In other news...

Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko was detained by police at Frankfurt airport and prevented from boarding his flight because of drunken and disorderly conduct, police said on Wednesday.

A Frankfurt police spokesman said Lutsenko was prevented from boarding a flight to Seoul, South Korea, after airport officials noticed that he and his 19-year old son, with whom he was travelling, were severely drunk.

When they were stopped, both passengers flew into a rage, shouted and threw their mobile telephones, police said.

Heavy Metal

One of the first things you’ll notice when you first step off the train in Kharkov (or many Ukranian cities) is heavy metals. Unfortunately I’m not speaking about the musical genre, rather the smell of them in the air. While the locals don’t notice, most foreigners find it takes a few weeks or months for your body to adjust to the slow burning sensation. I’m told the issue is far more severe in cities like Donetsk, something I hate to imagine. Life can be hard here….even just to breath.

Dental Floss

Shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, toothpaste, antiperspirant - it’s all readily available in Ukraine. But…what about dental floss? An everyday staple of oral hygiene right? Seemingly not in Ukraine.

Dental floss proves to be very difficult to procure in this country. You almost certainly won’t find it alongside the toothbrushes and toothpaste. You’re going to have to look hard, and pay handsomely, if you want such a luxury.

Which also begs the question….how do Ukrainians floss their teeth? Well, for the most part, it seems they don’t. One local I quizzed today on the subject suggested that my teeth might wear down if I floss each day and warned that my “mouth will bleed” if I performed such a ritual. He certainly doesn’t use such a product, never has, and didn’t know of anyone who does.

So…where do you buy dental floss in Ukraine? Your best best is probably in the local Apteka (pharmacy) alongside other controlled substances such as Xanax, Viagra and Celebrex. No Joke.

Under the Influence

The other night a friend of mine (foreigner) had a couple glasses of beer with dinner and then drove home. The problem is that Ukraine has a zero tolerance alcohol policy and this friend was unfortunate enough to get pulled over by the police. They explained to him that he was driving under the influence of alcohol and that the fine was 3500 griven (about $450 USD). Unfortunately he didn’t have enough money with him to pay the fine but the police were kind enough to let him drive home to get the money.

Please come again

Another lesson in customer service from Ukraine:

Waitress: еще пива?

Me: пожалуйста

A few minutes later the beer arrives…along with word that the restuarant is closing and we must leave.

Jazz / Funk?

Jazzster, one of a few places to hear live music in Kharkov, was advertising “Jazz / Funk” on their concert bill last night.

As many Ukranians will admit however, many things here are not as advertised.

The aged “Jazz / Funk” group entertained the audience with Bluegrass and Rock n’ Roll cover songs like House of the Rising Sun (minus the organ).

Where to go: Coffee Life

Hungry for that western, corporate café experience in Kharkov? Check out Coffee Life on Pushkinskaya Street. Affectionately referred to as “Starbucks” or “Central Perk” by the Expat community, the month-old Coffee Life is just a stones throw from metro Beketova (opposite direction of McDonalds). Several of the staff speak English including the always friendly Anya and Dasha.

Not authentic enough for you? Don’t worry! Unlike their eerily familiar counterparts in the West, Coffee Life has a large selection of cigarettes and several choices of alcoholic drinks. The Tequila Sunrise, made with freshly squeezed orange juice, is particularly popular.

Free WiFi, good coffee and plenty of beautiful people. Beats the office right?

Kharkov Expats - The Group

In Kharkov, sometimes you feel like the only one. The only foreigner that is. With a little social bravery however you soon discover that you are not alone in your adventurous spirit / masochism.

Probably its already stamped on your forehead…but if you’re an expatriate in Kharkov and you’d like to make it official, join our newly created expats group on Facebook or В Контакте.

Official membership card available upon request.

Where to go: Ice skating at Dafi

There are a few skating rinks in Kharkov, some indoors and some out. The best I’ve found thus far however is at the shopping centre Dafi. From metro Geroiv Pracy (Geroiv Truda), take the long, muddy path to the mall, head upstairs via the escalator and turn right.

The cost is about 30UAH an hour including skate rental (decent ones). Weekdays are best if you want your alone time. Weeknights and weekends if you prefer a little more danger…..and glitter.

There’s also a nice cafe inside the arena and a food court just opposite it. A warm bowl of Borscht hits the spot after an hour on ice.