TGI - П

I got a chance to walk around downtown today again, and decided to go to the TGI Fridays! Well, if it were in Ukrainian, the word for Friday starts with "P" instead of F, but I don't think they really understand the saying because they just translated it phoenetically so it still is TGI Fridays. But what's kindof neat is that it is pretty much like the ones at home! The waitresses have to wear "flair" although not too much. And they all seemed to speak English, which makes sense seeing as the only people that go there are probably British and Americans. I had a Barbeque Burger, but I should have had the quesadilla. Next time! Interestingly, across the street was a "Papa John's" pizza, although something tells me it's a different Papa John that started this one... Also across the street was another market or "Rynok". I also went shopping at some book stores, and I found Harry Potter books (Гарри Поттер), but I think they were in Ukrainian instead of Russian. Then I'll really never understand them! So I guess I'll wait a little bit until I know how to ask "Do you have this in Russian?" Actually, I think I do know how to say that, but I had to think about it for a while...

Tomorrow is Ukrainian Constitution day, so I don't have to work! (Although I will have to work July 4th! Our jobsite closes for Ukrainian holidays but not generally American ones.) I'm going to work on studying Russian!
~L

Пицца!

So, most nights, I have been doing a good job of cooking myself dinner. Nothing fancy, but basically a meat and a starch. Hopefully some veggies and fruits for dessert. But tonight, I was feeling lazy and decided to bring home a pizza! Luckily, the Ukrainian (and Russian) word is just pronounced like pizza with a Russian accent. But they even have ham and pineapple! (Although, they definitely follow the Italian model of one piece of each topping per slice!). But I just wanted everyone to know that I am definitely not starving here in Ukraine! In fact, probably the opposite! It's pretty good pizza! The name is "Pizza Papa".
~L

Success!

Well, that worked out superbly, I was about to give up on my video, and to appease the readers (i.e. because my dad asked) I was going to post some pictures of my place.  But now the video worked too!  The pictures are a little better because I have actually sortof unpacked.  Although, for the record the clothes are on the dresser because they're supposed to be hung up and I keep telling myself I'll go buy hangers one of these days...

~L

Андреевский спуск - St. Andrew's Descent - The Spusk!

The "spusk" is a street that snakes down from the top of "Kyiv Hill" (which I live on) down to the commercial "old town" of Podil.  Спуск or "Spusk" literally means descent in Russian.  (It's "uzviz" in Ukrainian but for it's mainly called the spusk.)  But what makes it cool is that artists and crafts people, and some people who look like they're having a garage sale, all set up stands and sell their goods.  It's closed off to cars so you can walk down the hill and shop!  Last weekend was Kyiv Days so there were extra artists in town.  It was really cool.  There are lots of paintings, ceramics, embroidery, wood carvings, and everything else!  I bought a glass vase so that I could buy flowers from one of the flower stands that are everywhere.  Ukrainians (and Russians I'm told) really love flowers!  Then, once you get to the bottom of the hill, you have to get back up.  I rode the funicular!  It's interesting, but a good way to get back up the hill!  At the top of the hill where the funicular takes you there is a nice park and you can walk either down to the Maidan or back home.  Pretty nice way to spend a Sunday!  

~L

Let's go build something!

So since I am actually here for work, I thought I'd share one work event as well.  We held our groundbreaking ceremony!  There were press and everything.  I didn't officially participate, but I got a chance to take a photo with one of the "golden" shovels.  We had a "guard dog" on site for a while, and she got a "golden" chain for the event!  Sadly, rules being rules, we had to evict the guard dog.  But at least she had her moment of fame!

~L

Welcome to Kyiv!

After the drama with my poor buns, my trip to Kyiv went pretty well.  I had waaaaay too much stuff, although now that I made it I'm glad I dragged it all with me.  Especially because the rest of my stuff won't get here until the end of July!  But man, talk about Christmas in July!  That will be a wonderful day!  Maybe this is where that expression came from!

I lived in a "temporary" apartment for a week or so before I moved into my "permanent" apartment.  Well, permanent for the next three years!  Both are located very near the down town areas of Kyiv (there are sortof 2) so I can easily walk around and explore on foot.  (Which is good because I don't have my car yet either!).  But this is a great time of year for walking!  We've had a few rainy days, but even then it's seemed to be the kind of rain that tires itself out after a while so you can sneak about in between showers.  Or I can ride the bus for 1.50 Gryvna's.  (Which is not very expensive at all!)

I was taken to a big grocery store and pleased to discover that everything is here!  Although, for some reason the toilet paper is scented.  And of course the labels are all in Ukrainian or Russian.  But they have lots of fruit, veggies, meat, and fish.  And juice!  Juice is my new favorite staple.

The first weekend I walked about I took some pictures and videos with my new camera (thanks Mike and Traci!)  :)  Enjoy this little glimpse!  More to come!

~L

Now, the time for "firsts"!

Hooray!  I managed to get myself internet at home, so now I can post about some of my doings here in Kyiv!  To be fair, it only took 3 days to get internet once I figured out how to do that (it required help!).  So I have a lot of "firsts" to report:  my first Kyiv walkabout, my first trip to the "Spoosk", my first ride on the funicular...  But first, I have one last "last" to write about it.  

I did not know at the time I left, but I think that I have seen my cute little bunnies for the last time.  :(  Due to various complications with international pet export / import rules, the airline computer system didn't understand that rabbits don't need rabies shots.  And sadly although people at work helped me look, I can only find immigration laws for rabbits that do not treat them as pets.  They did confirm that rabies vaccines are not required for rabbits, but I just didn't think I could get the airline to change their mind.  And I don't want them imported under the rules for rabbits for fur!

It took a little while, but the House Rabbit Society was able to find them a fosterer who is able to give poor Kevin his medicines.

So here are a few last picture of my cuties.  Then we can start with new firsts.

Kevin and Mikey's adoption photos