Okay!
I finally was able to go down to the ж. д. vauxhaul and buy my train tickets home. I heard stories that some people where having a hard time buying tickets to come down to N-- for the weekend since we are hosting a "music festival" of sorts. There are numerous holidays coming up and a lot of university students have off, so people will be travelling.
There was a long line at all of the ticket booths this morning so I promptly left to go to the VIP kaca. There was a line there too. A line full of angry people since they could not buy tickets for the trains they wanted, since they were all sold out.
I anxiously waited my turn and yes, tickets from N-- to Kyiv where in fact sold out. "All tickets?" I inquired. I could not believe that the first class seats would be taken. "All," the ticket lady told me. Dammit.
I explained to her in my crappy Russian that my brother was getting home and I needed to catch a plane. Okay. What I really said was "my brother will be groom. I need Kyiv plane" and the date. Very good, Molly. Seven months and that is the best that you can do?
Anyway, feeling my anguish and seeing that I was in near tears, she found something for me. A ticket from ODESSA to Kyiv on the same day that will get me into Kyiv around the same time. Joy of joys. I told her to do it, because shit, at this point in time, I don't have a choice. I will simply have to take a marshrtuka to Odessa, adding more money and time, but hey, I'll be home.
I unfortunately also will need to stay in Kyiv an extra night on my way back, because there isn't a train that leaves late enough, "supposedly," although I believe that this too is b.s. But again. It will all be good.
And thanks to Leah for following through on the phone call. I have been assured that there will be pizza awaiting me upon my arrival. I just hope that it's not Dominos or Papa Johns, even though at that hour and after such a long flight, I probably won't care.
Oh, and can I add a liter of root beer?
There was a long line at all of the ticket booths this morning so I promptly left to go to the VIP kaca. There was a line there too. A line full of angry people since they could not buy tickets for the trains they wanted, since they were all sold out.
I anxiously waited my turn and yes, tickets from N-- to Kyiv where in fact sold out. "All tickets?" I inquired. I could not believe that the first class seats would be taken. "All," the ticket lady told me. Dammit.
I explained to her in my crappy Russian that my brother was getting home and I needed to catch a plane. Okay. What I really said was "my brother will be groom. I need Kyiv plane" and the date. Very good, Molly. Seven months and that is the best that you can do?
Anyway, feeling my anguish and seeing that I was in near tears, she found something for me. A ticket from ODESSA to Kyiv on the same day that will get me into Kyiv around the same time. Joy of joys. I told her to do it, because shit, at this point in time, I don't have a choice. I will simply have to take a marshrtuka to Odessa, adding more money and time, but hey, I'll be home.
I unfortunately also will need to stay in Kyiv an extra night on my way back, because there isn't a train that leaves late enough, "supposedly," although I believe that this too is b.s. But again. It will all be good.
And thanks to Leah for following through on the phone call. I have been assured that there will be pizza awaiting me upon my arrival. I just hope that it's not Dominos or Papa Johns, even though at that hour and after such a long flight, I probably won't care.
Oh, and can I add a liter of root beer?
posted by Molly | 4:56 AM
4 Comments:
Oh, and I forgot to comment on the customer service. I was surprised that the woman did not yell and scream at me like she did everyone else. And at least TWO people in line wanted to make sure that I understood that the train leaving was from ODESSA and not my town. Pretty nice of them.
You big foreigner you. Dont you know that you are better than the Ukraine people? They obviously do.
-e
yay for pizza. oh, and wow, i can't believe it's been a year. YAY for you! it's so exciting and sounds like such an exciting experience. As for the blog- is what your doing rewarding? do you think it chimes with the peace corp mission? would you reccomend it? are you too close to say anything about it?
my blog turned 1 today. it is strange!
Chandra-my work is very rewarding. I love my students and the work I do. In terms of the PC mission, that is a good and hard question to define. We have three goals, and I would say that I do all three: 1) share American culture with foreigners 2) share foreign culture with Americans 3) provide tech support. Yep on all three. It's just probably not your traditional PC assignment: being in a university, in a city, and in a pretty developed country like Ukraine. But shit, it's hard work too. And I would recommend it to anyone.
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