Musings of an Ukraine Traveler

It's Sunday, July 6, 2003, 8:30 p.m. and my apartment is rocking. Since 7:00, I have been blasted with 50's rock and roll, the twist, the macaraina, Ukrainian folk songs, techno rock, country western, Ukrainian pop and right this moment 16 tons--not Tennessee Ernie. The plaza is rocking as it has many evenings this summer. This is where it's at for any celebration.

Concession stands are set up and the militia are on every corner. This is big time. About 6 the square and the park begin to teem with people. The sound system is excellent.

I know something important is going to happen when the grandstand is set up and the plaza is marked off somehow. This is a small soccer field.

A very important day. Oleh Blokhin, star of the champion Kyiv Dynamo football (soccer to us) team is in Korostyshiv to accept some awards. Local teams have marched in and surrounded the podium.	*Oleh starts a short match between some very, very good local players on the small field.*
A very important day--graduation. All the 11th form students (seniors) from each school parade down Red Square Plaza Street. Each class is preceded by its teachers and directors. The girls wear beautiful gowns, very high heels and their hair specially styled. Very much like prom night in the US. Hundreds of people lined the street. June, 2003	The rain did not hold off and anxious moms ran out with umbrellas just as the students had received their medals and were preparing to get their diplomas. The superintendent announced that he couldn't control the weather so the students were to go their restaurants. The one thing they didn't get to do was to parade up and down the square during the evening as the rain did not let up.
*Another rainy day in June. But spirits are dampened as all the local teams file into the plaza to receive recognition.*	*Each team put on a demonstration. This is Ukrainian boxing. Like kick boxing. No gloves and this is what they wear.*

The crowd moves to the stage to get closer to a local pop singer. There are hundreds of people in the park and streets. After several singers, a local disc jockey plays all the variety of songs I mentioned in the beginning. The music goes on late into the evening as people dance, talk, eat and enjoy the light which lasts until nearly 11 pm. Some will celebrate until the light begins again at 3a.m.