I always thought that Boyarka was just an extended part of Kiev until one day I saw an actual sign announcing my arrival to the town. Most of my memories of this town are centered around my Ukrainian "family" living there. They are actually friends and our initial contact was in a host family type setting, but over the years we have become family to each other. They consider me their daughter and to me they are my second family. I adore them! We first met each other when I went to Nikolaev in 1996. Later they moved to Boyarka to be closer to Kiev for my Ukrainian father's work. I remember going to the outdoor market that had everything from lightbulbs to women's skirts to oranges from Spain. One time I had the privilege of sitting beside a drunk man on the public transport coming from Kiev. He was continually asking me why I was going to Boyarka. Through our conversation I learned that Boyarka supposedly has a sewing factory. (He kept asking me if I was from Azerbaijan and worked in the sewing factory....) Boyarka has a train station that connects it with Kiev and it is actually quite simple to make the short trip. There is also an outdoor running track where some athletes train. In addition, there is a small field nearby to play soccer and tennis. Boyarka seems to have a good educational system because I saw a kindergarten, elementary and middle school, and even a music school all within a few blocks of each other. It was in Boyarka where I learned how to cook traditional Ukrainian food, learned about canning food for winter, and even assisted in the preparation of apple and grape juice. From my younger, Ukrainian, baby brother, Pasha, I also learned about the importance of 6 sugar cubes in a cup of tea....and dipping pieces of chocolate in honey, rolling them in sugar, and then enjoying the delicious moment. Boyarka is a great place to be if you want to see real Ukrainian life in action today. Just be prepared to ride the public transport from Kiev's Voksalna station. Be prepared to ride with all types of passengers ranging from gypsies to old grandmothers to university students to baby chickens inside a basket. |
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