It's always interesting reading other's experiences.
1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.
2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.
3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)
4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.
5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.
As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!
Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha
Full Version: The Kyiv Beat......
VisaJourney.com > General Discussion Area > Regional Discussion > Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)
QUOTE(LvivLovers @ Oct 27 2007, 01:54 PM) 
It's always interesting reading other's experiences.
1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.
THat is great, $4 deal, wow who was that with? I HAVE flown Delta to Austrian(connecting in Vienna, Austria then on to Ukraine) on a round trip. Also flown Lufthansa round trip from USA United Airlines then Lufthansa. That was a wild experience. Basically the airport I was flying into that time was Dnepropetrovsk and they are a bunch of corrupt thugs running it I swear, they were in a big row with Lufhhansa because they were flying in an out of that airport with such lower airfares which was killing their very own Dneprovia airlines which I found out later that the airport in Dnperopetrovsk was deliberately not allowing Lufthansa flights to land in their airport thus they were having to reroute to Donetsk or Kiev or Khariv or whatever else airport would allow them to fly in then they would schedule a bus or a train to your destination, talk about a treat flying into Munich from USA then getting to gate and sitting around and waiting and noticing no one else showing up to wait with me and asking Lufthansa rep if flight still on since I had been alerted from Ukraine to be aware of possible problems, well sure enough about hour to 45 minutes before flight out of Munich to Dneperpetrovsk I have to run down stairs to get some tickets to get me on to where I am going, well, lucky lady at Lufthansa desk was good in English and nice, she was great, so in like next 30 minutes I run through another custome and immigration checkpoint and then get on a flight to Frankfurt, which would then hook up with Dneprovia going to Dneprorpetrovsk, only delayed me about 2 hours or so , but it was unreal. And getting out was a mess one morning at 4 am from Donetsk. AHAH I will never forget that time. I could have throttled that Ukraine girl working for Lufthansa at Donetsk and jerking me around!!!! typical Ukraine stuff, but oh well It finally worked out, DonAir bus back to Kiev then Lufthansa out of Kiev to Munich on to USA! Also flew United and Delta this past year then on KLM, which is good. Hey I never had bad experience, I like the GErmans Lufthansa, they stay on time no matter what, Austrian Airlines was great also, and so was KLM, just finding flight ahead of time and right price is key.
2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.
THAT is unreal how many women in Ukraine there are just waiting for a decent kind man, great for you, hard to imagine that would happen you know, it is so amazing, even I cannot believe how I meet my wife. I agree they are better matches for men in USA those women from Eastern Europe by far.
3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)
Well you do not know what you are missing out on, I took a train from Dnepropetrovsk once all the way to Simferopol on to Yalta via bus and once car and then once by plane and it was unreal. Reminds me of Etripke trip on train to CArpathians this past year. Sounds like neat trip Etripke I want to do that next time. Anyway, I road on one of those non-AC or ventilated trains which those people there do not mind or notice nor the women as Etripke says those women from Ukraine are so damn tough and strong nothing bothers them like the soft lazy American women I had been with in past. Anyway, can you imagine there is no AC on this train and only way to get there where we were going and I was so damn hot one night I could not take sleeping in shorts and no shirt in compartment with 3 other people bunk bed style so I get up and go hang my head out the train window to get the fresh air, and finally after hour I was revived but I swear I would not do that BS again. So we tried the AC bus which is so much better and more room and more comfortable and faster I think, anyway unreal how those people travel and tolerate it, amazing. Culture shock for me!
4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.
Well those Ukraine airlines are a hoot! AHHA every time we land the Ukriainian passengers start clapping loudly and I am sitting there looking at my finance/girlfriend thinking what is the big deal about that and she just smiles and says well one never knows in Ukraine sometimes and I am like great! AHHAH
5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.
Wow we were going to go visit Lviv this summer and just got busy down in Odessa and Kriv Rog checking out things. I have been to all those major cities in Ukraine but there, have heard a lot about it, where and what is good places or things to do in Lviv. Well my experience is that the food the Ukraine women and their families make is outstanding and super healthly like ETripke says and they can cook like a magician, but the restuarants I have been to I Kiev, Yalta, Simferopol, Svestapol, Donetsk, Odessa, Khariv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kivy Rog, Zaproshia or wherevever else was not so hot, I am sure there are some great places but it was hard to find for the price, most of time the people hosting me just took me to their own private meal deal and it was always excellent.
As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!
AMEN BROTHER! PREACH IT! They are the best hands down, after being to Eastern Europe and seeing those women there, I told all my friends they are simply spinning their wheels here in USA and wasting their time and yet they still cannot believe it, I tell them to go there and see for themselves and they all say well you just got lucky and I will not be so lucky and I am like BS, there are thousands of great looking well built awesome personality hard working serious kind caring moral women there, just waiting for a knight in shining armor to come rescue them.
Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha
THAT is great Lviv! You guys will get it easy and be rocking on next week. Typical Ukraine women, after what they have seen or endured there, nothing bothers them here in USA, it is like a dream come true or fairtail here for them!
Etripke you are right there are no fat people or women in Ukraine and they walk all over the place nonstop and work and eat so well compared to people here, Do you guys have your wives or finances wanting to go walking or running all the time each day or to a park or outside nonstop, my wife loves exercise, they think nothing of walking or running 1, 2, 3 or 4 miles or whatever at all!
AND In HEELS sometimes! AHHA
Do you guys notice how they always dress up or look nice and never go around looking like a slob or bad, ever, I mean they always look like a million bucks and always dress so well always. AHHA
ZQT3344
1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.
THat is great, $4 deal, wow who was that with? I HAVE flown Delta to Austrian(connecting in Vienna, Austria then on to Ukraine) on a round trip. Also flown Lufthansa round trip from USA United Airlines then Lufthansa. That was a wild experience. Basically the airport I was flying into that time was Dnepropetrovsk and they are a bunch of corrupt thugs running it I swear, they were in a big row with Lufhhansa because they were flying in an out of that airport with such lower airfares which was killing their very own Dneprovia airlines which I found out later that the airport in Dnperopetrovsk was deliberately not allowing Lufthansa flights to land in their airport thus they were having to reroute to Donetsk or Kiev or Khariv or whatever else airport would allow them to fly in then they would schedule a bus or a train to your destination, talk about a treat flying into Munich from USA then getting to gate and sitting around and waiting and noticing no one else showing up to wait with me and asking Lufthansa rep if flight still on since I had been alerted from Ukraine to be aware of possible problems, well sure enough about hour to 45 minutes before flight out of Munich to Dneperpetrovsk I have to run down stairs to get some tickets to get me on to where I am going, well, lucky lady at Lufthansa desk was good in English and nice, she was great, so in like next 30 minutes I run through another custome and immigration checkpoint and then get on a flight to Frankfurt, which would then hook up with Dneprovia going to Dneprorpetrovsk, only delayed me about 2 hours or so , but it was unreal. And getting out was a mess one morning at 4 am from Donetsk. AHAH I will never forget that time. I could have throttled that Ukraine girl working for Lufthansa at Donetsk and jerking me around!!!! typical Ukraine stuff, but oh well It finally worked out, DonAir bus back to Kiev then Lufthansa out of Kiev to Munich on to USA! Also flew United and Delta this past year then on KLM, which is good. Hey I never had bad experience, I like the GErmans Lufthansa, they stay on time no matter what, Austrian Airlines was great also, and so was KLM, just finding flight ahead of time and right price is key.
2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.
THAT is unreal how many women in Ukraine there are just waiting for a decent kind man, great for you, hard to imagine that would happen you know, it is so amazing, even I cannot believe how I meet my wife. I agree they are better matches for men in USA those women from Eastern Europe by far.
3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)
Well you do not know what you are missing out on, I took a train from Dnepropetrovsk once all the way to Simferopol on to Yalta via bus and once car and then once by plane and it was unreal. Reminds me of Etripke trip on train to CArpathians this past year. Sounds like neat trip Etripke I want to do that next time. Anyway, I road on one of those non-AC or ventilated trains which those people there do not mind or notice nor the women as Etripke says those women from Ukraine are so damn tough and strong nothing bothers them like the soft lazy American women I had been with in past. Anyway, can you imagine there is no AC on this train and only way to get there where we were going and I was so damn hot one night I could not take sleeping in shorts and no shirt in compartment with 3 other people bunk bed style so I get up and go hang my head out the train window to get the fresh air, and finally after hour I was revived but I swear I would not do that BS again. So we tried the AC bus which is so much better and more room and more comfortable and faster I think, anyway unreal how those people travel and tolerate it, amazing. Culture shock for me!
4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.
Well those Ukraine airlines are a hoot! AHHA every time we land the Ukriainian passengers start clapping loudly and I am sitting there looking at my finance/girlfriend thinking what is the big deal about that and she just smiles and says well one never knows in Ukraine sometimes and I am like great! AHHAH
5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.
Wow we were going to go visit Lviv this summer and just got busy down in Odessa and Kriv Rog checking out things. I have been to all those major cities in Ukraine but there, have heard a lot about it, where and what is good places or things to do in Lviv. Well my experience is that the food the Ukraine women and their families make is outstanding and super healthly like ETripke says and they can cook like a magician, but the restuarants I have been to I Kiev, Yalta, Simferopol, Svestapol, Donetsk, Odessa, Khariv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kivy Rog, Zaproshia or wherevever else was not so hot, I am sure there are some great places but it was hard to find for the price, most of time the people hosting me just took me to their own private meal deal and it was always excellent.
As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!
AMEN BROTHER! PREACH IT! They are the best hands down, after being to Eastern Europe and seeing those women there, I told all my friends they are simply spinning their wheels here in USA and wasting their time and yet they still cannot believe it, I tell them to go there and see for themselves and they all say well you just got lucky and I will not be so lucky and I am like BS, there are thousands of great looking well built awesome personality hard working serious kind caring moral women there, just waiting for a knight in shining armor to come rescue them.
Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha
THAT is great Lviv! You guys will get it easy and be rocking on next week. Typical Ukraine women, after what they have seen or endured there, nothing bothers them here in USA, it is like a dream come true or fairtail here for them!
Etripke you are right there are no fat people or women in Ukraine and they walk all over the place nonstop and work and eat so well compared to people here, Do you guys have your wives or finances wanting to go walking or running all the time each day or to a park or outside nonstop, my wife loves exercise, they think nothing of walking or running 1, 2, 3 or 4 miles or whatever at all!
AND In HEELS sometimes! AHHA
Do you guys notice how they always dress up or look nice and never go around looking like a slob or bad, ever, I mean they always look like a million bucks and always dress so well always. AHHA
ZQT3344
QUOTE(LvivLovers @ Oct 27 2007, 01:54 PM)
It's always interesting reading other's experiences.
1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.
2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.
3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)
4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.
5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.
As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!
Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha
1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.
2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.
3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)
4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.
5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.
As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!
Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha
Best of luck to both of you. You have had smooth sailing so far and there is no reason to think otherwise. The Embassy staff are first rate, respectful and seem to really want to give you what you want.
Best wishes!
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Oct 27 2007, 09:48 PM)
1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.
