Ukraine for you

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2009-12-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

English Cinema Club

2009-12-05T00:36:00.000-08:00

There is a new place in Kiev where you can find English movies (thanks El-Amin6Kiev for information).

The Masterklass Cinema Club is not only about showing films in English. Before each film a native English speaker will make a short introduction. Afterwards, in our cosy cafe the viewers can relax with a cup of tea and take part in an informal discussion of questions and problems raised by the film.

Every Thursday at 19.00! “Masterklass” English Cinema Club (34 Ivana Mazepy St.). Admission 20 hrivnas

“Films based on Classic British and American Novels” (October – December 2009). The theme of our new season of films is particularly intriguing: how cinema has dealt with some of the greatest works of British and American literature.

10th December - Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 film written by Valentine Davies, directed by George Seaton, and starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn. It is the story of what takes...

17th December - It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is an American drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and loosely based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern. The film takes...

24th December - A Christmas Carol (Scrooge) (1951)

Scrooge (1951), released as A Christmas Carol in the U.S., is one of the best-known film adaptations of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. It starred Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge and was...

The Culture and Education Centre “Master Klass” is situated at 34 Ivana Mazepy (former Yanvarskogo Vosstaniya) opposite Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, next to the terminal of trolleybus #38, bus # 24, mini buses#470 520, 406, interim stop of minibus #527.

What's about another cinemas that show English movies?

There are no English movies at Butterfly Ultramarine Cinema at least up to Dec.10.

"Zhovten" Cinema

http://www.zhovten-kino.kiev.ua/

Address: Konstantinovskaya st., 26Metro station - "Kontraktova Pl."

Little Ashes ("Отголоски из прошлого) - Nov.12 - Dec.16
The Private Life of Pippa Lee ("Частная жизнь Пиппы Ли") - Nov.19 - Dec.23
Time is different every day, so look here for schedule:
http://zhovten-kino.kiev.ua/afisha.php?room=3
http://zhovten-kino.kiev.ua/afisha.php?room=4

Send free SMS to Ukraine

2009-11-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

Today I want to tell you how to send free SMS to the clients of the biggest Ukrainian mobile provider KyivStar.

First, look at the phone number. For example, your friend’s number is
+38 067 123 44 55

Here 067 – it’s mobile provider’s code.

KyivStar’s codes are - 039, 067, 068, 096, 097, 098

If you find one of the codes at mobile phone number, go here:

http://www.kyivstar.ua/en/sms/

The page is in English so it’ll be very easy for you to send SMS!

Is the information interesting and useful for you? If yes, write in comments, and I’ll try to find the same for another Ukrainian providers. Also you can send free SMS to Russia. Do you want to know how?

Movies in English

2009-11-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

1. Butterfly Ultramarine Cinema

Address: Uritskogo st., 1a, Metro station - "Vokzalna"

New York, I Love You
November 19-21 - 6.15 p.m., 10.40 p.m.

The Box ("Посылка")
November 19-21 - 1.50 p.m., 4.05 p.m., 8.15 p.m.

Schedule after Nov.21 look here:
www.kino-butterfly.com.ua/cinema3.htm

2. "Zhovten" Cinema

http://www.zhovten-kino.kiev.ua/
Address: Konstantinovskaya st., 26Metro station - "Kontraktova Pl."

Little Ashes ("Отголоски из прошлого) - Nov.12 - Dec.16

The Private Life of Pippa Lee ("Частная жизнь Пиппы Ли") - Nov.19 - Dec.23

Time is different every day, so look here for schedule:
http://zhovten-kino.kiev.ua/afisha.php?room=3

http://zhovten-kino.kiev.ua/afisha.php?room=4

Michael Jackson's "This Is It" in Kiev

2009-10-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson's "This Is It" (2009) (in English)

Butterfly Ultramarine Cinema

www.kino-butterfly.com.ua/cinema3.htm

Address: Uritskogo st., 1a
Metro station - "Vokzalna"

Map:
Butterfly Ultramarine

October, 31; November, 1 - 10 a.m., 12.10 a.m.,2.20 p.m.,
4.30 p.m., 6.40 p.m., 8.50 p.m., 10.55 p.m.

November, 6 - 3.20 p.m., 5.30 p.m., 7.40 p.m., 9.50 p.m., 11.55 p.m.

Attention! New dialing rules will start tomorrow (Oct.14)!

2009-10-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Changes to the dialing format for making calls inside Ukraine, to Kyiv region’s area, to numbers of information lines and help lines, to cell phone numbers.

For details:
http://www.kyivpost.com/city/48318

No changes have been made to international dialing formats when calling Ukraine from abroad.

Movies in English in Kiev again!

2009-10-06T00:50:00.000-07:00

As I wrote a few days ago, "Kinopanorama" is under construction for now. But you can watch movies in English in Butterfly Ultramarine and "Zhovten" cinemas!

