Stardate: Monday, September 03, 2007

Monday, September 03, 2007
Tucking In
Everyday seems to be more and more comfortable and homey for us. We have accumulated enough things around the flat to make it like home. Patrick seems intent on nest building. Every time he goes to the markets he comes back with something to make our lives here a bit more like home; today, it was potato chips and a potty seat for Maddy.

Traveler’s Stomach
After a late start today, we went to our favorite café on Pushkinskaya for some coffee. I’ve been suffering for a couple of days with a challenging and slightly debilitating round of traveler’s gut (nausea and diarrhea). So, when my mocha came as a chocolate cocktail more like a chocolate martini, I almost yacked on the spot! It was 10:30am. I’m sure the servers, who don’t speak any English, thought I was a freak. Maddy calls her hot chocolate, coffee.
She sits with us and drinks her “coffee” like a champ.

Work Worries
Well, I’m starting to really want to get to work. I haven’t been without something pressing to do for so long that I feel quite without a rudder. Classes start this week, so I will find out soon when I will be teaching. I think the classes will be speaking and listening—like an oral communication class. I should have two classes per week. The classes are 1.5 hours long and divided into 2 with five minute break after 45 minutes. Since they are so long, I want to make sure that I have enough material for the first day. I think that I will do a self intro, have them interview each other for a peer introduction, then do intro bingo (if I can get it printed in enough time), then we will do interviews of each other for a “newspaper” column about individual interests, likes/dislikes, hobbies, courses they’re taking, work, family, friends, etc. I thought that I would have them interview and then write up the interview for me.

Market Maze
Antonina took us to the “biggest market in Europe” yesterday. Vladimir and Vasilisa watched Maddy, and we set off on the subway (4 stops up) for the market about 8:30am. It was pretty cool. It reminded me a lot of the markets in Thailand with the exception of the fact that in SE Asia all the kinds of sales items are mixed together. In Ukraine there are specific markets for specific goods, and even certain locations within markets that sell specific items, like children’s goods, hats, or coats, sheets, etc. Interesting.

Are you Getting Gypped? (I'm not encouraging the use of this discriminatory word-it is for effect only.) Antonina told us to stay close together and keep a close eye on our wallets, because she said that there are many gypsies who hypnotize people and take their money. I saw some gypsies, but managed to avoid the evil eye! ;-) Antonina says that once she went to the market with a $100.00 dollar bill and was hypnotized by an old gypsy woman. She said that the next thing she knew she was standing in a daze and someone was shaking her shoulder “waking” her. She said she had only a $1.00 in her hand. I don’t know how much credence to give to this nonsense, but I didn’t combat her belief system. First off, I can’t believe that this still matters here. Pat told me that Russians and Ukrainians are very superstitious people. My belief system is that gypsies are seriously discriminated against and they will steal to survive. I don’t know if they are hypnotizing people to do it or whether they just do the quick switcheroo when you’re not looking. Perhaps I’m wrong. After reading the gypsy tales of Russia book, I realized that within the gypsy communities that it has become a survival practice to beg and steal, because historically communities have shunned their nomadic ways. They were forced to do something for survival. They didn’t farm because that was too settled and stationary; whereas telling fortunes, breeding horses, begging, music and dancing for entertainment, and stealing became common and acceptable occupations that a nomadic people could do to survive in a hostile, exclusionary environment.

400 Thread Count, ha!
Anyway, at the market, we purchased a set of sheets for H70,00 ($14.00). We wanted the softest sheets we could find and the best we could get are still pretty itchy. The vendor told me (though Antonina) that people don’t want soft sheets; they want durable ones. In the US, we are so accustomed to “luxuries” and have the income to do it that we almost forget the in some places people still buy for durability and not comfort…We have become used to deluxe.

Furocious
One surprising thing at this market was that there were tons of real furs. Apparently social consciousness and PEETA haven’t arrived here yet! Thousands of real mink, beaver, chinchilla, etc coats and hats of all styles-short and long with hoods and/or belts and with or without leather…The variations are unimaginable. What was even more incredible was that the prices were actually affordable by American standards. A handsome grey cocktail length mink coat was H2,200 (or $440) {unless I misunderstood Antonina}. Pat did end up getting a very nice warm fur-lined leather hat that looks like a Greek fisherman’s cap with pull down ear protectors. He likes it at least. ;-) I thought the traditional Ruskie looking one was a bit more fun, but Antonina said it was too old fashioned and reminds Ukrainians of the Soviets. I think that we will buy one for Jeff De Grave prior to returning.

I would like to go back to visit the market again, but Antonina, or another Russian speaker, would need to go, because they will not negotiate as well for foreigners, or specifically Americans (they think we have the cash, so…).