Life In Russia | Ukraine
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What Is a Russian or Ukrainian Wedding Like?
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineRussian and Ukrainian weddings are an amazing experience. I should know. I experienced my own Ukrainian wedding as the groom just a few years ago. If you’ve never been a part of one, I’d like to share some of the highlights with you here. First, it should be noted that we got married a few…
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Popular Russian Foods
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineHave you ever heard of the Russian food called ‘salo’? Neither had I, until I moved here. I was pretty shocked to find out what it was my hosts were asking me to eat, but I’ll save the salo discussion for a bit later in the article. (I don’t want to scare you off Russian…
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Tips on Buying an Apartment in Ukraine
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineI know many guys – Westerners, I mean – who’ve bought apartments in Ukraine. It’s a relatively easy and painless process. I was with my wife through the whole process when she bought our Sevastopol apartment, so I have a first hand account of all the details. First the question is: Should you even bother…
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What Is Banking Like in Ukraine?
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineAs with all things about living in Ukraine, there are pluses and minuses to their system. Here’s the big plus: You can easily earn 20% on a deposit. Can you imagine that? In the U.S. my money earns 2% if I’m lucky.
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Having A Baby In Ukraine
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineOn August 1st, 2013 my Ukrainian wife delivered our son, Andrei in her hometown hospital, here in Lutsk Ukraine. As I write, I’m sitting beside his bassinet as he sleeps. In this moment of calm, I’d like to describe for you what it’s like to deliver a baby in Ukraine. Let me tell you: It’s…
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Russian Holidays
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineLiving here in Ukraine, it sometimes feels like every third day is a holiday. They honestly seem to have a LOT of holidays here in Ukraine (and Russia). Without a doubt, the most important one is New Years Eve. This is when they give gifts, so it’s almost like Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years all…
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What Are Russian and Ukrainian Trains Like?
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineAlthough I have ridden on Russian trains, I have much more experience on Ukrainian trains, especially in the past few years. So, what are they like? Watch this video, first, to get a good feel… [leadplayer_vid id=”51F5CF73E4CF4″] Sure, Ukrainian (and Russian) trains are fairly loud and rickety, and they can sometimes be stuffy…but they’re also…
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Life in Ukraine Q & A
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineI had an exchange on Facebook with Brandon Hayes who was asking about the advanced Russian Accelerator course, as well as what life is like in Ukraine. I thought this would be an interesting read for many of you, so I’m posting it here: Q & A with Brandon Hayes Brandon: Wow. you live in…
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Shashlik: Barbeque Russian Style
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineStay long enough with your Russian friends during the summer, and they will eventually invite you to a Russian-style cookout called shashlik. Sure, on the surface, barbeque is barbeque wherever you go, but nonetheless the Russian experience is unique, and very worth doing. Here’s what will happen: Everyone packs into a car or two and…
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Think you know what a Russian dacha is?
Category : Life In Russia | UkraineThink you know what a Russian dacha is? In Russian, a ‘dacha’ is a simple – often primitive – home erected on a plot of farm land. The dacha owned by my Ukrainian wife’s parents, for example, is just over three acres. These are not intended as quaint, country homes for weekend getaways (as seems…