THat is great, $4 deal, wow who was that with? I HAVE flown Delta to Austrian(connecting in Vienna, Austria then on to Ukraine) on a round trip. Also flown Lufthansa round trip from USA United Airlines then Lufthansa. That was a wild experience. Basically the airport I was flying into that time was Dnepropetrovsk and they are a bunch of corrupt thugs running it I swear, they were in a big row with Lufhhansa because they were flying in an out of that airport with such lower airfares which was killing their very own Dneprovia airlines which I found out later that the airport in Dnperopetrovsk was deliberately not allowing Lufthansa flights to land in their airport thus they were having to reroute to Donetsk or Kiev or Khariv or whatever else airport would allow them to fly in then they would schedule a bus or a train to your destination, talk about a treat flying into Munich from USA then getting to gate and sitting around and waiting and noticing no one else showing up to wait with me and asking Lufthansa rep if flight still on since I had been alerted from Ukraine to be aware of possible problems, well sure enough about hour to 45 minutes before flight out of Munich to Dneperpetrovsk I have to run down stairs to get some tickets to get me on to where I am going, well, lucky lady at Lufthansa desk was good in English and nice, she was great, so in like next 30 minutes I run through another custome and immigration checkpoint and then get on a flight to Frankfurt, which would then hook up with Dneprovia going to Dneprorpetrovsk, only delayed me about 2 hours or so , but it was unreal. And getting out was a mess one morning at 4 am from Donetsk. AHAH I will never forget that time. I could have throttled that Ukraine girl working for Lufthansa at Donetsk and jerking me around!!!! typical Ukraine stuff, but oh well It finally worked out, DonAir bus back to Kiev then Lufthansa out of Kiev to Munich on to USA! Also flew United and Delta this past year then on KLM, which is good. Hey I never had bad experience, I like the GErmans Lufthansa, they stay on time no matter what, Austrian Airlines was great also, and so was KLM, just finding flight ahead of time and right price is key.
I forget which airline...either Aerosvit or maybe Ukraine International. This was just between Lviv and Kyiv. I was holding my breath to see how we were going to get shafted but the seats were just like every other one. I think one part of the catch was you couldn't get a refund or change tickets, etc. but at that price it wasn't an issue anyway! haha Wow...sounds like you've had some fun experiences! =)
2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.
THAT is unreal how many women in Ukraine there are just waiting for a decent kind man, great for you, hard to imagine that would happen you know, it is so amazing, even I cannot believe how I meet my wife. I agree they are better matches for men in USA those women from Eastern Europe by far.
It was funny. When I went there to visit, her mother and her friends all thought I was just great. They kept saying how polite and decent I was but I wasn't doing anything at all. Just sitting with them and talking. I have been telling my friends non-stop they need to go there and find a wife because they are the best in the world! haha
3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)
Well you do not know what you are missing out on, I took a train from Dnepropetrovsk once all the way to Simferopol on to Yalta via bus and once car and then once by plane and it was unreal. Reminds me of Etripke trip on train to CArpathians this past year. Sounds like neat trip Etripke I want to do that next time. Anyway, I road on one of those non-AC or ventilated trains which those people there do not mind or notice nor the women as Etripke says those women from Ukraine are so damn tough and strong nothing bothers them like the soft lazy American women I had been with in past. Anyway, can you imagine there is no AC on this train and only way to get there where we were going and I was so damn hot one night I could not take sleeping in shorts and no shirt in compartment with 3 other people bunk bed style so I get up and go hang my head out the train window to get the fresh air, and finally after hour I was revived but I swear I would not do that BS again. So we tried the AC bus which is so much better and more room and more comfortable and faster I think, anyway unreal how those people travel and tolerate it, amazing. Culture shock for me!
I heard about Etripke's trip also. You are right though...Ukrainians can tolerate anything. My wife is happy all the time. I've still never heard her complain about anything. Well only one thing. She said once we are all done with this process not to let her meet the people from CSC because she might kill one of them! hahaha But really other than that, she is always positive. It's really amazing to me. When I commented about this in the past she just said that many people have much bigger problems so nothing is so big to complain about. I have to say it's very refreshing and just one more thing I love about her.
4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.
Well those Ukraine airlines are a hoot! AHHA every time we land the Ukriainian passengers start clapping loudly and I am sitting there looking at my finance/girlfriend thinking what is the big deal about that and she just smiles and says well one never knows in Ukraine sometimes and I am like great! AHHAH
I remember the clapping upon landing also. I can tell you my first trip to Lviv...it did feel a little dicey and the plane was blowing around in the wind a lot! I felt like the pilot did a darn good job to get us down in one piece.
5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.
Wow we were going to go visit Lviv this summer and just got busy down in Odessa and Kriv Rog checking out things. I have been to all those major cities in Ukraine but there, have heard a lot about it, where and what is good places or things to do in Lviv. Well my experience is that the food the Ukraine women and their families make is outstanding and super healthly like ETripke says and they can cook like a magician, but the restuarants I have been to I Kiev, Yalta, Simferopol, Svestapol, Donetsk, Odessa, Khariv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kivy Rog, Zaproshia or wherevever else was not so hot, I am sure there are some great places but it was hard to find for the price, most of time the people hosting me just took me to their own private meal deal and it was always excellent.
I don't think you can go wrong in Lviv. Just so much interesting architecture every place. Of course I think my favorite was the opera house. Definately check that out....the inside is amazing. You can catch a nice show for under 10 bucks I think! I've eaten in probably 10-15 restaurants...liked them all. Each one had a really unique character. I wish we had more places like that here. And you are right. They eat much better. I was looking for pizzas a lot...my wife was always eating salads or something else healthy. Being married to her will probably literally make me live many years longer! hahaha
As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!
AMEN BROTHER! PREACH IT! They are the best hands down, after being to Eastern Europe and seeing those women there, I told all my friends they are simply spinning their wheels here in USA and wasting their time and yet they still cannot believe it, I tell them to go there and see for themselves and they all say well you just got lucky and I will not be so lucky and I am like BS, there are thousands of great looking well built awesome personality hard working serious kind caring moral women there, just waiting for a knight in shining armor to come rescue them.
You hit the nail on the head. I mean there's just nothing wrong with these girls. Of course I feel like I found the best one though! hahaha
Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha
THAT is great Lviv! You guys will get it easy and be rocking on next week. Typical Ukraine women, after what they have seen or endured there, nothing bothers them here in USA, it is like a dream come true or fairtail here for them!
Etripke you are right there are no fat people or women in Ukraine and they walk all over the place nonstop and work and eat so well compared to people here, Do you guys have your wives or finances wanting to go walking or running all the time each day or to a park or outside nonstop, my wife loves exercise, they think nothing of walking or running 1, 2, 3 or 4 miles or whatever at all!
AND In HEELS sometimes! AHHA
Do you guys notice how they always dress up or look nice and never go around looking like a slob or bad, ever, I mean they always look like a million bucks and always dress so well always. AHHA
I hope you are right about them liking the USA. I worry a little bit about this. My wife was very happy in Lviv and on many occasions tried to convince me to move there with her instead of coming to the USA. If not for the job situation, I'd be tempted! =)
I haven't had a chance to see how the exercising will be yet as immigration has kept us apart most of our relationship. I do know when we met in the Dominican Republic she loved the ocean...we'd be out there pretty much all day long in the water! And yeah...I can't believe some of the shoes she walks around in. Again...never a complaint. And yes, you are completely right. She always dresses great. I'm going to have to update my wardrobe completely because I feel like a slob now. hahaha
THat is great, $4 deal, wow who was that with? I HAVE flown Delta to Austrian(connecting in Vienna, Austria then on to Ukraine) on a round trip. Also flown Lufthansa round trip from USA United Airlines then Lufthansa. That was a wild experience. Basically the airport I was flying into that time was Dnepropetrovsk and they are a bunch of corrupt thugs running it I swear, they were in a big row with Lufhhansa because they were flying in an out of that airport with such lower airfares which was killing their very own Dneprovia airlines which I found out later that the airport in Dnperopetrovsk was deliberately not allowing Lufthansa flights to land in their airport thus they were having to reroute to Donetsk or Kiev or Khariv or whatever else airport would allow them to fly in then they would schedule a bus or a train to your destination, talk about a treat flying into Munich from USA then getting to gate and sitting around and waiting and noticing no one else showing up to wait with me and asking Lufthansa rep if flight still on since I had been alerted from Ukraine to be aware of possible problems, well sure enough about hour to 45 minutes before flight out of Munich to Dneperpetrovsk I have to run down stairs to get some tickets to get me on to where I am going, well, lucky lady at Lufthansa desk was good in English and nice, she was great, so in like next 30 minutes I run through another custome and immigration checkpoint and then get on a flight to Frankfurt, which would then hook up with Dneprovia going to Dneprorpetrovsk, only delayed me about 2 hours or so , but it was unreal. And getting out was a mess one morning at 4 am from Donetsk. AHAH I will never forget that time. I could have throttled that Ukraine girl working for Lufthansa at Donetsk and jerking me around!!!! typical Ukraine stuff, but oh well It finally worked out, DonAir bus back to Kiev then Lufthansa out of Kiev to Munich on to USA! Also flew United and Delta this past year then on KLM, which is good. Hey I never had bad experience, I like the GErmans Lufthansa, they stay on time no matter what, Austrian Airlines was great also, and so was KLM, just finding flight ahead of time and right price is key.
I forget which airline...either Aerosvit or maybe Ukraine International. This was just between Lviv and Kyiv. I was holding my breath to see how we were going to get shafted but the seats were just like every other one. I think one part of the catch was you couldn't get a refund or change tickets, etc. but at that price it wasn't an issue anyway! haha Wow...sounds like you've had some fun experiences! =)
2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.
THAT is unreal how many women in Ukraine there are just waiting for a decent kind man, great for you, hard to imagine that would happen you know, it is so amazing, even I cannot believe how I meet my wife. I agree they are better matches for men in USA those women from Eastern Europe by far.
It was funny. When I went there to visit, her mother and her friends all thought I was just great. They kept saying how polite and decent I was but I wasn't doing anything at all. Just sitting with them and talking. I have been telling my friends non-stop they need to go there and find a wife because they are the best in the world! haha
3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)
Well you do not know what you are missing out on, I took a train from Dnepropetrovsk once all the way to Simferopol on to Yalta via bus and once car and then once by plane and it was unreal. Reminds me of Etripke trip on train to CArpathians this past year. Sounds like neat trip Etripke I want to do that next time. Anyway, I road on one of those non-AC or ventilated trains which those people there do not mind or notice nor the women as Etripke says those women from Ukraine are so damn tough and strong nothing bothers them like the soft lazy American women I had been with in past. Anyway, can you imagine there is no AC on this train and only way to get there where we were going and I was so damn hot one night I could not take sleeping in shorts and no shirt in compartment with 3 other people bunk bed style so I get up and go hang my head out the train window to get the fresh air, and finally after hour I was revived but I swear I would not do that BS again. So we tried the AC bus which is so much better and more room and more comfortable and faster I think, anyway unreal how those people travel and tolerate it, amazing. Culture shock for me!
I heard about Etripke's trip also. You are right though...Ukrainians can tolerate anything. My wife is happy all the time. I've still never heard her complain about anything. Well only one thing. She said once we are all done with this process not to let her meet the people from CSC because she might kill one of them! hahaha But really other than that, she is always positive. It's really amazing to me. When I commented about this in the past she just said that many people have much bigger problems so nothing is so big to complain about. I have to say it's very refreshing and just one more thing I love about her.