1. Butterfly Ultramarine Cinema

www.kino-butterfly.com.ua/cinema3.htm

Address: Uritskogo st., 1a
Metro station - "Vokzalna"

Map:

Butterfly Ultramarine

Movie: "WhiteOut" (triller)

Whiteout Trailers

When:
October, 1-7 - 4.15 p.m.

Tickets -20-35 hrn.

This is a post from Al at Butterfly Ultramarine forum :):

Dear Administrators, There not many sources where we, English-speaking community may have a pleasure to watch movies in English. I would recommend you to advertise your service much wider. Not many people know about your “once-per week movie in English. We went this week and there were only TREE people in. You have no idea – how many people would love to see movies not in Russian and Ukrainian languages! One more thing: please ask your support personal not to walk in and out during movie. It is very disturbing. Good luck!

2. "Zhovten" Cinema

www.zhovten-kino.kiev.ua

Address: Konstantinovskaya st., 26
Metro station - "Kontraktova Pl."
Free parking

Maps:
Zhovten

or

zhovten-kino.kiev.ua/text/17

Movies:

"Stoic" : October, 6-7 - 7.40 p.m.

"Moon 2112" : October, 6-21 - 11.50 a.m., 3.50 p.m., 7.50 p.m., 9.35 p.m.

Tickets - 16-35 hrn.

What does "Zhovten" mean? In Ukrainian it means "October". So it's good time to visit the "October" cinema :).

2009 Kiev Flower Show

2009-10-03T02:28:00.000-07:00

The Annual Kiev Flower Show took place in August. Theme was "The Fairy Tales". Every region of Kiev presented it's own composition. The Annual Kiev Flower Show take place every year at the end of August for Ukraine's Independence Day. There are some pictures:

No more movies in English in Kiev :(

2009-09-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

In spring I wrote about movies in English at the "Kinopanorama" cinema in Kiev.

http://ukraineforyou.blogspot.com/2009/04/slumdog-millionaire-in-kiev.html

A group of foreigners visited it and they told me it was great! Yesterday I was near the cinema and I saw that the building is under construction! I’ll try to find another cinema where you can watch movies in English but "Kinopanorama" was really the best!

Kyiv Days 2009

2009-05-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Every year at last weekend of May Kyiv celebrates it's birthday! May 30-31 there will be a lot of concerts, shows and special events.

May 30-31

11:00 - International City Baseball Competition
Pushcha-Vodytsya, 28 Lisova St.

12:00-20:00 - VII Open Kyiv Modern Dance Championship
Kyiv Operetta Theatre, 53/3 Chervonoarmiyska St.

11:00 - International Veterans’ Volleyball Tournament
Central Military Sanatorium, Pushcha-Vodytsya, 54 Hamarnyka St.

May 30

10:00 - Exhibition of Sandy Sculptures, 16:00 - concert
Obolonskaya naberezhnaya
The exhibition will work during a month, so you can visit it later.

11:00 - International Cycling Competition. Open Ukrainian Championship
Starts on Maidan Nezalezhnosti
Route: Between European and Lva Tolstoho Squares

12:00-14:00 - Kyiv Waltz, a dance competition among school graduates
Spivoche Pole, Pechersk Landscape Park (near Kyivo-Pecherskaya Lavra)

15:00-20:00 - City Choir Festival
Spivoche Pole, Pechersk Landscape Park

May 31

8:30-11:30 - XVII International Charity Chestnut Run
Start on Maidan Nezalezhnosti at 10:00, registration from 9:00
Route: Between Khreschatyk and Chervonoarmiyska. Distance - 5 km.
Everybody is welcome! Don't worry if you aren't good runners. Some people just go. Registration fees usually are collected for medical help, children’s hospitals and so on.

11:30-12:30 - Roller Marathon championship
Khreshchatyk Street

12:00 - III International Festival of Children’s talent "Go to dream"
Spivoche Pole, Pechersk Landscape Park

17:00-21:00 - Kick-boxing Tournament
Stage by the Arch of Friendship (near European Square)

18:00-22:00 - Kyiv Day Concert
Maidan Nezalezhnosti

22:00 -Finish of Kyiv Days - 15 minute firework!
Maidan Nezalezhnosti

Free Wi-Fi at McDonald's In Ukraine

2009-05-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Good news, huh? Since Hungary, the Czech Republic and other further east European countries have had wi-fi in fast food places for years (KFC in Czech Republic, Mickey D's in Hungary, etc.) it's about time Ukraine kept up with the "Jonesovitchi" and got it themselves.

McDonalds, always the fast food leader in Ukraine (be that good or bad, make your own call), is again leading with free wi-fi confirmed in almost all McDonalds in Ukraine, for example in Kyiv: Kreshatik (adjoining the Kreshatik Metro station) and Maidan (at the back of Independence Square, heading towards St. Michael's Church and Andrivksy Spusk - common tourist locations).

