Ukraine Welcomes Spring

March 1 is the first day of spring on the Ukrainian calendar. Today, we got about 6"-8" of snow and it's about 25 F. I spent today preparing for International Women's Day, March 8 (which is Tuesday--don't forget to congratulate all the women in your life). I was out in the snow buying gifts for my mother-in-law and Lena's grandmother. We had already bought an electric tea pot for Lena's sister. Lena's mom wanted some C. S. Lewis in Russian. As I was coming home, most everyone was getting off work; many women carried the traditional red carnation and red tulip. Today was a work day in Ukraine. Monday and Tuesday will be holidays.

Probably the best site for daily news about Ukraine is at Ukrayinska Pravda. Their English translations of Ukrainian news articles are funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, one of those front organizations the US government uses to promote democracy around the world.

To my surprise, Kuchma came to Ukraine. A suicide note was found and released today of the guy who was killed yesterday. I'm having a hard time believing it was a suicide. And also at the big Palace of Sports (where Eurovision will be held in May), President Yushchenko met with Yulia Tymoshenko and the head of the Ukrainian parliament Lytvin to form a new political party which will run together in parliamentary elections in 2006. The old opposition (now the new government) is not as united as Yushchenko wants but these three groups are going to stick together for now. We'll keep you posted.