4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.
Well those Ukraine airlines are a hoot! AHHA every time we land the Ukriainian passengers start clapping loudly and I am sitting there looking at my finance/girlfriend thinking what is the big deal about that and she just smiles and says well one never knows in Ukraine sometimes and I am like great! AHHAH
I remember the clapping upon landing also. I can tell you my first trip to Lviv...it did feel a little dicey and the plane was blowing around in the wind a lot! I felt like the pilot did a darn good job to get us down in one piece.
5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.
Wow we were going to go visit Lviv this summer and just got busy down in Odessa and Kriv Rog checking out things. I have been to all those major cities in Ukraine but there, have heard a lot about it, where and what is good places or things to do in Lviv. Well my experience is that the food the Ukraine women and their families make is outstanding and super healthly like ETripke says and they can cook like a magician, but the restuarants I have been to I Kiev, Yalta, Simferopol, Svestapol, Donetsk, Odessa, Khariv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kivy Rog, Zaproshia or wherevever else was not so hot, I am sure there are some great places but it was hard to find for the price, most of time the people hosting me just took me to their own private meal deal and it was always excellent.
I don't think you can go wrong in Lviv. Just so much interesting architecture every place. Of course I think my favorite was the opera house. Definately check that out....the inside is amazing. You can catch a nice show for under 10 bucks I think! I've eaten in probably 10-15 restaurants...liked them all. Each one had a really unique character. I wish we had more places like that here. And you are right. They eat much better. I was looking for pizzas a lot...my wife was always eating salads or something else healthy. Being married to her will probably literally make me live many years longer! hahaha
As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!
AMEN BROTHER! PREACH IT! They are the best hands down, after being to Eastern Europe and seeing those women there, I told all my friends they are simply spinning their wheels here in USA and wasting their time and yet they still cannot believe it, I tell them to go there and see for themselves and they all say well you just got lucky and I will not be so lucky and I am like BS, there are thousands of great looking well built awesome personality hard working serious kind caring moral women there, just waiting for a knight in shining armor to come rescue them.
You hit the nail on the head. I mean there's just nothing wrong with these girls. Of course I feel like I found the best one though! hahaha
Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha
THAT is great Lviv! You guys will get it easy and be rocking on next week. Typical Ukraine women, after what they have seen or endured there, nothing bothers them here in USA, it is like a dream come true or fairtail here for them!
Etripke you are right there are no fat people or women in Ukraine and they walk all over the place nonstop and work and eat so well compared to people here, Do you guys have your wives or finances wanting to go walking or running all the time each day or to a park or outside nonstop, my wife loves exercise, they think nothing of walking or running 1, 2, 3 or 4 miles or whatever at all!
AND In HEELS sometimes! AHHA
Do you guys notice how they always dress up or look nice and never go around looking like a slob or bad, ever, I mean they always look like a million bucks and always dress so well always. AHHA
I hope you are right about them liking the USA. I worry a little bit about this. My wife was very happy in Lviv and on many occasions tried to convince me to move there with her instead of coming to the USA. If not for the job situation, I'd be tempted! =)
I haven't had a chance to see how the exercising will be yet as immigration has kept us apart most of our relationship. I do know when we met in the Dominican Republic she loved the ocean...we'd be out there pretty much all day long in the water! And yeah...I can't believe some of the shoes she walks around in. Again...never a complaint. And yes, you are completely right. She always dresses great. I'm going to have to update my wardrobe completely because I feel like a slob now. hahaha
QUOTE(etripke @ Oct 27 2007, 10:02 PM)
Best of luck to both of you. You have had smooth sailing so far and there is no reason to think otherwise. The Embassy staff are first rate, respectful and seem to really want to give you what you want.
Best wishes!
Best wishes!
Thank you very much! Glad to hear the people in the consulate are nice. As you know, frequently this is not the case. Down to just over 1 day away now. The excitement is really building! =)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 28 2007, 02:41 AM)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
I have always had a great time there. We did discuss my moving, but with a young son in my life it would be tough and I know I couldn't handle leaving him behind. I have seen others on VJ just pack up and leave their children behind...I can't do it. I could leave the rest of family behind no problem, I'm an adult I know I'd see them again and would stay in touch but there is zero dependency on them or for them on me.
This will be Lena's first time being really far away from family. One of the draws to her was the family make up and respect of family within Ukrainian culture. I admire that, and here in the states it is unfortunately not as strong or binding as it seems to be there. Our culture and society seem to forget family sometimes or they look at it very differently from the perspective of how we treat our parents and elderly.
Sorry, just rambling again. Lena will have some tough days ahead I'm sure. I've prepared for this as much as I can. She'll have access to Vonage phone service to call home, I left my laptop there with her family so they can email from home, and use the Vonage "Softphone" for up to 500 minutes of calling per month for only $9.99. The laptop is set up for Video conferencing through Microsoft Messenger. Lena will have all of this, and I just had an International Dish from DirecTV installed this past week so she will have Ukrainian channel 1+1 available to watch here anytime she desires. When I went over last July-August I took her a new Cell Phone (unlocked) and when she leaves Kyiv next Monday she will just swap out the sim card, and be on the ATT network for sms updates on her flights, and to call once the plane lands at O'Hare. She will also have International sms capabilities here in Madison.
Then I went a step further and was introduced to a couple of guys here that have Russian wives and we will meet more couples through them. I felt that native speakers would be a great connection to FSU culture, and offer tips and advice for her. I learned there are over 1,500 FSU diaspora (spell?) here in Madison so she will meet some of them for certain. We actually have a school here where many of them are taking their children several times a week to teach and keep them in touch with Russian language.
One thing that I am disappointed in over here is regarding things for Lena's daughter. Lena's 10 year old daughter has been in Dance since age 3. She has been performing for a dance company in Kyiv since that age, making the "cut" at age 6. The cost for the training and so forth over there is very reasonable, and much more intense (training 5-6 days a week sometimes) than about 95% of the schools here in the USA. I checked into one school here and it was outragous in price for only 1 day a week. That will be something we'll have to wait on for awhile.
E.
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 28 2007, 03:41 AM)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
WELL I can laugh about it now, but it was not very funny at the time when a lot of things like this were going on, and I can tell you even more experiences that I had, just not enough time or room to type it. Ukraine is always a good time, for simple fact to me that it is still like the WILD WILD WEST was in USA many years or centuries ago! AHHA Anything goes and anything can happen and nothing is dependable or reliable EXCEPT the trains, you can set your watch by them by gosh! The trains are the only thing there that run on time and are exactly the same day in and day out unlike so many other things I have had to deal with while in Ukraine. Life in Ukraine is so unnatural to an American, we are used to everything being on time and working and laws enforced or followed but that is not the case in Ukraine. HAHA it is funny now that I think about it, but at the time it was kind of pain in Arse and stressful sometimes trying to get things done, just basic ordinary everyday life items I take for granted here in USA, in Ukraine that is a near impossiblity at many times. And this is not meant to knock Ukraine or condemn it, just that facts. So if any of you future K1 filers plan on going to Ukraine or marrying a Ukraine, get ready when you go there, things are going to be a lot different than what you are used to in USA, just basic services or everyday life ordinary simple things we take for granted here in USA are not available all the time in Ukraine or simply do not work at all. This is for certain, women in Ukraine are by far some of the finest and strongest and prettiest you will ever meet in the world, while the men in Ukraine for the most part are usually drunk or not working too hard. Just a fact of life there, it is actually a man paradise in Ukraine, any man in Ukraine or former Soviet Union wanting to leave there and come to the USA had better think twice, he has it so good in Ukraine, it is like a dream come true. But from what I have learned from talking to men there, they do not realize it, they just have gotten so used to the way things are in Ukraine and being able to do whatever they want when they want how they want that they know nothing else and just do not care, I mean you will see all these great looking women all over the place on a bus or train or in public place and there is this smelly man from Ukraine sitting there and I just shake my head, and I have seen how they treat or act to women in Ukraine, their mothers spoil them rotten also. Unreal. I know, my wife's Dad would go hungry and starve before he would go to a grocery store and buy food or fix some himself, AHHA it is so unreal how men get pampered there in Ukraine. Just my observations. No harm intended.
zqt3344
Mariya
Privet
Say did you file a K1 or what? How did you meet your finance?
ZQT3344
Privet
Say did you file a K1 or what? How did you meet your finance?
ZQT3344
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 28 2007, 03:41 AM)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
Etripke
Hey there. So did you get married to your wife in Ukraine? What did you have to file if you went that route? Have to go to Kiev USA embassy for I130? Curious how it is working for you if you are going that route?
ZQT3344
I have always had a great time there. We did discuss my moving, but with a young son in my life it would be tough and I know I couldn't handle leaving him behind. I have seen others on VJ just pack up and leave their children behind...I can't do it. I could leave the rest of family behind no problem, I'm an adult I know I'd see them again and would stay in touch but there is zero dependency on them or for them on me.
This will be Lena's first time being really far away from family. One of the draws to her was the family make up and respect of family within Ukrainian culture. I admire that, and here in the states it is unfortunately not as strong or binding as it seems to be there. Our culture and society seem to forget family sometimes or they look at it very differently from the perspective of how we treat our parents and elderly.
Sorry, just rambling again. Lena will have some tough days ahead I'm sure. I've prepared for this as much as I can. She'll have access to Vonage phone service to call home, I left my laptop there with her family so they can email from home, and use the Vonage "Softphone" for up to 500 minutes of calling per month for only $9.99. The laptop is set up for Video conferencing through Microsoft Messenger. Lena will have all of this, and I just had an International Dish from DirecTV installed this past week so she will have Ukrainian channel 1+1 available to watch here anytime she desires. When I went over last July-August I took her a new Cell Phone (unlocked) and when she leaves Kyiv next Monday she will just swap out the sim card, and be on the ATT network for sms updates on her flights, and to call once the plane lands at O'Hare. She will also have International sms capabilities here in Madison.
Then I went a step further and was introduced to a couple of guys here that have Russian wives and we will meet more couples through them. I felt that native speakers would be a great connection to FSU culture, and offer tips and advice for her. I learned there are over 1,500 FSU diaspora (spell?) here in Madison so she will meet some of them for certain. We actually have a school here where many of them are taking their children several times a week to teach and keep them in touch with Russian language.
One thing that I am disappointed in over here is regarding things for Lena's daughter. Lena's 10 year old daughter has been in Dance since age 3. She has been performing for a dance company in Kyiv since that age, making the "cut" at age 6. The cost for the training and so forth over there is very reasonable, and much more intense (training 5-6 days a week sometimes) than about 95% of the schools here in the USA. I checked into one school here and it was outragous in price for only 1 day a week. That will be something we'll have to wait on for awhile.
E.
Hey there. So did you get married to your wife in Ukraine? What did you have to file if you went that route? Have to go to Kiev USA embassy for I130? Curious how it is working for you if you are going that route?
ZQT3344
QUOTE(etripke @ Oct 28 2007, 11:46 AM)
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 28 2007, 02:41 AM)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
I have always had a great time there. We did discuss my moving, but with a young son in my life it would be tough and I know I couldn't handle leaving him behind. I have seen others on VJ just pack up and leave their children behind...I can't do it. I could leave the rest of family behind no problem, I'm an adult I know I'd see them again and would stay in touch but there is zero dependency on them or for them on me.
