Upon my arrival in Ukraine, I was met by Ivan one of our translators from our short-term journeys. He was a great help to me and got me oriented to the city for two days. Praise God! Without him, I know I would have probably been lost every day. I’ve been getting out each day either in my neighborhood or venturing downtown to explore my new city for the next year.
Kyiv has a lot in common with many big cities I’ve been in. It reminds me the most of New York City (NYC), especially the metro (subway) and the extensive bus (Маршрутка – marchutka) systems. The subway cars are old and very noisy just like NYC. Unlike NYC, the train stations are very clean and have beautiful architecture. Also, Ukraine does have a trolley system in Kyiv and Rivne. Advertising is big here. You will find adds projected over the platforms in the train stations, going up the escalator, on TV screens in the train cars and on the marchutkas, everywhere! When you get on the marchutka, you pay at the beginning of the ride, but you can get on from the front or rear door. If you get on and don’t have your money ready, you can take your seat and pass the 2,00 Grihvna up to the front, by simply asking people to pass it forward. Everyone knows that this happens and the just pass the money up. If there is change, the driver will pass the change back and everyone will pass the change back. I’ve had a few opportunities to practice this. J
I used my first Internet café ever! It was more like the computer labs I used when I was in college. For some reason, I thought they would be some swanky place with a café like feel, music playing and coffee being served. There was a guy outside who assigned you a computer and you paid him when you came out. Very efficient! I’m still holding out the find the swanky place.
I began language school this week. The ride is about an hour to get from my flat to the church where I have class. It takes two marchutki to get there. It’s really cool because I felt like I was back at my training in early January when we started doing phonetic drills. I’m glad I had the training at MTI.
Finally, the sun doesn’t shine in Ukraine much during the winter months. . I learned that cloudy days are great for taking pictures, but not really that great for keeping warm and staying energized. There has been a total of one sunny day since I arrived. On this day, I did not have language school but I wanted to work on some language. I got up leisurely, not realizing it was sunny outside. I got ready, aet breakfast and sat at the table in the living room. I was going over my vocabulary works and a the same time trying to identify the object associated with them. When I got to ( ) the word for sun, I looked out the window and realized it was actually very sunny. I quickly put all my books away and grabbed my booths and coat and headed outside. I found my way down to the lake near where I live and walked along there for a while. I even sat on a bench to observe all the people. Now, please note even though it was sunny, it was still cold but there were a lot of people outside. Ukrainians apparently love the outdoors no matter what time of year it is. Especially mothers pushing their babies in carriages. It seems like this is a built in social activity. The mothers will stop and talk with each other. Another activity I’ve never seen before in person is ice skating and ice fishing and a frozen lake. The men are sometimes alone when they fish bit I have seen one man fishing and two men standing there talking to him. People even walk across the lake to get from one place to the next. I’ll post some pictures when I get once I have access to better internet service.
25 responses so far ↓
1 Jacqueline Green // Feb 7, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Hi Tania,
From your entry, sounds like you are fitting in already, that is a wonderful thing. Stay warm.
2 Christina M. Harris // Feb 7, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Tania, I am glad everything is going well in Ukraine for your first week stay. Thank you for letting me get into your world. Enjoy, keep me posted!!
3 Ma Gentry // Feb 7, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Tan, it is so good to hear from you and hear about your first week. Seems like you are having an exciting time already. Remember to keep warm because your system is not use to that kind of cold weather. I can’t wait to see the pictures of where you live, walk and study. Keep the info coming.
Love ya,
Ma
4 Diane Belmont // Feb 7, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Hi Tania,
I am so glad to hear that you made it safe to Ukraine. Give Ivan a BIG hello for me. Are you in Kyiv or Rivne? I sure wish I could see all your seeing. I miss Ukraine and all the people I fell in love with. Take care and keep us updated.
Love ya’ Girl,
Diane
5 Tyrone Stevenson // Feb 7, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Tania, again we are praying for you and are believing God for a great harvest in the Ukraine. Keep doing the Word and the richest blessing of the Lord be on you
Pastor S
6 Latitia Greeneq // Feb 7, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Tania;
It is GREAT to hear from you! I can just see you taking in adventure after adventure, and taking in the wonders of your surroundings! I sense serenity and ease in your words; I guess that’s your comfort knowing in Whose hands you rest! Thanks for taking time out to communicate with those you love and miss you.
Take good care — I look forward to your next post! (BTW, do you have pics of the sun in your flat?)
7 Minister Sylvia Taylor // Feb 7, 2009 at 5:21 pm
God bless you Tania. It is good to hear from you and your first week adventures. I praise God for all that He is allowing you to experience. I know that He will give you rich testimonies and cause you to bless His people in an awesome way. Hang in there with the cold weather. It is not one of my most enjoyable times of the year.
