Let's choose Thankfulness

“To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness."
- Bertrand Russell

Ironic – but true.   Since moving here, things I completely took for granted have become ones I cherish:

• Garbage disposals
• Drinkable tap water
• Cake mix & sprinkles
• Websites with opening hours
• Fresh raspberries year round
• In general, food quality you don’t question

The list could go on….

But this is the week for Thankfulness – and there are always 2 sides to a story.   

So let’s practice the art of seeing the ‘optimist’s view’ around Kiev.  

·  FAIRY-TALE BACKDROP

      While Kiev has its share of Soviet & grey, the charm is equally plentiful

·     

      




  ABUNDANTLY FLEXIBLE PARKING: One could easily focus on the hassle of getting boxed in - a car parking you in OR one breaking down in place 

      (post accident you aren't allowed to move your car until the police arrive; the one shown above, merely had a dead battery, after the driver (outside the kids school) spent all morning on electronics plugged into the car outlet)

      The rosy view: one can find a spot anywhere

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   ADVENTURES IN GROCERIES: ‘Negative nelly’ would tell you it’s depressing when the best broccoli looks like this.  

      And exasperating when your favorite cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt, hair dye color of choice you discovered & came to rely on suddenly vanishes from shelves     

      But, in the thankful spirit, one must admit its pretty fab to have farm fresh everyday

      (So the farm stands only have what’s in season – isn't that how farms work?!  On the hair front, I suppose the positive is there’s no chance to get in a rut)

·      

  FORCED SLOW DOWN:  OK, this one requires some major re-framing & stretch to see the positive.  Put bluntly, our internet is crazy slow during peak evening hours & our WIFI sucks.  
      
      The thankful view: 

• poor WIFI = keeps living space Facebook free (much better connections in the office)
• slow internet afternoons = a chance to see some of Kiev’s finest free WIFI cafes 

· CHEAP THRILLS ARE EVEN CHEAPER: The glass half empty view is that things are not as abundant, there is less choice in stores & its just harder to get - especially when it comes to festive, seasonal items. 

      (after driving an hour in quest of X-mas trees, we arrive to find the nursery is ONLY OPEN on Saturday & Sundays)

     
      But Santa's watching - so we must not whine.  
      The merry view: 

      When we do find what we're looking for, the thrill is high

(we bought about a million of these magnet Santas)

      
     When supplies imported via suitcase save the day, it's another happy charge
      

(yes I hear you can make a pumpkin pie from scratch - but come on, I'm American!)

   And when we can share the USA loot wealth, it's an even bigger high.  Where else can a hostess gift of chili powder elicit more joy than the wine? 

      And when we achieve success - overcoming the obstacles - we we experience a high disproportionate to the results

(this is the most loved Charlie Brown Christmas tree ever)

CONFUSION CREATES COMMUNITY: Cyrillic alphabet, impossibly confusing websites, inventory that comes & goes.   You could pull your hair out - but the serious blessing to this is how lack of clarity bands people together.  While we may have had more visitors had we moved to London or Sydney, I am not sure we would have had so many fantastic friends - at the ready to band together go hunt down ground cumin 

(our 2nd annual PTA Newcomers Market Tour - we tour shops, markets & kiosks showing those new to Kiev the nuances of where to find things)

Here's to focusing on the rays of sunshine
Happy Thanksgiving!

Hamburgers & Hammy's Revenge

Logan has been away for 2 weeks+ on a series of work trips – so we've been rolling as a single parent household

Since over half of his time has been in the States, we've been suffering from USA jealousy.  In order to distract ourselves, we tried a new-ish hamburger joint  - “Beefy’s”

We found:

Generic interior with American influence……

Milk shakes that didn't cut it

(basically milk with flavoring & syrup around the rim)

Pasta that did

(honestly, how would one screw that up?!)

