A different kind of Chicken Kiev
We heard some cool news today. Our interpreter told us that Alex asked the director if they can "stay with us forever". She said "yes, but you have to listen to mama and papa". They both promised they would. That made Judy and I feel pretty good. We have no idea what they really think because we have yet to have even the smallest of conversations with them. Judy and I smile and point like the good baboons we are and they do the same with us. They smile and accept bribes as well as any government policitian. Well maybe not as well as those guys. They are professionals of course. We will be getting them tomorrow full time. Our first sleep over. That should be interesting.
Our friends that we met graciously brought over a vcr with several kids videos, Shrek, Mouse Detective or something like that, Monsters Inc. (here its called Corporation Monsters) and a few others. We may buy some more for them. I think we could buy 8 or 10 more videos for around 3 cents.
Alex had another little accident. We went to the "big" playground across the street from our apartment and while scrambling for a ball on the pavement our interpreter accidentally clipped his fingers as he was falling and scraped up his hand. It was no big deal, minor scratch, but we treated it like it was Hurricane Katrina, but without the Super Dome fiasco.
We brought them back to the Apt, patched him up and it was back to watch Mouse Detective with a small bowl of ice cream in his hands. I sensed Nikki secretly was snickering at all of this because she was upset that we weren't playing with her as much as Alex on the playground. Sometimes she enjoys mocking him. I like her.
He gives it back to her just as much though, its amusing to watch.
We always heard about the drivers over here but its not so much their ability but what they have to drive on. Our first driver was kind of cautious, took things kind of easy, no big deal, no rush. We liked him. Our second driver (Roman's friend from the last time he was here) is a little different. He likes the horn and he loves to race on coming traffic to see who can make it to the next 3 foot pot hole. It seems that the rules here are first one to pot hole or missing man hole cover has the right of way. This guy has popeye forearms, most likely from having to turn his non-power steering wheel up to 6.3 thousand times a day dodging every manner of obstacle. Usually people walking or biking, plus dogs, cats, goats and of course the previously mentioned pot holes and missing man hole covers. I'm sure I would be driving the same way if I lived here but it was a little eery watching the side of his face contort into the Joker from the first Batman movie whenever he had the opportunity to out do his opposition. He reminded me of Connor Mcleod of Highlander, "There can be only one"!!!
I would not want to play chicken with this guy. I know I would lose.
The conversations between people over here are different from back home. Almost everyone we pass by who is having a "talk" seems to be screaming at each other. I keep thinking that everyone here hates everybody, argue, argue, argue.
But apparently that is the normal way to converse. Our interpreter and our new cab driver were talking like that and I feared that he no longer liked Roman and was telling him that he is going to drive us all into the nuclear waste infested river which is nearby. But it was nothing. When we go into shops to buy things the sales staff walk up and bark what seems to be orders to us. More than once I felt like snapping to attention and returning a loud "YES SIR" but instead I just dropped and gave her 20. But once again this is normal here.
Yesterday an old lady that always hangs around our apartment actually cracked a smile at me. WHAT DID SHE MEAN BY DOING THAT? I once again went into Ninja mode and looked behind myself quickly to see if a knife weilding assailant was about to attack. but there was no one. She was actually smiling. Maybe. I'm still not sure one day later. I am only exageratting a little. These are scary looking neighborhoods as I mentioned earlier and people rarely smile around here. More than once I smiled at our neighbors or waved or said hello or "privyet". And got nothing in return. I guess that is normal here. Not that many of these poor people have much to smile about but it is a little disconcerting. Don't even think to smile at a passerby on the street. You will get a strange look from them. Kind of like the one I gave the power drill salesman that seem to have littered our fair little town these past few days. Actually they must have found a buyer as I have not seen them lately. I miss those guys. I am so used to passing people on the running trails or incline and saying Hi, but it's not recommended here.
They paint many of the trees white near the bottom for about 4 to 5 feet. I thought it was to make them easier to see for any drunk drivers but apparently its a tradition here at Easter time to do this. Easter is this Sunday in Ukraine.
I forgot to mention how goverment offices work around here with opening doors.
When we were at the NAC in Kyiv, and also here, they have maybe up to 7 rooms adjoined together in a hallway. And each door is closed. They all open outward into the hallway. God help you if you happen to be standing in front of one of those doors. I have personally seen several severed limbs and concussions from unknowing or sleepy hallway dwellers. I found these hallways far more dangerous than the streets. While waiting for our appointment we were talking to a couple from Canada who were waiting for an appointment and the guy was standing right in front of the door. My spider senses started tingling, I tried to warn him but everything seemed to go into slow motion like in the movies and as my mouth began to throw out the words of warning he got bonked right in the back and head. All I heard was this thick sound of heavy door meeting head. It all seemed weird watching all the people literally flying or running out of these rooms and walking into the next room. Papers in hand. Screaming (normal talking) to each other about what they need.
