Perpetual Change

Random Thoughts V

Ira, I will be catching up on my trips to Taize soon.

For now, everyone, the first snows of real winter have set in. I am about to head off to the closing conference that we have 4 months before we leave country. I can't believe that I am already up to that. It looks like I may start a project or two more, but I am mostly wrapping up - trying to pass things off effectively to Ukrainians so that they continue. I have started job interviews. So here are some random thoughts that I have been collecting since the last post last year.

PS. I didn't get this off before that conference. I have just come back; today was the first day that I have spent not in the constant company of another American since December 24 (excluding just 1 day within that time!) which means, I'm scared. The last few months were great, actually phenomenal, but also rather overwhelming. If that comes from being around just a few or even one American, how am I going to deal with 300 million of them. I really am a bit afraid of coming home; however, I was also afraid of going to this conference and that turned out to be exquisite (it did involve the best powder skiing I have ever seen, and the most truly intercultural experience that I could imagine - neither of which I had been expecting. The Ukrainians said it was the best one in the last few years).

Ukrainians have borrowed the word “chef”; it means boss.

I tried to help someone call the US State Department to ask some questions and the people on the phone were HORRIBLE to deal with. I was so dissappointed. I figured this is my country and my language, and I thought it would be easier... and that they might be nicer.

An aquaintance called me from Iraq awhile ago. He could tell me very little about where he was and what he was doing. It is hard for me to leave out place names sometimes. I want to tell you all so much; it must be really difficult for the morale of military men and women that they cannot share their lives with their loved ones.

I asked my sister to send me the Macarena because I thought it would be very popular here. Turns out it was. Already had been here and gone before me.

I have to periodically stop in and speak with the school director that is my primary site. We usually have interesting conversations, but I almost always must have at least 50 grams (a shot) of vodka or brandy at these meetings.

At first, I didn't notice the silence from never hearing sirens here. Now, I here them more often, and I love it. It reminds me that someone is doing there job.

The color negative (as in a photo negative) of the flag of Ukraine is still the flag of Ukraine just upside down.

Ukrainans usually change into the same clothes that they like to wear around the house, whenever they come home. They are comfortable, but rather informal. I like to endearingly refer to them as their "home uniforms."

Here when you ask what someone's grandparents do, a common answer is, "They are pensioners." It must say something that being a pensioner is a job.

The table of contents is always at the end of the book.

The words for North and South translate as half-night and half-day.

The towns cast virtually no ambient light here, which makes it a bit scary to walk some places, but makes the star viewing incredible.

Health and Death - Of all my direct acquaintances since I have come to Ukraine, only one has died. Of all my indirect acquaintances who have died, since I have been here, which have been many, only one has been female.

The institutes, colleges, and (to a slightly lesser degree) universities here prepare the students specifically for 1 job, almost like on-the-job training.

$2 bills (yes dollars; they are a common site around these parts) are only slightly rarer than $1 bills.

posted by jjs @ 11:24 AM