This will be Lena's first time being really far away from family. One of the draws to her was the family make up and respect of family within Ukrainian culture. I admire that, and here in the states it is unfortunately not as strong or binding as it seems to be there. Our culture and society seem to forget family sometimes or they look at it very differently from the perspective of how we treat our parents and elderly.
Sorry, just rambling again. Lena will have some tough days ahead I'm sure. I've prepared for this as much as I can. She'll have access to Vonage phone service to call home, I left my laptop there with her family so they can email from home, and use the Vonage "Softphone" for up to 500 minutes of calling per month for only $9.99. The laptop is set up for Video conferencing through Microsoft Messenger. Lena will have all of this, and I just had an International Dish from DirecTV installed this past week so she will have Ukrainian channel 1+1 available to watch here anytime she desires. When I went over last July-August I took her a new Cell Phone (unlocked) and when she leaves Kyiv next Monday she will just swap out the sim card, and be on the ATT network for sms updates on her flights, and to call once the plane lands at O'Hare. She will also have International sms capabilities here in Madison.
Then I went a step further and was introduced to a couple of guys here that have Russian wives and we will meet more couples through them. I felt that native speakers would be a great connection to FSU culture, and offer tips and advice for her. I learned there are over 1,500 FSU diaspora (spell?) here in Madison so she will meet some of them for certain. We actually have a school here where many of them are taking their children several times a week to teach and keep them in touch with Russian language.
One thing that I am disappointed in over here is regarding things for Lena's daughter. Lena's 10 year old daughter has been in Dance since age 3. She has been performing for a dance company in Kyiv since that age, making the "cut" at age 6. The cost for the training and so forth over there is very reasonable, and much more intense (training 5-6 days a week sometimes) than about 95% of the schools here in the USA. I checked into one school here and it was outragous in price for only 1 day a week. That will be something we'll have to wait on for awhile.
E.
Lviv
Hi there, say curious, did you file a I130 or I129F? Did you marry in Ukraine? Just learning from you is all, curious how you journey is going, I thought you were already married in Ukraine, so it had me miffed when it said K1 interview tomorrow in Kiev. Also if you are standing in line outside embassy tomorrow make sure your finance wife tells the man at entrance she is K1 interview and they will bring her right on inside immediately to waiting window, then they take stuff from her and ask basic questions, then she sits and waits and then they call her name out and she goes behind place for interview, which you can usually hear what they are saying, also she gets choice of English or Russian and usually they only ask about 2 - 4 questions that are simple and that is it, so relax you are in like Jim on this. Good luck.
ZQT3344
Thank you very much! Glad to hear the people in the consulate are nice. As you know, frequently this is not the case. Down to just over 1 day away now. The excitement is really building! =)
Hi there, say curious, did you file a I130 or I129F? Did you marry in Ukraine? Just learning from you is all, curious how you journey is going, I thought you were already married in Ukraine, so it had me miffed when it said K1 interview tomorrow in Kiev. Also if you are standing in line outside embassy tomorrow make sure your finance wife tells the man at entrance she is K1 interview and they will bring her right on inside immediately to waiting window, then they take stuff from her and ask basic questions, then she sits and waits and then they call her name out and she goes behind place for interview, which you can usually hear what they are saying, also she gets choice of English or Russian and usually they only ask about 2 - 4 questions that are simple and that is it, so relax you are in like Jim on this. Good luck.
ZQT3344
QUOTE(LvivLovers @ Oct 28 2007, 12:48 AM)
QUOTE(etripke @ Oct 27 2007, 10:02 PM)
Best of luck to both of you. You have had smooth sailing so far and there is no reason to think otherwise. The Embassy staff are first rate, respectful and seem to really want to give you what you want.
Best wishes!
Best wishes!
Thank you very much! Glad to hear the people in the consulate are nice. As you know, frequently this is not the case. Down to just over 1 day away now. The excitement is really building! =)
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Oct 28 2007, 12:59 PM)
Lviv
Hi there, say curious, did you file a I130 or I129F? Did you marry in Ukraine? Just learning from you is all, curious how you journey is going, I thought you were already married in Ukraine, so it had me miffed when it said K1 interview tomorrow in Kiev. Also if you are standing in line outside embassy tomorrow make sure your finance wife tells the man at entrance she is K1 interview and they will bring her right on inside immediately to waiting window, then they take stuff from her and ask basic questions, then she sits and waits and then they call her name out and she goes behind place for interview, which you can usually hear what they are saying, also she gets choice of English or Russian and usually they only ask about 2 - 4 questions that are simple and that is it, so relax you are in like Jim on this. Good luck.
ZQT3344
Hi there, say curious, did you file a I130 or I129F? Did you marry in Ukraine? Just learning from you is all, curious how you journey is going, I thought you were already married in Ukraine, so it had me miffed when it said K1 interview tomorrow in Kiev. Also if you are standing in line outside embassy tomorrow make sure your finance wife tells the man at entrance she is K1 interview and they will bring her right on inside immediately to waiting window, then they take stuff from her and ask basic questions, then she sits and waits and then they call her name out and she goes behind place for interview, which you can usually hear what they are saying, also she gets choice of English or Russian and usually they only ask about 2 - 4 questions that are simple and that is it, so relax you are in like Jim on this. Good luck.
ZQT3344
Hi ZQT3344! I went to Ukraine and married my wife in February this year. Then I filed both I-130 and I-129F in March. The USCIS decided for us that we would be pursuing a K3 visa since they didn't forward our I-130 on to the NVC...only the I-129F was sent even though both were approved.
Thanks for the info on the consulate. I just talked to her and she was first in line already...she was also aware she could go to the front of the line. Also, we had both been there together once before when we got our letter of non-impediment to marriage (so we could get married in Ukraine), so she at least has some idea of what it's like inside. I should know the result of her interview in about 4-5 more hours. Not surprisingly, I'm finding it a little difficult to sleep at the moment! hahaha
Best wishes!
LvivLovers
She'll be good
As everyone on this forum said Kiev is not that bad place to go for interview and I bet your papers are in order
Hope you'll get results soon and will go to sleep you need to get some rest before your wife will move to your place ;-)))
As everyone on this forum said Kiev is not that bad place to go for interview and I bet your papers are in order
Hope you'll get results soon and will go to sleep you need to get some rest before your wife will move to your place ;-)))
Thank you for the support everyone! I just talked to Oleksandra...her K3 visa has been approved! She's going to let me know all the details once she returns home.
Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
QUOTE(LvivLovers @ Oct 29 2007, 12:07 PM)
Thank you for the support everyone! I just talked to Oleksandra...her K3 visa has been approved! She's going to let me know all the details once she returns home.
Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
I KNEW that when I sow vthe reply notification message and your name in there i KNEW it was APPROVED Gongratulations Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
I'm So happy for you
Enjoy your Life together
Wish you all the best
QUOTE(etripke @ Oct 28 2007, 10:46 AM)
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 28 2007, 02:41 AM)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
I have always had a great time there. We did discuss my moving, but with a young son in my life it would be tough and I know I couldn't handle leaving him behind. I have seen others on VJ just pack up and leave their children behind...I can't do it. I could leave the rest of family behind no problem, I'm an adult I know I'd see them again and would stay in touch but there is zero dependency on them or for them on me.
This will be Lena's first time being really far away from family. One of the draws to her was the family make up and respect of family within Ukrainian culture. I admire that, and here in the states it is unfortunately not as strong or binding as it seems to be there. Our culture and society seem to forget family sometimes or they look at it very differently from the perspective of how we treat our parents and elderly.
Sorry, just rambling again. Lena will have some tough days ahead I'm sure. I've prepared for this as much as I can. She'll have access to Vonage phone service to call home, I left my laptop there with her family so they can email from home, and use the Vonage "Softphone" for up to 500 minutes of calling per month for only $9.99. The laptop is set up for Video conferencing through Microsoft Messenger. Lena will have all of this, and I just had an International Dish from DirecTV installed this past week so she will have Ukrainian channel 1+1 available to watch here anytime she desires. When I went over last July-August I took her a new Cell Phone (unlocked) and when she leaves Kyiv next Monday she will just swap out the sim card, and be on the ATT network for sms updates on her flights, and to call once the plane lands at O'Hare. She will also have International sms capabilities here in Madison.
Then I went a step further and was introduced to a couple of guys here that have Russian wives and we will meet more couples through them. I felt that native speakers would be a great connection to FSU culture, and offer tips and advice for her. I learned there are over 1,500 FSU diaspora (spell?) here in Madison so she will meet some of them for certain. We actually have a school here where many of them are taking their children several times a week to teach and keep them in touch with Russian language.
One thing that I am disappointed in over here is regarding things for Lena's daughter. Lena's 10 year old daughter has been in Dance since age 3. She has been performing for a dance company in Kyiv since that age, making the "cut" at age 6. The cost for the training and so forth over there is very reasonable, and much more intense (training 5-6 days a week sometimes) than about 95% of the schools here in the USA. I checked into one school here and it was outragous in price for only 1 day a week. That will be something we'll have to wait on for awhile.
E.
Etripke,
You are such a caring husband. Lena will be happy with you for sure. Of course it might be difficult for her to adjust. But then everything will be OK as she gonna have you and her daughter with her.
QUOTE(LvivLovers @ Oct 29 2007, 05:07 AM)
Thank you for the support everyone! I just talked to Oleksandra...her K3 visa has been approved! She's going to let me know all the details once she returns home.
Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
Congratulations! Looking forward to hearing about it.
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Oct 28 2007, 11:50 AM)
Mariya
Privet
Say did you file a K1 or what? How did you meet your finance?
ZQT3344
Privet
Say did you file a K1 or what? How did you meet your finance?
ZQT3344
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 28 2007, 03:41 AM)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
Privet Zqt3344!
We filed for CR-1.
As for meeting my fiancee (husband now) - he was sent to me from the heaven.
Well.. we met on a cruise liner..
Dobrii Utroe Mariya:
Great, ok educate me, so what is CR-1 and how does it work?
ZQT3344
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 29 2007, 08:43 AM)
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Oct 28 2007, 11:50 AM)
Mariya
Privet
Say did you file a K1 or what? How did you meet your finance?
ZQT3344
Privet
Say did you file a K1 or what? How did you meet your finance?
ZQT3344
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 28 2007, 03:41 AM)
WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!
I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.
Privet Zqt3344!
We filed for CR-1.
As for meeting my fiancee (husband now) - he was sent to me from the heaven.
Well.. we met on a cruise liner..
QUOTE(LvivLovers @ Oct 29 2007, 05:07 AM)
Thank you for the support everyone! I just talked to Oleksandra...her K3 visa has been approved! She's going to let me know all the details once she returns home.
Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
Best of luck to everyone else who is still waiting!
Dobrii Den' dear Zqt3344,
As far as I know CR-1 takes a bit longer to get BUT it gives your non-US fiance the right to work as soon as she arrives to US. For it you need to file I-130.
K visa take less time to be done than CR-1. For it you need to file I-129F as well. K visa is more expensive.
