airport has a site with the gate layout pictured.  The airport staff was very helpful when I was routed through there on my way to Kharkov.

http://www.viennaairport.com/jart/prj3/via/website.jart?rel=en&content-id=1202364218847&reserve-mode=active

The worst exchange rates were at the airport, 4.3 grivna/dollar.  The best rate that I got was 4.64 grivna/dollar in July, but the rates appear to be improving slightly.

Enjoy your trip.   

[Fogged]

Vienna airport is not overly large so a two hour change over should not be a problem. I have done it before with only a one hour change over. All signs are in English and gates are well laid out. If you run into problems, just ask any of the Austrian Air staff, they are all dressed in red, and they should be able to help you.

Wish you a good trip.

[2tallbill]

I have an Ectaco translator, I like it. Check ebay too.
 http://www.ectaco.com/?ayf=1&refid=3

I have never tried one of the talking translators however


Fogged is correct you should not have any problem getting through the Vienna airport.

Udachi,


Bill

[Ben Armen]

Hi Jake,

Dnipro is a great city and I know you will love it.  About the money everybody pretty much covered everything.  Be sure to have about 75-100 grivna in your pocket before you arrive in the city.  Use the ATM or the rate at Dnipro airport is suprisingly high, 4.57.  You can always tell if you are getting a good exchange rate is the difference between a buy and a sell is like 5-8 "cents" (Koppecks).  Be sure to have a backup plan and do not fall in love with pictures.  5 Star Introductions have treated me nothing but first class.  They will treat you the same too.  For online translation I use rustran.com.  It works for me.

Ben Armen

[Ronnie]

My wife is from Dnipropetrovsk.  I've spent a lot of time there and like ben I used 5-Star, though I didn't see in your post if you used them or someone else.  Doesn't matter.

Learn to spell and say the name of the city.  It helps to understand how it got it's name.  It's the combination of two words:  Dnipro which comes from the name of the Dniper river that runs through the city.  And, Petrovsk after early Bolshevik leader Grigory Petrovskiy.

You might want to read up on the history of the city that was the home of Leonid Brezhnev, Leonid Kuchma, Pavlo Lazarenko and current Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dnipropetrovsk

As to money, Hrivna has little value outside Ukraine so trying to get the currency before you arrive is fruitless.  US dollars remain a second currency and certainly taking new bills with no tears or pen markings is advisable.  Exchange booths are ever present as are ATM machines.  Using an ATM is safe.  Some banks ATM charge a fee, others don't .  Many US banks will reimburse fees charged by other banks.  If you don't have one of those you might consider getting one.  New ATM cards are usually in you hands within a week of opening an account. 
 
Never hand your card, ATM or credit card to anyone for payment of anything.  That's how numbers and information gets stolen.  Pay only in cash.   Use you credit card only in case of emergencies.  If you lose it, report it immediately.  Do notify your bank that you will be traveling in Ukraine or you may find your account blocked after your first use there.  Bigger banks are more apt to block you account.  I never had my account blocked from a small bank or credit union but notify them anyway.

Five Star Introductions, if you are using them, is located near a park with cafes and and restaurants.  My wife and I almost didn't meet.  When I first arrived in Dnipr on August 3, 2002 my wife was working double shift filling in for a vacationing coworker.  When the agency called she could find time to meet with me until the 9th.  The she was told to meet me at DaVinci's while I was told she would meet me at Charlies' which is around the corner from DaVinci.  We both waited for close to two hours before giving up.  Later, I mentioned to Lesya at 5 star than my date had stood me up.  She said, "No, I can't believe that! She was so looking forward to meeting you!"  I said, "well I waited two hours at Charlie's.. No woman came in alone." 
"Charlie's?, No, it was DaVinci!" Leysa exclaimed.  At that, the assistant stepped in and said, "Lesya, you told me to tell him to meet at Charlie's!" 

Anyway, they explained what happened and she agreed to bathe and get dressed again and meet me later in the afternoon at Charlie's.. so that's where we first met.  I remember thinking during our meeting, that this would be just another one of those one shot, thank you nice to meet you meetings, but as I put her on the marshrutka to return home, I changed my mind and I continued to meet with her and stay in touch though only infrequently as I moved on. 

About a year and several failed relationship later we met in Kyiv, and while things went well, I was still not convinced.  Finally, when we met in Dnipropetrovsk in November of 2003, it became clear to me that she was the one and I proposed.  She accepted without hesitation.  We were married in the USA in June 2004.

