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New )) With a few Questions...

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dvriptx
  4/23/2017 19:47 EST

Hello, my name is Aaron. I am planning on moving to Ukraine later (Sep/Oct ish) this year (2017) from the US.

I did not want to live in Kiev, as most capitol cities have all drama, I was looking at maybe Dnipro or another southern city. Any input would be appreciated.

Secondly, anything you would do differently if you were moving there a second time?
I look forward to hearing from any and all, thank you.

LinguadoorLanguageSchool
  4/24/2017 04:39 EST

Hi,Aaron,you are right not to be going to Kiev and I would not recommend you go to Dnipro either since the military acrions are pretty close to this city,in addition the economy of this city is not that great now and it is felt on many levels.But being myself from Odessa I would really advice you taking it into consideration.The weather,the economy,a lot of tourists and high demand for English,the seaport and the beaches,rich cultural life

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smmoravec
  4/24/2017 22:14 EST

I have lived for short periods of time in Kiev, Kharkov, and Odessa. I have visited many other cities such as Lviv, Dnepro, Vinnistyia, and Nicolaev. Lviv was absolutely beautiful. But I always seem to end up in Odessa. Love the city and the people. Kiev is dirty and a typical large city. Odessa is more of a tourist town, cleaner, always events going on.

dvriptx
  4/24/2017 22:28 EST

The only problem I can see with Odessa is, it IS a tourist destination and probably a major point of entry for all countries South. Prime target for a T attack in my opinion.
My income while not great is a liveable pension, is not a concern for the forseable future. I lived in Russia for a few months last year, the problem there was I lived with a drunk, something I found out AFTER I moved in with her. Also, the residency and visa requirments are much more than Ukraine, from what I have read anyway. I will see what else I can find out about Odessa since it has been mentioned twice right off the bat, but it still stands out as a big target in my mind. Thanks for your input )))

NA67
  4/24/2017 22:48 EST

Odessa #1 city in Ukraine, Lviv #2 city in Ukraine, Kiev, visit their one time that will be enough. Other cities have something of interest....but if your going to live in Ukraine for a long period of time, Odessa is the best, especially if you speak English. It's an International city. Great shopping, many places to get great food. Many locals at businesses speak English. Many beautiful ladies live in Odessa. I have friends and family in Odessa, I always enjoy my time their a lot !!!

dvriptx
  4/24/2017 22:50 EST

3 votes for, 0 against I guess I see a patern developing )))

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hyde53
  4/24/2017 23:48 EST

Is it realistic to live in Odessa on $1800.00 per month.

smmoravec
  4/24/2017 23:57 EST

For $1800 you will live like a king. Even if you get overpriced apartments off airbnb, you're paying $600- $800 a month. But if you can speak Russian or have friends that do, you can find something good cheaper.

dvriptx
  4/25/2017 00:05 EST

My next question is, how hard is it to get residency or citizenship there? I know things have changed some over the past few years. It is hopefully easier than Russia. I have income and can prove it. No restrictions or diseases. I just want to move there, find a decent place to live, a good woman and enjoy the rest of my life. Nothing complicated.

sir2you
  4/25/2017 00:08 EST

When I came here five years ago, the exchange rate was 6 hgr to the dollar. It is now 28. I live in Mogliv-Podilskyi, on the Moldova border. I have two room flat on second story, overlooking what could best be called a park. I pay $40 a MONTH for rent, and about $80 more a month for heating during the cold part of year.
Others in my building have already turned off that scam and are heating with electrical only.
Odessa is a LOT more for rent, but three times pennies is still pennies. Fresh ground coffee is about 40 cents, and so is tap beer. Bottled is under a buck. Food is non gmo, and very healthy. I buy raw fresh milk in the mornings for 20 hgr, 2 liter bottle. Can't get that in the US, only dead milk.
Medical and dental is much cheaper, but they will inevitably try to scam you because you are a rich American and it is OK. People here still have a USSR mentality and it is definitely not post-christian. They lie and steal, and scam, every chance they get. Don't trust them even as far as you can throw them. I was falsely accused of assault, and had to pay police 1000 hgr to avoid jail. But it works both ways. If injustice is done, you can buy justice.

sir2you
  4/25/2017 00:33 EST

By the way, I am on SoSec Disability for a mere 930. a month. Can't afford to live in America. Here, I can save half that.

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sir2you
  4/25/2017 00:52 EST

I've been those places and more. Lviv very good, so is Ivan-Frankivsk.
I chose Mogliv-Podilskyi because it is small, and has five colleges. Average lifespan in Ukraine is 50, most are heavy smokers and heavy drinkers. They will always offer you 'just one' or 'chu-chut' but that is just the first of many more they pour.
Vinnytsia is great, and two hours away by bus. Moldova is across the river. There is a train station here, and an airport that is no longer used. Most here use buses, very cheap. Rail is pretty good, just don't drink the water! Even for coffee.
Close to city, but here is much cheaper and everyone knows the American by name. Walking down the street, people I don't recognize always greet me by name.
Hang out at a cafe a couple days, and ask about rentals. I speak a little Russian and a little Ukrainian now, but have never had problem, as many speak some English. They often want me to teach English, but they don't want to pay, or can't. I would not recommend hanging out at the cafe after dark. Unless you want to drink vodka or absinthe and fight. Or just fight. It is also good place to find used furniture, or just plain help or info.

dvriptx
  4/25/2017 01:11 EST

What are the citizenship requirements in Ukraine? How complicated or how much time is usually involved in the process?

