How to survive in Ukraine without knowing Ukrainian or Russian

Language is the first mystery for those traveling in Ukraine. Without preparation you will not understand a word. Not a lot of signs are in English, not a lot of locals know English. But somehow expats still manage to survive without knowing Ukrainian/Russian at all!

1. Stick to the center

You’re more likely to see street signs and menus in English in the center than in suburbs. There are more English-speaking people in centers of cities too. Also, there’s usually nothing to see in the outskirts, anyway.

2. Phrasebook

Get a good phrasebook with you or download one on your phone. It comes in handy when dealing with older people or people who do not know any English. Usually people really want to help even if they don't understand you.

3. Make friends with English-speaking locals

Get someone speaking English to show you around. With Ukrainian on your side you can get a taste of the city and be safe from scams.

4. Learn to read Cyrillic

Cyrillic can be challenging, but if you’re going to spend some time in Ukraine, it’s worth to learn the alphabet. This way, you’ll understand that PECTOPAH actually means restaurant, and CTOП means STOP.

The Guide to Ukrainian Gift Giving

Ukrainians sure love to give and receive! Even if they don’t have much money, they’ll always bring some chocolates and champagne to a party.

There are some occasions where gifts are expected: if you’re invited to someone’s house, some holidays and when courting a woman.

If you’re invited to someone’s house, it’s polite to bring some wine or liquor, chocolate candy, flowers (depending on the tone of the party). If hosts have kids in the house, bring small toys or candy for them.

There are some occasions when you’re expected to give gifts:

1. New Years Eve. It’s a main gift giving holiday in Ukraine. Ukrainians try to give gifts to all their friends and family. Family receives more expensive gifts, friends can go with cheaper symbolic things.
2. December 19: St Nicholas’ Day. On this day, kids expect candy and small gifts under their pillows. If you’re going to meet a friend’s kid today, bring small gifts for him/her.
3. 8 of March: Women’s Day. Women receive gifts from men and other women from their family. Traditionally, women at work and school are greeted by male coworkers.
4. October 14. Men receive gifts from women in the family and at the workplace.
5. Birthday. It’s simple – give gifts if you’re invited to the birthday party.
6. February 14. Significant others give cards and gifts to each other.

How to Survive in Ukrainian Marshrutka

Marshrutkas are the mini buses that roam the streets of Kyiv. Marshrutkas can be small or on a bigger side, but the principle is the same – it follows the designated route and stops on demand.

How to enter

Marshrutkas stop only on designated bus stops. These buses can skip the stop, so if you see the necessary marshrutka, just flag it down.

Sometimes there are long queues at the starting point. Usually, the queue is for the seats. After all seats are taken, you can enter to stand.

Standing in marshrutka is the art on its own, because the driver is talking on the phone, accepting money and driving at the same time. Better hold tight!

How to pay

Marshrutkas are not expensive at all. This unique commuting experience costs just 2 to 6 hryvnas (0.08 to 0.25$). Everybody pays to the driver. Rarely there is a conductor in the bus. If you’re located far from the driver, ask people to pass the fee ("peredayte pozhaluista"). It’s better to pass the exact sum, because getting a change is a hassle too.

If you sit near the driver, prepare to pass money in both directions all the time.

How to escape

To stop the bus, you need to tell driver the magic words "ostanovite pozhalusta" (stop please). Don’t be afraid to shout! When the bus stops, make your way to the door. Congrats, you just took your first marshrutka ride!

Top 5 Weird Ukrainian Foods

Every country has its own weird food. Find out what Ukrainian dishes are shocking to expats!

1. Salo is a quintessential Ukrainian food but it can be questionable for foreigners. Basically, salo is bacon without any meat – just raw pork fat. It can be pickled, fried, freezed or just eaten raw. It has a weird texture but it’s perfect with vodka or in sandwiches with black bread and some onions.

2. Herring under a Fur Coat. This traditional Soviet dish includes pickled herring, beets, potatoes, carrots and a lot of mayonnaise. Ingredients are placed in layers, and every layer is coated with mayo. Sounds disgusting? Well, it won’t hurt to try it!

3. Kholodets. It’s a meaty jello with garlic and pieces of said meat inside. Kholodets is made by boiling meat stock for a whole day and then leaving it in a cold place. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s really interesting.

4. Krovyanka. Literally translated as a “bloody sausage”. When Ukrainians slaughter a pig, they drain its blood and mix it with cooked buckwheat. Then it’s stuffed in a large intestine of a pig and cooked in an oven for a 30 min — 1 hour. Enjoy your bloody feast!

5. Vinegret. Cooked beans, beets, carrots and other vegetables with sunflower oil and mustard dressing. A staple vegetarian salad for any Ukrainian during the winter, when there are no fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Looks not really good, but tastes ok.

