When in doubt, pack a cheese grater (Tuesday July 13, 2010)

Whoot! Made it to Kiev. We awoke at 4:30 Sunday morning to make our Delta flight to JFK. Nadia drove us after a sleepless night on her part. I've discovered my family for the most part is sleep deprived on any given day. The flight was late and we had a tight connection to get on our Kiev leg. Of course our luggage didn't make it, but it should make it here after being routed to Amsterdam. (It's sad when your luggage is more well-travelled than you are). It will be a relief to get out of the very american-looking casual clothes and into something that doesn't scream tourist!
We were met at the airport by the lovely and efficient Natasha, our translator. Everything looks exactly how we remember it, only greener and warmer and lighter. It's wonderful being here in the summer! Natasha arranged for our apartment in the middle of Kiev, rather than the outskirts. It's so much more fun being in the heart of things!
We went to the grocery store before going to our apt and loaded up on bread and cheese, tomato juice, water and some other fruits and vegetables. I don't know how to describe it, but things feel a little "loosened up" from the last time we were here. For example, we didn't have a security guard tailing us through the supermarket like we did in Sumy, and the people just seemed more relaxed. Part of it could be the summer season, or maybe a more democratic lifestyle is getting a firmer toe hold. At any rate, it's very nice.
Calvin was itching to get out the minute he woke up this morning. Such an adventurous husband! He got by on about four hours of sleep the last two days we were home, so you'd think he'd want to laze around a bit. He had some unexpected tasks to complete at work and spent hours there in addition to the inevitable "tying up of loose ends" that occurs before any trip like this. He visited some St Sophia's and St Michael's churches and cruised through some parks and found a great French bakery.
We have a few cafes and a Radisson nearby where we can use the computer, and hopefully Natasha will be able to get a router going for us in our apt. That would be too wonderful!
The apartment is lovely and very reminiscent of the style of many Ukrainian things. I have a hard time naming it, but it's very similar to what you'd see on "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". If a little glitz is good, more glitz is even better! You see it in the dress and makeup of the women here. I don't think they'd appreciate the term, "understated". It's probably an understandable reaction to the very grey and drab days of communism.
Our SDA appt is tomorrow at 11:00. Natasha looked at our clothing and emphasized our need to dress up, which might be a challenge if we don't get our luggage. We don't have anything clean to change into, none of our adaptors so we can charge our computers and phones. However, we thankfully have a cheese grater! Of all things, a cheese grater ended up in my carry-on!