Women's Day
It was decided earlier in the week that one of the volunteers in town and myself would head out to a town where two other PCVs live to celebrate Women's Day at their site. It increased in number to include another female PCV living in another small town in another direction.
Plans changed a bit once we realized that our old and new managers would come to town for dinner and it was decided that we would visit the town (B--) for the day and then have all the girls (4 total) come back with us to N--. It was to be a fun-filled day full of adventure.
Early in the morning I meet up with the other two volunteers and we wait for about 45 minutes for the marshrutka to fill up. Finally it does and it takes off on ever increasing bumpy and icy roads. Eventually we get to B-- and are greeted by the two enthuastic volunteers who are happy to have people come and visit their town. This is the first time that I've been in a small town since I left K-- in training. It was great to be back in a small town where people go out of their way to be extra friendly and helpful.
We went to one of the PCV's host family's to celebrate and ate till we could not eat another bite and drank numerous bottles of champagne. Ever the gracious hostess, the host mother kept the conversation going (in both Russian and Ukrainian) and the food and drink coming. Finally, we all went out for a bit to the "night club" in town, which turned out to be a really nice place. As we were the only customers in the place, save some youngish boys playing archades, the owner brought over a complimentary bottle of red dessert wine and asked is she and one of her employers could join us. Ah, the sorts of small pleasures that come with living in a small town.
Drinking and dancnig to "Mambo Number 5," we looked at our watches and realized we had to poshlee to the marshtruka in order to meet our managers at the designated time. Myself and my N-- mate get their a few minutes earlier while the girls are getting their things together in order to save some seats, but as we were waiting, three people came, leaving us two seats short, so after some attempts at sitting on some laps, they just decided to stand, the whole while we are talking and enjoying the ride.
We get back to N-- and meet our managers and go downstairs for drinks and dinner. We do some dancing, chatting, and in general just having a great time. We also witness a Ukrainian wedding proposal.
On my way up to use the bathroom, I run into this young Ukrainian woman who asks me if I speak English and again, we go through the "where are you from" deal. She is very nice, asks me to call her Julia, because she looks like Julia Roberts (she does) and her name is Yulia, Julia is the anglicized version. At any rate, when I am finished and go back downstairs, she calls out to me, asks me to dance, and wants to chat. I go over to where she and her boyfriend are and we talk for quite a bit, again, do the number exchange, and speak more and more in Russian, mostly through the help of another volunteer who actually has a good command of the language. I am always happier when a woman or girl takes an interest, because you know there is no chance of their being some sort of relationship miscommunication, and also because it happens so rarely that a female will randomly seek out the company of another female, at least in my experience.
I am still sitting and talking with them when the rest of my party leaves, so I follow them out and we decide that all the girls will stay with one volunteer for the night and we head back to his place where we get ready for bed and chat for awhile before finally going to sleep. We hit up McDonald's in the morning for breakfast.
Chalk Women's Day up as one of the best holidays ever. Also, this good streak is continuing, and I am hoping that it does not stop.
Plans changed a bit once we realized that our old and new managers would come to town for dinner and it was decided that we would visit the town (B--) for the day and then have all the girls (4 total) come back with us to N--. It was to be a fun-filled day full of adventure.
Early in the morning I meet up with the other two volunteers and we wait for about 45 minutes for the marshrutka to fill up. Finally it does and it takes off on ever increasing bumpy and icy roads. Eventually we get to B-- and are greeted by the two enthuastic volunteers who are happy to have people come and visit their town. This is the first time that I've been in a small town since I left K-- in training. It was great to be back in a small town where people go out of their way to be extra friendly and helpful.
We went to one of the PCV's host family's to celebrate and ate till we could not eat another bite and drank numerous bottles of champagne. Ever the gracious hostess, the host mother kept the conversation going (in both Russian and Ukrainian) and the food and drink coming. Finally, we all went out for a bit to the "night club" in town, which turned out to be a really nice place. As we were the only customers in the place, save some youngish boys playing archades, the owner brought over a complimentary bottle of red dessert wine and asked is she and one of her employers could join us. Ah, the sorts of small pleasures that come with living in a small town.
Drinking and dancnig to "Mambo Number 5," we looked at our watches and realized we had to poshlee to the marshtruka in order to meet our managers at the designated time. Myself and my N-- mate get their a few minutes earlier while the girls are getting their things together in order to save some seats, but as we were waiting, three people came, leaving us two seats short, so after some attempts at sitting on some laps, they just decided to stand, the whole while we are talking and enjoying the ride.
We get back to N-- and meet our managers and go downstairs for drinks and dinner. We do some dancing, chatting, and in general just having a great time. We also witness a Ukrainian wedding proposal.
On my way up to use the bathroom, I run into this young Ukrainian woman who asks me if I speak English and again, we go through the "where are you from" deal. She is very nice, asks me to call her Julia, because she looks like Julia Roberts (she does) and her name is Yulia, Julia is the anglicized version. At any rate, when I am finished and go back downstairs, she calls out to me, asks me to dance, and wants to chat. I go over to where she and her boyfriend are and we talk for quite a bit, again, do the number exchange, and speak more and more in Russian, mostly through the help of another volunteer who actually has a good command of the language. I am always happier when a woman or girl takes an interest, because you know there is no chance of their being some sort of relationship miscommunication, and also because it happens so rarely that a female will randomly seek out the company of another female, at least in my experience.
I am still sitting and talking with them when the rest of my party leaves, so I follow them out and we decide that all the girls will stay with one volunteer for the night and we head back to his place where we get ready for bed and chat for awhile before finally going to sleep. We hit up McDonald's in the morning for breakfast.
Chalk Women's Day up as one of the best holidays ever. Also, this good streak is continuing, and I am hoping that it does not stop.
posted by Molly | 1:45 AM
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