Hey all!
Snovom Rokum! Wife and I just returned from our holiday trip to visit with family and friends in Lugansk. I can't believe it was my 6th trip to Ukraine! How life in Lugansk has changed in these last four years, heck the last 2 years, is nothing short of dramatic. Along with a grocery store that is open 24 hours a day (Yay!), Lugansk is about to give birth to its first McDonalds (Yuck!).
Sure, Lugansk is a long train ride from Kyiv but it's well worth it. I've found the people there to be quite receptive to Americans and very tolerant of my piss-poor Russian/Ukrainian. In fact, I met quite a few native Ukrainians on my last trip who spoke English VERY well! If you do go to Lugansk, be sure to check out the grocery/department store 'Rossia' on Sovetskaya street and 'Gum' just across the street from it (for those interested, the hotel Lugansk sits between these two stores). I found the staff at both establishments to be extremely courteous and helpful. One piece of advice, don't touch the merchandise without first asking permission; you'll get less grief from the staff and security that way. You should also visit the Babylon Bowling Club; it's fair to say that most Ukrainians have never bowled before so it's a great place to take friends and relatives if you are into providing people with fun and new experiences.
Surprisingly, I met a few Americans (men) on this trip. The first one was on the plane from Amsterdam to Kyiv. I read the name written on his luggage ID tag but unfortunately, I can't remember it. He kept saying that the purpose of his trip was to visit his 'lady friend', whatever that means. ; I met the second American as he was shopping for his 'lady friend' in Rossia. The last time I saw him he was walking down Sovetskaya with half of the women's lingerie department slung over his shoulder. I met the third American as he was shopping with his 'lady friend' in Gum. The 'lady friend' was quite attractive, he was not. 
The last American I met was on the plane from Kyiv to Amsterdam; he was a doctor who was trying his best to get into the pants of this young Cirque du' Soleil gymnast. I'm not an expert in these things but it looked like he crashed and burned.
Well, that's all I care to report now. I'll close by saying that if you travel abroad, and I hope you do because it will change the way you approach American life, try to make the USA and Americans look good. Even if you are in Ukraine for the proverbial 'booty-call', try to show some class when out-and-about.
Cheers,
DR
