Settling In

When I moved to Prague in 1993, the reaction of most of my family and friends was fairly suspicious and apprehensive. When I told many of my Czech friends in 2008 that I was moving to Kiev, they had a similar response.

Why are you going there? It's practically the USSR, full of criminals, mafia, thugs, corrupt businessmen.

The fact of the matter is though, Kiev has a certain magic about it that Prague did all those years ago. A sense of something big brewing under the surface, something wonderful about to happen.

Sure, Kiev is a mess. The buildings – though beautiful – are falling apart, the roads are ridden down, the drivers psychotic, there is evident poverty across the board, the wealth of the chosen few is excessive, a class difference similar to that which I saw in South Africa last year.

But it's got that je ne sais quoi that tells you; despite all the mess, this city has what it takes to make it.

I arrived here on Saturday morning, got picked up from the airport by a mute driver of a big Mercedes, who silently chauffeured me to my new place of residence. A ludicrously over-the-top executive apartments complex in a run-down area just off the city centre, near the state circus. It's a nice district though, perhaps a bit like Karlin in Prague, or Stoke Newington in London, where I grew up.

After I arrived, I was picked up by my MD and taken out to a long awaited lunch. The food on the plane was borderline inedible, so it was a welcome introduction to real Kiev cuisine. We chatted about the future and realities of the job, and after a couple of beers in the sun, I went back home and slept for 12 hours straight. It was a relief after all the build up to the move and endlessly saying goodbye to relax with a clean slate in front of me.

On Sunday I ventured on a nice long walk into the centre along Shevchenko Blvd. to a sports bar to watch the footy. On the way I stopped at one of Kiev's many bustling churches to have a look inside. I have never lived in a country where anyone cared about religion, and to be honest, I never really cared either. But the church was packed, people crossing themselves on the way in and out. It's nice to see that some people actually believe in something, however superfluous and superstitious it may seem.

After the footy I walked back and saw a guy begging whilst swigging a beer and noted his gall. I was impressed and gave the guy 50 Hryvnia (about 10 USD) for being a cheeky bugger. After all, being cheeky is what success in the modern world is all about innit?

Then this morning I got picked up and taken to work, where was thrust into what I can only describe as baptism by fire. These guys are seriously busy. I drew 7 press ads and wrote three scripts and didn't finish work until 9pm this evening.

Sitting in my flat now, I am trying to come to terms with life in a new country, a new city. But the people I work with seem cool, everybody's really friendly, and they are all doing their utmost to make me feel at home. I am a very lucky man and despite missing my family and friends deeply, I couldn't have hoped for a nicer start.

I have taken lots of photos which I'll be editing and posting up in the next few days.

Lots and lots of love to you all x

w