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1.You will need a Ukrainian visa which entails filling out a visa application form (Which we have) and then returning it to us, plus two passport photographs and your passport. This has to be completed at least one month prior to departure date as the Ukrainian Embassy are a little slow in processing the application forms. |
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2. We do have people who travel with us who, once we are in the Ukraine, decide to tell us that they are vegetarian. We do not stay in hotels, but with host families and these very kindly people enjoy looking after us. There are no supermarkets as such and 90% of the food they prepare is either ‘home grown’ or purchased at the local markets. They do not have the luxury of being able to visit health food shops to buy vegetarian items. You will not meet any vegetarians in the Ukraine at all, so this is something you should seriously consider if you are vegetarian. Because of the poverty level, these people are glad of any foodstuffs available and when, as in the past, we have a vegetarian/vegan with us who decides, “I can’t eat this and can’t eat that,” these kindly people consider it an insult to them. So, if you are a vegetarian, please remember this. |
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3. We like to take those who visit the Ukraine for the first time, to our orphanages and the children do love to receive visitors. Interaction with them is very important and as I say to all those who travel with us, “You will only get out of your visit, that which you are prepared to put in.” So it’s important to speak with them and show them that you care for them. We do have interpreters who travel around with us, but if you really care about children you will find that no interpreter is required as love has its own language. |
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4. The children love being photographed, so taking along your camera is no problem whatsoever. |
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5. As well as the airfare (Usually about £200) but dearer during holiday times. You will need to take money with you, but not a lot. We change English money into Grivna when we arrive in Chernigov and I would suggest that if you stay one week with your host family, 200 Gr (Approx £18) would be a nice gift to leave them. Please do not try to hand money to them as they will refuse. Leave it under a plate or something on the sideboard when you leave. |
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6. When we travel to our orphanages, some of which are a two hour drive away, we use a private taxi. The cost of a taxi for the entire day is usually 150/200 Gr (£18/£19) so we all chip in for this. |
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7. If you come with us for one week, I would suggest bring £100 in spending money. £200 for two weeks and so on. If you remember that £5 here in England is worth something like £25 in the Ukraine, you will get some idea of the cost of living there. (A pensioner receives £1.25p per week!!) |
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8. The Weather. During October – April the weather is very cold indeed with the temperature dropping to -35C at times. During the summer months, May – September, the temperature can rise to +35C, so quite a swing. |
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9. Radiation. Because of the nuclear accident of 1986, thousands have died due to radiation sickness and other illnesses related to Chernobyl. In the Chernigov region where we will be, radiation is still prevalent and will continue to be so for some 4000 years? The air is contaminated. The food is contaminated. The water is contaminated. For those of us who stay for a couple of weeks, the radiation levels are not too bad, about the same as five wrist x-rays each day. When you live there for 365 days a year, these levels build up alarmingly. So what I’m saying is that for us, the radiation is no problem. |
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