You're Moving to Kyiv!
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You’re Moving to Kyiv! Advice and Information for New PSI Staff Members from Veteran PSI Staff Members Photo: Patricia Puia 1 Introduction Independence Square Photo: Nadine Kitto Welcome to Kyiv, Ukraine! Let’s start with the name of our city and country. You’ll note that the city is spelled both Kyiv and Kyiv. We’ve used the latter here, as it is closest to the Ukrainian spelling. You’ll also notice that the country is Ukraine and not ‘the Ukraine.’ That change happened when the country gained its independence and was no longer just a region of the USSR. After landing in Boryspil Airport, you will first ride through the industrialised left-bank region. You’ll then cross the Dnipro River and reach the right-bank of the city, where streets and buildings exist on a series of hills. The heart of downtown is Independence Square or Maidan Nezalezhnosti (pictured above), with statues, hotels, cafes, and - of course! - a McDonalds. The Square forms part of the city's main street, Khreshchatyk, where you can find the pre- revolutionary food market Besarabskiy Rynok as well as Khreshchatiy Park, which overlooks the Dnipro. Chestnut trees planted in the 1840s line much of the way. Some of the popular downtown regions of Kyiv are Podil, where artisans, artists, and boat builders once mingled and where cafes and restaurants now dot the landscape; Pechersk, an upscale area with tall new apartment buildings and expensive cafes and salons; Lipky, the small, quiet and prestigious neighbourhood near the Parliament; and the area around the university, which probably boasts the most nightlife. 2 PSI is in a region of the city called “Holoseevsky” (or “Goloseevsky,” as the use of H or G depend on whether someone is speaking Russian or Ukrainian). One of the best features of this region is a huge forest called Holoseevsky Park. You have probably already read the information about the school and city under the ‘Employment’ link on PSI’s website. This unofficial city guide is intended to supplement that information and to give you an idea about life in the city from the perspective of other expatriate teachers. This guide is not intended to give you ideas about tourist destinations in Kyiv, as you can find this sort of information on Lonely Planet and other websites. Instead, we created this guide to help you prepare and plan in advance for your daily and professional life for the next two or more exciting years in Ukraine. 3 Table of Contents Subject Page Financial Advice for the Big Move 5 Home sweet home: Apartments and what to bring or not to bring for your new Kyiv home 6 Getting Connected: Electronics, Internet, TV and Multi-Media Devices 7 Food, Glorious Food: Supermarkets, Local Markets, Food Delivery and Dining Out 9 Domestic Help 13 Fashion 13 What to expect if you ship, mail or order things 15 Medical (Human and Pet) 16 And One and Two And…Fitness in Kyiv 18 Party On! Kyiv’s Social and Cultural scenes 19 Transport in Kyiv / Getting To and From School 20 Bringing Children 22 Teacher resources at school 24 Speaking Ukrainian or Russian 25 Recommended Reading to Get You in the Mood 25 Getting Away 26 Winter: Is It Really that Bad? 27 And There’s More to Come 27 4 Financial advice for the big move While credit cards are not universally accepted, more and more stores and restaurants do take them, with American Express cards being the least popular option with local businesses. There are also ATMs all over town, including one in the school lobby. On almost every street in the city, you can find currency exchange points, which don’t charge a service fee. Rates are usually posted outside on a yellow sign (see photo to the left). Nevertheless, we recommend that you come here with enough money to last you for the first month, as it will take that long to set up your local account and get your first paycheck. The easiest currencies to exchange are USD, Euros and Russian rubles. Also check and see if your home bank is part of the Global ATM Alliance so that you can withdraw from that account at certain Ukrainian ATMs without transaction fees. Please note that some teachers have had difficulties using their overseas ATM cards in Kyiv, but have not had difficulties using their credit cards in the machines here. Once your paychecks start coming, you’ll receive them monthly. The Finance Office will help you set up Internet banking so that you can manage transfers to your overseas account as well as maintaining your local ATM account. (Please note that the School pays all banking fees that occur through the bank here in Ukraine; teachers pay any transfer fees accrued through their overseas banks.) 5 Home sweet home: Apartments and what to bring or not to bring for your new Kyiv home PSI organises apartment rentals for teachers based on your preferences for location and other needs. The School also organises monthly rent payments and helps teachers communicate with landlords or service providers as needed. Teachers are responsible for the refundable damage deposit (generally no more than 2 months’ rent), for monthly utilities (typically about $100 for water, heat, electricity, Internet and satellite TV service combined) and general maintenance of the apartments. Any questions about apartments should be directed to Housing Manager Katya Tkachuk ([email protected]). Location Many new teachers wonder if it’s best to live near the school or downtown. Both locations have their advantages. Near School The area close to the school has modern high-rise apartments. There are many trees in the area and a beautifully forested part. Because of proximity to work, you can sleep till 7:30 a.m. and still come to school on time! Now that there are two large grocery stores and a few restaurants that people like, the PSI neighbourhood is a great choice. Downtown On the other hand, there are also advantages to living downtown. You can step out of your apartment and have dinner in any number of restaurants and cafes offering food from all over the world. You are in walking distance to historic sights and living on a street with beautiful 6 architecture. Cultural and sporting events may be taking place within steps of your apartment. Most downtowners are able to get to work in about 20-25 minutes. Security The apartment buildings for teachers have either locked doors downstairs and/or a concierge monitoring who enters the building. Sometimes the hallways are not well maintained, but apartments themselves are nice. What You’ll Find PSI provides a checklist to landlords, who are obligated to provide everything needed for start- up. For example, landlords are required to provide a set of plain sheets and towels and a duvet. However, many teachers bring or purchase their own bed linens because of colour or fabric preferences. You can buy expensive high-end sheets at Butlers, or inexpensive sheets at Jysk, which is a store similar to Ikea. You can also buy your own down pillows, duvets and wool blankets here for prices similar to those in the US. Please note that European beds and pillows are not the same size as in North America or Asia, so be sure that you are bringing or buying the correct sizes. Teachers here note that king-sized pillows are particularly difficult to find. Although you will also be provided with pots and pans, flatware and dishes, you may also wish to supplement with some of your own. Plastic ware, everyday dishes, and towels are very easy to buy in Kyiv. Teachers note that good quality towels can be expensive, so you may want to bring your own. Sealed plastic containers may not be of the same quality you’re used to, so if you use them a lot, you may want to bring your own. Heat and Hot Water In most apartment buildings in Kyiv, the hot water is turned off for a month during the summer or fall while pipes are maintained. Teachers’ apartments have hot water heaters to heat water for a quick but comfortable shower during these times. When you arrive at your new apartment, do make a quick check to make sure that the hot water has been turned on! Most buildings have government-controlled heat. This means that there is a set day that heat is turned on and off and that the temperature is pre-determined. As a result, it’s not unusual for teachers to be in tee-shirts and shorts in February because their apartments are too warm! Getting Connected Purchasing Electronics The city offers a couple of good chain stores that will handle most of your electronic and appliance needs. (Please note that your apartment will have most major appliances!) For more information, please visit these websites. With a little help from someone at School, you can often have items delivered directly to your apartment. 7 http://rozetka.com.ua/ http://www.foxtrot.com.ua/ Voltage The voltage in Ukraine is 220/240 with European-style plug ends (two round prongs). It may be useful to bring a plug adapter and a high-quality surge protector. The outlets are commonly indented in the wall, so you may also need an extender if your plug is not round. Some people have had appliances die because of the difference in voltage, so check to see if your electronics need a transformer. Many electronics are dual-voltage, and this will be indicated on the power supply.