Епідемія грипу--Flu Epidemic

This morning I received word from the Leavitt Institute that a national flu epidemic is raging in Ukraine, and that all of our schools have shut down for at least three weeks. On Friday morning the Ukrainian Health ministry has announced a nationwide epidemic of the A/H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, according to Interfax. The result is a cancellation of my teaching assignment in Ukraine this month. I am hopeful that I can go in early 2010 instead.

More later.

Running on Труханів острів (Trukhaniv Island)

My faithful Ukrainian correspondent, Olga Kupriyevych, writes:

"Dan. You can not only run in the park but also cross the Dnipro using the pedestrian bridge and run on Trukhaniv Island in the middle of the Dnipro River. My husband and I used to ski there in winter with our children."

Studying my map, I now see the pedestrian bridge, which is only about 500 feet or so down the hill and across the Vladimyrskyi Descent from the statute of the Baptizer. (In fact, here's a nice picture of the foot bridge behind the Baptizer, which I took in 2007). I read that the bridge was built in 1957 and connects the historic Podil neighborhood of Kyiv with Trukhaniv Island. The Island contains about 4 square miles of forest, meadows and footpaths.

Thanks, Olga! I've got my running shoes all packed.

My Daily Running in Kyiv

As I prepare to return to Ukraine in ten days or so, one subject of my meditations has been how to approach my daily running. Over the past eighteen months I have rarely missed a day of running, in all weather, and typically put in between forty and sixty miles per week. During my 2007 visit I frequently commented on the dangerous traffic conditions in Kyiv and the lack of safe above ground pedestrian walkways. (See, for example, my posts entitled "Where Will the Children Play," "Travails of a Pedestrian," "Passing By Gridlock on a Snowy Evening," and "Travels with Yuri.") So, the news that the new Kyiv apartment is located in Triokhsviatytelska Street directly across the street from the Volodymyrska Hirka Park is some of the best news I have heard. I cannot think of a better (and safer) place to run than on the network of walkways and paths in the Park, stretching from the statue of the Baptizer and up behind St. Michael's of the Golden Domes overlooking the Dnipro. The weather (even in snow) need not bother me, as I am accustomed to running in rain and snow, and the plowing crews appeared to be especially diligent in clearing the park during my many visits in 2007, including during and after two large snowstorms. I plan to take changeable and easily washable running clothes and one pair of running shoes with me. My plan is to run in the early mornings Wednesdays through Sunday. Mondays and Tuesdays will be problematic, as I will be commuting to and from Kharkiv on those days.