Sunday, December 14, 2008

More Observations About Ukraine

More Observations About Ukraine

---

Since arriving here God has continued to bless us with a strengthening Dollar. At times we feel like things are getting tough in the U.S. but we don’t realize how good we have it. Unfortunately, the strengthening dollar means tougher times for the people here. When we first arrived in Kiev on Nov. 26th, we were exchanging $100 US and getting 680 Ukrainian Greivna in exchange. As days went by, we have seen it go up to 710, 725, jump to 740, then to 755, and yesterday exchanged for 770. So in American dollars we have gained over $11 per $100 since arriving here. In perspective, that $11 is enough to pay our daily round trip taxi fare to the orphanage. It would also purchase a nice meal out for Barb & me at the equivalent of the Glades in Carlinville. This is one of the many ways God has blessed our trip. We understand a few months ago it was trading at 575 Greivna per $100.

---

Let’s talk about fuel. As close as we are to the middle-east I assumed gas would be plentiful. In fact, a lot of vehicles run on gasoline or propane or a mixture of both. Gas is sold in liters. My best conversion technique shows me that gas is selling presently for $2.79 per gallon. This is the highest it has been in some time over here. It is definitely causing a crunch on their economy. After the Soviet block broke apart and Ukraine became an independent country, they began to establish credit accounts here for the first time. Automobiles use to be sparse but credit lenders became more plentiful a few years ago; now there are cars everywhere. Actually, too many cars…roads were not designed for the amount of traffic they are now carrying. Bottle necks in the traffic and pot holes in the roads are proof of poor planning and maintenance. Prior to the purchasing of automobiles, everyone rode public transportation. They have an extensive bus trolley and electric cable car system throughout the city. Parking is also at a premium. Prior to cars becoming more prevalent, there wasn’t a need to plan for parking spaces; so they didn’t! Now parking is at a premium. Drivers park anywhere and everywhere. It is actually legal to park on the sidewalks. If a driver can find an empty spot, they can park there with very few exceptions.

---

Four common sweets connect our country with the Ukraine. At every grocery store and market place you can purchase Snickers, Kit-Kats, M&M’s, and Skittles. I am also told that these same candies can be found in the church sound booths over here as well.

---

Surprising weather! The biggest surprise to us so far has to have been the weather. We prepped for a normal season over here by packing long underwear, turtle necks and plenty of sweaters. To date it has been unseasonably warm. We have not yet seen snow and none is in the immediate forecast. Last week it was still in the mid to upper 40’s and the locals couldn’t believe how warm it still was in December. The forecast on the internet says we may have snow in Donetsk next weekend. The days are typically gray with foggy skies in the mornings. I believe I had told you before, we have seen sunshine on only parts of 3 days since arriving here almost 3 weeks ago. The sunrise is typically at 7:30 am and it is dark by 4:15-4:30pm. They seem like awful short days; luckily “our son” makes them brighter.

---

Speaking of Utilities….

Our modern apartment does have hot water from 6 am to 11 pm each day. Our radiator heat keeps the apartment consistently warm. We are thankful for solid, vinyl thermal pane windows. The Ukrainian Government controls the gas supply to the buildings in this country. They turn on the gas for heat 1st of October and turn it off the 1st of May. Our apartment building is 9 stories high and like most other apartment buildings it has one huge boiler in the basement. The water pipes run across the first floor proceed up to the second floor continue across the second floor, travel to the third, etc. etc. etc. So the one boiler controls all the radiators in all the rooms of each apartment. We just learned on Friday evening from some friends in Kiev that the Government had turned off the hot water heaters and lowered the boiler rates in parts of Kiev because the residents had too many delinquent bills owed to the Government. We have not seen that scenario here in Donetsk yet and hope we don’t.

---

While the official language is Ukrainian, many also still speak Russian. We have also found English in quite a few shops and restaurants. Many restaurants have an English printed menu they provide when we ask for it. A few of the younger taxi drivers also know broken English. We are told that the younger children are learning English as part of their schooling. But it seems we always find a way to communicate. Just the other night, Barb and I discovered a new pizza parlor a block away from our apartment. The signage caught my attention as the name of the place was N.Y. Street Pizza. We walked into the restaurant and saw American nostalgia posters and US signage. We began to feel right at home until I went to the counter and started talking to the waiter-guess what- they didn’t speak a syllable of English. They too had an English printed menu with Ukrainian subtitles that allowed me to point to order pizza and toppings. We have had pizza at a couple different restaurants; it is pretty good but very sparse on the sauce.

---

There are orphanages with numerous children in them, but we have given the Perfect child a home.

---

Your Ukraine Commentators

Darrin & Barb

No comments:

Post a Comment