Daria Zadorozhnaya

With only two weeks left before the holidays, it’s high time to pick a winter wonderland. For those who prefer active leisure, the Kyiv Post has prepared a selection of prized resorts in Ukraine and abroad.

In Ukraine, where state officials lose billions of hryvnias a year to the state budget by holding uncompetitive tenders and not closing offshore tax havens, the government is allegedly trying to scrimp on students' stipends. Some educators say they are being told to save money by artificially failing students, thus making some of them ineligible for stipends.

From cave paintings to murals and tableau, the art form of comics has a long, rich history. 

 Kyiv's coffee market is becoming increasingly crowded, with unique little shops to large franchises opening some new location almost every day. And each one is looking for that edge to make them stand out. For Esperanto, its bringing a wide range of Italian tastes to those craving more than just a good espresso.

The little cafe near Lvivska square first opened in December last year and quickly gained popularity among the capital's residents. The place's specialty is that, in addition to cappuccino and a sandwich, clients can also purchase Italian products at reasonable prices – an idea that came to the director after a visit to Italy.

With the precision of a ballerina preparing for the stage, a woman ties her corset, pulls on petticoats and starts applying elaborate makeup. Her friend wraps herself in elastic bandages and dons a short, fluorescent wig. They are costume players, or cosplayers -- diehard fans of anime and Japanese culture, readying themselves for Ukraine’s largest anime festival, the Otobe in Kyiv. 

Ukrainian medical education was considered one of world's best in communist times. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its reputation was still strong enough to attract thousands of foreign students each year.

It is again Friday in Kyiv and time to go clubbing. Here are some of the parties in the beautiful capital that are worth checking out:

Over the years Ukrainians, particularly residents of the capital, have grown to love Halloween. Only on this night is it acceptable to be naughty and take off the boring office suit, turn into a monster or witch, slap on bandages, splash on some blood and try to scare your friends.