I got to Kiev Monday morning and was met at the airport by Hanna, a third year student at the university where the conference will be held. She took me to her house to meet her mother, who was cooking for me. Although the mother does not speak English, she was so friendly and she kept feeding me and offering me all kinds of hot and cold drinks (you do not have to worry about me). We had lunch and then went out to look around. Although the temperature was zero, the weather was nice and refreshing. Streets are full of people walking around even late at night.

I spent the first night in Kiev with Hanna and her mother. Their apartment is so beautiful and my room was gorgeous.

On Tuesday, we took a city tour and in the evening we took the train to Vinnytsia where the conference will be held. Her father's driver picked us up at the airport and drove me to the supermarket and hotel. Hanna has been my tour guide and she has been interpreting for me and driving me around.  People do not speak English at all and everything is in Cyrillic. The conference starts tomorrow. It was snowing this morning and everything is white. I am fine and enjoying myself.  Sunrise is at 7:45 and sunset is at 4:30. At 7 p.m. you feel as if it were midnight.  Everything is very cheap here. At the hotel, a cup of coffee is for 50 halalas. If you need some snow, please let me know.  

Jan 22, 2003