This week on BEEN THERE, 10-year-old Katja (aka kation) what it's like living in the Ukraine!

I live in Kiev, Ukraine (if you're wondering where Ukraine is, it's Russia's neighbor). I think the best time to go to Ukraine is in the beginning of spring because you can go to the botanical gardens. The reason I'm talking about the botanical gardens is because during that time the lilacs are in bloom. The lilacs aren't JUST lilac in color, they come in many different colors such as white, lavender, and purple. Also, when you go you should visit the Iron Maiden. She is like the statue of liberty only looks a lot different. She is about five stories high and this bronze color.

Another thing you should do if you go to Ukraine is to go to Khreshatik. I don't know if you know much about the orange revolution, but Khreshatik and Maidan Nezalegesty is where all the people for Yushchenko (the orange team) protested. If you go in spring it is perfectly safe now, there is a place that is like a fountain but is just water squirting from the ground that you can play in. Also, in that area there are little shops all along the street and if you go on the weekend the street is closed off so you can walk right down the middle of the road.

Another thing that sometimes goes on at Maidan and Khreshatik is traditional Ukrainian dancing. This is very beautiful with colorful costumes and stuff. I also would suggest going to the opera or ballet. If you go to the opera you should only stay for about half of it (there's an intermission) because all those screeching voices can get pretty old after awhile. The ballet is also beautiful—they have kids ballets—I saw "Snow White". Although anything they say (if there is any) is in Ukrainian, it's still beautiful.

There is also a circus there and it is really cool too. It's right across the street from a mall called in ukrainian ookraeena which in English means Ukraine.

The last thing I will suggest is visiting the lavra, which is an underground orthodox church, it's surrounded by above-ground churches. When you go to the underground church you get a candle and you go in and there are people worshiping (they aren't having a service or anything) and there are covered bodies (you don't see anything dead, it's just a body in a coffin that's covered with a cloth and behind glass).

The last things I want to tell you about are about traveling around town and precautions. To get around town you can either take the subway, a bus, or a taxi. Unless you are an old lady or are carrying a small child you almost never get a seat on the subway or if you're at the first 2 stops of the line. To get to Khreshatik on the subway you just get on the red line (you may have to transfer) there's a map on the window and when you get on you if you know what stop your at just go until you see Khreshatik on the map (it has an English translation) and you can count stops, you can also live on the edge and just listen until they say you're stop. I suggest that you take a taxi although it costs more it's only about 20 grievna highest which is about 10 dollars and it will take you pretty far. The last thing I want to say is that you want to keep your money safe, don't put it in your pockets because there is a high pick pocketing problem, this is especially important in public places.