While in Ukraine this month, I decided to go to the store for bread, kvas, sour cream for my grandma and a bottle of Ukrainian beer “Obolon,'” light color, as requested by my 91-year old grandpa.

Dressed up in the skirt, platform hills and a t-shirt, I embarked on my journey to the closest store in the neighborhood I knew since I was seven years old. Walking, of course.

I brought plastic bags with me having no desire to pay for them at the store, a 1-liter glass jar for kvas (a refreshing beverage made from bread) and my grandma's bag as a separate caring device. Everything, I thought, I needed.

Well, I had no idea what lies ahead. As I approached the store I started noticing the changes. Another entrance with big flashy letters on it advertising electronic products. I didn't let that distract me. I only needed a few things.

I headed towards what used to be the main entrance only to find that it wasn't there anymore. Hm, trying to show no surprise, I kept walking and, finally, found somewhat of an entrance. It had many sings and errows. I stop to read. Cafe, some bank, shoes, bags, jewelry, books, jesus.. how many things.. i thought.. where do I go?

I take the first turn and sink in the sea of products and people. Small spaces to squeeze through. I find myself buying DVDs of old Russian movies such as “Formula of Love” and “Fire, Water, Copper pipes”. Still no bread and no kvas, and no signs of them in my view.

I take few other turns and end up in the cafe. Cappuccino, espresso, éclairs, various deserts. I keep walking. At the far end wall, finally, an entrance to the store. Only, it wasn't a store anymore. It was a bright, crowded, flashy super market!

People, or as they call them here in US, shoppers were passing me by at the speed of the Colorado river currents and at the distance of less than my extended hand, big flat LG screens playing music videos. I grabbed the shopping basket and froze for the moment, bracing myself.

I thought I could handle it. Then I hear “last night, couldn't get an answer” and P-Diddy shows his pretty face on the flat screen, his dance beats filling up the space of the Ukrainian supermarket… I shit my pants. Literally.

Almost did. I have this music video on my Youtube playlist. I did not expect to see it at the supermarket in the far end of Kiev called “troeschina”…

I bet you that P-Diddy has no idea.