Contribute by Richard Shakel
Member of LovedByHer.com
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In September of 2007 I flew from USA to Kiev Ukraine for my second meeting with my Mail Order Bride. I had met her in June 2007 but this meeting was going to be just the two of us for a romantic week in Kiev.
As seems to be the case with USA flights ariving in KBP (Kiev Ukraine) Airport my flight was arriving at 9:00 a.m. and my soon to be fiancee would not be able to take the seven hour taxi ride from Zaporojie to Kiev so that she would arrive before 3:00 p.m.
Arriving in the Kiev Airport is like taking a step back in time. The planes all deboard onto the tarmack and you have to walk through the elements or ride a bus to get to the airport. When you clear immigration and customs you enter into the “main terminal” through a wooden double door that reminds me of something I built for the neighborhood fort when I was twelve.
Nevertheless, I was anxious to see my fiancee again and knowing she wouldn’t be there for several hours I pulled up a chair next to a pretty blonde waiting in the airport lounge. (I can’t possibly describe how primitive the airport lounge is other than to say I expect chickens, geese and donkeys to walk through the lounge at any time)
As luck would have it this girl also was a mail order bride. She was from Meltiopol and was engaged to a man from Switzerland. We talked in broken English with a lot of hand gestures and picture drawing for several hours. Apparently, she had been approved by the Swiss Government to immigrate but the Ukraine Government would not approve her daughter to immigrate with her (this despite the former husband giving his permission). Her fiancee’s flight had been changed and he was six hours late. Similarly, I travelled to the Ukraine on New Years Day, Jan 1, 2008 and found that the Ukraine Airlines just closes when they want regardless of scheduled passengers. I found this out the hard way when I went to make a plane change in Paris, France and found out that the Ukraine Airlines had given themselves the day off. Thank heavens I had my small son with me otherwise I would have had to spend the night in the airport until the Ukraine Airlines reopened. (They don’t have reciprocal agreements like most major western airlines).
Ukraine girls are the most wonderful women in the world. They rarely will approach a man but if you strike up a conversation with them they are warm, kind and generous with their time and experiences. More than once a young lady has helped me find a train, connection or grocery item while I was in the Ukraine. Nevertheless, I’m not recommending that you venture outside the Airport without an experienced translator. I have also been accosted by Ukraine men and fortunately I had an experienced translator from LovedByHer.com who came to my rescue.
In any regards I learned a lot that day and was engaged in a fierce game of international conversation (which means we were drawing pictures so each other would know what the other was saying) when my fiance aproached. As always she was beautiful and to my surprize slightly jealous of my intent conversation:-) For those of you that have never traveled to Russian or the Ukraine remember that the alphabet they use is nothing like the English alphabet. I have travelled in France, England, Germany, Mexico and half dozen other countries and I’m always able to make some words out. Don’t expect that while traveling in the Ukraine. One day on my trip I went out for my morning run and found myself lost just a mile from the flat I was staying in. Street names are unintelligible because they are either in Russian or Ukraine as is signs and other symbols you might rely on. But if you have a good translator your trip will be fun, fun, fun.
One other thing about the Ukraine Airport. When you are leaving you will see a counter where people are lined up having their bags wrapped in plastic and then steel bands put around the bags. This is because there is a lot of theft from travellers bags. The locals have their bags wrapped and secured this way so they don’t have to worry about theft. I have never done it and never had anything stolen but then I always travel with a heavy coat that I load up with anything that might be valuable in any regards.
Finally, when you get to the Kiev Airport keep your money deep in your pocket and try to spend as little time there alone as possible. Remember, it is a international airport in a third world country and western men can be spotted there as if you were wearing a neon sign.
