Internet service

Office work keeps me busy. Still making very long hours. But have few things to share.
I moved to my place last Monday. I needed internet connection. The internet guy was first scheduled for Wednesday, but that did not work out. He came on Thursday afternoon. I expected "geek" stereotype – but the guy who came was far from it. He is young and his English excellent. He came in a suit. He expected to fix the connection within 15 minutes but he stayed longer - about two hours. While he was fixing wires we did some small talk. He asked where I work. My answer was “I have very boring job in the office”. I did offer a coffee. After about more than an hour trying to fix the connection he took his jacket off. And I saw he has a gun.
He noticed my jaw dropped and started to explain that he has two jobs as the one with making internet connections does not bring much money (USD 500 monthly). The other job involves carrying a lot of money and walking along criminal streets and he needs a gun as a protection.
I regretted I gave him a coffee. What if it makes him jumpy? I was also happy I have not told him where I work. In an attempt to give some credibility to what he said or perhaps to calm me down he gave me his business card. It said he works for some Swiss foundation connected to the police. I politely took the card.
He did not succeed to make a connection on Thursday. We agreed he'll come again on Friday. I canceled the appointment. I want a stereotyped geek with glasses thick as ashtrays and without a gun in his pocket.
I shared this story with the guys in the office. Showed them a business card. The guys laughed and told me it is not a problem to copy official cards here.
Armed internet service aside there is one thing I noticed watching Russian TV (I do not have a cable yet). There is amazing amount of military/war films and programs on Russian channels. The amount of Russian militarism on the TV is frightening. All Russian channels have old Soviet army movies (WWII, spy movies, cold war movies, Afganistan, etc) or contemporary antiterrorist (anti Chechen) movies. Daily news program covers government officials visits to arms factories. Guys in uniforms play “Wheel of fortune” or similar programs. That’s not Russia I know.
It could be that the last week was just a foreplay for today’s big holiday. Today – on Saturday - it is the Day of Soviet Army or what in Russia they call “Day of Defenders of the Nation”.
In the office we also celebrated the Day of Soviet Army. One guy brought his army hat. I wonder if this celebration is only a melancholy for old days. But why would anybody be nostalgic about old Soviet cold war days? Here are few photos of the Soviet Army Day Celebration in the office.



One evening coming home this week I got lost at the metro station and asked a young girl for directions. I asked in Russian but she spoke English. Her name was Anya and as she was going in the same direction we started to talk. Anya works as a dealer in casino and gets USD 600 per month. She deals black jack, poker, and whatever other card game they play in casino. She counts cards the whole day. She also told me there are about 80 casinos in Kiev. Never thought of Kiev as some kind of Las Vegas.
I will finish with a note about a bank account. I am now three weeks here and although ING expands in retail banking I am unable after three weeks to open an account with ING or any other bank. Therefore next week I’ll be paid in cash. There are about 7 people working on the issue of my bank account opening but they could not find a solution yet.

First week

I am slowly settling in. As expected the first week was hectic. Took some time to get work email functioning. Something went wrong with my account. Apparently – on Korean side. I would be surprised if the email transition was smooth. I spent days in meeting, interviews , etc. In general I just tried to get some sense of what is going on. I am still amazed how polite and warmhearted people in the office are.

Due to retail expansion there is not much available space and temporarily I share the office with two young guys - Stanislav and Vyecheslav. They take care there is enough chocolate, soft drinks, sandwiches and cakes in the office. With them I cannot loose weight…They are also fun and we share jokes and tease each other. After Seoul my jokes are a bit rusty but I am catching up. During the last week I laughed more than in 3 years in Seoul. They are telling me fun office stories. I am updated on the office gossip and getting filled on different personalities fast…
I also looked at apartments. Moscow's experience came very handy. I did not flinch looking at overdesigned bedrooms with glass ceilings, bright yellow kitchen, huge flowers painted on the walls, strange light fixtures, winter gardens, BBQs, etc…I saw about 12 apartments and on Wednesday found one I liked. I wanted that the COO from the bank checks the place too and we made appointment for Friday at 1 pm. The flat has a great location (in the Center between two subway lines). It’s not overdesigned and has two guestrooms (if I recall correctly). It came with a garage parking. Friday morning I spent in meetings and when I returned to the desk and checked the mobile I had 7 calls from Katja – my broker. She was frantically calling me as some Russians from Switzerland also liked the place and were ready to pay cash for one year immediately - the same afternoon. First I thought “bullshit” but Katja convinced me that she trusts the owner and that the story is possible. So Kees and I went to see the place. Kees liked it to. The owner was there and told us that the Russians want to move to the flat at 16.00 pm. But as he does not like Russians and prefers lease longer than one year if I commit by 15.00 the flat is mine. So it was Gordie vs. rich Russians with their cash from Switzerland. Plus I had to clear the price with the HO. I did not believe it would be possible to get the HO’s response by 15.00 hours but miracle do happen occasionaly and on Friday at 15.00 hours the landlord agreed to rent the place to me. Ukrainians really do not like Russians - even the cash rich ones or especially these. The contract negotiation starts tomorrow but as long as the contract is not signed one never knows what might happen in meantime. Perhaps Russians will appaer again...
Over weekend I worked few hours at home. Saturday afternoon I spent with Kees and Catherina who are in Kiev four years. We went to Bessarbaski covered market. The building is from 1901. Fantastic art deco but I was mostly amazed by amount of veggies and fruits. Did not see such abundance for long time. More photos of Kiev and market are on http://picasaweb.google.nl/gordie26/Kiev_Feb_08
Saturday and Sunday evening I went to the opera. Norma on Saturday and La Traviata on Sunday. Norma was excellent.