Expats living in Ukraine and Russia

[CanuckAbroad]

So I hear there are a lot of Canadian's living in this part of the world, so I thought I'd put up this forum for you all to chat.

I've been to the Ukraine and plan on traveling on the trans-siberian this summer through Russia with my girlfriend. Should be quite an adventure! And if any of you out there have done this, please share your experiences

Anyhow, this board is to help all of you living and traveling in Russia / Ukraine - Hope you make some new connections!

[alfzumpano]

Well, I missed the boat 20 years ago when most people head out for their voyage to discover the world. I got married and started a family and a career instead. Now that part is done with, kids are grown, business sold and a new woman in my life, so its my turn. We're alive and well in Kyiv and quite enjoying ourselves I must say. Took a leave from a 9 to 5 to fulfill a dream and to far its working out really well. I had been to Kyiv twice before in 2001 and 2002 but only for three weeks in total, now I'm living here and have been since July 1, 2006. We've done some traveling in Europe and to Japan for oldest son's wedding in August, but mostly been here in Kyiv. Can't tell you all the changes I've seen in Kyiv since I was last here. I 2002 there were no billboards, no sales flyers, no sales for that matter. Ads seem to be everywhere as does more and more commercial retail than they have ever had. Big box stores from Europe, electronics stores to rival Futureshop or BestBuy. Every consumer good that you could ever want is here now. In 2002 there was a certain amount of North American style retail. but only in the touristy downtown area, now its everywhere.
The infrastructure is getting a face lift too, new buses, soon new metro trains and more lines. The streets are getting some work too. The gap between upper and lower class is starting fill ever so slightly with the all important economy driving 'middle class'.
Some of the charm of Kyiv I hope never goes away and that is the outdoor markets. You can of course go into traditional type stores and buy whatever it is that you need, but everything and I mean everything you could ever need to buy is available in outdoor markets. Street corner fruit and vegetable vendor stalls are another charm that I find most appealing. Nothing beats getting of the mini-bus or tram near home and stopping a few metres from your door to buy fresh produce for supper, year 'round I might add. Love it.
I had an interesting experience at the end of November just before leaving for a little travel in the western part of Europe. I needed a pair of new jeans so we went to one of the markets near the flat (huge by the way, but not the biggest by far I'm told). There were blue jean vendors as far as the eye could see, anyway I settled on a pair and right there in the middle of the market the shop keeper holds up a small curtain to provide me the basic amount of privacy as I tried on my new jeans, no one batted an eye. New to me!

I'm hoping that the large number of Canadians that are here in Kyiv and other places in Ukraine get on the forum and get in touch. The Canadian Embassy has a beer night which used to be every second Friday and has been changed to once a month so I'm told, so there's a place to meet. I tried to go to the most recently scheduled beer night on Jan. 5th, but it was cancelled because of Christmas, at least that's what the guard at the Canadian embassy told me. Had no luck getting through by phone during the day to check on the time. We went down anyway and it was locked up tight. Too bad, oh well, next one.

There are number of sports bars here in Kyiv, I haven't checked out yet if they're showing any NHL games. Not likely, soccer is king.

I hope to write more on a regular basis and hope to hear from others.

Cheers!

Alf Zumpano

[alfzumpano]

Ooops!

I forgot to thank Matt for creating this forum for Ukraine and Russia, hopefully it will become one of the most visited.

Thanks!

Alf

[alfzumpano]

The following is an excerpt from an article on BBCNews online. Scary, but true.

-
Few people would necessarily put the capital of Ukraine in the same category.

Yet Kiev is now believed to be the most expensive city in Eastern Europe in which to buy a home.

Prices increased by 10-25% in just the final two months of 2006.

New blocks of flats are springing up across the capital of this former Soviet republic.

Concrete shell

One such is the Triumph apartment complex.

It overlooks rolling hills and golden-domed churches on the edge of the city, and according to TMM, the company responsible, will have a swimming pool, spa and underground parking.


It makes me feel hopeless and helpless. there is no place for young professionals like me in this city

Tanya Voroshko

Although months remain till the building is complete, much of it has been sold already.

And although the flats remains a concrete shell - as with most flats in Kiev, it is up to the owners to fit floors and doors and finish the walls - a three-bedroom unit is valued at about $1m.

This kind of price is estimated to be about three times what it would have been two years ago - although, with no public register, no-one is entirely sure of the exact figures.

