For Jimmy in Ukraine

[Go2Rus]

Hi Jimmy.  I don't know anything about the forms and legal situations, so I didn't post this below your message.  

However, I am interested in your comments about the security you feel there in Ukraine.  Most of the guys who post indicate they feel safer in Ukraine than in US.  But of course they are on short term visits whereas you are there long term.  Also, they are probably talking about how safe they feel just walking the streets, etc., whereas you experience more in your day to day greater interaction with the locals.

I spent a month in SPb, and felt very safe and the streets, older teenagers on street corners, etc., were all very non threatening.  But, then, I had someone arrange apartment, take me here and there, etc., so I really didn't have to fend for myself in a negotiating situation as you do on a regular basis.

Given my comments above, would you please expand on your comments re how you perceive that the people there really don't like Americans all that much and that you don't feel real secure, etc.  What have been the circumstances of these situations, etc.

Thanks for your valuable information and taking your valuable time.

[Jimmy]

... in response to For Jimmy in Ukraine, posted by Go2Rus on Nov 1, 2001

I could spend an hour telling you why I feel that the US is superior to other nations but you probably already know that.

I didn't mean by my comments that I fear going out at night and walking the streets alone.  On the contrary, I feel very secure that I will not be harrassed or mugged in any way.  My feeling of security deals with a much higher level than that.  I suppose I didn't realize it until the attacks on NY and now that our country is fighting terrorism within it's own borders.  I realize now that our nation is one of the most secure in the world.  Only a nation like ours will rise up and mobilize every bit of force we have to protect our own countrymen.  To be an American citizen is something sought after by every individual outside our country and I don't care what they tell you and where they come from.  They would give their right arm to be in your shoes.

It has become very evident to me that the foreigners I come in contact with will be more than happy to live in our USA.  Why do you think these women here advertise themselves in any possible way to seek American men?  Take a look in the mirror.  There are very attractive Russian and Ukrainian men here and some are very good and faithful men.  You and I represent the American dream to them and an opportunity to come to the greatest nation ever to exist on the face of this earth.

All you have to do is dial three digits (911) and every available agency will come to protect you and save your hide from disaster. BTW 911 was a very favorite TV show over here and quite popular.  Our military might can't be matched anywhere in the world.

Yes, street crime is very nil here but when it does start I am not sure they will have the laws or police in place to deal with it.  I think that when chaos comes I would rather be inside our US borders than elsewhere.

We have the best engineering, business, industry, commerce, transportation, just about everything.  Our problems in the US come from within ourselves and our fabric of society and not from our government.  We have learned to live with too much and do not realize what is like to live without.  We are too spoiled and have too much.  I hope we can learn to correct ourselves in a moral way and straighten out the fabric of our society.  I cannot blame the government for what we have done to ourselves as a society.

I for one am glad to have my citizenship and will never give it up.  It is too valuable to me and I will soon be home and kiss the soil that I love and miss.  Don't take the security you have too lightly.  You don't know what it's like to be without it.

Best Regards,

Jimmy
Ukraine

[WmGo]

... in response to Re: For Jimmy in Ukraine, posted by Jimmy on Nov 1, 2001

Jimmy,

I liked your post a lot and agree of course.

I need a favor. I will email you about it.

William

[Go2Rus]

... in response to Re: For Jimmy in Ukraine, posted by Jimmy on Nov 1, 2001

somewhat or I didn't state my question very well.  I too believe this is the greatest country ever known to mankind.

My question was addressed toward what it was specifically that gave you a feeling of 'unease' there in Ukraine on a daily basis.

[Dan]

... in response to Thanks much for your response; but you m..., posted by Go2Rus on Nov 1, 2001

And Jimmy can correct me or expand if he feels differently.

For me, it is the simple knowledge that, at any time and d@mn near for any reason (or no reason whatsoever), authorities can make your life miserable in Ukraine. Stateside, I feel I have the protection of our Constitution and access to legal resources that are able to get me out of just about any jam - particularly if I am not guilty of any wrongdoing.

In Ukraine, you can simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time (America too, I suppose) and find your world turned upside down in a heartbeat.

Just a quick example - last holiday season I was in Ukraine with Olya and we started out in Kyiv. We had planned to take a few days and travel over to Lviv for New Year's celebrations and then return to Kyiv a day or two later. The apartment we rented was directly on Kreschatyk and was rented from a landlord I do not know because my normal apartments were already booked. I paid for the entire time - even that period when Olya and I would be in Lviv.

Upon return from Lviv, we found that we could not enter the apartment. The key simply did not work. To make a very long story short - the owners had rented the apartment - with some of our belongings inside it - for the New Year's celebrations to some other people. This, of course, led to a mighty dispute with a great deal of rancor.

It rapdily escalated to the point that I was threatened by the Militsia with forcible repatriation to America by the FSB. Now - I am a frequent traveller to Ukraine and I am pretty well-connected myself. Still, to this day I have difficulty understanding how an injustice foisted off on me by an unscrupulous apartment owner led to me being threatened by their Militsia - and my spending the better part of an afternoon talking with the regional security Director from the American Embassy.

I think it is fair to say that this sort of thing would be unlikely in the US, yet my Militsia colleagues (I know a Major in the Militsia and several military guys) tell me this sort of thing, and worse, happens with regularity in Ukraine.

The system of order there simply feels 'fragile' - for want of a better word.

I hope this helps.

- Dan

[Jimmy]

... in response to I'll Offer My $ .02 Worth . . ., posted by Dan on Nov 1, 2001

Thanks Dan, I think our laws and police are the best in the world and because of fear of reprisal I will refrain from making any statements here on this board but when I get back to the US......

Jimmy
Ukraine

[Richard]

... in response to Re: I'll Offer My $ .02 Worth . . ., posted by Jimmy on Nov 1, 2001

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