I am sipping a cup of coffee and looking out the window 19 stories high in the sky. I am in a hotel called Tурист. Or basically Tourist is how it is pronounced. The breakfast program is a wonderful buffet and the place is okay! I have yet to have hot water and they say that due to Kiev being so hot, that they do not feel that it is necessary to heat the water. So sorry “Charlie…”
I have found traveling the CIS countries that little things like having hot water does not matter most of the time. I have water and that is good enough. Yes really that is good enough and quit complaining…
I am looking for a room to rent due to the fact that I will be in Kiev until the 13th of August, 2012! I am looking for a place with WiFi and hot water! Did I just complain again?
I am putting together an article and it will be what I went through to get a visa. Things have changed and yet still things have not changed. That is Russia for you and looks like it will be Russia for you, for ever…
The article will be only about an American getting a visa in Kiev, Ukraine for the Russian Federation. It seems that every consulate does different things and that is that. Did I say, “That is Russia for you?”
So that article is coming in the next few days…
Well gee whiz, I seem to have gotten off track and so now lets get to the title. English in Ukraine…
Traveling the metro in Kiev is now an English world delight! All the signage (Repeat all the Signage!) in the metro has English included now. Then the trains all tell you in English that the door is closing and what side the doors will open at the station. I felt like I had entered a different city. Why even the McDonald’s had a sign that said, “Need English help? Just ask?”
So I tried them out! I said “English!” They immediately pulled out a English menu and a young lady came running and pronounced that she spoke English and would take my order. As I was ordering, she was beaming from ear to ear and you could tell that she was queen of the moment. But when I answered, “Spasiba Net” (Means Thank you No!) to her question about sauce for french fries. She frowned at me and I then quickly said, “Sorry, no thank you!” Then she smiled again and I stuck to English, as to not degrade her job status… 🙂
I have been back twice and she came running the second time, when she saw me! Now that is service and I find the McDonald’s in Ukraine to be a very professional group of businesses…
McDonald’s also own McFoxy Chicken and you will find the same quality there also. In fact you will find McFoxy is cheaper. Today I had a wonderful meal. I had a salad, drink, french fries and a sandwich, all for 35 grivna. That is about 4 dollars or so! It was definitely a full meal deal and very good to boot…
So since I am here stuck in Kiev again, just like I was a year ago at this time. I will try to find something fun to do…
Oh I read an article that America and Russia now have signed all kinds of new visa agreements and “what knots!” Now I know that this all means that visa stuff is really going to get messed up and I feel sorry for the consulate here in Kiev. They have had so many changes already and I know that now there is many more…
The days are gone when it was so simple, easy and fast to get a visa! I remember the old days and I could get here on a Monday and leave the same day with a visa in hand. One day service has become weeks and who knows what it will become when all the new rules are implemented? I wish they would just get rid of the damn visa, but I know for a fact that America is against visa free. Russia does not care about visa free with America and that is what Russia really wants. I guess America is afraid everyone will leave and not come back. I know I would… 🙂
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…