Baby names for a multicultural / expat family in Ukraine

Choosing a name for a baby is a hard task itself. Basically, you’re naming a human who haven’t been born yet! In a multicultural and/or expat family it could be even harder. 

Expat parents often feel the need to include multiple cultures in the name and make it sound good to the people of the country where they actually live. Sometimes a chosen name can represent something funny or even offensive in another language, so, if you’re planning for a baby abroad, it’s better to be careful!

There are no naming laws in Ukraine. It means you can choose almost any name in the world! But, here are some tips to do it right:

1.  Try to choose an international-sounding name. Some names are recognized in most of the world. Names like Maria, Anna, and Sofia may not be very original but it’s hard to vandalize their pronunciation. Parents just need to deal with the fact that every language has their version of the name (for example: Mary, Mariya, Masha etc.)
2. There are no second names in Ukraine. If you want a second name for your child, it has to be hyphenated, like Anna-Maria.
3. Ukrainian people usually have paternal names (like Mykhaylovych, Ivanovna). If you don’t want your child to have a paternal name, you can refuse it during the baby’s registration.
4. Try not to use sounds that Slavic people cannot pronounce. For example, too many vowels or the sound “th”. Names like Heather, Ethan, Hugh, Vaughn are really hard to pronounce for Ukrainians and they might be confused about it.
5. Try not to use names that sound like something from Ukrainian or Russian language. For example, the name Portia means “food ration” in Ukrainian. Misha is a popular girl name in the US, but in Ukrainian and Russian it’s strictly men’s diminutive name.

And, the last but not the least, remember: it’s impossible to please everybody. In the end, just forget all the rules, pick the name you like and be happy!

How to blend in with Ukrainians

Most of the time, people are able to tell if you're a tourist or an expat in Ukraine. But there are some ways to blend in. 

1. First of all: Do. Not. Smile. If you’re walking down the street, or if you’re sitting in a café, or if you’re riding metro train… Ukrainians are known not to smile in public places. Especially if they’re alone. There is a saying in Ukrainian: “The smart one is crying, the dumb one is laughing”. So, if you want to blend with the crowd, just put on your angry face and walk down the street looking as if you’re burdened with all of the world’s problems. That will do.

2. Do not engage in a conversation on the street. In big cities, people start conversations on the street only in two cases: either asking for directions or wanting to scam you/preach some religion. If you need to ask for directions, it’s fine, people will sincerely try to help, even if they do not speak English. But any other conversation is taken with great suspicion.

3. If you chose to drive, just forget all the rules. Lanes are nonexistent, as well as traffic lights. Treat speed limits as a suggestion. Give pedestrians an angry honk if they cross the road too slowly. In other words, have fun!

4. Get used to the greeting culture. If a man enters the group of men and women, he will shake hands with all the guys in the room, and nod to girls (or kiss them on the cheek). Women do not shake hands, typically they kiss on the cheek. You might find it sexist, but that’s how it goes.

5. Follow the dress code. For men: clean-cut haircuts. Wear dark clothes and a leather jacket. Never wear shorts. Look either as a pimp or wear a tracksuit.

6. For women: treat the street like a catwalk, both in dress and an attitude. Look your best every day, wear eyeliner and tight clothes. Get on your angry face, look straight through the people and walk really fast on your heels (or expensive sneakers!). Hair dye is preferred – blonde, bright red or raven black.

7. The last but not the least, the ultimate blending in tip: wear something patriotic. A tiny Ukrainian flag ribbon, a T-shirt with Ukrainian trident, anything with blue and yellow colours. You’ll be instantly recognised as an inside man (or woman).

How to travel by train in Ukraine

In case you didn’t know that: Ukraine is large! People here are used to travel by train, because it’s an easy way to get from one city to another. The vast majority of Ukrainians do their long distance travel by trains. It’s not always very comfortable, but it’s relatable and very cheap. Also, there is a chance to watch some beautiful scenery in the window!

It’s easy to plan your trip — trains are almost always on time and run frequently. Also, you can book your tickets online on a government website in English.

There are different types of trains in Ukraine:

• Suburban train (electrychka). This train connects small suburban cities with larger central city. It’s a good way to travel if you don’t have a car. There are benches only on this kind of train, and no prescribed places. 
• Intercity train (sometimes called the Hyundai train). This is a new line of trains made before a EURO 2012 football championship. It connects major cities in Ukraine, like Kyiv, Lviv, Zaporizhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv etc. The train is more like ordinary Western European train, with comfy seats and food buffets. Tickets are more expensive, but still reasonable priced.
• Regular train. It’s the most common type of train here. They are mostly old and not so comfortable (depending on a train’s class, obviously). This article talks mostly about regular overnight travels.

