Hello all. I just got back from my tird trip from Ukraine. Over the past 6 months I have spent 5.5 weeks over there, mostly in Odessa, with some time in Kiev. This is not a trip report persay, just radom observations, that I hope others will learn something from.
My first trip last October I used an agency to set up my trip. My second and tird trips were on my own. I meet a wonderful woman named Katia in October, and she was the reason for my second and third trips.
Some oberservations.
Katia never seen a hologram before, and fell in love with the holograms a church was displaying. A good gift idea for some guys might be to pick up a nice hologram. (in MN there is a shop that sells all kinds)
People like to get close to each other. I was standing in line to purchase a train ticket, and the man behind me had very bad breath and I could feel him breath down my neck. He was no more than an inch away from me. This is the cultural norm. If you are standing in line and give your American arm lengths distance, you will lose your spot as they push themselves in front of you.
Customs in Odessa is a pain. Every trip I have had issues with them. First trip was lost luggage that I had to jump through hoops to claim (when I could see the luggage in thier storage area). The second trip they wanted me to pay a 20% tax in order to bring in my laptop computer. They had me get Katia so she could translate for me. I told them the computer was worth $200 and gave him $40. The guy said no the computer is worth $2000. I told him I was not going to give himm $400 of the $500 I brought on the trip and told him he could keep the computer as it is not worth $400. He took the $40 and gave me a new customs form. This past trip was worse is some ways. Katia wanted to save me some money. So when it is time to go to the airport we take a bus out of the center (cost 40 cents). When I noticed that there is little time left (35 minutes) we get off the bus and take a taxi. I asked her why not just take a taxi back in the center. She told me she wants to save me some money. It costs less for a taxi in this area of town ($2 instead of $3). I wish I had noticed the time earlier that is my fault. We get into the taxi and he takes shortcuts and I arrive at the airport with 25 minutes before take off. As I walk up to get my ticket processed I am told the customs officers will not process me, and I must speak with the airline (LOT). LOT tell me that all processing is closed 30 minutes prior to take off. Here I am 20 minutes before I am supposed to leave, I see customs agents walking around, but they refuse to clear me saying that it is too close to take off time. I had to get a new flight in Odessa, Warasaw, and Chicago at a cost of $150, plus a day layover in Warsaw that needed added hotel expense. I thought it was ironic I was paying for a missed flight change ticket before my flight even left the ground. All because customs would not process me, because it was not thier time to work. Katia was very shocked and worried about what just happened. She was worried I was angry with her. I told her it was really no one fault. She did not know, I did not know, if anything it was the airline and customs fault for not checking me through. I told her to look on the bright side, at least I saved $1 on the taxi fare. I stayed another day in Odessa, and was at the airport 2 hours early the next day. The one day I spent in Warsaw was worth the added cost as I really enjoyed visiting that city.
The total cost of my trip was low. Not including the $200 I spent due to the flight delay the total cost was around $1200. $750 for airfare, and the rest for gifts, activies, food, travel, and 3 days in Kiev (stayed at a hotel at the train station). I decided that instead of spending $30-$50 a day for 10 days I would just give Katia the $300 and she rented a nice apartment for 2 months. That cost is not included. Of course it was not in city center, but it was nice to expierence thier lifestyle, as this was a normal Ukrainian apartment, and now she has someplace to go to relax and study.
Katia and I really get along very well. She is concerned about leaving her parents, and her culture/language. After this previos trip we started looking into what is involved for the Visa process. I understand her feelings as she expressed concerna dn worry of living in a totally foriegn environment.
Kiev is a nice place to visit. All the attractions had two prices. Once for her and one for me. Odessa did not have this two price setup. I did a lot of touristy stuff, and it was her first time in Kiev. It was a special treat for both of us.
We ordered a salad at a small bar/cafe. After we ordered somone went accross the street to a farmers market and bough the ingredients for our salad. We were eating the vegtables about 15 minutes after they were picked up from the market. Now that is fresh!
I was told all about the bribes teachers request. For example if you make a perfect grade in a certain philosophy class the teacher may ask you to pay for that grade, even if you earned it. In this case the fee was $75. It was not paid and the final grade was a 3 instead of the perfect 5 that was earned.
Bribes and pirating are a way of life there. It is normal. I still take advantage of all the 'affordable' music and software CDs for sale. I picked up a couple music CD's this trip. DvDs are expensive ($30-$40), so they copy movies onto normal CDs in MPEG format. For $2 you can buy most any movie with russian speakers talking over the actors. Great if you are trying to learn a little Russian.
I am planning on going back in the early summer. Probably around June. I have not really started thinking about the next trip yet.
I hope this post entertained some of you!
MNKen