Check this reference and decide what visa you'd better need:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare
As far as I know CR-1 takes a bit longer to get BUT it gives your non-US fiance the right to work as soon as she arrives to US. For it you need to file I-130.
K visa take less time to be done than CR-1. For it you need to file I-129F as well. K visa is more expensive.
Check this reference and decide what visa you'd better need:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare
QUOTE(Mariya @ Oct 29 2007, 06:09 PM)
Dobrii Den' dear Zqt3344,
As far as I know CR-1 takes a bit longer to get BUT it gives your non-US fiance the right to work as soon as she arrives to US. For it you need to file I-130.
K visa take less time to be done than CR-1. For it you need to file I-129F as well. K visa is more expensive.
Check this reference and decide what visa you'd better need:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare
As far as I know CR-1 takes a bit longer to get BUT it gives your non-US fiance the right to work as soon as she arrives to US. For it you need to file I-130.
K visa take less time to be done than CR-1. For it you need to file I-129F as well. K visa is more expensive.
Check this reference and decide what visa you'd better need:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare
Todays Ukraine Topic: PIPES Above the Ground! I wonder if natural gas flow from Mother Russia will be a problem in Ukraine again this winter, I cannot believe they still heat their apartments, excuse me flats, with water filled radiators, that get fed with those water pipes that have black asbestos insulation hanging off them running all over the ground all over the place. Anyone ever wonder how or why they put their water pipes and gas pipes all above the ground instead of burying 10 feet underground from frost line and freezing up, I never could get a answer as to why they put hot water pipes above ground and expect to move all that hot water to apartment complex and then have hot water! ANd how do you like having to step over all those pipes all the time when walking around!
I'm still waiting for Oleksandra to write up her interview experience. She's been busy packing her things right now. She received her K3 visa from FedEx today, so it only took 3 days from approval to getting it in her hands in Lviv! We are all set!
QUOTE(LvivLovers @ Nov 1 2007, 10:21 AM)
I'm still waiting for Oleksandra to write up her interview experience. She's been busy packing her things right now. She received her K3 visa from FedEx today, so it only took 3 days from approval to getting it in her hands in Lviv! We are all set!
That's great news! They must be processing the Visa's diferently now.
We have 3 days until the flight. I'm still getting things ready, but should be all set in a day or so.
APPROVED
Everything went smooth, only one question asked. Finally this part of the journey is coming to an end...
Everything went smooth, only one question asked. Finally this part of the journey is coming to an end...
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
hey ladies! Join us at our forum for russian women in the US. We talk about visas and other stuff you may be interested in.
www.zaokeanom.com/forum/
www.zaokeanom.com/forum/
QUOTE(Deron @ Nov 2 2007, 02:47 PM)
APPROVED
Everything went smooth, only one question asked. Finally this part of the journey is coming to an end...
Everything went smooth, only one question asked. Finally this part of the journey is coming to an end...
Congratulations!!!
QUOTE(fwaguy @ Nov 2 2007, 02:50 PM)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
FWA GUY
How is your timeline progressing now? Any touches since filing AOS? Transferred? Interview yet? Bio metrics? EAD? AP?
ZQT3344
Hmmm..... I thought I had kept my timeline up to date.. let me take a look.. Yup it is up to date and current..
QUOTE(fwaguy @ Nov 5 2007, 04:31 PM)
Hmmm..... I thought I had kept my timeline up to date.. let me take a look.. Yup it is up to date and current..
My you are coy. I never saw any thing on you for the August filers thread and the transfer to CSC thread. So congratulations on your transfer, had no idea you had that happen.
Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself to those of you on the Kyiv Beat. I have a fiance in Sumy that I am waiting on receiving the necessary documents and photo from her, so that I may submit my I-129F. I have traveled quite a bit in Ukraine, and have been in just about every city East of the Dnieper. I have studied the former Soviet Union extensively, and am considered an authority on Soviet militaria and labor awards. I developed a website called Unique Soviet Souvenirs and Relics (A play on words of USSR), from which I sell items made and used in the FSU. I am a practicing Orthodox Christian, and am wondering if anyone here is as well? Thanks in advance for your replies.
Don
Don
QUOTE(USSR @ Nov 6 2007, 08:47 PM)
Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself to those of you on the Kyiv Beat. I have a fiance in Sumy that I am waiting on receiving the necessary documents and photo from her, so that I may submit my I-129F. I have traveled quite a bit in Ukraine, and have been in just about every city East of the Dnieper. I have studied the former Soviet Union extensively, and am considered an authority on Soviet militaria and labor awards. I developed a website called Unique Soviet Souvenirs and Relics (A play on words of USSR), from which I sell items made and used in the FSU. I am a practicing Orthodox Christian, and am wondering if anyone here is as well? Thanks in advance for your replies.
Don
Don
Welcome aboard Don!
Nope, I am a practicing Baptist.
QUOTE(USSR @ Nov 6 2007, 06:47 PM)
Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself to those of you on the Kyiv Beat. I have a fiance in Sumy that I am waiting on receiving the necessary documents and photo from her, so that I may submit my I-129F. I have traveled quite a bit in Ukraine, and have been in just about every city East of the Dnieper. I have studied the former Soviet Union extensively, and am considered an authority on Soviet militaria and labor awards. I developed a website called Unique Soviet Souvenirs and Relics (A play on words of USSR), from which I sell items made and used in the FSU. I am a practicing Orthodox Christian, and am wondering if anyone here is as well? Thanks in advance for your replies.
Don
Don
Welcome Don! I'm Roman Catholic and my fiancee is OC.
Hello All...
I have been a member since 2004 and only just found this Ukraine Forum! LOL!
I have been to Kyiv 6 times now .... met my fiance/wife there in Oct 2004 and started all processing immediately after my return. We had our interview at the Embassy in Kiev in March 2004. The interview could be classified as a "piece o' cake" as I was present to observe the proceedings (having returned to meet my wife's family). Lots of fretting and worry for NOTHING! My wife immediately got her visa and came to USA on K-1 in April 2005. We were married in May 2005. Just filed her I-751 for Removal of Conditions.
We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street. Lots of new construction with new buildings being sandwiched-in between older buildings ... looks like lots of illegal pay-offs to start all of these new condominium / flats.
This year we visited the famous Kiev Circus ... always wanted to do this but could never fit it into my schedule in the past! What a hoot!
For the 2nd consecutive year we have flown Aeorsvit (which I now have renamed "AERO-SPIT"). Last year (2006) we flew them to Moscow and this year we flew them to Athens. I CAN ONLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO COMPLETELY AVOID THIS AIRLINE IF YOU CAN! They "exude" their wonderful level of customer service" in all of their literature, however; I have traveled ALL OVER THE WORLD on virtually every known airline and "AERO-SPIT" gives the meaning and takes the level of "customer service" to an all-time record low! While my personal experiences in 2006 and 2007 were horrific, I was absolutely thrilled (this year) in Athens to watch their Lead Customer Service Agent have a 20-min non-stop "screaming match" with another passenger in front of at least 150 other people who were trying to "sign-in" at the ticket counter! Mmmmmmmmmm! And, of course, when I emailled them about my personal problems in Kyiv, Athens and onboard 2 flights .... "AERO-SPIT" wrote me back stating that there must have been some "miscommunication on my part!" (Clearly --- to them --- I am the problem --- not the airline! And so it goes ................
My wife and I are both Ukrainian Orthodox (I had my Christening at Vydubytsky Monestary in Kyiv last year).
I have been a member since 2004 and only just found this Ukraine Forum! LOL!
I have been to Kyiv 6 times now .... met my fiance/wife there in Oct 2004 and started all processing immediately after my return. We had our interview at the Embassy in Kiev in March 2004. The interview could be classified as a "piece o' cake" as I was present to observe the proceedings (having returned to meet my wife's family). Lots of fretting and worry for NOTHING! My wife immediately got her visa and came to USA on K-1 in April 2005. We were married in May 2005. Just filed her I-751 for Removal of Conditions.
We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street. Lots of new construction with new buildings being sandwiched-in between older buildings ... looks like lots of illegal pay-offs to start all of these new condominium / flats.
This year we visited the famous Kiev Circus ... always wanted to do this but could never fit it into my schedule in the past! What a hoot!
For the 2nd consecutive year we have flown Aeorsvit (which I now have renamed "AERO-SPIT"). Last year (2006) we flew them to Moscow and this year we flew them to Athens. I CAN ONLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO COMPLETELY AVOID THIS AIRLINE IF YOU CAN! They "exude" their wonderful level of customer service" in all of their literature, however; I have traveled ALL OVER THE WORLD on virtually every known airline and "AERO-SPIT" gives the meaning and takes the level of "customer service" to an all-time record low! While my personal experiences in 2006 and 2007 were horrific, I was absolutely thrilled (this year) in Athens to watch their Lead Customer Service Agent have a 20-min non-stop "screaming match" with another passenger in front of at least 150 other people who were trying to "sign-in" at the ticket counter! Mmmmmmmmmm! And, of course, when I emailled them about my personal problems in Kyiv, Athens and onboard 2 flights .... "AERO-SPIT" wrote me back stating that there must have been some "miscommunication on my part!" (Clearly --- to them --- I am the problem --- not the airline! And so it goes ................
My wife and I are both Ukrainian Orthodox (I had my Christening at Vydubytsky Monestary in Kyiv last year).
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 8 2007, 03:18 PM)
We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street.
Richard,
Yeah, it amazes me that the Dollar/Hryvnia rate has remained pretty much unchanged, at the same time that the Dollar/Euro exchange rate has nosedived. Evidently the value of the Hryvnia is tied to the Dollar. When I go to Ukraine, I fly into Borispol just outside of Kiev, AND THEN I GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS I CAN! I much prefer smaller cities such as Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, and the cities in Crimea. Yes, the drivers in Ukraine are crazy, and the ones in the northern cities seem to be the worst. There is a running joke that if they hit a pedestrian, they get out of their car and beat them up for denting their car.
Don
Hi Don....
Borispil is ALWAYS a rare treat! I have flown all over the world and this airport (followed by Sheremetyevo 1 in Moscow) are the WORST!
However, I must say that my immigration time has cut down appreciably on each and every visit. My first trip took almost 30 minutes whereas my trip last month only required less than 3 minutes!
My wife and her family live in Kyiv so travel to outside smaller cities has not been on our agenda. My wife traveled extensively throughtout the Ukraine for her job and every time I say lets go vist Kaniv, let's visit Uman, let's visit Slavutych, let's visit city xyz ... she always says that there is nothing to see or do there of any value so no need for us to go. However, she did say that next time we can visit Lviv for 1 day! LOL
I really enjoy visiting Ukraine and, with all of its internal and political faults, I am at great peace when I visit all of the historical churches and monestaries.
Thanks for the story about Ukrainian drivers ..... too funny but there is some degree of truth imbedded there!
Of course the value of the hryvnia is tied to the dollar but the Ukraine Government (fortunately) provides enough support to keep the exchange rate mostly "whole!" When I first visited the Ukraine 3 years ago (2004) there were 525 hryvnia to the dollar.
An interesting currency story .....
About 3 weeks ago, I exchanged some money for hryvnia about 630P at a location just across the road from the Kyiv Circus. 504= 1USD .. just fine. I came out from the circus about 830-900P ... just 2 hours later ... and the same exact location was exchanging at a rate of 484 = 1 USD! The very next morning I past by the same location and they were advertising 505 = 1 USD!
