Overly Silver Lining

Recently a friend who lives here read my blog & commented that my descriptions 'almost made her jealous of what a fab place Kiev is to live'.  This made me worried I've not been reporting an objective picture.  So I took off the rose colored glasses & here is what I found:


Fargo - not Chicago:
For a good 6 months before moving here, I compared the weather here to Chicago.  The 2 were pretty similar - so I assessed we were on par climate-wise.

However, since then Kiev has experienced 'unprecedented cold' (last year) & 'significant early snow' (this year) making it seem more like Fargo.

Beware of moving to a city where no historical averages are available on weather.com


Questionable Quality:
This past summer our school spent some $1MM+ on renovations.  Added a floor to a building, expanded another & re-faced the entire school with fancy tile. 

(the new entrance)

 About 2 months post completion....Pop!....Off fell a tile!

(construction company was rushed back in to fix & assess others!)

Electricity levels are so variable, we have 3 giant surge protectors built into our house and even still lightbulb replacement is a weekly activity.  

This outlet goes so far as to acknowledge the level is "ABOUT 220v"....

And walking around town, it is more surprising to find a perfect stairwell than not.

The steps to our cellar are so uneven we call them our 'drunk test'.  No more wine from the cellar if you can't navigate them.

(The 3 peanut butters are the same size - note the difference in height remaining above the jars on each stair.  The depths of the stairs vary too)

Questionable Style:
OK so style is clearly subjective - but, you just see way more decor here that makes you wonder.  A wall hanging at my salon....

And their business is all about appearances!

Very Questionable Politics:

OK, so Ukraine is not the only country to struggle with corruption....but it's not doing so hot on that front.  Recently the American Chamber of Commerce published its 'Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency'.  Ukraine ranked 144th out of 176 - scoring 26 of a possible 100 points.  

We all crossed our fingers that the recent election would help shift the country toward a more European approach.  But unfortunately, it appears things will remain as they have been.  

A small few at the very top creating self-serving legislation to keep themselves & their inner circle very rich.

BUT, try as I might, I cannot help but point out some of the flip side....

Fashion First: 

Despite our Fargo like conditions, we get to enjoy catwalk like fashion.  The stiletto boots & skirts do NOT go away just because there is a little snow...

(pencil heels hidden by all that fur)

The people watching makes getting out in this weather a treat!

Scrappy:

I do enjoy seeing how people just get it done around here.....rolling some tires across the road & down the street on a hand cart

Delivering pizza via the Metro

(Yes - that says "Papa John's" in cyrillic)

Riding the bus without a $0.25 token

So while we may not be in paradise exactly, we get loads of entertainment & funny surprises along the way.

After all, you need loads of snow to make snow furniture....

(look mom - even a cup holder!)

Here's to finding the fun in your day.

Oh my - Dubai!

Last year Logan & I 'won' a trip at a charity event.....this was the perfect time for a weekend in Dubai:

We were greeted by some serious national pride....

Turns out it was the 41st National Day - the day that marks their formal nationalization

We found an ultra multicultural population (only 13% of the 8MM people are UAE nationals) - and with that YUMMY foods...

(I am still daydreaming about that tabouleh salad!)

As well as familiar brands...

Familiar restaurants.....

ENGLISH book stores!

(While Arabic is the official language, with so many ex-pats & 'imported laborers' it seems to be English)

And, best of all, familiar faces!!!

Sussie met us for the weekend!  Lives in nearby Doha - ok, not even the same country - but so close we're counting it...

(Happy 29 again Sussie!)

And we had a fab dinner with my old friend from San Francisco - Steckel & his wife Robin.

Not to mention ran into Logan's former boss & her husband at our hotel - reinforcing that:

• a)  it is a small world 
• b)  Logan runs into people he knows EVERYWHERE!

While this dilution of locals & relatively new country leaves a somewhat 'vanilla culture', I'm happy for vanilla when it gets you this...

YES!  A meter on your taxi!

The local influence appears to be a combination of modest + flashy.....many women covered from head to toe...

Even a dress code for the mall....

But, often accessorized with high end flair (Prada purse for this modest mom)

And I didn't see a single clock without ROLEX on it...

OK, I get the high end name at a beach resort - but even at the airport?!

But, no need to worry about protecting your bling.  Islamic law allows cutting hands off for stealing, so you can be pretty lax with your things...

Relatedly, there is a serious shopping culture.  The malls are HUGE.....check out this aerial view of one

And they take extended holiday hours seriously!

No need to let the kids slow you down - there are loads of coffee shops - even Starbucks!

We also found a Vegas-like over the top style.  
A ginormous water / light show....

Indoor skiing....

Tubing...

(Logan loved it, scared the crap out of me!)

...and a 'human snow ball'!  You start at the top (where I am waving), get in & roll down...

(I LOVED this - hilarious the whole way down)

When it was time to go, we knew we were in the Kiev line at the airport with this...

And, I guess it serves us right visiting cold on our warm get away.  We returned to our first snow!

Here's to warm in the winter, friends in odd places & 3 cheers to Kelly, Nicky & Katherine for adding a child to their homes this weekend to make it possible! 

Respecting the Long Arm of Utilities Law

Utilities companies generally want their money - I get that.  Last month we got a series of escalating bills + a 'final notice' for our water in Chicago (bills sat in mail forwarding a few weeks too many)......

...but alas, Chicago is patient & water was not turned off before we paid.

Here, you read your own meters, manually calculate the cost, take your form to a bank or post office & pay the bill.

Then every month various meter ladies (gas, electricity) come by to verify these self-reported figures.  When we first arrived, I had no idea what they were saying - but was reassured by their grandmotherly appearance & let them in.  

Today, right after the gas meter lady left, the electricity lady rang.  However, this time she did not show up on foot like normal.....

She had a LOT to say - and while I only understood about 50%, the key message was clear:

Turns out, our self-calculated payment last month was off by a decimal

(this was the first computer generated form I'd seen for utilities - so I knew it was serious!)

She grimly reported they would turn off the electricity.  When I asked "when?".  She responded "right now."  When I asked for how long, she reported "2-3 business days after payment is received, it will come back"...

Looking totally shell shocked & helpless (no fridge, no lights or way to charge our iPads ~ FRIGHTENING), I continued to babble and ask questions in my 'Tarzan Russian'.

After about 10 minutes, she started to soften to my plight - and suggested if I promised to go pay today, called her right after I paid and gave her a small 'tarrif', she could hold off the dogs for a bit....

Yes - 100 hryvna later (~$12) I went for that option - rushed to the bank, then to the post, called my new BFF Olga and we are still plugged in!


And I was glad I did...on my drive down to the bank/post, I saw another house down the street who apparently did NOT choose the 'friends of Olga' option......

....I don't think they were doing repair

So here's to respecting your utilities professionals and paying your damn bills on time & accurately!