Other than a sister, my wife has no ties with the city and will propably never return.  Our goal now is to bring her sister to the states for a visit.

[kryten41]

Find out if your girl speaks Russian or Ukrainian. You will also find a phrasebook handy-- Lonely Planet makes one that is somewhat popular. You can probably pick up a pocket-sized one at your local bookstore for less than $10. Watching a few video Russian lessons on youtube will help you with pronunciation in the phrasebook. This guy's lessons are pretty good

Definitely let your bank know that you will be using the ATM in Ukraine. Cancel overdraft protection on the account that you will use so if someone gets hold of your card or number they can't clean out all your accounts. You might also ask your bank to put a daily limit on the amount you can withdraw; if you do this, make sure it is high enough that you won't find yourself short on cash.


Good luck and have fun!

[Ronnie]

Get one of these and wear it under, not over, your clothing.

http://www.austinhouse.com/security/snw2_security/waistsafe.html

As to electronic translators...I had one and thew it away.  They are mostly programmed by the Chinese manufacturers so you can imagine some of the goofy translations that come out to them.  Why does your girl not want to use an interpreter?  That could be a red flag.

As to dictionaries..keep in mind that the Oxford Dictionary is published in England using British English.  Find one published in the US if you want her to learn our words for things.

BTW, only use the dictionary as a last resort..try pantomine and hand signals first.  Learning will come faster that way.

[groovlstk]

Make sure to have a beer and varenyki at my favorite Dnepr bar, Iceberg, on Muskovskaya Ul. near Karl Marx. Great place to bring a first date.

[kryten41]

Remember to pack with the idea that your checked luggage will probably get lost.  Put a least one change of clothes, and anything you can't afford to lose (such as gifts for your girl) in your carryon. 

And don't just take the phrasebook in your pocket, learn some phrases before you go. Life is better when you already know how to ask where the toilet is.

[GreginGa]

It's a shame you dont have more time to see Vienna. It's a beautiful old city and I almost didnt see it. I was flying back from Kharkov in June 03 and I had a layover until the next morning. Sitting next to me I noticed this beautiful woman with a little boy around 5 years old smiling at me. I started the conversation and she was coming to live in California with her new husband. Anyways at the airport hotel i was pretty tired and she convinced me to go out with her and her kid because she wanted to see Vienna and she said she trusted me. To make a long story short I carried her son on my shoulders all over that fare city while he was awake then he went to sleep and the hard work started.

About the trip.

1. Don't over pack.
2. Don't  hand your passport to anyone especially the police. Carry a copy.
3. Smile a lot and have fun. This trip should be for getting your feet wet.
4. Post a trip report.

[smilingjake]

Greetins All ---

Thanks for all the tips directed to this first tmer. I have made a copy of my passport amd a copy of my credit card. I plan at stopping at my bank next Tuesday to advise them of where I will be for a week and to make sure that my accounts are set up properly according to my desires. Its hard for me  to get to the bank during banking hours due  to my work schedule, however I am off next Tuesday as my sister and I are taking our father to the Meadowlands to see the Browns and Giants game next Monday evening. My Dad is 81 and  outside of Ohio is probably one of the Browns staunchest supporters.
I stopped at Barnes and Noble and picked up a small journal this afternoon. I am already writing down reminders in there along with back up plan information. I figured  this would also be a good way to write down my thoughts and observations for a trip report.
I received a nice email this past Wednesday from the girl I am going to see. She has several friends who have married foreign guys and are quite happy, One resides in France, the other Germany. She also has a friend who is visiting her now who married an American. He is a missionary. I wonder if that could possibly be the reason my ears have been ringing all weelend. I am sure my lady friend is being filled in about life in America, and what to expect from  the Amerikankie guy.

Jake

[Jack]

Don't  hand your passport to anyone especially the police. Carry a copy.

smilingjake I think Greg, who provides good information, is suggesting something here that might have been a good idea in the past. I also 3, 4, 5 years ago, recommended doing the same. But as of two years ago if a Ukraine policeman ask's you for your passport, you had better hand him your original passport. A copy of your passport no longer works. If a Ukraine policeman wants to, and they have, they can take you to the local police station if all you have is a copy of your passport. If you are stopped close to your flat and all you have is a copy of your passport the policeman "might" allow you to go to your flat to get your passport. If he is nice he will but if he wants to be an ass, or wants to make $20 off of you because you do not have your passport, he can by Ukraine law take you to the police station.