Richard
Richard,
Yeah, it amazes me that the Dollar/Hryvnia rate has remained pretty much unchanged, at the same time that the Dollar/Euro exchange rate has nosedived. Evidently the value of the Hryvnia is tied to the Dollar. When I go to Ukraine, I fly into Borispol just outside of Kiev, AND THEN I GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS I CAN! I much prefer smaller cities such as Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, and the cities in Crimea. Yes, the drivers in Ukraine are crazy, and the ones in the northern cities seem to be the worst. There is a running joke that if they hit a pedestrian, they get out of their car and beat them up for denting their car.
Don
Borispil is ALWAYS a rare treat! I have flown all over the world and this airport (followed by Sheremetyevo 1 in Moscow) are the WORST!
However, I must say that my immigration time has cut down appreciably on each and every visit. My first trip took almost 30 minutes whereas my trip last month only required less than 3 minutes!
My wife and her family live in Kyiv so travel to outside smaller cities has not been on our agenda. My wife traveled extensively throughtout the Ukraine for her job and every time I say lets go vist Kaniv, let's visit Uman, let's visit Slavutych, let's visit city xyz ... she always says that there is nothing to see or do there of any value so no need for us to go. However, she did say that next time we can visit Lviv for 1 day! LOL
I really enjoy visiting Ukraine and, with all of its internal and political faults, I am at great peace when I visit all of the historical churches and monestaries.
Thanks for the story about Ukrainian drivers ..... too funny but there is some degree of truth imbedded there!
Of course the value of the hryvnia is tied to the dollar but the Ukraine Government (fortunately) provides enough support to keep the exchange rate mostly "whole!" When I first visited the Ukraine 3 years ago (2004) there were 525 hryvnia to the dollar.
An interesting currency story .....
About 3 weeks ago, I exchanged some money for hryvnia about 630P at a location just across the road from the Kyiv Circus. 504= 1USD .. just fine. I came out from the circus about 830-900P ... just 2 hours later ... and the same exact location was exchanging at a rate of 484 = 1 USD! The very next morning I past by the same location and they were advertising 505 = 1 USD!
Richard
QUOTE(USSR @ Nov 8 2007, 08:29 PM)
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 8 2007, 03:18 PM)
We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street.
Richard,
Yeah, it amazes me that the Dollar/Hryvnia rate has remained pretty much unchanged, at the same time that the Dollar/Euro exchange rate has nosedived. Evidently the value of the Hryvnia is tied to the Dollar. When I go to Ukraine, I fly into Borispol just outside of Kiev, AND THEN I GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS I CAN! I much prefer smaller cities such as Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, and the cities in Crimea. Yes, the drivers in Ukraine are crazy, and the ones in the northern cities seem to be the worst. There is a running joke that if they hit a pedestrian, they get out of their car and beat them up for denting their car.
Don
KBP has made significant facility improvements over the past three years... I take very few issues with this airport now. The same can be said of the airport in Odessa. A far cry from what it was.
QUOTE(USSR @ Nov 8 2007, 09:29 PM)
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 8 2007, 03:18 PM)
We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street.
Richard,
Yeah, it amazes me that the Dollar/Hryvnia rate has remained pretty much unchanged, at the same time that the Dollar/Euro exchange rate has nosedived. Evidently the value of the Hryvnia is tied to the Dollar. When I go to Ukraine, I fly into Borispol just outside of Kiev, AND THEN I GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS I CAN! I much prefer smaller cities such as Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, and the cities in Crimea. Yes, the drivers in Ukraine are crazy, and the ones in the northern cities seem to be the worst. There is a running joke that if they hit a pedestrian, they get out of their car and beat them up for denting their car.
Don
AMEN Ukraine brothers! Preach it! We did see a man get hit, flipped and thrown through the air and killed in Dnepropetrovsk while walking on sidewalk along Karl Marx Avenue one evening last summer. And blood was everywhere, it was so surreal, just like a movie scene. And yes the Hyrvinia is tied to the US dollar, just like China does. Drivers there are crazy and ride right up on the rear end of someone and then honk like crazy to go around or it is insane they are only inches off their bumper! I got to experience this treatment with a taxi ride down the Ai-petri mountain in Yalta last summer with a 1950 Volga! it is was insane. Here I Am going down this mountain with this young driver going as fast as he can listening to that Ukraine/Russian music as loud as he can, tires squalling, going around curves that were blind and passing people and only honking as he did so, I thought I was going to meet my maker right then and there, and my wife and her family thought nothing of it at all. It is insane.
ZQT3344
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 8 2007, 04:18 PM)
Hello All...
I have been a member since 2004 and only just found this Ukraine Forum! LOL!
I have been to Kyiv 6 times now .... met my fiance/wife there in Oct 2004 and started all processing immediately after my return. We had our interview at the Embassy in Kiev in March 2004. The interview could be classified as a "piece o' cake" as I was present to observe the proceedings (having returned to meet my wife's family). Lots of fretting and worry for NOTHING! My wife immediately got her visa and came to USA on K-1 in April 2005. We were married in May 2005. Just filed her I-751 for Removal of Conditions.
We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street. Lots of new construction with new buildings being sandwiched-in between older buildings ... looks like lots of illegal pay-offs to start all of these new condominium / flats.
This year we visited the famous Kiev Circus ... always wanted to do this but could never fit it into my schedule in the past! What a hoot!
For the 2nd consecutive year we have flown Aeorsvit (which I now have renamed "AERO-SPIT"). Last year (2006) we flew them to Moscow and this year we flew them to Athens. I CAN ONLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO COMPLETELY AVOID THIS AIRLINE IF YOU CAN! They "exude" their wonderful level of customer service" in all of their literature, however; I have traveled ALL OVER THE WORLD on virtually every known airline and "AERO-SPIT" gives the meaning and takes the level of "customer service" to an all-time record low! While my personal experiences in 2006 and 2007 were horrific, I was absolutely thrilled (this year) in Athens to watch their Lead Customer Service Agent have a 20-min non-stop "screaming match" with another passenger in front of at least 150 other people who were trying to "sign-in" at the ticket counter! Mmmmmmmmmm! And, of course, when I emailled them about my personal problems in Kyiv, Athens and onboard 2 flights .... "AERO-SPIT" wrote me back stating that there must have been some "miscommunication on my part!" (Clearly --- to them --- I am the problem --- not the airline! And so it goes ................
My wife and I are both Ukrainian Orthodox (I had my Christening at Vydubytsky Monestary in Kyiv last year).
I have been a member since 2004 and only just found this Ukraine Forum! LOL!
I have been to Kyiv 6 times now .... met my fiance/wife there in Oct 2004 and started all processing immediately after my return. We had our interview at the Embassy in Kiev in March 2004. The interview could be classified as a "piece o' cake" as I was present to observe the proceedings (having returned to meet my wife's family). Lots of fretting and worry for NOTHING! My wife immediately got her visa and came to USA on K-1 in April 2005. We were married in May 2005. Just filed her I-751 for Removal of Conditions.
We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street. Lots of new construction with new buildings being sandwiched-in between older buildings ... looks like lots of illegal pay-offs to start all of these new condominium / flats.
This year we visited the famous Kiev Circus ... always wanted to do this but could never fit it into my schedule in the past! What a hoot!
For the 2nd consecutive year we have flown Aeorsvit (which I now have renamed "AERO-SPIT"). Last year (2006) we flew them to Moscow and this year we flew them to Athens. I CAN ONLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO COMPLETELY AVOID THIS AIRLINE IF YOU CAN! They "exude" their wonderful level of customer service" in all of their literature, however; I have traveled ALL OVER THE WORLD on virtually every known airline and "AERO-SPIT" gives the meaning and takes the level of "customer service" to an all-time record low! While my personal experiences in 2006 and 2007 were horrific, I was absolutely thrilled (this year) in Athens to watch their Lead Customer Service Agent have a 20-min non-stop "screaming match" with another passenger in front of at least 150 other people who were trying to "sign-in" at the ticket counter! Mmmmmmmmmm! And, of course, when I emailled them about my personal problems in Kyiv, Athens and onboard 2 flights .... "AERO-SPIT" wrote me back stating that there must have been some "miscommunication on my part!" (Clearly --- to them --- I am the problem --- not the airline! And so it goes ................
My wife and I are both Ukrainian Orthodox (I had my Christening at Vydubytsky Monestary in Kyiv last year).
AHAHHA Aero SPIT, that is a good one! AND in typical Russian/Ukraine business decorum, the customer is always wrong and just lucky that they allow you to fly on their plane! AHAH it is so true. Try Dneiperovia Air or DonAirbus, I mean it is unreal how they treat customers and lie to them and change procedures or schedules or well they just do what they want and no one can do a thing. Everything you say is so true. You have all those big cities and then nothing in between but villages or run down small homes or apartments or farms or well it looks like a wasteland. If you do not live in a city(and that is not much even in Ukraine compared to rest of world) then you are not getting anything in the form of modern services, it is amazing but way it is there. Everything starts looking the same in all those cities in Ukraine, and after you been to one you been to them all, but what a unique place, aHAHAHaH I love it. AND is it amazing how there is a beer stand on every street corner, casino, and bank exchange everywhere! What gets me is how in the world they are building all those new expensive apartments in Kiev or for that matter in all cities there in Ukraine, then what they charge or ask for rent and to buy, and I am like who in the world is buying them over there, for you all know what the average person there earns, maybe $100 - $400 month at best in USA dollars, I mean it is a mess, you have the politicians or business bosses and friends/families from former Soviet control that swooped in and bought everything after the fall of Soviet Union, and then you have little or no middle class at all, then a whole lot of disadvantage poor people just earning enough to walk to work or ride a bus or buy groceries and hardly no one owns a car compared to overall population like here in USA. It sometimes worries me anytime we are visiting that there might be a revolt or uprising to overthrow every thing there, because the government and so many other organizations there are downright corrupt to the core. Only in former USSR, I guess it is a problem in Russia and all the CIS or former Soviet states that are still not in EU.
YOU ARE SO 1 MILLION PERCENT CORRECT zqt3344!
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to visit the Frolovsky Monestary in Pidol. Outside of the monestary itself are typically camped about 15-20 elderly or infirmed people who are begging for money. Before I go ... and I have been there 6 times now ... I stop at a bank and get about 50 notes, all two hryvnia, to distribute to the poor. I make sure that each and every individual gets one of the two hryvnia notes. This is not a lot of money to us ... about $20 US in total ... however it is one small ways that I always try to thank God for all of the blessings that I have received. Also, I use the remainer of the notes to give to the elderly and infirmed who are camped outside or even inside the various metro stations. If I run out of hryvnia, I go get another 25 or so bank notes for distribution.
I can't even begin to speak about the massive amount and proliferation of corruption which abounds there.
The rich get richer adn the poor get poorer! My in-laws BOTH receive a meager pension from the State and how they get by is a complete mystery to me!