Regular trains have 3 classes:

First class is called a “sleeping wagon” (SW). It’s the most comfortable class. Every compartment has two berths, table and a TV. Also, in the first class car you can expect a better service.

Second class is called a Kupe. It’s a separated compartment with four berths – bottom and top ones. It’s popular because it has some degree of privacy. The compartment has a lock on the door, so it’s safer.

Third class is called a Platskart. These carriages do not have separate compartments. There are more berths, too: the compartment includes six of them.

On a 2nd and 3rd class, you can get a bottom or top berth. Your luggage goes in a space under a lower berth. There are some travel etiquette rules, but most of the time, just use common sense! Be friendly with your fellow travelers and try not to disturb each other.

After boarding on a train, you get a set of clean sheets and a towel. The mattress, pillow and a warm blanket are in the compartment too. When you’re ready to sleep, take it out and make your bed.

What to take with you:

• Money and documents. Keep your valuables safe! Get your electronics and a wallet in a bag and keep it with you all the time, especially when you’re going to sleep. 
• Personal hygiene. It’s important to keep your hands clean on a train. Wet wipes, antibacterial spray, soap, toilet paper, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste are a must. 
• Clothes. People usually change into comfy clothes and slippers on a train. You can take a warm hoodie or scarf with you, according to weather – it could be too cold or too hot inside.
• Food. There are no hot meals on a regular train. Take some snacks with you: candy, fruits, sandwiches, water in a bottle, etc. You can order only a hot tea and some candy from a train attendant. 

Useful Tips:

Traveling with a bicycle. If you’d like to travel with your bike or other equipment like skis, it’s easy too! If you disassemble and pack it (and if it’s weight is less than 36 kg), just take it with you for free. If you don’t want to disassemble it, the bike gets taken to special luggage compartment – costing you half a regular ticket price.

Waiting for a train. There are two types of waiting halls on train stations in Ukraine: free and paid. If you need to wait for a train for a relatively long time, better go to a paid waiting hall – it’s cheap and more comfortable.

More privacy for a better price. You can buy all four berths at a 2nd class compartment and it still will be cheaper than a 1st class ride.

Smoking is forbidden on all trains! You can only smoke in a separate platform known as “Tambour”, between the carriages.

Be safe and enjoy your ride!

15 Facts You Didn't Know About Ukraine

1. Ukraine is the largest country located entirely within Europe with the total area of 603,500 km², followed by France, Spain and Sweden.

2. It’s called just Ukraine, without “the”. The name of the country had been a point of contention for many years, but today most English sources choose to abandon “the”.

3. For some time in 1990s, Ukraine was a third largest nuclear power in the world. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine ended up with a staggering amount of warheads – nearly 1700. It’s the only nuclear country which voluntarily chose to give up the nuclear arms too, in 1994.

4. Kyiv has the deepest metro station in the world. The Arsenalna station is 105.5 meters deep! It’s built beneath a hill and some say that it has secret bunkers for Soviet leaders inside.

5. The third most visited McDonald’s in the world is located in Ukraine, near the train station in Kyiv. The first and second place for the busiest McDonald’s restaurant are both in Moscow.

6. Most of the country is bilingual. More people speak Ukrainian and Russian, and less speak Ukrainian and Polish or Ukrainian and Hungarian. Some segments of the population speak a mixture of Russian and Ukrainian, called “Surzhik”

7. The longest musical instrument in the world is trembita – traditional instrument of Ukrainian Hutsul ethnicity from Carpathian mountains. This really long pipe was used in Ruslana’s Eurovision-winning performance in 2004.

8. The largest and heaviest airplane in the world is Ukrainian. An-225 “Mriya”, built by Antonov Design Bureau, can carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo.

9. Ukrainian “Yuzhmash” bureau in Dnipropetrovsk makes the most environmentally friendly rocket launch vehicles in the world.

10. Ukrainian Hetman introduced one of the first constitutions in the world in 1710 which included three separate branches of power: a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary.

11. One of the most popular Christmas songs “The Carol of the Bells” was actually written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich based on Ukrainian folk song “Schedryk”.

12. Some of the oldest shelters constructed by a pre-historic man were found in Mezhyrich, Ukraine. These dwellings are dated more than 15,000 years back. An old map inscribed on the bone was also found on the site, as well as remains of the drum and amber ornaments.  

13. In the 10^th and 11^th centuries the country was known as Kievan Rus. At the time it was the most powerful nation in Europe.

14. It’s really fertile. Ukraine accounts for circa 25% of the world’s richest black soil. Currently Ukraine is a world market leader in exports of sunflower oil and barley and 7th in the world in wheat production.

15. It's educated. Ukraine is in the top five countries in the world with the largest number of certified IT professionals. The country occupies the 4^th number in the world by the number of IT professionals.