I wrote this post 4 years ago, as you might guess by the lack of capitalization (it was a phase). Like a slew of other posts, it remained drafted but never published. Maybe because I found it presumptuous to write about what I’ll miss about Ukraine when I was still IN Ukraine. Maybe I wasn’t sure if any of it would be true, or if all of it would be true, or maybe if anyone would understand what I was even talking about. I admit, this list was and still is mostly for me, as I explain. It serves as a reminder of the things I just didn’t want to forget.
I haven’t read through this list in about, well, 4 years. The list is still pretty spot on and quite a lovely reminder of village life in Ukraine. And yea, I’d still like to put a rug on my wall. To keep with archive protocols, I’ve decided not to edit the post below, even if some things could use a little clarification, and capitalization…
As always, thanks for reading.
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a few months back, i began jotting down things i’ll miss about ukraine. whenever something would pop-in my head i’d jot it down in my moleskin i so faithfully take everywhere. i made this list just for myself really, as a reminder of the things (both big and little) i’ve come to appreciate while living in ukraine and things that i don’t want to forget. of course there are many things i won’t miss (it’s not all peaches ‘n cream over here!) but i’d rather try and remember the good stuff. years to come, i’m sure it will grow to include things i never thought about but for now this is what i have. it’s in no particular order and also randomly turned out to total 50.
- connection to seasons and the harvests that come with it
- cheap local produce — even poor people can afford healthy foods
- being able to get anywhere in the country without a car
- students (some more than other but especially the ones that run up to hug me)
- walks through fields around my village
- simplicity
- chucha
- ira and eddik
- pc friends that live closer to me here than in america
- walking on a dirt road where no cars pass by
- babaushkas that could beat a brotha
- communal children on buses
- at least 2 holidays in any given month (the ukr saying is 365 days in the year and we have 300 holidays)
- pryaniky
- being able to eat borscht for 1 week at the price of 10 UAH ($1.23)
- the fact that it’s acceptable to wear the same outfit a few days, weeks, even months in a row.
- the true darkenss of my village at night and the ability to see so many stars
- speaking ukrainian and russian
- hearing “HILLOW!” from my kids in the village
- relatively cheap train travel
- this country’s love for ABBA
- that adults can stay up and party just as hard as the young folk
- pimped out ladas
- tea (and sometimes conjac) breaks at school
- delicious chocolate
- never ending fields of sunflowers
- living close to 2 seas: azov and black
- bazaars
- the way everyone makes their own house wine and samajon (homemade vodka)
- fleeced-lined pants for winter
- the chance to get away with speaking in a british accent whenever i feel like it
- walks in the village listening to village sounds
- the occasional ketchup and mayo sause’d pizza (what’s happened to me?!)
- fold songs, folk tales, and hilarious health superstitions
- summer clouds like that of Montana (i’ve never actually been there, but i assume they look like that)
- post delivered by the same woman on a bicycle no matter the weather
- kids that play outdoors and make their own toys
- adult-sized juice boxes
- a culture of minimal toilet paper usage. and recycled tp at that!
- reusing things and fixing things rather than throwing away or buying new
- rickety bicycles carrying 2-3 even 4 people
- lvivsky christmas edition beer
- banyas (sauna experience where you also get beaten with leafy branches!)
- older women being genuinely concerned about me getting enough to eat
- modest and cozy houses
- the fact that everyone (no matter age or gender) can be spotted eating an ice cream cone in the summer
- rugs on walls
- shashlik in the summer
- true appreciation for the coming of spring after long, dark, cold winters
- that ukrainians are quick to recognize what’s important to them: family and health