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to visit the Frolovsky Monestary in Pidol. Outside of the monestary itself are typically camped about 15-20 elderly or infirmed people who are begging for money. Before I go ... and I have been there 6 times now ... I stop at a bank and get about 50 notes, all two hryvnia, to distribute to the poor. I make sure that each and every individual gets one of the two hryvnia notes. This is not a lot of money to us ... about $20 US in total ... however it is one small ways that I always try to thank God for all of the blessings that I have received. Also, I use the remainer of the notes to give to the elderly and infirmed who are camped outside or even inside the various metro stations. If I run out of hryvnia, I go get another 25 or so bank notes for distribution.
I can't even begin to speak about the massive amount and proliferation of corruption which abounds there.
The rich get richer adn the poor get poorer! My in-laws BOTH receive a meager pension from the State and how they get by is a complete mystery to me!
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Nov 9 2007, 10:04 AM)
I got to experience this treatment with a taxi ride down the Ai-petri mountain in Yalta last summer with a 1950 Volga! it is was insane. Here I Am going down this mountain with this young driver going as fast as he can listening to that Ukraine/Russian music as loud as he can, tires squalling, going around curves that were blind and passing people and only honking as he did so, I thought I was going to meet my maker right then and there, and my wife and her family thought nothing of it at all. It is insane.
Have had that very same taxi ride down Ai-petri mountain. Now I always make sure I take the lift back down.
Don
QUOTE(USSR @ Nov 9 2007, 07:42 PM)
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Nov 9 2007, 10:04 AM)
I got to experience this treatment with a taxi ride down the Ai-petri mountain in Yalta last summer with a 1950 Volga! it is was insane. Here I Am going down this mountain with this young driver going as fast as he can listening to that Ukraine/Russian music as loud as he can, tires squalling, going around curves that were blind and passing people and only honking as he did so, I thought I was going to meet my maker right then and there, and my wife and her family thought nothing of it at all. It is insane.
Have had that very same taxi ride down Ai-petri mountain. Now I always make sure I take the lift back down.
Don
Don
So you enjoy that ride, I did not, my in laws (my lovely sister in law that is), which I think she qualifies as the type of woman you described to me earlier that you found to be mostly from Ukraine or Russia,(how they act that is) and she did not want to wait in line for the tram down the mountain, so instead she raises hell with my finance and everyone else and demands to go now in a car back down, and negotiates this cab ride down the mountain. I regret that, I wanted to ride that tram, especially since we had started early that morning and climbed that mountain! Yes we climbed that mountain from the bottom all the way to the top and came out right in front of the white building for the tram station. I felt so sorry for my sister in laws husband, that poor guy, total city boy, was struggling big time trying to keep up climbing that mountain and his wife is yelling at him and on his ### to hurry up and come on all the time, I ended up carrying his back pack for him. You know Don, the more I think of it, my sister in law is just like what you described to me about your observation of the women you have meet there in past, I know I am so damn glad she lives 5 states AWAY FROM US! And to think she has already started calling my wife demanding that we come visit her for the holidays, and I am like get real there is no way I am driving or flying or taking a train or bus or whatever to spend my time around her whiney nagging manipulative self! HAHA Don you are right by gosh what you told me earlier about some women there, I forgot all about my very own sister in law! The Manipulator Deluxe.
How did you like all those village people up on top trying to hawk and sell you everything under the sun. From the people cooking a pot stew out in the open(like I am going to buy that crap or eat it with their dirty little paws all over it) to those people smoking their hashish to all the nasty filthy animals all over the place they want you to take a picture with, what amazes me is where do they get all those exotic animals at, no telling I better not ask. I mean those animals may be black market diseased stuff brought in on a boat or ship on Black Sea from Africa or China or wherever! AHAH Like they have real good control over things there. I mean kids and people were getting their pictures taking with those nasty things. Then all those vintage looking cars and motorcycles and the costumes peole dress up in and have makeover and then take a picture, I just shake my head and laugh. And then the tying of all those pieces of cloth or ribbons to tree branches! THat is some screwed up Ukraine tradition, their form of graffiti I suppose to leave their mark that they were there like Kilroy! Those poor trees are dying from people pilfering them all time. AND I never saw one piece of wildlife over there at all, maybe an occasional bird is all, nothing else.
Speaking of which I used to love watching all those poor old pensioner men going down to the Dneper river dropping a line in it and fishing for hours and no one ever caught anything, I cannot remember seeing anyone ever catch a fish there or even have a stringer of fish! And then what was really pleasant was watching people bring their dogs out to drop a load in the grass or sidewalk so you could dodge it when you went walking by. And I never saw very many ships or boats out on the rivers or Black Sea compared to what I see here in USA, just wondered where everyone was. And how lovely to look across the Dneper and see all the factories across the river belching out black and gray smoke nonstop all over the place.
And how about all those Lenin statues all over the place, I mean everywhere even to this day, he is like their little spiritual Godfather leader still.
Here is another lovely scene I can never forget, few summers ago we were visiting Odessa, and they had a violent thunderstorm come through at night and knock down trees all over the place across the courtyard road in apartment complex, well it took about two weeks for someone to finally get there and remove that tree, and when they did, it was a crew of about 3 women(pensioners or poor people out of a movie type look) one old man using a chainsaw to cut up the tree, and then perched inside a climate controlled AC cab of the tractor is this young guy in his mid twenties just sitting there watching those old women pick up the wood and place it in the trailer. NOW what is wrong with this picture, I mean I Was just amazed, those poor little women were working so hard and so was the old man and the young guy is not even making an effort to go out and help.
AND how about everytime you get ready to throw away a glass bottle and those little old pensioner women are just circling you waiting to get that bottle and then they fight and argue over it, I mean it makes me just so sad for them but then mad as hell at their uncaring government.
I hear what RichardS says about feeling for all those people that are needing help or begging for money, it is so sad. I do not blame you for trying to help them or give what you can.
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 9 2007, 02:56 PM)
YOU ARE SO 1 MILLION PERCENT CORRECT zqt3344!
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to visit the Frolovsky Monestary in Pidol. Outside of the monestary itself are typically camped about 15-20 elderly or infirmed people who are begging for money. Before I go ... and I have been there 6 times now ... I stop at a bank and get about 50 notes, all two hryvnia, to distribute to the poor. I make sure that each and every individual gets one of the two hryvnia notes. This is not a lot of money to us ... about $20 US in total ... however it is one small ways that I always try to thank God for all of the blessings that I have received. Also, I use the remainer of the notes to give to the elderly and infirmed who are camped outside or even inside the various metro stations. If I run out of hryvnia, I go get another 25 or so bank notes for distribution.
I can't even begin to speak about the massive amount and proliferation of corruption which abounds there.
The rich get richer adn the poor get poorer! My in-laws BOTH receive a meager pension from the State and how they get by is a complete mystery to me!
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to visit the Frolovsky Monestary in Pidol. Outside of the monestary itself are typically camped about 15-20 elderly or infirmed people who are begging for money. Before I go ... and I have been there 6 times now ... I stop at a bank and get about 50 notes, all two hryvnia, to distribute to the poor. I make sure that each and every individual gets one of the two hryvnia notes. This is not a lot of money to us ... about $20 US in total ... however it is one small ways that I always try to thank God for all of the blessings that I have received. Also, I use the remainer of the notes to give to the elderly and infirmed who are camped outside or even inside the various metro stations. If I run out of hryvnia, I go get another 25 or so bank notes for distribution.
I can't even begin to speak about the massive amount and proliferation of corruption which abounds there.
The rich get richer adn the poor get poorer! My in-laws BOTH receive a meager pension from the State and how they get by is a complete mystery to me!
RichardS you are 1 million percent correct about what you say also, right on. Sad how things can be so harsh and cruel there. It is so bad the corruption and how it is everywhere on every level and how you have to "tip" payoff or bribe all the time just to get basic ordinary average service we are used to here in the USA. And nothing is reliable except the trains, you can set your watch by them.
I agree the rich get richer and the poor get ripped off big time. And it is so unfair, every other day they are running back and forth to the grocery stores to buy food, no one hardly eats out at restuarants. Everyone takes a walk to the park or lake or river, that is their cruising or driving or way to get out of the house and they head to the parks to make out and kiss each other, I mean you go to the park and people are all over each other on the park benches all the time.
The other thing I notice is how there are no trash cans anywhere hardly for people to throw away trash, so instead they just throw stuff down all over the place and then here come those little old pensioner ladies to pick up the empty beer bottles, to take and go sell them I suppose.
I still wonder though are there that many Ukrainians doing that well in Ukraine that they can afford those $100K, $200K, $300K, $400 or 500K or $1 million plus stuff high rise flats in the cities, I mean who??? how?? and what do they do?? It is startling though because they are building them, and I must say I am not too impressed with workmanship or construction of homes or apartments there at all, the finished product is usually very rough and just not nice.
And I love how when I ask why are hot water pipes all over the place above the ground? why not bury them? AND I get the reply of well why ask why? That is the way it is, and I am like why? I mean no one questions things or seems to care or try to make a difference or change.
Oh and this always amazed me, everyone of them has a cell phone, I mean and they are on those things talking nonstop with Kievstar! AHAH I am like wait a minute you people barely get by but you all have a new top of the line cell phone and call one another all the time, it is just amazing to me, illogical.
Not complaining just my observations when there, I mean I just sit and ponder sometimes how they do it.
PRAVDA! PRAVDA!! PRAVDA!!!! ZQT3344
Related to the water pipe issue ....
When I started (and tried) to give my wife driving lessons, and I told her to put on the brake (before she crashed into a tree) ... her immediate response was to ask me "Why?" rather than to put on the brake! Three times I (progressively louder) asked her to apply the brake and each time I got a "Why?" so I threw-on the emergency brake myself before we crashed!! LOL LOL
The Ukrainian Cell Phone Business is WAAAYYY TOOO MUCH! You are so right that EVERYOE has a NEW TOP-OF-THE-LINE cell phone and they live on the damn thing! Over there "you pay if you call out" but incoming calls are free! ALSO .... the past 2 years (but NOT in 2007) the Kreschatyk was full of "octopus men' (as I called them). These were guys who had a large battery pack on their back and about a dozen cell phones extending from the pack. You would pay the guy a few hryvnia to use his phone... and ... if 4 or 5 people were "attached" and making a call .. the guy looked like he head a million arms! It was VERY FUNNY TO WATCH!
The other big thing on Kreshatyk was a zillion "Mike Tyson Boxing Machines." I never paid to use them but I guess that you punched something and it registered the strength of your punch! The noise from these things was horrific as well! So glad they are NOW gone!
Another "favorite" item of mine are the lifts / elevators in the apartment buildings! The damn things are 4 million years old, have 2592908239 dead flies all over the floor AND you (at least I) pray to God when I ride them that they are NOT immediately crashing into the basement! I think that they may NEVER have been inspected after installation OR they were last examined immediately following WWII!
Trash cans??? Do they really have those things in Kyiv? Never recall seeing one?
Later.....
RichardS you are 1 million percent correct about what you say also, right on. Sad how things can be so harsh and cruel there. It is so bad the corruption and how it is everywhere on every level and how you have to "tip" payoff or bribe all the time just to get basic ordinary average service we are used to here in the USA. And nothing is reliable except the trains, you can set your watch by them.
I agree the rich get richer and the poor get ripped off big time. And it is so unfair, every other day they are running back and forth to the grocery stores to buy food, no one hardly eats out at restuarants. Everyone takes a walk to the park or lake or river, that is their cruising or driving or way to get out of the house and they head to the parks to make out and kiss each other, I mean you go to the park and people are all over each other on the park benches all the time.
