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Economy: Ukrainians had millions of dollars in savings and certificates for education and retirement in banks until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Bank and government officials who saw the change in government coming took all that money and bought up property, etc. (Think Enron!) The people were left with nothing--no money in savings, no medical or housing money, no government. Some older people blame capitalism, the US, Gorbachev and peristroika for their struggle now. | ||
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Government: Ukraine established its independence and began governing itself in 1996. Ukrainian was mandated the official language of the state and for the first time in centuries is being taught in the schools. The government is a democracy with fairly complicated legislative bodies at all levels. One can make telephone calls, buy stamped envelopes, send telegrams and all water, heat and electric bills are paid at the post office. Here is where you get an internet connection too. A person must use a phone card for most public telephones. |
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Dress: Ukraine, like all countries has been heavily influenced by Western Europe and the USA. Many older women hold to wearing skirts and dresses at all times. Long coats with hoods or hats are a must in winter. There are many bright colors even in winter. Very young women wear skirts--many times very short--with high heeled boots. Teenage boys and younger often wear sweats, cargo pants, jackets and pants with sports logos. In other words, except for language, much of the time people dress like us! One exception is that men of all ages wear hats in the winter time here. | ||
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Shoes: Ukrainians usually don't wear their shoes in the house. Shoes are taken off in the entryway and slippers are put on. This is a very practical custom. Ukrainian floors are covered by area rugs. Winters are muddy and dirty. By taking off shoes, rugs can be easily cleaned in the spring by hanging them outside and beating them. Vacuum cleaners are almost non-existent here. |
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Toilets: The "unitas" or WC is
always separate from the bathroom. The room is a "toilette."
Plumbing here like in many, many countries cannot usually handle toilet
paper so paper is not flushed but put in a waste can next to the toilet.
Houses, apartments and new businesses have western style toilets. Many
older public buildings, universities and schools have Turkish toilets.
These are toilets that one stands over. Most of these can be flushed too
although paper is not often available. Women have a more difficult time
using these of course.
The reflection from the tile makes it hard to see how nice my family's "vanna" is. There is a door on each part of the bathroom. |
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Gardens: Ukraine might hold the record for organic gardening. Almost every square inch of what we would use for a lawn is used by the Ukrainian homeowner for gardening. Chickens and turkeys are set free in the spring to scratch through the yard eating bugs and larva from the soil and compost piles. All the bedding from poultry houses, horses, etc is distributed from the compost pile in small stacks throughout the garden area. Then in April the gardens are spaded and raked by hand. Quite a few gardens have cloches and/or greenhouses that are producing green onions and radishes already. Many apartment dwellers and homeowners have dachas, summer houses, where they plant their gardens. |
 Ukrainians have been using companion plantings for hundreds of years. |
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Shopping: There are several types of stores here in Ukraine: producti which sells groceries and liquor; magazines which sell groceries and other small items; gastronomes which sell some groceries, baked goods and meats and cheeses; universimarts which are like Fred Myer but on a much smaller scale. The most important center is the bazaar which is open year round. It is composed of many stalls, most covered. Spaces in the open are usually for individuals who want to sell a product(s) like their walnuts or eggs etc. Every village has at least one bazaar (Renok Uk). Some cities like Bila Tserka have many. The one across the street from our apartment complex has a couple of hundred and it doesn't compare to the central bazaar that hundreds of stalls. It's like putting Wal Mart, Albertson's, Dillards--a huge mall out in the open. Two of the most famous bazaars are the one in Odessa and the one in Kemelnitsky. They are like wholesalers for the other bazaars. | ||
 All animals can ride the bus or trolleybus and do. They are always well behaved like this beautiful spaniel with his pretty owner. |
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