On an exceptionally hot evening early in April a young man came out of the garret in which he lodged in K.yiv and walked slowly, as though in hesitation, towards P.Hata…

types so various were to be seen in the streets that no figure, however queer, would have caused surprise

…and, that’s what makes Kiev so great! right? 🙂 Well, it’s definitely one of the reasons. You can find a few others here.

So, I’m back in Kiev and back in Podol. I didn’t see it coming (not so quickly) and I’m just as confused as everyone else who tries to track my movements, but – I’m happy to be back.

After leaving in November, I bounced between Oxford and Brussels, then accepted a job in Oxford, took a holiday to Poland + Ukraine and within weeks I ended up back here! Maybe it was destiny, maybe I am (as most Ukrainians assume) stupid, or maybe, on balance – Kyiv is a much better place than people think. You’ll have to take me for a beer if you want the real answer. Ryan should also accept some responsibility for these events.

Anyway, I haven’t been here long enough to write a full rambling post about life, but I was surprised by a couple of changes that have taken place in the last few months. The first and most obvious is a change of airports and it is definitely a good thing. Wizz Air now fly to Zhuliany International Airport and it cuts the arrival and transfer time considerably. For the time being, there are also less ‘obstacles’ to navigate before you get into your taxi and start arguing about prices…

Secondly, they have started to (get ready to be amazed) display Metro station names in the Latin alphabet! OK, only on the small TV screens, but it’s a good start.

And what hasn’t changed? Well, almost everything else. Strangers still look at your face-then shoes-then face when they pass you in the street, Ukrainians still say ‘nervous’ when they mean angry and you still can’t get through a day without being almost killed by an idiot in a Hummer.

Міцні обійми з Києва

Eddy 
Posted from: www.bearder.com

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6 Comments

  1. Who is the ‘young man’ of which you talk? Ha ha……

  2. Who is the ‘young man’ of which you talk? Ha ha……

  3. You forgot to mention a babushka near the entrance to Ryan’s house which stared at you when you came.

  4. You forgot to mention a babushka near the entrance to Ryan’s house which stared at you when you came.

  5. Ahh, Lena – my new Russian teacher. ‘Good boy!’

  6. Ahh, Lena – my new Russian teacher. ‘Good boy!’

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