2-in-1: Or How To Recycle and Make Instant Friends

As there is  no recycling system here similar to the one we got so used to in Germany  - my Living in Kyiv expat guide informs that there is one single NGO that runs recycling centres around Kiev, Mama 86 (website in Ukrainian), and even with them you should call in advance to make sure they are in operation - I do my bit in small ways. Insignificant ways.  Like taking my huge ugly green Auchan bag along with me to the local Billa each time I go.

 

I never thought I would get so many compliments and make instant friends.  And as at the moment I view every single instance a Ukrainian talks to me as conversation practice, perhaps I should throw free language lessons in that title, too.

'You brought that with you?'

'Is that your bag?'

'You are so clever!'

Just some nuggets of the raised eyebrows and genuine amusement I cause day by day at the check out line.  (And I really don't deserve it.  Until I started to write this blog post I am ashamed to admit, the environment hardly crossed my mind.  It was thinking more along the lines of having to carry just one bag from the car to the kitchen instead of the  half a dozen useless plastic ones you get at the store). 

But the good news is, all the cashiers know me now (and no, I am not the only foreigner in the area), they all greet me and smile at me and they are all nice enough to chit-chat with me every single day.