Zaporizha is said to have free wi-fi in McDonald's there, too. But hey, Mickey D's is everywhere, so if you're near one, just look for the WiFi sticker on the door (if they've got it, be sure the sticker will be there).

A tip: unfortunately, the staff is not always as cyber-savvy as the marketing folk that pushed for the wi-fi, so be patient. Some don't know they even have wi-fi, or what it is. :) If there is a signal, but you can't get on line, don't be afraid to kindly ask the managers to simply unplug and replug the modem. They will resist at first, but both times they did it, and voila! I was online. They were happy, I was happy. All was well.

Europe Days in Ukraine

2009-05-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

The official launch of Europe Days will take place at 2p.m. on May, 16 on the stage at Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kiev. The European village will be located on Khreshchatyk and opened from 2p.m. until 5p.m.

As usual Europe Day will close with a concert at Maidan Nezalezhnosti from at 4p.m. until 9p.m.

Europe Days events also will take place in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Lutsk, Kryvyi Rig, Poltava, Simferopil.

Call abroad up to 75% cheaper!

2009-05-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

The biggest Ukrainian phone provider Ukrtelecom propose special prices for international calls up to May,31.

Prices per minute for calls from regular phones to:

Russia, USA, Canada, China, Australia, Israel and regular phones in Europe – 0,15 $USA/1,15 hrn.
SNG countries (former Soviet Union countries, except Russia) - 0,25 $USA/2 hrn.
All another calls - 0,5 $USA/4 hrn.

How to call:

Use special code 8-10-9799
So press 8-10-9799-country code – city/net code – phone number

Special prices aren’t available for some phones. For details call 8-800-506-8-800 (I’m not sure that they speak English so better ask your Ukrainian friends to call)

“The Dirty Days” in Kiev

2009-05-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Every year our government turns off the hot water for two or three weeks in Kiev (as they say, for testing and repairing).

Traditionally we call these “the dirty days”.
These dirty days happen at different times for different regions in Kiev and it’s never the same time each year.
Today is the first “dirty day” this year. It started at Darnitskiy, Svyatoshinskiy, Goloseevskiy and Pecherskiy regions.

Changes for "Slumdog millionaire" movie!

2009-05-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

From May,4 to May,6 you can see "Slumdog millionaire" movie at noon, 4.20 p.m. and 8.40 p.m.
Changes at schedule are possible so if you want to go, please call 287-30-41 (in Kiev) and ask if the are any changes.

From the May,7 watch a new movie in English “Wrestler” at the same cinema! Details soon.

Do you want to save money for tickets?
Special prices are possible! The "Kinopanorama" cinema has very complicated system of prices. I’ll try to explain it to you.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. – 20 hrn., after 6 p.m. – 30 hrn.
Wednesday - 10 hrn. for all sessions.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and all state celebrations - 11 a.m.-6 p.m. – 24 hrn., after 6 p.m. – 40 hrn.
If there is your birthday – show passport with date of birthday and go free! Tickets for your guests - 10 hrn.
If your take 10 friends – you go free and your friends pay only 10 hrn. (great for big company or families).
If you’ve collected 7 tickets for different movies – you’ll get 8th ticket free.
For students and kids – 50% less (they should show school or university documents or ISIC card)
You can use only one of these privileges. Sometimes for some movies they don’t work so ask a cashier.
Have a good time!

"Slumdog Millionaire" in Kiev

2009-04-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Famous movie "Slumdog Millionaire" already in Kiev in "Kinopanorama" cinema! Movie is in English with Ukrainian subtitles.

Official Movie Site:

http://www.slumdogmillionairemovie.co.uk/

Every day up to May,6 at 2.15 p.m., 6.40 p.m.
Tickets -20-40 hrn., on Wednesdays - 10 hrn.

"Kinopanorama" site:
http://www.kinopanorama.com.ua/

Address: Shota Rustaveli st., 19 Metro stations - "Palats Sportu", "Pl.Lva Tolstogo"

Click here to see a map (a blue square number 1 is "Kinopanorama" cinema)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-19T03:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is Easter in Russia and Ukraine today.

If you want to know more about Orthodox Easter, I can recommend you a great blog "Windows to Russia" from Kyle Keeton.

All you ever wanted to know about Easter

Ukrainian newspapers&magazines

2009-04-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Almost all newspapers and magazines in Ukraine are in Ukrainian or Russian. I’ve found a few newspapers&magazines that are in English or have English version. Write me if you know more!

