Ahead of the trends

Working in marketing, we were always looking for and talking about trends.  Trends we expected to snowball and shape future needs, to help predict consumers' desires in advance.  Despite Kiev being considered 'behind the times', I'm seeing some of those trends alive here too....

Localization trend: Seems to me the best place to get fruit around here is from the 'babushkas' (grandmas) selling fruit from stands - or more often - some boxes on the sidewalk.  I've had lengthy conversations with the kids about why the babushkas are selling fruit, how they buy it for less than they sell it for and 'use the extra money to buy dinner' (Xavier quote).  Anyhow, I honestly have no idea where the fruit comes from, how these ladies get it.  But seems to me it must be a semi-local farm......

Customization trend: In marketing we always talked about the trend of customization - people's growing desire for things you can tailor to meet your tastes, your personal needs.  Like Nike shoes you can customize etc.....another thing here I've found to be pretty damn smart is the flusher.  So our toilet looks pretty everyday.....

But when you take a closer look at the flusher you see it has 2 parts - for 2 very different needs.  Little flush for little output, big flush for big output.  With the push of a button you can customize to your needs.  Brilliance!

I'll now sign off so I can enjoy one of the last of the summer evenings on the patio - with our own construction site to watch + a view of the Motherland monument (far right).  Still working through which wines are acceptable (creating a high tech rating system to guide future purchases) AND enjoying our first pan of brownies since arriving here (THANKS Mom!!)