Geo-politics and a hot bath

So here's the deal: it's getting to be winter; cold and foggy has been the weather for a few days now. In Russia the way you get the chill out is to go to the sauna. It's a big part of the culture there, but not so much in Kiev.

Anyway, a fitting substitute after a day out trying to practice our Ukrainian and meeting new people is a hot bath. Bathtubs here are still generously proportioned so it's a little like having a small hot tub, which can be nice.

But then there's the water.

All of our water is centrally heated. This means that somewhere in our neighborhood is the 'physical plant' where boilers are housed. ALL of the hot water that either goes through our radiators or into our tub is heated there (and so is all the water for all the other buildings in our area).

This system was instituted during Soviet times when it was easier to keep things under central control.

Now, in a return to soviet-like politics, Russia has threatened to shut off the natural gas supplies to Ukraine starting on New Year's Day. Russia says it's because Ukraine won't pay its bill for gas; Ukrainians tell us it's because Ukraine wants to be a NATO member.

I don't know either way. For us the upshot, day to day, is that Ukraine is conserving the natural gas it does have, and this by making sure I don't waste any too-hot bath water. At this point luke-warm showers are still possible so we'll be content with that. We just wanted you to see into our world a little.


(The painting is of a site in Kiev, Andreevski Monastery, by Anatoly Tartakovsky)



Thanks for reading.