This is Ukraine

Today, I stopped by the grocery store to get chicken for dinner & found only chicken wings.  Spotting a friendly looking meat lady, I asked her if there were any chicken breasts.  

She went into a long explanation - I understood about half & clarified, "so will there be any later today?".  She replied, "there is supposed to be now, but there is not - this is Ukraine!"  

(later hanging out on the loading dock - maybe waiting for that truck)

And OK so things are not 100% reliable here, OR, it's a good chance to practice flexibility....

Another example - last Friday.  We woke to no power.....I heard "it will come back on by 11:00".  With Zoe's birthday party that afternoon, we hoped so.  But alas, still no power.

Not that the girls cared / noticed....luckily you don't need power to make a crown...

Or to decorate cupcakes...

(OK I did have to go bake them at a friend's - THANKS Suzie!)

Only shift required was moving the dance party outside - so we could blast the car stereo

(So maybe 'a little ghetto' like my friend Lexy said - but it worked!)

This past week, I've spotted a few other reminders that this is Ukraine....


No pesky permits
It seems anyone can pop up a food / beverage stand.  My favorite new, random example....a coffee truck with Mojitos!

2 vices in 1 spot & he actually muddles fresh mint - Fab!

Fancy
There is a car wash at the bottom of our hill.  Fab people watching there - and you know you are in Ukraine when someone wears this to the car wash.....

...or this

Hair
But the most certain reminder that this is Ukraine - is when you see this....

So here's to rolling with it & enjoying the scenery!

Getting to know the neighbors

It's not easy getting to know Ukrainians.  I've heard them described as "like coconuts - a hard shell but sweet & soft inside".  While we've gotten to know some incredibly warm Ukrainians, having a connection is critical (no randomly borrowing eggs from your neighbors here).

The hard shell part is certainly visible in construction styles.  Our 3 closest neighbors:

Fortress like walls & guards are common

People don't get out of their cars until they are within their walled property

This morning we had a rare sighting of our next door neighbor!

(still behind her walled property - view from our kitchen window)

However, we have found that critical connection point with the people across the street...

Feeding the strays...

The dogs live across the street on the construction site....

....and now serve as our urban compost receptacles

(who knew how much food we toss?!)  

Best yet, is we finally made friends with a neighbor...

(Valery is one of the guards who lives on the construction site.  He appears to live in one of the portables on site & now that we've joined in feeding the strays is ultra friendly....waves hello, directs me when I'm backing out of our driveway etc.)

So here's to making friends with the neighbors - whether with a batch of welcome cookies or a container of food scraps.

Kiev's Morning commute

On an early run today, it struck me how much Kyiv flavor one gets just observing the morning commute. 

The highlights:

Colorful: while in winter, Kyiv's a sea of black coats, the bright spring skies are now complemented by a serious range of outfit colors and patterns

Denim Loving: it's everywhere and all over.... 

Loads of acid wash....

(it's not dead - just moved to Ukraine!)

And, no one lives by the only on top OR on bottom denim rule...

(But let's be honest, as far as I can tell, people are not constricted by any fashion rules here!)

Man-iform: if its not acid wash day, the man outfit of choice appears to be black pants and a short sleeve button down

(note the 'Murse'!)

Comfortable in one's skin: you don't need to have it to flaunt it here. There's a real freedom to wear what you like regardless of shape. 

(Frankly I think it's commendable.  A bit of a "screw you Vogue")

And no shirt, no problem!

(At least he has pants on - unlike some of the construction workers across the street from us)

Casual: While I usually think of Kyiv as somewhat dressy - today's commute put that generality to question...

Getting a Quick fix: the morning bustle is accented with pockets of people getting their morning fix. Coffee and cigarettes on every corner thanks to the mobile coffee trucks abound

The one I stopped at recognizes the connection between caffeine and happiness 

And of course your morning beer....

(Shot taken at 8:30 am!)

Thanks to the beer stands around places like the bus stop!

(Again a morning shot)

Connected:  I thought it was bad in the States, but damn - everyone is on the phone here

Even the nun! 

(She appeared to be texting. What has the world come to?!)

Here's hoping your morning gets off to a good start. Don't forget to Take your smile!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy (belated) Mother's Day!

With the low birth rate here (only 1.2 children / woman in Ukraine vs. 2.4 in the world), there aren't that many kids running around.  

Thus, kids are often outnumbered by adults......

AND must be how they find the time for such elaborate hair styles

(bad picture - but note the braid - and this at the end of the day after swimming class)

(the previous Prime Minister inspires with her braid)

AND is maybe why the Babushkas feel the need to 'co-parent' / offer unsolicited advice (you WILL be reprimanded if your child is not bundled for the Arctic Oct-April)


AND is maybe why they don't celebrate Mother's Day here (Women's Day in March honors all women - kids or not).

That said, we kept the holiday alive - with lunch out.  And while the country doesn't celebrate Mother's Day, the restaurants totally get Mothers.  Many have play areas for kids.

  
The one we went to even had hired entertainment..

(Clearly need to work on our 'Stranger Danger' lessons.  His opening line was 'want a piece of candy kids?'  They all ran up to participate)

And best yet, Logan & the kids gift - purging the kids old clothes & toys.  After 2 years without Salvation Army drops we were bursting at the seams.

So here's to Mothers - whether you can french braid or not, you have a 24/7 job that requires constant problem solving, multi-tasking & negotiation with no compensation and little room for advancement.  You deserve a restaurant with a play area today.

Cheers to the Mothers!

Happy Victory Day!

May is chop full of holidays in Kiev.  May 1 was Labor day, May 5 Orthodox Easter & today we are celebrating Victory Day!

Victory Day marks the day when Germany surrendered from WW2.  Today it means no work, no school, a parade & veterans around the city.....

(In Soviet times, attending the parade was mandatory)   

We headed to the Motherland statue - the base of which is a WW2 Memorial - to check out the  festivities 

The place was packed with people honoring those who fought

Giving veterans flowers.....

(With the dwindling population of veterans, flower givers often had to wait their turn)

And outwardly showing their spirit....

But like anything in Kyiv, there was no clear dress standard & the range of outfits was wide.  2 I enjoyed....
Sexy Lady look:

Expressive Man look:

(bad shot - but his t-shirt reads "BEDucated" in English!)

3 cheers to Victory Day - here's to a world with no weapons & using our words to solve problems.  Peace out!