The cost of apartments has already overtaken some EU cities like Amsterdam.

"It's been amazing," says Tanya Plemenyuk from NAI Pickard Commercial Real Estate Services, who is showing a prospective investor round the flat.

"Kiev has experienced such a property boom. I bought a flat three years ago for $30,000, and now its worth up to $200,000."

Speculators

Part of the story is simply a rising demand for accommodation as wages go up and the economy grows - a demand for which supply cannot keep up.


Many sites operate 24 hours a day

"People simply want to move out of their old Soviet style housing, and move into something more comfortable," says Jaroslav Kinach from property developers XXI Century Investments.

In addition, many Ukrainians don't trust banks, preferring property as a way of securing their savings.

And then there is also a new class of super-rich Ukrainians looking for ways to invest their money: a tiny, but incredibly wealthy, group of business people who have done well since the collapse of the USSR, often in traditional industries such as steel production.

But the main driver for the property boom is speculation.

Investors tend to snap up new flats, then leave them unfinished and empty - adding to the imbalance between supply and demand.

At the offices of agents Parker and Obolensky, prices start at $500,000.

"In my experience the most expensive places cost $25,000 per square metre," says Parker and Obolensky's Ruslan Suchkoe.

"That's not a joke. Apartments of this price are about 100 to 300 square meters in size."

Such a valuation would put the top of the market at around $7.5m.

Out of balance?

But despite the building frenzy, Ukraine remains one of the poorest countries in Europe.


For many living in Soviet-era blocks, the new flats remain out of reach

The cheapest one-bedroom flat in Kiev costs in the region of $100,000- far beyond the reach of most people in a city where the average salary is about $200 a month.

At the age of 30, Tanya Voroshko still lives with her mother.

For her, buying her own home seems like an impossible dream.

"It makes me feel hopeless and helpless," she says.

"No matter how hard you try, taking into account I make pretty good money, still I can't afford it.

"It makes me feel angry and like there is no place for young professionals like me in this city."

Even as darkness falls across the capital, the building work continues.

Some building sites operate 24 hours a day.

But with so much speculation, and such an imbalance between prices and salaries, many fear that the residential property market in Kiev is in danger of overheating.

It could be a bubble - and if so, there is no way of knowing when it might burst.
-

Alf Zumpano

[alfzumpano]

Hello All,

The snow has finally fallen in Kyiv, quite beauitful. Not too cold -5 to -10.
There is a monthly photography equipment show and sale downtown on Kontraktova Plozha(plaza).
Just found out about it, to bad too, I just bought some equipment, oh well.
So we're off to see it today and hopefully its all its been cracked up to be.
Enjoying the life here, I find the Canadian Embassy almost impossible to contact by telephone. They never answer and I've tried all times of the day. Doesn't make me feel too good thinking how would I ever reach them in an emergency. Still want to get to the beer night, but its been changed to once a month apparently, the first Friday of the month and last month it was cacelled because of Christmas, so we'll try again in February.
Well, I know there are lots of others here in Kyiv from Canada, so let's hear from you.

Later,

Alf

[CanuckAbroad]

Hey there,

Hope you can get a hold the embassy soon. Pretty lame they won't pick up the phone. Do they have really limited working hours?

Hopefully we can get some more people posting in here!

[alfzumpano]

Hello Everyone,
Well we made it to the Beer Night at the Canadian embassy, FINALLY! It was on Friday February 9th and the next one is this coming Friday, February 23rd. It is indeed every two weeks from 6pm to 9pm. There was a blip in January due to the New Year and Christmas which through the pattern off from last ear, but! they still do not answer their telephone, at least not the number on their website. I spoke to one of the people for the embassy and they assured me that there are indeed people on the telephones everyday all day and they were surprised to hear that I couldn't get through. I suggested THEY try it.

We met some very nice people, I tried some beer from Quebec which was outstanding.
It was nice to speak to some folks from back home and I hope to see them again this coming Friday. I encourage all Canucks in Kyiv and area to make the effort and come out to the beer night. The pizza was pretty good too. Really felt good to be there.

See ya!

Cheers

Alf

[prairiegirl]

Hello
Just joined the forum the other day. We are still living in Canada but my husband's job will probably be taking us to Moscow in the next few months. Just wondering if anyone is living there right now and will be able to answer the many questions that we have. We are really looking forward to the move.

Thanks,
Prairiegirl