PRACTICAL INFO
Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Academic Mobility Office
Here we have collected the most useful advice and facts from Ukrainian everyday life.
COMMUNICATION WITH LOCALS
Unfortunately, not many people in Ukraine speak English fluently: old people mostly do not speak English at all, so, it is better to address to the younger generation. The best option is to learn Ukrainian or Russian language, at least on the basic level. First of all, learn the Cyrillic script - this skill is crucial in Ukraine.
WEATHER
Kyiv has a moderate continental climate, the hottest month is July (+25...+35°C), the coldest month is January (-5...-20°C). You should better take warm clothes. During April-May, Kyiv is blossoming - the flowers of the city's symbol, chestnut, overflow Kyiv's streets. There are a lot of rains during autumn; in winter Kyiv becomes covered with snow, sometimes snowdrifts are quite high. Be careful, roads in winter are usually very slippy.
RELIGION
Ukraine is mostly an Orthodox country, Kyiv is the saint city in Orthodoxy. There are also Catholic churches, mosques, synagogue, Buddhist communes, many Protestant temples. Visiting Orthodox church, remember, you could not enter the church with your legs nude; men should take off their hats, and women should cover their hair with a shawl.
EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE DORMITORY
Living in the dormitory you should follow the regime, enter by the Pass from 06:00 to 01:00. At nighttime, you can enter for important reasons. You can invite friends to the dormitory, but they all should register at the reception and they can be inside from 08:00 until 22:00. You can not have the pet in the dormitory, break the silence from 22:00 to 08:00. Each room is equipped with beds, kitchen, oven and wardrobes, all dishes and appliances you should buy additionally. If the room has a fridge, you should pay additionally for that, if not, you can rent a fridge in several services in the district. If you need to wash or iron your clothes or bedsheets, you can go to the nearest laundry. Two places where you can find laundromats on the territory of the campus of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute are 8th and 20th Dormitories. The bedsheets are collected by the matron every 2 weeks to wash.
LIFEHACKS
The national currency - hryvnia is divided into 100 kopiykas; there are coins of 10, 25 and 50 kopiykas, 1, 2, 5, 10 hryvnias, and notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 hryvnias. Sellers and drivers can refuse to take 500-hryvnias note, having no change. The culture of rubbish sorting is still very rare in Ukraine, usually, there is just one bin for all.
WHAT IS FORBIDDEN
Being in Ukraine, follow the internal laws:
it is illegal to make, possess, use or sell any drugs, including cannabis;
the legal age for drinking and buying alcohol (including beer) is 18, and it is forbidden to drink alcohol and smoke in public places;
the ideologies of nazism and communism are illegal - you can not use any symbolics of those ideologies.
WHAT IS BETTER NOT TO DO
Do not take part in any manifestations and do not resist police. Due to difficult relations with Russia, it is recommended not to use Russian symbolics, including orange and black "Georgian ribbon". Do not visit Chernobyl: tours there are regular, but they can be dangerous, because of the radiation, and poor condition of buildings in Pripyat city. It is not recommended to drink tap water in Kyiv. Always guard your bags in crowded places. Do not eat the street fast food from kiosks, especially on the railway or bus station – you can get food poisoning. Be careful crossing the street. It is dangerous to jaywalk, especially across wide streets. Despite the low criminal level in Kyiv, it is better not to walk around the dark places after 21:00, especially in far districts.