Me? Another language?

Okay, I'll admit it... I never really tried to learn Greek. It happened to a degree, of course, just by virtue of being there, but I never really put in much effort because for some reason I never really cared. In contrast, I want to speak Russian so incredibly much... and consequently I am spending a lot of time learning. Alex and I put stickers all over the apartment today labeling "stol" and "lampa" and "cartina". I've also been trying to use it more. Roman (I adore that name when pronounced in Russian... row-ma(soft)n) was over this evening and I played hostess in Russian even though he understands English fairly well. There was one point where Alex asked me to say the Russian alphabet and I was like "ah, beh, veh, deh... uh I don't think I can... can you guys?" And then they laughed because neither of them could. 

I blame the absence of a Russian alphabet song. 

Coming tomorrow: Christmas tree shopping in Chernigov...

Chernigov After Dark

Since Alex and I managed to miss daylight yesterday, Vara and Alex took me on a little nighttime tour of Chernigov. We drove around for a while and there was an interesting comparison between Soviet housing and older and newer architecture but basically Chernigov looks like any other city... just with more gold-domed churches and more people in fur. WAY more people in fur. So after we drove around for a while it started to snow and the boys took me to a little river port where we got out of the car, climbed a 1,000 year old staircase ("America isn't even as old as this staircase!") and walked around this beautiful old park. As we walked Alex and Vara pointed out different historical landmarks: Here is the oldest church in the former S.U., These are the twelve cannons that defended Chernigov many years ago. Etc. Etc. I was fascinated by how interested and proud they were of their city, of their landmarks, of their history. (By the way, Vera is a friend of Alex who I've met twice now. He doesn't speak English except for "pen, pencil, girl, boy and table" but I adore him anyway. Funny how you can judge someone's character without even having a proper conversation with them. (Or perhaps that's a skill I've acquired living abroad.))

Eventually we got cold and headed home.

"I want to see Ukraine during the day." I said.

"Neit" Alex said, "it's better in the dark."

Ochen Harasho

I think I've been here three days now, but every moment seems to blur into the next leaving me in a sort of haze. There is Absolute Bliss in having the freedom to do nothing and to be with the one you love. You can sleep when you're tired and eat when you're hungary and not feel beholden to anyone or anything. That's what this week has been like... blissful haze. For example, Alex went into the kitchen to make me tea (chai... see my Russian is improving already!) a few minutes ago and came out with a cup of tea, Russian biscuits cut diagonally, almonds and pistachios with a little cocktail umbrella sticking out of one of the biscuits. We're soaking up all those little pleasures that most of the time no one has the time to appreciate... 

[I stopped writing to drink my tea and then watched a movie and fell asleep for 12 hours... it is now past 4 pm the next day and we just woke up, completely missing sunlight, my tour of Chernigov, and any time to prepare for a "Greek themed" dinner we're having for one of Alex's friends... oops.]

As I said, time means nothing to us right now. We literally slept through all of daylight which is a confusing feeling. I feel like I'm back at yesterday. Now that I think about it, we really should get ourselves on some kind of schedule. 

Anyway, let me continue my "arrival" story:

I walked through the door of the airport to where mobs were standing with signs and anxious faces. I walked about ten seconds before I saw him; tall and grinning with a bouquet of roses. We embraced, blocking the passageway out and not caring one bit. I felt a surge of emotions: relief, joy... and a sense that nothing at all had changed. We were apart for four months and still felt every bit the same about each other... perhaps more. 

A moment later Alex introduced me to his friend, Oleqs. (I think? I thought it was the same as Alex's name, but apparently not.) He was sweet and doesn't speak a word of English. We went out to his car and Alex sat in the back with me (on the instruction of Oleqs) and we cuddled and stared at each other like we couldn't believe this was happening. A few minutes passed and we stopped at a little restaurant on the side of the road. It was an adorned log cabin and when you walked in there was a bar in front of you and then stairs on either side leading to little tiny rooms with one table each. We ate some traditional Russian food and then went home to Chernigov where Alex made me dinner. 

Thank You Pasha.

After four months of living in America I'm back overseas and figure I should start blogging again... 

I am currently in Chernigov, Ukraine. And boy was it an interesting trip. Before I explain, though, let me just say I am THRILLED to be here. And, although disoriented, absolutely content to just lie in bed with Alex for like, the rest of eternity. (The only reason I'm writing this is because he ran out to get some potatoes for the dinner he's making me.) 

On Monday afternoon Mom, Joni and Dylan dropped me off at Logan airport. I boarded a plane to JFK and then we waited for half an eternity on the runway, causing me to just barely make my connecting flight. When I stepped (or, rather, slid) into Delta Gate 10 to board the plane I looked around and couldn't contain my laughter. Everyone looked just like Alex. I'm pretty sure I could spot a Ukranian from a helicopter. 

On the JFK-KIEV flight I was seated next to a guy that was probably Alex's long lost twin brother. He was a Ukranian with a US Passport who is currently living in Odessa, Ukraine. I was thrilled when I realized he spoke English and he (along with everyone else) was very curious as to why an American girl was traveling to Ukraine alone. We made conversation over the course of the flight and he turned out to be an interesting guy who reminded me more and more of Alex as the flight went on. And boy was that an excruciating flight. I couldn't sleep (despite three melatonin) or read or watch movies because I was so anxious to get there...

But finally we arrived. Pasha, my seat mate, took down my carry on and as he hopped across the aisle to avoid an inside-airplane traffic jam, instead of the typical wave and "nice to meet you" he said "Come with me" and then basically saved my life about 14 times. "Stand in this line" "Fill this out" "Go now" "Stand here" and then when the passport control guy said I needed Alex's address to enter the country (really?) Basha appeared out of nowhere and gave his address instead and talked the passport guy into letting me through. And then he helped with my luggage, etc, etc. (This airport was absolutely insane and I never ever would have retrieved my bags if it wasn't for him.) The last I saw him we were walking towards the exit and I looked at him nervously and he said "Go, go, see him". And there was Alex on the other side, roses in hand... 