Burgers that got 2 thumbs up   

(I’d liken it to a non-dollar menu fast food burger)

And one too distracted by fries to vote

With the steep prices (~$50 for 3 meals + shakes), I’d put it at about a 3 at home, but grading on a ‘Kiev curve’ a solid 6-7

At home, our time without dad has included extra kids - sleeping over, coming to play - resulting in a pretty kid-centric household. 

Since you can guess my perspective on this, let's look at the past 2 weeks from the pets' eyes……

Loads of togetherness

(recovered after an attempted Hammy escape)

Dressing up

Playing with toys

Going on rides 

(Hammy's being towed in the basket)

Seeking Escape

 (Hiding in the cat post - we know how you feel Hammy)

And alas, protesting the mayhem - Hammy took his frustrations out on a couch cushion 

Clearly the kids & I are not the only ones getting squirrelly with Logan gone so long - thankfully no one else in the family is taking it out on the furniture

Long story short - we’re all looking forward to Logan's return - AND I don't know HOW single parents do it.  

Hats off to all parents going solo out there.  You deserve a medal, an honor, a babysitter & a drink.

Trashy but resourceful

In Ukraine, people don't seem that concerned about communal areas - things can get a bit trashy….

One random thing I miss about home is our trash & recycling service

Oh how excited we were when (~5 years ago) Chicago added blue recycling bins to our weekly trash pick up - making recycling crazy easy - just put it in the alley

Here, its a bit more of an effort….  

For trash, you need to buy special bags, and bring them down to the curb on specified days

(bags cost 14 hryvnia each - a bit under $2)

For glass, I drive empties to a stand down the hill…….then hope its open

The plastic goes to a bin near the kids school

(who knows what happens to it from there, but I figure it must be something since they go to the effort to cage it in….)

And while these recycling efforts seem a bit backwards, it appears the locals rely more on a 'reuse' method to being green….

Tires commonly get a second life:
As parking cones….

As planters…

Bottles also live beyond the drink:
As bird feeders….

As garden pavers…..

And, of course, as Tupperware….

(The stray dogs don't mind the rough appearance - nor the disgusting looking meal)

Even what I though of as clearly garbage…..

Gets re-used as a trash can liner

You gotta admit, this 'backwards' is pretty resourceful!


So here's to recycling - whichever way you do it - and to reframing that beer from a leisurely indulgence to "helping build the fence"

Cheers!

It's not easy being healthy

Given Logan's contract here ends this spring, we've decided to pack in as much travel while we're already this far.   Thus, plan to spend New Years in Asia - as such, have a few extra vaccinations recommended.  

At home, this would be simple - make an appointment at the travel clinic, get a doctor consultation & shots knocked out at once

Here, it's not quite that easy....

First up - find a clinic that stocks these vaccinations.   After several phone calls & email to various clinics, EuroLab confirmed they could get 1 of the 4 I'm after (typhoid) & agreed to order it for me.   Just needed to wait a few days to allow it to be shipped in.   

Rolled up Friday morning and all pretty typical - but slightly different….

Generic exterior

Clearly Eastern interior

As soon as I meet with the doctor, it became clear this wasn't going to be simple….

"We don't have those vaccines.   Hmmm - it says here you were coming in for a flu shot"

As if that didn't erode my confidence enough, she then asked if Cambodia was in Africa?   Yikes - I thought only Americans were geography challenged!

Then proceeds to spend 15 minutes looking for the phone # of their partner clinch which might have some of the vaccines

(Despite Ukraine being the home of highly skilled computer hackers & on-line scammers, Ukrainian web-sites are notoriously 1990 - hard to navigate & lack basic info)

SO - I decided to look for the silver lining…..

1) Got the flu shot - after the doctor assured me the vaccine was improved from Belgium - "NOT from Ukraine or Russia" she assured.  Even showed me the box to prove it

2) Enjoyed the waiting room amenities

So, ~1/2 day in & no further along vaccinating against random 3rd world diseases, BUT living here, you have to focus on the wins - a Belgium flu shot + free Kleenex & coffee

Here's to expecting the unexpected & chalking up the positives