NA67
  4/25/2017 07:45 EST

I do know that Ukraine does not offer dual citizenship. If my wife wants American citizenship, she must give up her Ukraine citizenship also. Russia allows for dual citizenship. Kiev should change this rule and allow dual citizenship with other countries. especially after taking so much money from the EU and USA. You will learn Ukraine is and always will act like Ukraine....they do things their way.........

hyde53
  4/25/2017 09:33 EST

Is there a group of English speaking folks that meet anywhere in Odessa. I would like to call and talk to someone in the Odessa area. Please let me know. Thank you all for any info.

dvriptx
  4/25/2017 09:52 EST

I know the best way to find all this out is in person, in Ukraine, I'm just trying to plan a little ahead. I will keep reading and get an idea of things then just deal with it when I get there.

What about cell phones? In Russia you had to have a Russian citizenship papers to be able to get a cell phone there, how is it in Ukraine?

smmoravec
  4/25/2017 11:15 EST

Cell phone SIMs are a dime a dozen and service is very cheap. There are two main carriers, most women have one SIM on each carrier. I have a Kyivstar SIM and use my TMobile in a dual SIM unlocked cell phone. I get free texting in Europe and the service (since it's TMobile is German owned) is excellent not only in Ukraine but everywhere I have been in Europe. Data is affordable and I can keep my U.S. number so my family can reach out to me without having to have 50 different cell numbers.

Russophile
  4/25/2017 12:45 EST

You didn't say WHY you thought going to Ukraine was a good idea. If you have been mislead by the many myths and legends surrounding this country you will be sorely disappointed. That being said, Lviv is the most beautiful and historically significant city. Odessa is the most vibrant and cosmopolitan city with people from over 160 different countries living there. It is also the only city besides Kiev that has an international airport.
If you don't have some good friends already lined up waiting to help you, you will just become another victim of the many scammers hoping to make a buck off your gullibility.
If you go to Odessa, the first thing you should do is become a regular attender of the many English clubs there. You will find many good and honest people to help you and they all speak very good English.

Russophile
  4/25/2017 12:54 EST

Look up "Odessa English Speaking Club" on Facebook

sir2you
  4/25/2017 12:55 EST

With legal resident status, it is just like being citizen, only you can't vote, as far as I am concerned. When I marry here, that is what I intend.

sir2you
  4/25/2017 12:58 EST

That sounds a little like being afraid of flying. Much safer than driving. Of all the people in Odessa, a terrorist attack affects how many? Just avoid Maiden Square type places and you will be just fine.

sir2you
  4/25/2017 12:58 EST

That sounds a little like being afraid of flying. Much safer than driving. Of all the people in Odessa, a terrorist attack affects how many? Just avoid Maiden Square type places and you will be just fine.

dvriptx
  4/25/2017 15:27 EST

Thank you for all the information. You all have answered a lot of questions for me.

As far as that goes, lets just say I have a lot of experience in countries where they dislike certain ethnic and religous types and leave it at that....

I am not inexperienced at traveling the world, just inexperienced in Ukraine )) I have made some local contacts so I won't be going in blind, but I am still trying to gather as much info as I can before go.

Ukraine vs other countries - the ecomomy, citizenship, and people all sound, from what I have read and people I have talked to, like the best place for me to retire to. In the States I can just barely get by on my pension, there I can actually live. Plus, I get to explore historical sites many here will never get to see in person.

Russophile
  4/27/2017 10:05 EST

When I started vacationing regularly in Odessa in 2010, the exchange rate was 8.25:1. Odessa was NOT an inexpensive city to live in. Today the rate on the street is 26.05:1. The point is that the series of circumstances that led Ukraine to be an Expat Nirvana now is an economic aberration. If the UKR government gets its act together and adopts EU standards, the cost of living here will go soaring, just like in other EU countries.
My total expenses for the month of April will top out at just about $1000, and that includes $350 for a week in the Carpathian mountains for two (transportation, food, lodging, excursions, restaurant dinners, souvenirs, etc.) I don't expect that golden egg to last forever, but I will enjoy it while I can. If you want to sink your economic roots deep, hoping for a permanently low cost of living, then go to a country that is permanently poor like the Philippines or Thailand. Ukraine will either join the EU, or be absorbed eventually by Russia. Either way, the Expat bubble here is going to burst someday.

NA67
  4/27/2017 10:42 EST

I pretty much agree with Russo's last comment. Ukraine is in an unknown direction today. Joining the EU, unknown. Back with Russia, unknown, Splitting apart like Yugoslovia is another possibility, and honestly, most likely the best option with what all has transpired over the last 3 years. Far to much hate and anger between East and West Ukraine today.

Another thing that is effecting mostly the locals is the cost of food, coal, wood, gas and electrical due to taxes being collected in order to pay back EU/IMF money that has been borrowed.

sir2you
  4/28/2017 11:24 EST

I have bought cell phones with no ID, no problem until the Moslems flood the area. Then you want to try to stop the bombs detonation with cheap cell phones!

sir2you
  4/28/2017 11:30 EST

You may think the dollar exchange rate is because of Ukraine, but I don't believe so. It is because we had 70 TRILLION plus evaporate into the thin air it was created from, during the housing crisis. Massive deflation in spite of the idiots buying gold. Yes, a few things rise in cost, the ones the govt idiots are messing with, including food. Read Harry Dent.

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