After a minor flight delay, Biana and I took off from JFK for our 10 hour flight to Kiev.  Hard to recall most of the flight but I got the whole plot of Leap Year without listening to a word and fell asleep trying to watch Crazy Heart.

We landed this morning.  Funny thing, when we were on the plane we were wondering about how we would find our driver.  I said, "Oh, there's probably a sign that says 'Jewish Peoplehood'."  What do you know, a Ukranian man with a sign that says "Jewish Peoplehood" was waiting for us.  "Sochnut?"  That's it. Good thing we've had an Israel Fellow at Baruch for the past few years so I knew what Sochnut meant, despite my limited Hebrew.  Sochnut means Jewish Agency for Israel, FYI.

Borispol International Airport

Welcome to Kyiv!

We got settled in the hotel pictured below (what a view!)...

Then I took Biana's lead for lunch choices.  It didn't take much effort to pass up StarDogs (at least that's what it supposedly is translated to mean).

This looked like a nice place to sit and enjoy the flowers and the shedding cottonwood trees.

Borscht was recommended but my eyes were certainly bigger than my stomach as I ended up with herring, potatoes, and pickled veggies.

It's funny, no matter where I am, no matter what cuisine, I can't pass up the pickled vegetable plate.

I recognized Yonatan Ariel and a few others who came into the same restaurant after our lunch so we sat with them and chatted.  Thank fully Biana helped us with the menu ordering!  :)

We are now off to have dinner with Baruch alumni and current JDC Jewish Service Corps Volunteer, Yelena Azriyel!!!

Here are my plans for later tonight, catching up with the rest of the world.  :)

MV

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