Odds and Ends...

Tomorrow I will go to the supermarket and do my weekly shopping in the morning and then meet the cluster there around 11am. We will all walk to Tanya’s house so I can show them where I live. Then we will take the bus to the “big bazaar” to see that, and then we will head over to some of the host family apartments in that area. I understand you can get “anything” at the bazaar, so hopefully they will have some slippers that I am in need of.

Speaking of buying things, some have asked if I get “paid” to be here. Well, although the Peace Corps is called a volunteer position, I do get a stipend- which is a sum of money that is supposed to cover my food, living, official travel, and a little bit of “fun money”. This amount changes from country to country and Ukraine, I believe, gets one of the highest monthly allotments. Basically, I get around 1000 Grivnas (Hrv) per month, which is about Hrv 33 per day, which is about US$4.00 per day. Now, since I am living with a host family, my lodging is covered, as are all of my breakfasts and dinners. Lunches are mine and why I go to the supermarket. Eating out will get expensive when on a budget like this. (FYI, we celebrated someone’s birthday at a restaurant the other day and my chicken shish kebab, French fries, and a 1/3 litre beer were Hrv 48 (US$6.00)- pretty cheap, right? But when I only make Hrv 33/day, that was a pretty steep dinner (imagine paying for one meal for one person what you make in a day and a half!). 

Living with Tanya is still fun. She is so happy with how my Russian is improving and keeps telling my language teacher how nice I am. She also lights up when I do the dishes- I am pretty sure she has never seen a man do the dishes in her life! The way her husband laughs at me for doing them makes me think this. Hey, I am secure enough to wash some dishes even if this means he may hear the Russian equivalent of “would it kill you to pick up a dish towel once in a while?” The food, for the most part is pretty good and I am grateful for her efforts. She makes me oatmeal every morning and I get rotating toppings (raisins and honey, apricot jam, raspberry jam, and a new one to me…smoked prunes!). The prunes weren’t bad, but they are so powerful, that a little goes a long way. Easy on those prunes…for a couple of reasons!

 Anyway, she is great and watches me eat every day, helping me with vocabulary. With her help, I am sure I will speak Russian much more goodly soon.

Lastly, this is a cool looking church that is at the corner of the street where I run to every morning. I wish Clifton Park had such things to look at!