Expats living in Ukraine and Russia

I worked in Russia more than 2 years (until recently) and I traveled everywhere from Murmansk to Vladivostok. If you want some info just ask

I've been in Odessa for about 3 months and haven't met any other expats, just wondering if I'm all alone here. Any Canadian or US expats that want to get together for a drink, drop me a line.

Wow, it looks like this forum is pretty dead but I'll try to breathe some new life into it. I just found and (immediately) joined this site today. My brother and I are hanging out here in Ivano-Frankivsk doing a little teaching from time to time. So is there anybody out here in the west?

I've started a good tradition creating a sort of my personal international press club.
Invited colleagues from several foreign media who have been homesick in Moscow for a Chinese-style tea party.
A handful of people showed up but everybody left happy.
Bush telegraph is working: many more have signed up for the next party.
If you are in Moscow and have though the faintest relations to the media or Canada - welcome!

Hi,

It doesn't appear there are too many Canadians participating in this forum yet, but will add my name and contact info to the list that I hope is growing. This is my second trip to Ukraine since October 2010, and I will be here until February 6th, 2011 (since Dec. 30, 2010), returning again late spring or early summer for a much longer stay. I have a wonderful second chance relationship with a great lady from Zaporozhye (she's an MD with a number of certified specialities), and am here helping her renovate and settle into a new apartment. I have traveled from Kiev to Yalta so far, and look forward to seeing the rest of the country at some point in the future.

I am a retired environmental professional, having worked with all development sectors that you can possibly name, and was a senior manager with a provincial gov't department until my early retirement in Dec. '09. My 3 children are independent adults, and my oldest son lives between Rome and Basel, with 2 grandchildren. I am not planning a second career per se, but having been here twice now, and am convinced that there is much that could be done to assist Ukraine in finding its own environmental sustainability approach. Deficiencies in air, water and land management are evident everywhere, so through AMEC Earth and Environmental, CIDA, and my fed contacts, I hope to create some interest on the part of others to assist in developing some practical programs for future application in Ukraine. Canada has a presence here through CIDA, and PM Harper was recently here on an official visit, last Oct.

I really like this country, the culture, the history, cuisine, its people, and can affirm what many others have said about outdoor markets and so an as being very attractive. Learning Cyrillic and Russian is a challenge, but what of value in life isn't and I am making some progress. I am seriously looking at acquiring an iPhone and corresponding translation app to speed up my transition here .... especially so I can read signs and restaurant menus. So if there are any Canucks in or near Zaporozhye, I would be happy to connect with you, and am hoping to find those with much more experience in living here.

Signed,

really just a Miramichi River rat from NB

Kirk Gordon
docs36@gmail.com

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at teaching English in Ukraine next year and I've really enjoyed reading everyone's experiences. I'm really interested to hear more if anyone wants to share.

Thank you