Plate. Bowl.

One of the words for bowl in Russian, глубокая тарелка, literally translates to deep plate. In the arsenal of kitchen ware that my landlady provided there are six bowls. These bowls fit the description of deep plate completely.

They are nice bowls (especially since they are all I have) and they function okay. I run into a little trouble when I want an decent sized bowl of cereal or soup because they simply are not that big. They measure about six inches across and one inch deep ... leaving not a lot of room for a hearty helping of food. I have adjusted to accommodate my portion desire into two servings; granted, it is not convenient to have to get up and refill my bowl, but it works fine.

Whilst I was at the market the other day I passed a lady selling Ukrainian pottery. I see her booth often and always comment to myself that I should buy something, but I am generally never in a position to carry something else home. On Friday however, I was empty-handed and headed home straight away. So I stopped to look. The lady came over and talked to me some about what I was looking for and I finally decided on several bowls (of varying sizes). I was able to practice my numbers and math ... which apparently, I cannot add in any language! We finally decided on a price and I managed to get the bowls across the city in one piece. I have enjoyed using a "real" bowl for meals ever since.

Know You Left The Country.

You know you are no longer in Ukraine when ... you walk into a store and have the following conversation!

Whilst I was in Budapest I had the opportunity to do some shopping at one of the malls in the city. As I was passing one store I noticed an awesome scarf in the window display. After considering weather I needed another scarf or not, I decided to venture into the store and just look at it. They did not have one for sale on the floor - which meant the only one left was in the window display. I took a chance and found an employee to ask if they would sell me the one in the window (something that would generally NEVER happen in Ukraine).

I walked up to the sales girl and said "excuse me" in English. She looked at me a little panicked and said "Deutch?" I shook my head no and asked "Русский (Russian)?" She shook her head no and asked "Francais?" I grimaced and shook my head no and asked "Espanol?" At this point we giggled a bit at each other as she shook her head no. Finally, she shrugged and pointed at her pointer finger and shook her head yes. Haha. Sure thing, I can point and play charades phenomenally well!

So I walked her over to the window display and pointed to the scarf that I wanted, then pointed at my wallet and the cash register and tried to have a look on my face the indicated that I wanted to buy that scarf. Guess what she did?! Yeah, she walked right up to the manikin, pulled off the scarf and handed it to me. I took it and bowed slightly to her (because we had to get some Asian in there somewhere, right?!) and walked over to the cash register paid for it and went on my way.

As I walked out of the store I saw her putting a different scarf on the manikin in the window display. I laughed to myself thinking of all the times I have tried to buy things in Ukraine and have been turned down because it was their last one or the sales person just was not interested in selling it to me. Sometimes I wonder how life progresses around here ...

Into Every Life.

A little snow must fall ...

I think it is cool that 49 of 50 states all had snow on the same day! I do not know how you guys feel about it ... if it makes you feel better I have snow too.

I really do like winter, despite the increasingly large number of posts I have written longing for sunshine, spring or at least temperatures about freezing. It just wears a little on the mind and heart as the months tick by. I took this picture whilst I was in Germany a couple of weeks ago. I took it on the only day the sun shone ... it snowed there too (nearly every day).

Today was only the second day this month we got above freezing, there is snow forecasted for the next ten days and it looks like today will be the only day in those ten to get this warm. I am going to Budapest, Hungry later this week ... they have snow and rain forecasted. I know winter is a world wide experience right now, at least for those of us who live in the northern hemisphere. Spring will be fun - I just cannot imagine the extra rivers that will be running through the city as all this melts.

Literary Society.

For the first time in a long time, I am reading a book that I think I love (I have not finished it … so a complete judgment cannot be had yet). It is called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The book is written as a collection of correspondence between a writer, Juliet Ashton, and completely by happenstance the subjects of her next book – the members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

The letters were written just as the European world began to emerge from the devastation of World War II. The junction of Juliet and the members of the literary society come as each faces the reality of their new lives; as they wonder who to be and how to be. With attempts to reconcile their past and present with the future that faces them – each one is sunk in experiences of the war, yet still clinging to the hope that was their life raft during the German occupation.

What resonates so deeply within me from this book is the contents of the letters. The words on paper. I love how wit, perception, expression and perspicacity surround the communication of thoughts, ideas and memories of a serious topic. I love the sense that each letter was a treasured item; with time and effort put into writing, reading and responding to each one. Through these efforts even strangers could become friends; they share an intimacy that most now shelve in indifference. The personalities of the writers become so clear on the page, I almost feel as though I have invaded some deeply shared secret. I laugh thinking these people would gladly invite me to join their correspondence and they would be willing to invest themselves in me as they so openly did with Juliet.

I hate to think that such writing and cheekiness is simply something that belongs to a different era … a different set of life experiences. This book has given me pause to consider what my own letters might look like to a stranger. Do I share parts of my person or do I simply bow to the status quo of personal correspondence with facts and figures? Do I see who I am and my experiences as bullets on a power point or am I adequate in my own heart to see the colour in the glorious details? I can only pray I infuse a little wit and perception in my thoughts and words … and perhaps a little cheekiness.

Even In Australia.

Ever have one of those days where things just get to you?

The teacher wouldn't hang up your picture of the invisible boat, you messed everything up at the office, you had to get the plain white, boring old sneakers, there were lima beans for dinner, kissing on tv, you got soap in your eyes at bath time and had to wear your railroad train pajamas to bed ... and you hate your railroad train pajamas?!

Yeah, that was me on Monday. Only my list of things consisted of waking up to more snow, another day of freezing temperatures, tights that were not thick enough to face the cold whilst waiting on the marshurtka for twenty minutes, my toes never warming up all day and waking up in the middle of the night freezing!?! I guess you could say that winter got to me on Monday. I laugh because it has really only been three and a half months ... I am such a wimp.

I am thankful that those days do not get to me to often (especially since I have at least another month of winter to go ...). And on Monday I just kept telling myself that some days are like that even in Australia. Until I remembered that it is summer in Australia ... of course.

Punxsutawney Phil.

2 February was Groundhog Day - in America. In case you did not know. It turns out there is a Ukrainian Punxsutawney Phil. Like everything else based on the Orthodox calendar around here he will not even be attempting an appearance for two more weeks.

All I have to say is will the real Punxsutawney Phil please stand up?! According to everything I have read from the states, the groundhog fakers did not see their shadows. Which would mean a short winter and spring is on her way. However, apparently the real deal Phil saw his shadow. Which means six more weeks of winter.

Whilst I would love, love, love for spring to be coming right around the corner (no, really. I would LOVE it) ... judging by my view out the window right now ... I am inclined to agree with the real Phil. Snow is pouring down out of the sky, we are sitting chilly at 17F and according to the forecast there is no end in sight.

Thanks Phil. I appreciate your honesty. Even if it means more winter ...