Need Help in Packing for the Ukraine

Eric So you are finally leaving, good luck!!! We're still way behind you, but I have started buying gifts to get at least one thing out of the way. I have no idea who the gifts will go to, so I tend to get generic gifts. Also, I got more gifts suitable for women than men as typically it's women that are involved in the paperwork process. I have been knitting scarves using that fashion yarn for all of the ladies in the orphanage, I have also knitted scarves, gloves and hats for the kids. I have a silk scarf that will probably go to the NAC director, several pairs of gloves (both men's and womens), winter hats, wallets, small household linens and some pen and pencil sets from St Louis zoo in case we run across anyone with kids. The only other thing I have bought is one of those unbreakable coffee makers that you can add the coffee and hot water to and then push down the filter (we're both awful without coffee in the morning). It should be pretty warm there, so you won't need heavy clothes. We never wore shorts in Ukraine (they will label you as Americans straight away!!), but we went in September (still nice weather). My husband took a suit for court-completely unnecessary and took up a huge amount of room. We have two duffel-type bags we took with us that are great, they have a zippered bottom section and a separate top section. They are on wheels, but there's also a back pack type conversion with them, we never used it though. They were great because I packed all the stuff I knew I would not need until later in the bottom compartments, then I never needed to open them. I put the gifts and baby clothes in there. We did not take any electrical appliances, I grew out my hair so I could tie it back (we did not have water all the time in our apartment). I never used a hair dryer, but did wash my hair more than I thought I would be able to. We never took a computer or DVD player in 2001, but I would STRONGLY recommend it, you'll have many days hanging around with nothing to do. I have bought some travel games for us to occupy ourselves with if we get stuck somewhere waiting around for a long time. I have seen suggestions for clothes etc. I would not buy new ones, borrow from someone you know or buy over there. Take paper and pencil to draw around your child's feet so you can buy shoes that fit. When you are in Kiev, you can get pretty much everything fairly easily. I would take travel sizes of all toiletries and then by more as and when you need them. Look on the FRUA travel section or something like it to see what other people suggest. We did this with no help before and I don't remember us having forgotten anything that we really needed or could not get. I had forgotten you were leaving so soon, good luck on your trip and keep us posted on your journey if you can. If you want to call me, I can pm you my phone number Jane

Jane, The French press makes good coffee, but a little strong for me. The best thing I took my last trip was one of those Melita coffee things that sits on top of an open carafe. You put a filter and coffee in it and then pour in boiling water...drip coffee just like at home! I was in love and it was plastic so it didn't break.

OH...take a ziploc of Folgers with you, or whatever your favorite brand is. I found it really comforting to have my favorite coffee in the mornings and evenings. I brought Folgers dark blend and Bigelow Constant Comment tea.

Jane, Thanks for your helpful information. Can I ask you some more questions? I'm just wondering what is the best way to travel with money. Should I have money converted over, should I get travelers checks - I'm just curious what I should do about making local purchases - do most stores take american credit cards? Thanks again for your time. -Eric

EricI sent you a pmJane

Eric, Ukraine is a cash economy, very few places will accept credit cards and credit card/ATM fraud is rampant so just don't use them except maybe for your child's return flight. Get waist money pouch, snack-size ziplocks, and index cards. Put the money, mostly nice $100 bills in the ziplocks with 1/2 an index card stating how much is in that bag. I divided mine into $2,000/ziplock. Then put them all in the waist money pouch. You will be surprised how small it is. Somewhere I have a document I wrote on how to pack for Ukraine in 2 rolling carryon bags. I will see if I can find it and post it here for you.

Eric I was just thinking about you this morning and wante dto say "Good Luck" next week. Jane

Have a wonderful trip and keep us posted.