Crossroads

My wife is from south-eastern Ukraine, and it seems people are a bit racist, at least there. My wife is not, but she seems to be in the minority if you know what I mean. Do not base your decision completely on my reply. I have only been traveling there since 2008, and only for a couple of weeks at a time. I do not know how the natives would respond in places like Kiev or Odessa, or in university cities. I am sure you will get other advice from other blog members. Truthfully I have seen very very few blacks anywhere in Ukraine.

In any event Good Luck in whatever you decide:)

wow thanks a lot. thats a very important info.

In Kharkiv there are a lot of students from all over the world that study there.  I do not know about the racism aspects or the employment.  I know that jobs are hard to come by in the Ukraine.  I have my own business in California and I am not dependent upon earning an income in the Ukraine.  I wish you the best of luck.  Be sure to study your Russian if you go to Kharkiv to study.

Hi, Ukraine is still a developing country and there is not much abundance like America to show huge favors for foreigners, because there are many people here with low pay. As far a racism is concerned, it depends on your skill, some africans find freinds while others are not so socially confident and they stick to their groups. Try to find some Africans on your social networking sites and chat with them before you move. It will be tough but you if you're determined to get what you want, nothing can stop you. Good luck and do research by talikng to people who look like you, because that seems to be your main concern.

Thanks! Actually im not concerned about talking to people who look like me alone. I'm more concerned about chatting with people from other countries and localities, that is the essence of travels. My social skills are close to perfect, so that really won't be a problem. the problem will be if they will be comfortable chatting with me despite the fact that im black.  Thanks once again.

You have a nice personality, you should be able to make friends quickly.

Hi what I meant was, ask other Africans if they find it easy to make friends with Ukrainians, I've seen that most Africans are making friends with girls, but not so much with guys. The Ukrainian guys usually have their own circles and its because of the language, black or white is a secondary issue. Please understand this, if you need to make Ukrainian friends, your English skills will be redundant. You need to be very good in Russian for South & East of Ukraine (Russian crowds) and good in Ukrainian for west part (European crowds) of Ukraine. Very few people speak English.

Hope it helps.