There is a Spring!

As I mentioned, when last we met, this is a country of extremes. I meant this in terms of the change in weather between winter and spring (and truly it is completely opposite in spring, it is not yet summer). I suppose this can also be seen in other aspects as well, but I would prefer to only discuss the setting of our story

During winter, among other things, I was new to my surroundings; the weather was always bad; I was always cold, regardless of where I was; and it was just generally I will admit I was unhappy. I mean this as in actively unhappy, not simply a lack of happiness, but the state of being completely not happy. There are, of course, other reasons for this, than simply the weather, including the usurpation of my independence, by way of the usurpation of my own apartment. I was then sent to live with a family, and that was interesting. Living with a family that is not your own is a difficult task, and I challenge anyone who disagrees with my statement.

But, like during my teens, I am engaged in a landscape full of mood swings. This is with both the population, and the land itself. I am now full engrossed in a joyous time of, as the cliché we use when describing Spring in English class states, the world is full of new life. The country literally bursts out from the doldrums of winter in which a permanent state of gray encompasses the entirety of the country, even Kyiv (which I think is a phenomenal city), to a country full of deep blue skies, and deep green forests. The flag of Ukraine is a line of rich sky blue over a line of a bright yellow – this symbolizes the rich fields of grain under the big blue sky – and I have not yet seen these fields, but I am looking forward to it with bated breath. But, what I have seen is, as I mentioned earlier, the deep green of fertile fields which are beginning to sprout, trees thick with new leaves, and sunny weather.

When I mention the landscape of winter, I should say that at times even it is beautiful. But even these times are fleeting. As with any place, under a fresh coat of snow the country is gorgeous and I would even say inviting. But, that fresh snow soon gives way to the dirty slush caused from cars, and walking, and the ice makes even the slowest walking, and shortest walks a challenge. At night it will glimmer in the moon like the laughing eyes of a bully, just ready to put you down, and mock you while you are there.

However around the middle of April the weather started to do an about-face. I started going once a week to Vinnitsia, which is the closest “big” city to me, I will readily admit a major drawing point was the availability of McDonalds. But one of the best aspects of this trip was travelling through the country. The city itself literally sprouts out of nowhere . . . it goes farm land, farm land, farm land, big city, farm land, farm land, farm land on all sides. Going every weekend I was able to see the transformation of winter to spring in a really dramatic fashion. I did not think about it at the time, as such, but really it was a veritable saving grace when I wasn’t happy with my living situation, and I wasn’t happy with my surroundings. But, suffice it to say, this has changed with time and the season.

I think a good description of the landscape in my neck of the woods would be to picture the area of farmland between western Massachusetts and Connecticut out to Ohio. I’m speaking from the perspective of Interstate 80 or 90, I don’t recall which we used to take on our road trips out to the Chicago area. But, that is definitely what I was reminded of. Perhaps it is just because they are both farm areas, but even the terrain seems to be similar. I’m no botanist, so I cannot tell you whether or not the flora is exactly similar. I know one of the main crops here is wheat. Also, I’m not familiar yet with the fauna of Central Ukraine, so I cannot speak of those similarities either. I do know there are many wild pigs, I won’t say boars, because they are pretty small. There are deer, but mercifully, a negligible amount of Lyme (’s?) Disease. Also, I saw a snake the other day when I went fishing, it was relatively small, and I did not get a good look at it. We also have, thankfully, mosquitoes. I couldn’t imagine what I would do without mosquitoes for two years.

When I tell people here I love spring they immediately ask when my birthday is, and when I tell them they say “you must love spring.” I don’t understand this. I, furthermore, do not understand the Ukrainian love-affair with the birthday. I do not understand the importance of a birthday, and why I should be congratulated for being born. When it comes down to it, I literally did nothing to be born. Then again, I’m probably just a party-pooper, and this has no bearing on the point at hand.

So, what have I done since the weather has improved? Well, as I mentioned last I have spent 2 days playing soccer, and then spent some time at our softball weekend. I have gone picking wild garlic. It is pretty delicious, and we made a salad of wild garlic, hard-boiled eggs, and mayonnaise. It might not sound good, but it really is; mayonnaise is put on almost every salad here. We have also gone shashlyking (basically barbequing) twice. Once was with chicken wings, and in a local forest. The other time was while we were fishing. The fishing here is a bit different than what I’m used to at home. At home, of course, it is casting, reeling in, and casting again. Here the fishing is what is called “cane pole” fishing. We literally cast the line, and then just hang out and watch it. When the bobber goes under we have a fish, and we swing in the line. It was different, but still a good time. Shashlyking seems to be, at least with other volunteers, the best of the Ukrainian traditions. It is delicious, it is fun, and it is done outdoors during the nice weather.

I’m hoping, for my birthday, to shashlyk. It is probably my favorite food in Ukraine, either that or holuptsi which are cabbage leaves stuffed with a combination of rice, and ground beef. Luckily, being that May is the month of long weekends, and holidays I will have a nice three day weekend in honor of my birthday. This holiday is Trinity Sunday, I don’t know the history, or real purpose of the celebration, other, of course, than the fact that it celebrates the Holy Trinity.

In more disconcerting news, I read an article today about Texas’ Education Board. The evangelicals, and conservatives in that most reasonable of states is not happy with the liberal bias in current history and social studies text books. As such, they are planning to rework history a little bit to make sure the minds of Texan youths are not poisoned. I will not go into their points, but it is a very interesting article and you can find it on The Guardian, the British newspaper’s, website. I’m curious to see what anyone else has to say about this. (As an example they wish to paint Thomas Jefferson, and his separation of church and state as a minor figure in American history. . . and I should mention, they think that the separation of church and state is a myth.) I wish I had another emotion other than puzzled bemusement, but I don’t.

But I will leave you with the fact that as this is being posted I am in Kyiv. I have a meeting, but the time of that meeting is flexible, so I’m not sure what I will do. I have found a fantastic Irish pub in Kyiv, and I may go there. Kind of a birthday treat, though it is bad luck to celebrate your birthday before it occurs here. We’ll see. I have trouble rationalizing spending 150 hryvnias (about $20) on lunch . . . even if it is fantastic, and comes with Guinness. I may also go to either Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) or Kreshchatyk, two main centers in Kyiv which are very nice. The options are unlimited, and luckily I have flexibility in my return trips, because there are many trains that stop in my town. So, that’s all I’ve got.

Be good,

Pete