The other thing I notice is how there are no trash cans anywhere hardly for people to throw away trash, so instead they just throw stuff down all over the place and then here come those little old pensioner ladies to pick up the empty beer bottles, to take and go sell them I suppose.
I still wonder though are there that many Ukrainians doing that well in Ukraine that they can afford those $100K, $200K, $300K, $400 or 500K or $1 million plus stuff high rise flats in the cities, I mean who??? how?? and what do they do?? It is startling though because they are building them, and I must say I am not too impressed with workmanship or construction of homes or apartments there at all, the finished product is usually very rough and just not nice.
And I love how when I ask why are hot water pipes all over the place above the ground? why not bury them? AND I get the reply of well why ask why? That is the way it is, and I am like why? I mean no one questions things or seems to care or try to make a difference or change.
Oh and this always amazed me, everyone of them has a cell phone, I mean and they are on those things talking nonstop with Kievstar! AHAH I am like wait a minute you people barely get by but you all have a new top of the line cell phone and call one another all the time, it is just amazing to me, illogical.
Not complaining just my observations when there, I mean I just sit and ponder sometimes how they do it.
Related to the water pipe issue ....
When I started (and tried) to give my wife driving lessons, and I told her to put on the brake (before she crashed into a tree) ... her immediate response was to ask me "Why?" rather than to put on the brake! Three times I (progressively louder) asked her to apply the brake and each time I got a "Why?" so I threw-on the emergency brake myself before we crashed!! LOL LOL
The Ukrainian Cell Phone Business is WAAAYYY TOOO MUCH! You are so right that EVERYOE has a NEW TOP-OF-THE-LINE cell phone and they live on the damn thing! Over there "you pay if you call out" but incoming calls are free! ALSO .... the past 2 years (but NOT in 2007) the Kreschatyk was full of "octopus men' (as I called them). These were guys who had a large battery pack on their back and about a dozen cell phones extending from the pack. You would pay the guy a few hryvnia to use his phone... and ... if 4 or 5 people were "attached" and making a call .. the guy looked like he head a million arms! It was VERY FUNNY TO WATCH!
The other big thing on Kreshatyk was a zillion "Mike Tyson Boxing Machines." I never paid to use them but I guess that you punched something and it registered the strength of your punch! The noise from these things was horrific as well! So glad they are NOW gone!
Another "favorite" item of mine are the lifts / elevators in the apartment buildings! The damn things are 4 million years old, have 2592908239 dead flies all over the floor AND you (at least I) pray to God when I ride them that they are NOT immediately crashing into the basement! I think that they may NEVER have been inspected after installation OR they were last examined immediately following WWII!
Trash cans??? Do they really have those things in Kyiv? Never recall seeing one?
Later.....
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Nov 9 2007, 10:27 PM)
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 9 2007, 02:56 PM)
YOU ARE SO 1 MILLION PERCENT CORRECT zqt3344!
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to visit the Frolovsky Monestary in Pidol. Outside of the monestary itself are typically camped about 15-20 elderly or infirmed people who are begging for money. Before I go ... and I have been there 6 times now ... I stop at a bank and get about 50 notes, all two hryvnia, to distribute to the poor. I make sure that each and every individual gets one of the two hryvnia notes. This is not a lot of money to us ... about $20 US in total ... however it is one small ways that I always try to thank God for all of the blessings that I have received. Also, I use the remainer of the notes to give to the elderly and infirmed who are camped outside or even inside the various metro stations. If I run out of hryvnia, I go get another 25 or so bank notes for distribution.
I can't even begin to speak about the massive amount and proliferation of corruption which abounds there.
The rich get richer adn the poor get poorer! My in-laws BOTH receive a meager pension from the State and how they get by is a complete mystery to me!
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to visit the Frolovsky Monestary in Pidol. Outside of the monestary itself are typically camped about 15-20 elderly or infirmed people who are begging for money. Before I go ... and I have been there 6 times now ... I stop at a bank and get about 50 notes, all two hryvnia, to distribute to the poor. I make sure that each and every individual gets one of the two hryvnia notes. This is not a lot of money to us ... about $20 US in total ... however it is one small ways that I always try to thank God for all of the blessings that I have received. Also, I use the remainer of the notes to give to the elderly and infirmed who are camped outside or even inside the various metro stations. If I run out of hryvnia, I go get another 25 or so bank notes for distribution.
I can't even begin to speak about the massive amount and proliferation of corruption which abounds there.
The rich get richer adn the poor get poorer! My in-laws BOTH receive a meager pension from the State and how they get by is a complete mystery to me!
RichardS you are 1 million percent correct about what you say also, right on. Sad how things can be so harsh and cruel there. It is so bad the corruption and how it is everywhere on every level and how you have to "tip" payoff or bribe all the time just to get basic ordinary average service we are used to here in the USA. And nothing is reliable except the trains, you can set your watch by them.
I agree the rich get richer and the poor get ripped off big time. And it is so unfair, every other day they are running back and forth to the grocery stores to buy food, no one hardly eats out at restuarants. Everyone takes a walk to the park or lake or river, that is their cruising or driving or way to get out of the house and they head to the parks to make out and kiss each other, I mean you go to the park and people are all over each other on the park benches all the time.
The other thing I notice is how there are no trash cans anywhere hardly for people to throw away trash, so instead they just throw stuff down all over the place and then here come those little old pensioner ladies to pick up the empty beer bottles, to take and go sell them I suppose.
I still wonder though are there that many Ukrainians doing that well in Ukraine that they can afford those $100K, $200K, $300K, $400 or 500K or $1 million plus stuff high rise flats in the cities, I mean who??? how?? and what do they do?? It is startling though because they are building them, and I must say I am not too impressed with workmanship or construction of homes or apartments there at all, the finished product is usually very rough and just not nice.
And I love how when I ask why are hot water pipes all over the place above the ground? why not bury them? AND I get the reply of well why ask why? That is the way it is, and I am like why? I mean no one questions things or seems to care or try to make a difference or change.
Oh and this always amazed me, everyone of them has a cell phone, I mean and they are on those things talking nonstop with Kievstar! AHAH I am like wait a minute you people barely get by but you all have a new top of the line cell phone and call one another all the time, it is just amazing to me, illogical.
Not complaining just my observations when there, I mean I just sit and ponder sometimes how they do it.
Guys,
Let's not turn this into a "Bash Ukraine" thread. While there are a lot of things that people in the West take for granted, that are either missing or done entirely differently, there are also some qualities in Ukrainian society that this country could sorely use.
Don
Let's not turn this into a "Bash Ukraine" thread. While there are a lot of things that people in the West take for granted, that are either missing or done entirely differently, there are also some qualities in Ukrainian society that this country could sorely use.
Don
Pozdravlyaiu RichardS!
You have been to Ukraine for certain! AHAHA it is funny I am laughing right now about all you say, that is so true, WHY? WHy ask why? ANd then bam the tree is hit! Sounds like my wife asking me why instead of just doing it and then all of a sudden she is like oh no I see sorry! AHHAH typical but cute.
Take it easy see you later.
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 12 2007, 03:22 PM)
PRAVDA! PRAVDA!! PRAVDA!!!! ZQT3344
Related to the water pipe issue ....
When I started (and tried) to give my wife driving lessons, and I told her to put on the brake (before she crashed into a tree) ... her immediate response was to ask me "Why?" rather than to put on the brake! Three times I (progressively louder) asked her to apply the brake and each time I got a "Why?" so I threw-on the emergency brake myself before we crashed!! LOL LOL
The Ukrainian Cell Phone Business is WAAAYYY TOOO MUCH! You are so right that EVERYOE has a NEW TOP-OF-THE-LINE cell phone and they live on the damn thing! Over there "you pay if you call out" but incoming calls are free! ALSO .... the past 2 years (but NOT in 2007) the Kreschatyk was full of "octopus men' (as I called them). These were guys who had a large battery pack on their back and about a dozen cell phones extending from the pack. You would pay the guy a few hryvnia to use his phone... and ... if 4 or 5 people were "attached" and making a call .. the guy looked like he head a million arms! It was VERY FUNNY TO WATCH!
The other big thing on Kreshatyk was a zillion "Mike Tyson Boxing Machines." I never paid to use them but I guess that you punched something and it registered the strength of your punch! The noise from these things was horrific as well! So glad they are NOW gone!
Another "favorite" item of mine are the lifts / elevators in the apartment buildings! The damn things are 4 million years old, have 2592908239 dead flies all over the floor AND you (at least I) pray to God when I ride them that they are NOT immediately crashing into the basement! I think that they may NEVER have been inspected after installation OR they were last examined immediately following WWII!
Trash cans??? Do they really have those things in Kyiv? Never recall seeing one?
Later.....
Related to the water pipe issue ....
When I started (and tried) to give my wife driving lessons, and I told her to put on the brake (before she crashed into a tree) ... her immediate response was to ask me "Why?" rather than to put on the brake! Three times I (progressively louder) asked her to apply the brake and each time I got a "Why?" so I threw-on the emergency brake myself before we crashed!! LOL LOL
The Ukrainian Cell Phone Business is WAAAYYY TOOO MUCH! You are so right that EVERYOE has a NEW TOP-OF-THE-LINE cell phone and they live on the damn thing! Over there "you pay if you call out" but incoming calls are free! ALSO .... the past 2 years (but NOT in 2007) the Kreschatyk was full of "octopus men' (as I called them). These were guys who had a large battery pack on their back and about a dozen cell phones extending from the pack. You would pay the guy a few hryvnia to use his phone... and ... if 4 or 5 people were "attached" and making a call .. the guy looked like he head a million arms! It was VERY FUNNY TO WATCH!
The other big thing on Kreshatyk was a zillion "Mike Tyson Boxing Machines." I never paid to use them but I guess that you punched something and it registered the strength of your punch! The noise from these things was horrific as well! So glad they are NOW gone!
Another "favorite" item of mine are the lifts / elevators in the apartment buildings! The damn things are 4 million years old, have 2592908239 dead flies all over the floor AND you (at least I) pray to God when I ride them that they are NOT immediately crashing into the basement! I think that they may NEVER have been inspected after installation OR they were last examined immediately following WWII!
Trash cans??? Do they really have those things in Kyiv? Never recall seeing one?
Later.....
QUOTE(zqt3344 @ Nov 9 2007, 10:27 PM)
QUOTE(RichardS @ Nov 9 2007, 02:56 PM)
YOU ARE SO 1 MILLION PERCENT CORRECT zqt3344!
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to
There literally is a beer stand, money changer AND casino on EVERY CORNER!
The average salary does range between $100-$400 US. My wife visited her old employer in October and the staff there has had a "significant (paid under the table) pay raise" which brings them closer to $300 per month ... up from $100 USD per month! HOWEVER, those NEW $1 Mil or $500K flats are not for the average person.
Also, There were so many more cars on the road (...er sidewalk) this year than ever before. And I even saw a few traffic jams to boot!
I am always appalled at the poor babushkas who are perched at the entrance and exit of every metro station. They have a single apple or a single mellon to sell ... just trying to get by to the very next day! So heart-wrenching!
When in Kyiv, I always make it a point to