So beware any of you travelling here in the future. WATCH THE DOORS.
Have to leave. The Ukrainian Simpsons are on tonight and it's part 2 of Who Shot Mr. Burns (I think).
Cliff
Our friends that we met graciously brought over a vcr with several kids videos, Shrek, Mouse Detective or something like that, Monsters Inc. (here its called Corporation Monsters) and a few others. We may buy some more for them. I think we could buy 8 or 10 more videos for around 3 cents.
Alex had another little accident. We went to the "big" playground across the street from our apartment and while scrambling for a ball on the pavement our interpreter accidentally clipped his fingers as he was falling and scraped up his hand. It was no big deal, minor scratch, but we treated it like it was Hurricane Katrina, but without the Super Dome fiasco.
We brought them back to the Apt, patched him up and it was back to watch Mouse Detective with a small bowl of ice cream in his hands. I sensed Nikki secretly was snickering at all of this because she was upset that we weren't playing with her as much as Alex on the playground. Sometimes she enjoys mocking him. I like her.
He gives it back to her just as much though, its amusing to watch.
We always heard about the drivers over here but its not so much their ability but what they have to drive on. Our first driver was kind of cautious, took things kind of easy, no big deal, no rush. We liked him. Our second driver (Roman's friend from the last time he was here) is a little different. He likes the horn and he loves to race on coming traffic to see who can make it to the next 3 foot pot hole. It seems that the rules here are first one to pot hole or missing man hole cover has the right of way. This guy has popeye forearms, most likely from having to turn his non-power steering wheel up to 6.3 thousand times a day dodging every manner of obstacle. Usually people walking or biking, plus dogs, cats, goats and of course the previously mentioned pot holes and missing man hole covers. I'm sure I would be driving the same way if I lived here but it was a little eery watching the side of his face contort into the Joker from the first Batman movie whenever he had the opportunity to out do his opposition. He reminded me of Connor Mcleod of Highlander, "There can be only one"!!!
I would not want to play chicken with this guy. I know I would lose.
The conversations between people over here are different from back home. Almost everyone we pass by who is having a "talk" seems to be screaming at each other. I keep thinking that everyone here hates everybody, argue, argue, argue.
But apparently that is the normal way to converse. Our interpreter and our new cab driver were talking like that and I feared that he no longer liked Roman and was telling him that he is going to drive us all into the nuclear waste infested river which is nearby. But it was nothing. When we go into shops to buy things the sales staff walk up and bark what seems to be orders to us. More than once I felt like snapping to attention and returning a loud "YES SIR" but instead I just dropped and gave her 20. But once again this is normal here.
Yesterday an old lady that always hangs around our apartment actually cracked a smile at me. WHAT DID SHE MEAN BY DOING THAT? I once again went into Ninja mode and looked behind myself quickly to see if a knife weilding assailant was about to attack. but there was no one. She was actually smiling. Maybe. I'm still not sure one day later. I am only exageratting a little. These are scary looking neighborhoods as I mentioned earlier and people rarely smile around here. More than once I smiled at our neighbors or waved or said hello or "privyet". And got nothing in return. I guess that is normal here. Not that many of these poor people have much to smile about but it is a little disconcerting. Don't even think to smile at a passerby on the street. You will get a strange look from them. Kind of like the one I gave the power drill salesman that seem to have littered our fair little town these past few days. Actually they must have found a buyer as I have not seen them lately. I miss those guys. I am so used to passing people on the running trails or incline and saying Hi, but it's not recommended here.
They paint many of the trees white near the bottom for about 4 to 5 feet. I thought it was to make them easier to see for any drunk drivers but apparently its a tradition here at Easter time to do this. Easter is this Sunday in Ukraine.
I forgot to mention how goverment offices work around here with opening doors.
When we were at the NAC in Kyiv, and also here, they have maybe up to 7 rooms adjoined together in a hallway. And each door is closed. They all open outward into the hallway. God help you if you happen to be standing in front of one of those doors. I have personally seen several severed limbs and concussions from unknowing or sleepy hallway dwellers. I found these hallways far more dangerous than the streets. While waiting for our appointment we were talking to a couple from Canada who were waiting for an appointment and the guy was standing right in front of the door. My spider senses started tingling, I tried to warn him but everything seemed to go into slow motion like in the movies and as my mouth began to throw out the words of warning he got bonked right in the back and head. All I heard was this thick sound of heavy door meeting head. It all seemed weird watching all the people literally flying or running out of these rooms and walking into the next room. Papers in hand. Screaming (normal talking) to each other about what they need.
So beware any of you travelling here in the future. WATCH THE DOORS.
Have to leave. The Ukrainian Simpsons are on tonight and it's part 2 of Who Shot Mr. Burns (I think).
Cliff
posted by Judy @ 9:57 AM
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