On Saturday, Oct 17th, my friend Ylona from Seoul skyped me and asked if I will be on Sunday, Oct 18th, home at 4.30 hours (Kiev time). She sounded very mysterious. But she sent me a link to a radio program "Goudmijn" at KRO. The link to listen was http://www.goudmijn.kro.nl/
This is a program were far away friends send songs to each other. I was touched to listen to Ylona from Seoul talking on a Dutch radio about herself and two of us having good time in Seoul. She sent me “La Camisa Negra” by Juanes. Dear Ylona, thanks again for making me happy!
But the idea is the receiver of a song should make another friend happy. Immediately on Monday I was contacted by Margo - a program assistant. To keep both Seoul and Dutch connection I decided to send a song to Andre – a friend of mine from Seoul who is now in Jakarta. To choose a song I needed some time for deliberation. Making a song choice was not without difficulties, but finally I choose a song by Mercedes Sosa who unfortunately passed away on Oct 4th.
Margo - the program assistant - told me she will call me on Sunday. As last weekend I was with Kees and Catharine in Crimea I could not warn Andre to listen to the program (as Ylona warned me).
So yesterday afternoon while Kees, Catharina and myself were driving in Crimea from Sevastopol to the airport in Semfiropol, Margo called me and I found myself “on air”.
It felt bizarre to sit in a car with my Dutch friends on our way to the airport in Simferopol to catch a plane back to Kiev while sending an “on air letter” to a Dutch friend I met in Seoul who now lives in Jakarta. As we were driving the mobile phone connection was poor. I heard only half of what Margo and the editor said. I also tried to speak “my best” Dutch. Kees and Catharine were very supportive – they have not laughed while I spoke Dutch on the radio.
Today I received an email from Andre. He was happy to hear me and to receive a song.
Now Andre has a chance to greet a friend!
What a great idea from kro.nl to give people a chance to make far away friends both closer and happy by sending songs all over the world through their radio program!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Autumn in Alexandryvka
We have great autumn days and I visited Alexandryvka Park today. The park is about 80 km from Kiev. The foliage is beautiful: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/AutumnInAlexandryvka?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfr2f2Gta-9zQE&feat=directlink
Water "Avarya"
I wrote about not having warm water in summer times as municipality is busy with water pipes maintenance. One would think that after three months of a maintenance period water pipes would be in excellent condition to supply water for the rest of the year. Unfortunately that is not the case.
Every time I see this yellow truck close to my home I know there will be no water for some time.
For those who does not know some Russian the text on the truck says "avarya vodoprovovodu" and in russian "avarya" means "accident".
When I started Russian classes with Natalia - my lovely Russian teacher in Moscow - this was the first word she thought me. In my first Russian class she asked me about Russian words I know. As "avarya" was not in my vocabulary, she thought me this word saying that this is one of most important words in everyday life. And indeed it is as avarya is used when: there is a car accident, there is no water or electricity, heating does not work, lift is out of order, etc. Here accidents are abundant.
Every time I see this yellow truck close to my home I know there will be no water for some time.
For those who does not know some Russian the text on the truck says "avarya vodoprovovodu" and in russian "avarya" means "accident".
When I started Russian classes with Natalia - my lovely Russian teacher in Moscow - this was the first word she thought me. In my first Russian class she asked me about Russian words I know. As "avarya" was not in my vocabulary, she thought me this word saying that this is one of most important words in everyday life. And indeed it is as avarya is used when: there is a car accident, there is no water or electricity, heating does not work, lift is out of order, etc. Here accidents are abundant.
Farmers Market
On Saturday Oct 17th there was a farmers market on Khreshatik: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/FarmersMarketOnKreschatik?authkey=Gv1sRgCP79mcGwqYyLfg&feat=directlink
Demonstrations against rich in A'dam
On Sep 26th there was a demonstration aginst rich in A'dam. The protesters carried posters of Marx and slogans "Tax the rich". It was intersting to see this protest. In comparison with average Ukrainian all protestors would be considered very rich by Ukrainian standard.
See photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/DemonstrationInADamAgainstRich?authkey=Gv1sRgCILs9-qP79KUlQE&feat=directlink
See photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/DemonstrationInADamAgainstRich?authkey=Gv1sRgCILs9-qP79KUlQE&feat=directlink
Amsterdam
End of Sep I was in A'dam. The weather was great and I went for a canal tour with a boat. Finally had some time to post some photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/ADamSep09?feat=directlink
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Taxi home
Today I was invited by Kati and Nechko for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner. It was great. Kati spent entire day roasting turkey (who flew from US), making broccoli pure, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and pumpkin, pecan and apple pie. The dinner was spectacular. Such great dinner was accompanied with wonderful wine.
After such a nice dinner to get back home I hailed a cab. In Kyiv if you want a taxi ride you just stretch your arm and any driver wanting to moonlight as a taxi driver will stop. Sometimes even official taxi’s stop but than meter is never on. You say where you want to go and how much you are willing to pay. If negotiations are successful you get in, if not you stay a bit longer on a street. Usually after short negotiations you get in and they are willing to drive you for a price you wish to pay. It’s basically safe and often I have interesting conversations with the drivers. Tonight leaving Kati’s place an old Lada stopped. We agreed on a price and we were quickly driving towards my place. The driver was interested where I am from and I said Croatia. WE had a short conversation about Croatia, war etc. At one point he asked me if Albania was part of Yugoslavia. He explained that he met one Albanian from Yugoslavia but that guy have not spoke Russian. I explained Kosovo situation in the simplest way possible. The driver asked me about difference between Albanians and Croatians. I tried to explained the best I could. Thank I asked him so where you met your Albanian friend. The answer was: “Izvinite na tochnosti no mi stretilse v turmy” or in translation ”Excuse me for being precise but we met in prison”. Luckily at that point we reached my home and I get out.
After such a nice dinner to get back home I hailed a cab. In Kyiv if you want a taxi ride you just stretch your arm and any driver wanting to moonlight as a taxi driver will stop. Sometimes even official taxi’s stop but than meter is never on. You say where you want to go and how much you are willing to pay. If negotiations are successful you get in, if not you stay a bit longer on a street. Usually after short negotiations you get in and they are willing to drive you for a price you wish to pay. It’s basically safe and often I have interesting conversations with the drivers. Tonight leaving Kati’s place an old Lada stopped. We agreed on a price and we were quickly driving towards my place. The driver was interested where I am from and I said Croatia. WE had a short conversation about Croatia, war etc. At one point he asked me if Albania was part of Yugoslavia. He explained that he met one Albanian from Yugoslavia but that guy have not spoke Russian. I explained Kosovo situation in the simplest way possible. The driver asked me about difference between Albanians and Croatians. I tried to explained the best I could. Thank I asked him so where you met your Albanian friend. The answer was: “Izvinite na tochnosti no mi stretilse v turmy” or in translation ”Excuse me for being precise but we met in prison”. Luckily at that point we reached my home and I get out.
Igor meets Vasja (again)
This morning while walking Igor I met Vasja – the dog trainer. This was not planned. The weather was great and Vasja was raiding a bike. Although Igor's last obedience training was three months ago, the moment Igor saw Vasja he transformed from a naughty boy to an obedient dogie.
With Vasja around Igor was walking next to my leg and behaving very nicely. Betty, one of his girls wanted to play with him. But with Vasja around Igor kind of “lost” the interest. Once Vasja left Igor was behaving as usual: selective hearing at the best and running after girls like crazy. I agreed with Vasja to resume trainings.
With Vasja around Igor was walking next to my leg and behaving very nicely. Betty, one of his girls wanted to play with him. But with Vasja around Igor kind of “lost” the interest. Once Vasja left Igor was behaving as usual: selective hearing at the best and running after girls like crazy. I agreed with Vasja to resume trainings.
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