I'll finish the story in my next post... but long story short... thanks Pasha. 

spiti

I'm home. Last night my parents picked me up from the airport and we had a late night Japanese-style dinner. Then Rick and I drank some American beer and mom and I stayed up half the night (despite not having slept in two days) talking. Eventually I went to bed under my down comforter and woke up freezing. It just isn't 104 degrees here and I won't be able to get used to it. I woke up at 8 this morning, again despite the lack of sleep and have been drinking coffee (okay, plural. Coffees.) and talking. I'm giddy to be home but nervous to start my day because I have an incredible amount of stuff to do today. First thing, ride my pony. (Last night I went out to the barn and called her name and she came galloping in from the pasture and the first thing she did was smell me all over. She sniffed my face for a good five minutes before she realized I brought her food.)

Anyway, I'm home. I miss Alex, but I'm home and happy to be here. It feels surprisingly natural. I'll try to make lots of phone calls today but feel free to call me at 603.547.6278!

Love, Elena

AlexAlexAlexAlexAlex...

I don't think I've ever really thought about Zurich before, but it sure looks green from an airplane. Or maybe I'm just comparing it to Athens. 

Anywayyssss (as Jessica and tora half of Korinthos would say), here I am, halfway to America at the Zurich airport in Switzerland. I used mommy's credit card number to buy some Internet time because I have a 9-hour layover here and I can't leave the terminal group I'm in which basically leaves me bored. Really, I should be sleeping instead of typing, but there isn't anywhere good to lie down and I can't sleep sitting up. It is 9 am Swiss time (10 am Greek time) and I've been awake all night sans maybe an hour total of sleep on the plane here. 

Let me catch you up on my life.

My friend Jason visited me for a few days at the end of July. He's in the Peace Corps in Macedonia (or whatever you want to call it, Greeks). It was amazing to see him and be with someone who strangely seemed to relate really well to my situation. Unfortunately he didn't stay long. 

Then, Zach (the little brother) came to visit at the beginning of the month and Alex, Zach, Laura and I went to Santorini to camp for a few days. It was lovely. We rented scooters and ate well and I got to relax for the first time in ages. The only problem was that sleeping on ferries sucks. But anyone could figure that out. After Santorini I had to say bye to Laura (waaaaaahhhhhh) because she was going back to England for a little holiday. Zach stayed with me a few more days after that and by then it was countdown-to-America. Which sucked. I hate goodbyes and Greece is too damn nice in the summer to want to leave. I should have waited until winter. 

Two days ago, after a nice calamari dinner and right before my going away party, Alex tripped on the curb and sprained his ankle pretty badly. He sucked it up through my (AMAZING) party but he's in pretty bad shape. The going away party was really nice. Everyone wrote on a card for me and printed out place cards with my face on them and some Greeklish. I cried a lot and then it took us an hour to walk home because of Alex's ankle. 

Last night (which still seems like today) Alex and I took the last train to the airport. Someone was supposed to drive us, but it fell through so we had to wait 5 hours in the airport. The time went fast because it was my last time with Alex until December which basically sucks a lot. The goodbye was very tearful. Then I had to go through dreaded immigration (you know what I mean by that if you know me) but everything went totally fine. What a waste of 6 months of worrying! (*GRINNNN*) When I got to my gate I hung out with a nice New York couple and then Alex called me to check up and told me to look in my bag where he had hidden a goodbye post card. I started crying (again). I've basically been perma-crying for a week. Why bother drying my tears?

That all said, I AM excited to go home and see my family and my friends and my pets and be somewhere where showers are nice and I can speak English. I'm not sure how long I'll last in America, though. Europe does that to people. Fortunately in December I'm going to Ukraine for a few months to finalize Alex's visa to America. America would be so much cooler with Alex in it. 

Which brings me to what I can't get off my mind. Alex. 

For the first time in my life I feel like, despite so many differences in background, I'm with a guy who wants just what I want. Our lives seem to perfectly intersect and I love him more than should be humanly possible. 

We just have to patient. Which isn't my strong suit. 

Sunday

I love Sundays lately. It is the only day Alex and I get to sleep in and cuddle, which I adore and day just feels relaxing. I guess there is something to be said for living in a religious (take that word as you may) country. Sundays are somehow still sacred. The stores are closed. People are at home. The biggest stress on a Sunday is cleaning the house or getting coffee. And things, usually, are nice and quiet around town. Of course today at what I'd guess was 8 am, three guys decided to jackhammer the sidewalk below our balcony. That, I was not so happy about. 

We finally rolled out of bed this morning at around noon. Then I made coffee and pancakes. I made Alex's mom (we realized at breakfast that I never call her anything because I haven't found an appropriate name yet... isn't that strange. They tried to teach me the word for "mother-in-law" in Russian but it had too many difficult sounds. My Russian sucks.) one in the shape of a lamtha which is also what a Russian L looks like. (For "Luda", her name) And I made Alex one in the shape of an alpha. My mom had sent us some NH maple syrup, so the pancakes were basically perfect. 

Now it is 3 pm. Jason was supposed to come earlier but due to train delays he won't be here until late tonight. I'm a little disappointed because I'd like Alex and Jason to hang out some, but what can you do? Eastern Europe (And I'm including Greece in that) isn't so good with train scheduling. 

I think I'm going to go watching some Sunday TV in English and paint my nails. I love having time to relax!

Love, Elena