At Last…Kyiv

We’ve been in Kyiv, Ukraine for just over a week now. Impressions are still being made, but I think we’re starting to settle in. Unfortunately, we only have dial-up access at the moment and most of our belongings haven’t caught up with us yet so I can’t write much now or post any photos. Here are a few quick thoughts on the city and the job.

1. Thank God we don’t have a car. Although it will certainly be inconvenient at times to not have wheels, I have no desire to get on these streets. I know everyone thinks their country has the worst drivers and traffic (I give Rhode Island that honor myself), but this place is crazy. It isn’t so much the congestion as it is the driving up onto the sidewalks to get around the congestion. It is the putting your car into reverse on the freeway because you missed your exit. It is the blatant disregard of traffic lights if you happen to be driving a black Mercedes (which equals crime lord around here.)
2. Jennifer didn’t bring enough stilettos or mini-skirts and I forgot to get a mullet.
3. The embassy community has been great and very welcoming. I think my job will be interesting and I’ve already added several job titles to my assigned one. This is where that FS flexibility comes in.
4. Everything is beginning to bloom and blossom here and the center of the city (where we live) is really quite beautiful. Golden-domed churches, green parks, some crumbling yet still photogenic buildings. We have plenty to explore.
5. Thank God we studied Russian. Although the signs are still in Ukrainian, we can figure quite a few out and everyone speaks primarily Russian on the streets.

That’s it for now. Short and sweet. Check out Jennifer’s initial thoughts here. Hopefully we’ll get some pictures up soon.