It's
important to pack the right clothes for a Kyiv visit. Expect severe winter
weather from late November through early March. For the winter, we suggest
you wear layers of warm clothing and a heavy coat. Gloves, a scarf and
a warm hat are also strongly encouraged. Because a good amount of walking
is part of life in Kyiv, waterproof boots are helpful too during the winter
due to all the snow and slush on the ground. In the summer, expect warm
temperatures so you will want shorts and T-shirts, especially indoors
without air-conditioning. Most Ukrainian men wear pants normally, and
rarely wear bright colors or “loud” clothing of any kind. Woman and men
dress a little more formally all year round. Swimming in the Dnipro or
in the Black Sea, most Ukrainians are a little more “open” than American
bathers, especially the men, who normally wear speedos or a short spandex
suit. Women usually wear bikinis, although members of both sexes often
forgo swimwear altogether in several places, especially on the Black Sea.
The younger generation of Kyiv also has been greatly influenced by Western
fashion, especially European styles. Diesel and other European brands
have stores in Kyiv, and many of the youth wear clothes representative
of this alternative style. Whatever you are wearing in Kyiv, though, you
will definitely want good walking shoes or sandals that do not hurt your
feet after a lot of walking because it is one of the major activities
of life in Kyiv and is really a refreshing change at times from high-strung,
car-driven America.
Q: How will I wash my clothes?
A: Every apartment is equipped with a washing machine…it is called a bathtub!
Most Ukrainians wash their clothes by hand in the bathtub. There are no
public laundromats in the city though there are numerous dry cleaners.
The UEC has a modern automatic washing machine, and the internship owns
one as well, so visitors may be allowed to make use of these resources
if the need arises.
It's
important to pack the right clothes for a Kyiv visit. Expect severe winter
weather from late November through early March. For the winter, we suggest
you wear layers of warm clothing and a heavy coat. Gloves, a scarf and
a warm hat are also strongly encouraged. Because a good amount of walking
is part of life in Kyiv, waterproof boots are helpful too during the winter
due to all the snow and slush on the ground. In the summer, expect warm
temperatures so you will want shorts and T-shirts, especially indoors
without air-conditioning. Most Ukrainian men wear pants normally, and
rarely wear bright colors or “loud” clothing of any kind. Woman and men
dress a little more formally all year round. Swimming in the Dnipro or
in the Black Sea, most Ukrainians are a little more “open” than American
bathers, especially the men, who normally wear speedos or a short spandex
suit. Women usually wear bikinis, although members of both sexes often
forgo swimwear altogether in several places, especially on the Black Sea.
The younger generation of Kyiv also has been greatly influenced by Western
fashion, especially European styles. Diesel and other European brands
have stores in Kyiv, and many of the youth wear clothes representative
of this alternative style. Whatever you are wearing in Kyiv, though, you
will definitely want good walking shoes or sandals that do not hurt your
feet after a lot of walking because it is one of the major activities
of life in Kyiv and is really a refreshing change at times from high-strung,
car-driven America.