KyivPost – the most popular Ukraine's English-language newspaper that is available for free at many of the hotels and restaurants that attract Westerners.
www.kyivpost.com

The Day Weekly Digest. It’s a very popular Ukrainian newspaper, but only some articles have been translated into English.
www.day.kiev.ua

Zerkalo nedeli (A Mirror of the Week). It’s another very popular Ukrainian newspaper, but probably about 5% of the articles have been translated into English.
www.mw.ua

Two not very popular magazines (I’ve never heard about them before)

The Ukrainian Journal of Business Law (UJBL)

“Ukrainian Journal” magazine

Emergency phone numbers

2009-04-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

There is no the universal emergency phone number in Ukraine. Probably we'll have universal phone number soon and it'll be 112. But for now Ukraine has a different emergency number for each of the different emergency services:

101 - Fire
102 - Police
103 - Medical
104 - Gas leaks

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME!!!

2009-03-28T03:03:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 29, 3 a.m. is time to change your clocks forward one hour! Don't forget!

Ukrainian hospitals

2009-03-23T01:07:00.000-07:00

I visited my friend at a hospital yesterday. She broke a leg. It is a state hospital, where medical treatment must be free of charge. Most of hospitals in Ukraine are the same.

Gates to the hospital yard were open, nobody around except a few big dirty homeless dogs. I entered in a hospital and saw nobody inside! No reception, no guard, no signs. I couldn’t find where to go. An elevator didn’t work. I hardly found a stair and went to the Travmatologii section. The same – nobody was around. Anybody can come in, any thief or terrorist. One of my friends told me that when she was at the hospital a thief came in their chamber, took all cell phones and ran away. Patients couldn’t stop him because they couldn’t walk.

At least I found the chamber of my friend. There were five beds in a room, but only two were busy. There was a washstand in the chamber. Bathroom is outside and it’s one for 60 patients.

My friend told me that during weekends there are no ANY doctors in the section. There is one nurse for 60 patients, many of which can not walk. Also there is the trained nurse and two very young guys, probably medical students. Patients should buy all medications themselves. A meal is very bad, so the relatives bring a meal to her. Doctors usually pay no attention on patients. Sometimes during all day any doctor comes in the chamber. The trained nurses and nurses didn’t come, also. There is no bell in the chamber to call them. If you need a doctor or a nurse – you should ask somebody to invite them or yell loudly, probably somebody will hear you. It’s necessary to give bribes if you want to get help and treatment.

It’s Ukrainian medical service in the capital of country. What’s in the villages and small towns? Terrible.

I have to say that doctors and nurses get probably the lowest payment in Ukraine. A doctor gets approximately 200-250 dollars a month, the trained nurse – 100-120 dollars. Of course they want bribes and don’t pay attention on patients.

A movie in English in Kiev

2009-03-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

I was asked is it possible to watch a movie in English in Kiev. I've found two cinemas that show movies in English.

1. "Zhovten"

Pictures here:

www.zhovten-kino.kiev.ua

Address: Konstantinovskaya st., 26
Metro station - "Kontraktova Pl."
Free parking

Movie: "Vicky Christina Barcelona"

vickycristina-movie.com

When:
17.03 -14.35, 19.35
18.03 - 12.50, 18.00

Tickets -20-35 hrn.

2. "Kiev"

www.kievkino.com.ua

Address: Velyka Vasylkivska (Krasnoarmeyskaya), 19
Metro station - "Pl.Lva Tolstogo"

Movie: "Duchess, the"

www.theduchessmovie.com

When:
18.03 - 17.10, 19.20
19 - 25.03 - 15.00, 19.00

Tickets -25 hrn.

It's possible to watch movie in French and Korean, too. Write if you are interested.

Botanical garden in Kiev

2009-03-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in Botanical garden in Kiev? I’ve been there today. Look at pictures that I’ve taken. It’s so beautiful. Highly recommend you to visit the garden.

Botanical garden
Open: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (but you can enter only before 3.30 p.m.)
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
Tickets: 10 hrn., for kids – 5 hrn.

How to get there:
Trolleybus №14, bus 62, marshrutka 238 from metro “Pecherska”

Buy tickets near the entrance to the garden, keep them, and go straight on through the garden to this building (about 10 minutes):

Show tickets at the entrance again, come in and enjoy!

About blog and me

2009-03-13T02:02:00.000-07:00

Hello!

My name is Irene, I live in Kiev, Ukraine. This is a big country (48 million population) in the centre of Europe. Do you know that the centre of Europe is located in Ukraine? Surprised? Also Ukraine was a part of former USSR and passed through very difficult times.

A lot of foreigners visit Ukraine and some of them live here for years because of their business or ministry. Sometimes they face a lot of problems. Another language, unknown traditions, laws and rules...

This blog will help you to survive, live and have fun in Ukraine. No politics, no long stories, only useful information about everyday life in Ukraine. Comments are welcome! Please write what would you like to know or tell your stories about living in Ukraine.

Let's start! And sorry for my English, I'm Ukrainian :).