October 2011
30 posts
:(
I just spent 2 hours updating this and all I managed to do was delete a post.
Stuck in McDonalds again
Well, I’m back in Kharkov for rd 2: operation GET THE VISA.
Currently, I am using the free Mickie D’s wifi and trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do in this city until 4 pm and then until November 1st. I’m having a hard time enjoying Ukraine mostly because I’m traveled-out and just plain stressed. I’ve seen enough gold-domed churches and...
More on Kiev
So, Kiev, we walked up the hill to the the cathedral (which was closed for construction, of course) and then onward to St. Sofia’s Cathedral (and grounds). KevinL and I climbed the bell tower from which we could see for miles. We checked out some other buildings - interesting, but not at all different from anything else I’ve seen.
Then we were hungry, so we hit up a buffet and ate...
The One That Got Deleted
After Elise and I got back from Kiev (to Donetsk). I really wanted McDonalds. I also (kind of) wanted to go for a run. SO, naturally, I had a 20 min cat nap to think it all over. My cap put me over the limit of walking to McDonalds (because we all know about the breakfast time limit!) - so I ran there! Indeed, it is mildly embarrassing that the first time that I have ever ran 3 full miles was to...
Kite Runner →
This book is phenomenal. I read it in less than 20 hours. It has a little something for everyone - I heard it described as slumdog millionaire, but it is far better…horrifying, sad, exciting, hopeful, cute, informative, AWESOME. Stop what you are doing now and read it.
“Все будет хорошо. If you make it be.”
What I'm reading... →
Natasha’s Dance
The Day I Almost Went To Jail
This is really just a continuation of the last post, so we could more accurately entitle it, “Heather and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day that wouldn’t end…”
Erika and I went to the bus station and we found out that there were no buses that went through both cities. Erika’s bus was in 20 minutes and mine was in 4.5 hrs. MORE WAITING!!!!!!!
In the...
The Russian Consulate
So I awaken, alive and alone, from my not-so-slumberous slumber in the train station hotel, take a shower (which is literally just a shower-head sticking out of the bathroom wall by the sink), hid my pack in the room and packed in my purse everything that i would cry if i had stolen…and headed downstairs to get my errands started. It was 8:30 and i had to evacuate the room at the hotel by...
ПоСоЛсТвО - Русский Стил
On Tuesday I boarded a train from Saint Petersburg to Khar’kov, Ukraine. I have to leave Russia in order to do a new visa.
This time around was much less nerve-racking. The train was pleasant; I took the platzcart (which is essentially a kupe with no privacy). The entire train is divided up into ‘stalls’, if you will. In each stall is 2 sets of bunk beds that are attached to the...
First Weekend Out
Last Friday I taught a particularly interesting speaking club - the students all knew each other and had interesting opinions. We played the game where you draw a card with a name on it and put it on your forehead without looking and then ask yes or no questions to figure out who you are. People included: Mogli, Lenin, Cheburashka (a favorite among Soviet cartoons), Obama, Santa, Brad Pitt, Mother...
Бабушки
Babushka (thats BAbushka NOT baBUshka, like we were all taught in kindergarten) - it literally means grandmother, but it’s what you call any old lady on the street. Usually they are little old nice women who mind their own business and only bother you because they walk slowly. HOWEVER. There is a special breed of babushka that someone slapped around too much and now she wants to take it out...
No song will ever make you feel more empowered. It...
Kitchen Shinanigans!
Today, AnastasiaS (Nastya) and I went to the grocery store at 10:30 pm and returned with an armful of groceries and some new vocab (cumin - тмин (tmeen), ginger - имбирь (imbEEr), ect). It was less like a grocery run and more like a scavenger hunt. Thank God for packaging. I appreciate the pictures more now, in case I forget a word. Another interesting thing, that I think that they do most...