Several years ago I had also mentioned to guys to take copies of their passport and to leave the original in your flat and many of us did this. Then two years ago this policy changed and the Ukraine police said copies were not allowable. When I was stopped, showed a copy of my passport and they told me this was not good I asked why. They wanted to see when I entered the country, how many times I have been to Ukraine, when was the last time I was in Ukraine and this was information usually not available with a guys copy of his passport.

Now it is a good idea to have two copies of your passport in case your passport is lost or stolen. Keep one spare copy of your passport in one of your check-in luggage's and one copy in one of your carry on's.  If your passport is lost or stolen and you have a copy of it this will help you to quickly get a new temporary passport from the US Embassy in Kiev.

So smilingjake if a Ukrainian policeman ask's you for your passport you had better give him your passport. A Ukraine policeman has legal rights to ask you for your passport and today they want to see the real passport and not a copy. Also when you clear immigrations at the airport you will be given a piece of paper, you had to fill out an immigration form and their are two copies of this form, one for you, one for Ukraine immigration. You are required by Ukraine law to have this piece of paper in your possession also and it is usually a good idea to keep this piece of paper with your passport.

[Shadow]

When outside your own country, it is best to always have your passport on you. In case it goes missing, the Embassies are there to help you out. I once had this experience in Argentina and the hardest part was to convince the customs to let me OUT of the country. 

I seldom read stories sbout guys being victim of pickpockets. Not that they are not present, any place with many people will attract them. But avoiding being an easy target will do most of the trick.

[GreginGa]

Didnt know the law had changed. The last time I was in Ukraine was March 06. I was stopped outside of Obriens heading down towards Maiden. I gave the two police my copy and I said I would just call the American Embassy. They handed me back my paper and walked away. I guess I was lucky not to get shook down.

I'll be going back in mid-Sept. I see the $ is gaining back a little.

[Ronnie]

I was only stopped once in Ukraine despite hundreds of days on the streets.  It was at the Kyiv train station and the asked for my "money declaration"  I told them I did it at the airport.  The said thank you and moved on.  Clearly a shake down attempt.

[Ben Armen]

I was stopped at exactly the same spot as Greg in Kiev.  I left it in the flat a block away.  They let me get it, I was with my interpreter.  She started yelling at them until they went away.  She later told me that she told them I we were getting married so they would go away.  Is this a nationwide problem or a Kiev problem. 

[Ronnie]

As I said, it only happened once..that was in Kyiv.  99% of my time was spend in other cities and rarely even saw a policeman on foot let alone get shaken down by one.

Only spent 2 weeks in Moscow but got shaken down there.

[smilingjake]

I intend to have my passport on me at all times. I purchased one of those belts for around the waist where I can keep my passport and cash close by at all times. Does anyone have any thoughts as to taking their personal cell phone along, or would it be preferable to use a disposable phone ? Of course if I take my phone I'll be contacting my carrier that I may be using it in the Ukraine on my specified time I will be there.

Jake

[ConnerVT]

Turn off you US cell phone when you get on the plane, and leave it off until you land back in the US.

First off, if you use a CDMA based service (Verizon Wireless, Sprint) it won't work at all.  Russia/Ukraine wireless carriers are GSM service.  (Does your phone have a SIM card?  If the answer is "No" or "What's a SIM?", then you don't have GSM service.)

Next, you will need a quad-band phone (tri-band *MAY* work, if you pick the right band for the location you will be at).  These are not cheap.

If you have a quad-band phone, you won't wish to use your USA carrier for service.  One, it will be VERY expensive to make a call, and two, you will still have an international long distance telephone number, so it will be expensive for people (like the locals) to call you.

If you need a phone, your best bet is to pick up an inexpensive one there.  They are more like the TracFone style you see in the US, where you put money into your account, and can "recharge" the account when your money runs out.

[Muj]

If your US phone is tri or quad band but "locked" you can ask the carrier to unlock it for your tripe to Europe.  Then you may purchase the SIM card in Ukraine for your US cell phone.  Otherwise buying a cell phone there is a good idea.
Keeping a scanned copy of your passport, 1st 3 pages, in your e-mail inbox may prove helpful

[dispozo]

I have a unlocked razor and bought a sim card from.....http://www.telestial.com/. When I visit Ukraine I add more airtime and it is good for another year. It is very easy and convenient.