By His grace.
Minister Taylor
8 Pam Johnson // Feb 7, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Hey Tania…I always love your positive attitude. The people of the Ukraine are going to love you. If you get too cold….come join us in Moz.
God bless you….Pam
9 Kay Abelman // Feb 7, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Keep updating me so I know how to pray for you. Love ya.
10 Ms Zee // Feb 7, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Hey, Tania,
It is so great to hear from you, and to know that you are well and enjoying your first week in the Ukraine!! Stay warm, and God Bless You!!
11 Corrine Davis // Feb 7, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Glad to hear from you. Happy that things are going well for you. Be sure and put something on your head it’s cold. Study hard. Be blessed in the Lord. May you be received as you spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Love You
Corrine Davis
12 Audree // Feb 7, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Hey Sis,
I’m glad that you made it safely and that things are going well. I miss you, I am looking forward to the pictures that you will be posting. I am praying for you.
Love ya,
Audree
13 Karla // Feb 7, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Hey Tania,
I’m so glad that you’re unwinding and settling down a bit. Enjoy language classes and try to stay warm. Can’t wait to see the pics…sounds beautiful!!!
Love ya!
Karla
14 Inna // Feb 8, 2009 at 4:55 am
Hi Tania!!!!! I am so glad to hear that you love our country. I believe God has a great plan for your life here in Ukraine.
Love you too much!!!!!!
Inna
15 Angela // Feb 8, 2009 at 8:36 am
Hey Girl!!
Sounds like you are having a great time getting adapted. Please keep teaching us words in the Ukrainian language. Chris and I keep you in our prayers and know many will be saved because of you leading them to Christ. We love ya!
16 Christine // Feb 8, 2009 at 10:20 am
Hi Tania!
Hearing you talk about the metro and marchutkas brings back such a flood of memories of our time in Kyiv. I loved every minute!!!
Are you learning Ukrainian or Russian?
We are praying for you,
The Voelker family.
17 Melanie // Feb 8, 2009 at 9:17 pm
What a blessed time you must be having! Looking forward to the photo journal that will come from your experiences. It will be an encouragement to many. I’m praying for your safety.
18 John Bjorgen // Feb 9, 2009 at 12:10 am
Sounds like things are going well. We’re praying for you. Do you know anyone who lives near your flat? Seems like it could get lonely if you don’t learn the language pretty fast and meet people.
19 Keisha // Feb 9, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Brrr….Tania I am glad you are making the most of your experience. I know that seeing the sun was a great relief and very uplifting. You’ll have the language mastered in no time in Kyiv. That is too cute about the people on the trains and cafe. True kindness really exists. That’s awesome. Be safe, take care. love ya XOXO
20 Connie Munday-McKenzie // Feb 9, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hey Tania!
You have painted a vivid picture for me & I am looking forward to seeing the pictures you will soon post. I wonder what would happen if we passed our money up on the LIRR or Metro North…do you think the conductor would get the money or you’d get your change back? I’d like to believe so…who knows?!!
Keep your head up, stay warm & don’t forget to enjoy every moment you are there!
Keeping you in our prayers,
Connie & Family
21 Rah-sheen Blalock(Hope Christian Center, N.Y.C.) // Feb 9, 2009 at 10:25 pm
You are definately inspirational, with God all things are possible! You are letting us all see that His Will is going to be done. Eventhough the sun isnt out you are the Light keep shining.
God bless you,
Bro. Rah
22 Carolyn R. O'Bryant // Feb 10, 2009 at 6:24 am
You sure did not waste any time getting adjusted. I am happy to hear that things are going well. Look foward to hearing from you soon.
23 Pastor Billy // Feb 10, 2009 at 10:45 am
Hey Tania, Sounds like you’ve made a smooth transition. I’ll need an interpeter the next time we talk, I just know I will. You’re in my prayers.
Salva Bohu
24 Ola // Feb 11, 2009 at 5:24 am
Tania,
Thank God for making your transition smooth. Pray that you will continue to enjoy His grace and favor as you serve Him.
Hopefully you’ll get a chance to visit Pastor Sunday Adelaja’s church. When you do, I’d love to hear about it.
Blessings…Ola
25 Jody Hawes // Feb 11, 2009 at 10:52 am
So happy to hear you made it here safely! You are doing a great job!
The absence of sun is hard to deal with, but it was good that you got out in it when you had the chance. My Russian teacher insists that I go out everyday no matter what the weather to get “fresh air” for at least 15 minutes. That is exactly why they take their babies out rain or shine.
What area of town do you live in?
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