Despair and Euphoria

5/10/2014
My neighbor can't fedex my credit cards because of the money laundering restrictions here!  This is a major disappointment and cause for concern.  What with sleep deprivation worrying about this and jet lag I go through panic and despair offset by brief moments of euphoria that I should be able to figure this out.  Spend hours working with Broker on sending me debit card to replace one left home.  Don't know if they can do or not.  Really difficult process as I have to work with their secure messaging center and a relatively new smart phone and using their chat messaging system to get somebody to look at what I've sent them.  The customer service people at Broker are great, the systems not so .. especially if you are not familiar with them and you are using a smart phone that is relatively new to you. After hours spent and 3 sessions .. one at dinner time .. next middle of the night .. and final in the morning I learn that it takes 2 days for them to create a new card, they won't do this on the weekend (it's Saturday) and then it's going to take up to another 7  working days to get to me through customs.  I need to call them collect on Monday they won't start the process on the weekend, no one works there on the weekend. Ridiculous.  I expect on Monday  I'll find out they can't get it to me even then because of the restrictions noted above.

So how about a wire transfer? Broker tells me this can take 10 days internationally.  Though this sounds stupid and technogically it is, I know the Broker guy is right from what I have read. He suggests Western Union. Amazing .. old company beats new. A friend also recommends this. My jet lag and sleep deprivation making it hard to think clearly so I enlist his help in thinking this through.  Nothing like great friends available by email!

Lots of Western Union store fronts here but all closed on weekend so will have to check this Monday.  Broker guy says WU can do this in a couple of days.  Also and most importantly I can live here very cheaply.  My hotel was able to process my credit card with the numbers alone, didn't need physical card. Breakfast is included so I eat a big one and scarf some stuff for lunch.

Today I spent 37 hryvnia to add to my cell data plan. 29 hryvnia for a cup of coffee and 63 for dinner at a great cafeteria .. good food and nice kind of elegant decor where I am writing this - free WIFI. This local currency (around 12/dollar) converts to around only $11 for the day and the cell data plan will last for a number of days if I limit usage.  I'm just using this for emailing. Went to a number of stores for a local sim card with the best plan. They all tell me its the best one for data not good for telephone.  That's what I want as don't plan to do anything but email with it and secure Internet access. I don't want to use public wifi for that.  For surfing I use my Samsung tablet with Logitech folio bluetooth keyboard .. works great.  .. and public free WIFI available in hotel  and all the many great cafes in town.  (This is the bestest place I have ever been for cafes and coffee .. one of my favorite things and a major reason I came here).

See I'm not as dumb as I look as I brought copiè of front and back of all my credit cards so have all the numbers.  And I can make a plane reservation with these if I have to exit earlier than planned if situation heats up here.  And I brought more cash than I usually do knowing I might need it here and given the vulnerability of the local currency I thought it might be of extra value to have it.  So I think I may have more than I need in cash if I'm frugal .. which I'm pretty good at.

I have stopped beating myself up.  Lesson I've learned is we screw up but we can make it worse if we don't just accept our foibles and focus on coping. And its good to have backup systems .. like essential.

Every cloud has a silver lining.  This one has a gold lining.  Lviv is maybe the best city I've ever visited.  Great architecture, cafes and cultural scene. Imagine Vienna or Prague at a fraction of the cost. And without all the tourists! Just what I was hoping for and why I came here (for all of you who have wondered and asked).  The people are friendly though reserved (my favorite combination).

I check the news periodically. My  favorite source is kyvivpost.com. While the news continues grim and troublesome for the country.. so far I think its ok for me here in Western Ukraine. Things feel ok here on the street. Of course I don't  speak the language .. very difficult but want to spend more time on this as I started learning a few weeks before coming here. No sense or feeling of  street crime, pick pockets etc. or shifty characters. Though I am always watchful wherever in the world I go. The most dangerous thing I've seen is the boys riding their bikes on the sidewalks weaving within the pedestrians with only inches to spare. Important to remember to walk in a straight line or you could experience a serious collision.

I've  got some great pictures.  Will show you in next post.  In spite of the rough patch I'm very happy to be here.  Much to see and explore and share with you in coming days as I move the focus from my financial situation to more pleasant pursuits.  

Thanks for reading!