Quote: (10-14-2013 08:37 PM)coopers317 Wrote:
Racism/Safety
Contrary to a lot of opinions on the board, I really did not experience any. In my little over two weeks there I was not stopped once by the police, and I was walking all over the place during all times of the day and night. I would walk past them, and they would be in groups of 2, 3, and as many as 5 on a couple of occasions…but no stops. I rode the Metro and buses, no problem. I can't guarantee that everybody's experience will be the same, just as I cannot promise that the next time you step on a plane it won't go down. But what I am saying is that I think this concern is a little bit overblown, most of all by other blacks, who have probably never stepped foot in Kiev due to the exaggerated fears of what might happen. I was the ONLY black person around for 98% of my time there, and so obviously I got plenty of stares and a few glares…but the vast majority of it I believe it was out of curiosity more than anything else. I did meet a couple of black guys, one who plays in the basketball league there, and met a guy from the UK who I hung out with a bit.
I hung out on Kreschatyk plenty for the first week, simply because there was a lot happening, especially on the weekends, and also to get my bearings and develop a feeling of safety (because of all the stories I heard about). The next time I go (and I will go back), I will definitely venture off a bit, but maybe not too far, as there is a lot more to the city than just this part…something I discovered during the second week.
There is no point in me sugar coating it, Ukraine is racist imo but it is more subtle and less overt, you won't get a beat down but more likely socially shunned. If you are Turkish or Middle Eastern you will struggle getting the kind of girls that have any kind of options for themselves, especially in the provinces. The girls an Arab or black dude will get will also appear more transactional to them the reason being a girl is lowering her status by dating an Arab or non-white, she is taking a risk of being ostracised, of being looked down upon by her peers and hence if she is going to lower her status like that then she will want compensating for doing so which leads to such men calling the women mercenary. In Bolero night club in Kharkiv last week three Arab dudes were barred from entry by bouncers whilst everyone else was allowed in. The local girls don't want them in there and so the bouncers don't allow them. I would say black dudes have it better than Arabs in Ukraine but again black dudes will struggle to get a decent local girl i.e anyone better than they get back home and one who is desired by other men. I met some really cool Nigerian guys in a club in Kharkov and they had zero success there from what I could gather through talking to them although I saw another light skinned black dude dancing with a girl. They had been in the city for 5 years and appeared to have nothing. So take this into account when deciding to head there. If you're Arab looking stick to where the looser women hang out such as vodka bar or Shooters. In the provinces or off the Kreschatic expect to be treated a certain way and struggle because the girl will always feel that she is dating a guy she doesn't ideally want to be with.