How to Get Five Ukrainians in a Dryer

Ukraine is a wonderful country with beautiful people. Our adventure began in Ukraine in 2009 when we moved to Ukraine due to work. I, along with my German wife, Ingrid, and our four brave children ages twelve, eleven, eight, and six, arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine, with a vocabulary in Russian of the words, da, nyet, and gde tualet (yes, no and where is the toilet)? Fortunately, we had coworkers who helped us get settled in and somewhat oriented. The next year, however, was filled with cultural moments and numerous head-shaking moments where we asked ourselves: Did that really just happen? We did not know what to expect, and we could not have anticipated all of the unique, memorable situations we encountered. While there were certainly stressful encounters in our adventure, they paled in comparison to the friendships we made and still have with Ukrainians. As of this writing, we are still living in Ukraine and have adjusted to the way things are. Often, we try to make culture an issue of right or wrong, but usually, cultures in different countries are just that-different. Ukrainian culture has much to offer with its traditions, food, and amazing hospitality.What you are about to read is some of our experiences in Ukraine. The country has developed since 1991, when Ukraine gained its independence. Despite this development, there is still progress to be made. When we arrived in 2009, there had been one revolution in 2004, and ten years later, there was another revolution. Many of these stories took place in 2009 and much has changed. Fortunately, the future is looking better for Ukraine despite the challenges. Enjoy the stories