I’m a native New Yorker who has been traveling to Ukraine from time to time since 1989. You should go. Here’s what to do to make the most of your trip.
Ukraine: a guide
- Read.
Plan your trip (Guide book Bradt Guide: Ukraine)
Get the background. ‘The Gates of Europe’ (from Herodotus to today)
‘The Last Empire’ (the last six months of Soviet Union. Reads like a spy novel about Gorby, Bush 1, Yeltsin, and Kravchuk)
2) Follow.
To get a good perspective on recent events, just read:
Anything by Timothy Snyder and Anne Applebaum in current press
Watch: 10 Questions about Ukraine in 10 minutes
Every Sunday, watch an English-language show by public television in Ukraine at: en.hromadske.tv
3) Listen. (playlist to come)
An evolving playlist of songs that appear on Spotify (and I *think* are posted with the appropriate rights of the artist)
Some of my favorite artists from Ukraine are working out the rights management issues so you need to hop around platforms to find the legitimate posts.
You can hear Taras Chubai on Reverbnation. I met him during my first trip to Ukraine and I’ve been a longtime fan of his work.
4) Go.
Explore. Meet people. Eat well. And share what you experience. Ukraine is a multilingual country. You’ll be okay with English, but pick up some Ukrainian before you go by using the Duolingo app. It’s easy. It’s fun. And even my kids are using it. With some basic Ukrainian language skills, you will get an even richer experience than on English alone. (Bonus points: learn some Crimean Tatar words.)
