Everyone must thinks I'm taking this whole adventure rather lightly, I'm not, it's how I process and deal with things, we all do it in our own ways.
Also, Aimee is telling me she does not agree with some of this (I'm shocked!), especially about the fashion and gifts ideas. Gender differences-I'll add a "*" next to her input.
That said, I thought it may help to actually shed some light on travel needs and ideas:
1. Bring very little, especially for women unless you're willing to bring all your "night club" outfits. The women here, in large part, dress for relational success. Also bring easy to wash items and mostly black-seriously. No open-toe shoes-bring more like "Urban-Hiking" shoes. *Aimee didn't like this-Oh, really? I never said to dress like a "slob" (did I say that-NO, I didn't), I said to be practical and that you won't stand out unless you dress like you're "clubbing".
2. Bring a Wi-Fi laptop-do not rely on finding an Internet Cafe with available computers. Maybe bring two laptops: "his" and "hers"!! Amazing the differences in perception.
3. Try to find an apartment with an Internet connection that can be set-up upon arrival, so much better than carrying your laptop around.
4. Bring small, disposable everything! Sugars in packets, creamers in packets, condiments, a small spoon and maybe even a super-small dust pan and little broom.
5. If you are able, bring a inexpensive digital camera with a memory card, the kids who are leaving probably like this more than anything else.
6. I wouldn't bring any gifts at all for anyone, you'll be asked to purchase things like boxes of paper, office products, etc...or simply bring cash-they love cash and $5.00USD can go a long way. *Aimee didn't like this, either-Oh, really? Yes, Anya liked giving what we brought, but it made us bring a 5olb. bag of luggage-stuff that could have been replaced and/or bought here at 1/2 the price. But what do I know, I only had to carry it all over the place.
7. Bring a phone that can be unlocked and inserted with a Ukrainian "sim card", either your own or a cheap one that can be used temporarily, otherwise you end up buying one here-a phone is a "must-have", at least it for us. If you have a BlackBerry (I do) it is wonderful over here, but make sure it is set up with "International E-mail". For about $19.99 for one month it is incredibly useful and allows for timely attention to important matters at home and in Ukraine.
8. Bring a small utility tool. Guys, you probably know why, just do it.
9. Do Not bring shorts. It has been at least 70degrees here for a week, very warm and I literally have not seen one person in shorts, no one! *Aimee, the ever present editorial dictator, has told me that this is strictly seasonal, NO sh__!
10. Bring "Febreze" and pocket "Kleenex"-actually, anything that can be put into a small applicator ("Tide", "Neosporin", hand sanitizer...) and even small boxes or packages of laundry detergent.
11. Bring several International plug-in adapters.
12. Rechargeable batteries.
I don't know how useful this is, it is just a few things that have surfaced that we thought to bring and are really glad we did. I'll add more later as things come up.
Off to Extreme (ly) "Boring" Park with three girls and the Fields. I wonder how many mood swings I'll survive today?
Friday, October 3, 2008
Useful stuff
Everyone must thinks I'm taking this whole adventure rather lightly, I'm not, it's how I process and deal with things, we all do it in our own ways.
Also, Aimee is telling me she does not agree with some of this (I'm shocked!), especially about the fashion and gifts ideas. Gender differences-I'll add a "*" next to her input.
That said, I thought it may help to actually shed some light on travel needs and ideas:
1. Bring very little, especially for women unless you're willing to bring all your "night club" outfits. The women here, in large part, dress for relational success. Also bring easy to wash items and mostly black-seriously. No open-toe shoes-bring more like "Urban-Hiking" shoes. *Aimee didn't like this-Oh, really? I never said to dress like a "slob" (did I say that-NO, I didn't), I said to be practical and that you won't stand out unless you dress like you're "clubbing".
2. Bring a Wi-Fi laptop-do not rely on finding an Internet Cafe with available computers. Maybe bring two laptops: "his" and "hers"!! Amazing the differences in perception.
3. Try to find an apartment with an Internet connection that can be set-up upon arrival, so much better than carrying your laptop around.
4. Bring small, disposable everything! Sugars in packets, creamers in packets, condiments, a small spoon and maybe even a super-small dust pan and little broom.
5. If you are able, bring a inexpensive digital camera with a memory card, the kids who are leaving probably like this more than anything else.
6. I wouldn't bring any gifts at all for anyone, you'll be asked to purchase things like boxes of paper, office products, etc...or simply bring cash-they love cash and $5.00USD can go a long way. *Aimee didn't like this, either-Oh, really? Yes, Anya liked giving what we brought, but it made us bring a 5olb. bag of luggage-stuff that could have been replaced and/or bought here at 1/2 the price. But what do I know, I only had to carry it all over the place.
7. Bring a phone that can be unlocked and inserted with a Ukrainian "sim card", either your own or a cheap one that can be used temporarily, otherwise you end up buying one here-a phone is a "must-have", at least it for us. If you have a BlackBerry (I do) it is wonderful over here, but make sure it is set up with "International E-mail". For about $19.99 for one month it is incredibly useful and allows for timely attention to important matters at home and in Ukraine.
8. Bring a small utility tool. Guys, you probably know why, just do it.
9. Do Not bring shorts. It has been at least 70degrees here for a week, very warm and I literally have not seen one person in shorts, no one! *Aimee, the ever present editorial dictator, has told me that this is strictly seasonal, NO sh__!
10. Bring "Febreze" and pocket "Kleenex"-actually, anything that can be put into a small applicator ("Tide", "Neosporin", hand sanitizer...) and even small boxes or packages of laundry detergent.
11. Bring several International plug-in adapters.
12. Rechargeable batteries.
I don't know how useful this is, it is just a few things that have surfaced that we thought to bring and are really glad we did. I'll add more later as things come up.
Off to Extreme (ly) "Boring" Park with three girls and the Fields. I wonder how many mood swings I'll survive today?
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2 comments:
Your suggestions are very practical. They should help someone. Though we weren't asked to buy anything for our daughter's orphanage. We would gladly have bought some things. We did end up buying shoes to donate from the local market.
As far as the phone, you are very right. We bought a used unlocked tri-band Blackberry off Ebay for $40. Once in Ukraine, we bought a Kievstar SIM for $5USD and had a local number. We even called the US with our phone. Our friends, there right now, are using our phone.
If you watch, you can find phones for even less on Ebay. There are Motorola phones that are tri-band and quad-band. I wouldn't buy a SIM over the internet before you go, though. I've priced them and they are much more expensive than buying one in Ukraine.
Best wishes on finishing up your adoption quickly:)
PS - I forgot to say, you could buy a SIM and put it in your unlocked Blackberry and have a local Ukraine number. You wouldn't have internet. It may be too late in your trip to do that, now though.
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