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 

Spirit over Safety

It has become clear that Ukraine is not exactly a place where health & safety come first.   

Yet, I still get a chuckle out of the surprising examples of this....

(Note: the dude dangling from a single rope on the side of a building in the front - not sure a buddy in the window would be enough to make me feel safe)

I also wouldn't call Ukraine particularly focused on frivolous fun

So, as someone who loves everything festive, I applaud the guys "topping out" the new house across the street (putting a celebratory tree on top) - even if it does seem like tempting fate to balance so precariously while doing it

(A common construction ceremony at a structure's completion - apparently evolved from a Scandinavian custom of putting a branch on the top of a building, to appease the tree-dwelling spirits of the displaced ancestors)

And, having not generally seen many traces of Christmas cheer until late December, I was excited about the early signs in my favorite grocery store this week

Including a near life-sized Santa.....

(could be yours for ~$250)

A Christmas tree & draping being installed....

The noteworthy part being the clear priority given to festivity over safety

Gotta applaud the bravery balancing on the very top wrung, with carts and people squeezing by - all in the name of festive holiday spirit!

So, here's to showcasing festive & fun 

...AND, let's all agree to wear our seat belts 

Cheers!

 

Forgot about Jack-o-lanterns

Living in Kiev, I now realize just how much I relied on all the fanfare in stores to prompt me into action celebrating the season.....

Said another way, Halloween totally snuck up on me

OK, maybe it sounds like an excuse - but honestly, I only came across ONE single Halloween display in this city of 3MM+

At a fish restaurant, of all places!

While the city was totally Halloween quiet, our international school has enough Americans (~1/4 of the teachers & 15% of the kids), the Primary school started to 'do Halloween' a few years ago

Zoe's grade 1 celebration was as elaborate as any:

Kids dressed up....

Moms brought in an elaborate spread....

Crafts, games & cookie decorating....

But there were a few touches that reminded us we "weren't in Kansas anymore"

Nannies in attendance (in lieu of parents)

A professional photographer sent in (by a local parent) to capture it all

(relatedly, we went to a kid's birthday party here where the parents stayed on a different level eating / drinking the whole time - including when the cake was eaten, meanwhile paid for a videographer to capture the whole thing)

And unlike in the US, where a Halloween party of some sort is almost a birthright, it varied at our school.  The boys' grade 3 & 5 classes had nothing planned.

Thanks to the festive supplies Nana & Sissy sent, we were at least able to ensure the day wasn't sugar free.....

And thanks to our Primary School Principal being American, Trick or Treating at school was added a few years ago.

We got ready with some homemade / home-assembled costumes:

Mr. Pig....

(who quickly ditched most elements of his costume)

Mr. Candy...

(who reported it was not fun to be attacked by kids grabbing at his candy & have to run away from them all night)

And a Wink imported from Costco

Crammed into the school lobby anxiously awaiting the 5pm open

Then went from class to class gathering candy

While I originally worried 1 hour wouldn't be enough, the kids were done with the loop in ~15 minutes.   The boys proceeded to the playground, Zoe & her posse kept at it making ~4 loops, raking in a ton of candy

(too busy to stop for a frontal shot)

Despite it all, I still felt guilty that we didn't carve pumpkins.  

So headed to the market this morning - and now have another excuse....the only pumpkins available:

Last year we tried carving these - got several broken & bent knives to show for it

So instead, we agreed to keep our decorations out until they get replaced by Xmas decor 

Maybe a bit feeble

But it is 'character building' to be flexible, right?

And, at the end of the day, these are technically Jack-o-lanterns

Here's to the fun of Halloween - and remembering to eat your Mars(TM) candy every day of the year