Skylar’s Blog

slova = word

yezik = language/tongue

rooski = Russian

angle-inski = English

zalstra = tomorrow

sputnik = satellite!

Moosar = garbage

Meeyasa = meat (try not to mix up with garbage)

ootra = morning

dien = day

krasnay = red

vecher = evening

noche = night

snieg = snow

chetayoo = I read

shetayoo = I count

gavaryoo = I speak

horrowshow = good/well

plo-ha = bad

loobloo = love

ya n-ye znayoo pa rooski = I don’t know Russian!

 

Well, if you did not know, I am currently located about 6000 miles from you, give or take.  Thats 10,000 kilometers.  The other side of the world.  Chernigov, Ukraine.  Never been to another continent before.  Its different, and the differences are fascinating to me.  Soo much of it is just perception, but to me it feels like a very unique culture.  Or perhaps an interesting combinations of culture.  Small cultural things seem to come from every direction, north, south, east, and west influences combined into something completely of their own.  And its old! Influences can be traced not only from direction, but also era.  And not that I have met nearly enough people to say that this accounts for all of them, but I feel like the people I am with have a profound respect for living, and that in itself if exhilarating.  With all that said, no matter how different and foreign a place might seem, the some things are the same, and that is great as well.

 

The trip here was interesting.  I forgot to sleep before leaving, and I left my house at 1:30 in the morning.  Had plenty of time at the airport, no rush there, but as soon as I got on the first plane, there were problems (typical, I think I have an average of 1 in 3 of my flights and arrival getting messed up at this point).  The weather was really cold (teens in Fahrenheit), and I think that was probably complicating things, apparently they were having problems with a computer controller of the engines.  Back to the jet way we went…. computer got reset.  In the plane I was swearing to myself, as I only had a 40 minute layover at the next airport, and that time was quickly being eroded away.  If I missed the next flight, it was almost a guarantee that I would not make the international flight, and would like be spending a night at an airport.  Figure a 20 hour trip turned into a 36 hour trip- ugh.  However, fortunately, I hit the ground running and just barely made my next flight, the last person on the plane.  And, on that flight, I swear to god, Paul Giamatti, the actor, was sitting just a row behind me with his family.  I wasn’t sure if it was him on the plane, and even if it was, I didn’t want to be an asshole fan-like person.  But I looked up some stuff online after, and it was totally him and his family!  Hehehe, I thought it was cool, I really like “Lady in the Water”, even though everyone else hates it. 

 

From there, I didn’t spend much time in the next airport either, and then it was only 10 hours straight on  one more plane.  Ugh…..  stretched on forever.  I didn’t feel like I slept on the plane very much, if at all, but… somehow I can remember very little of the flight… When I was conscious on the plane, I had Luda to keep me company, my seat mate.  I must admit, she was awesome!  She was older lady that did not speak a lick of English, but she smiled a lot, and was really nice.  And I was able to help her when the stewardess came around with food and coffee and stuff!  Hehehe, I only know so many words, but it was awesome being useful. 

 

Soon enough I made it.  Off the plane and into Oksana’s arms.  Sigh… so nice .  At this point though, the only sleep I have had is bad sleep on the plane over a 38 hour period, and my clock is all kinds of messed up.  Even now, 2 days later, I desperately want to sleep at around 6 or 7 pm local time (10 am back home, which makes no sense at all to me….), and even after pushing it to 10 pm to sleep, I wake up at 5 am and can’t sleep at all after that.  I am trying really hard to force my internal clock, but circadian rhythms are a function of the body that I now realize are far beyond my control.  It’s a little frustrating…. but oh well.

 

I love all the food, but there is sooo much!  Many different flavors on the table, lots of wholesome food, lots of meat, it’s awesome!  Celebration.  And I must confess, I really liked having the first dinner with Oksana’s family, laughing, talking (sorta), and drinking local honey vodka!  It was awesome. 

 

Well, what else… Its cold, but not real bad.  Colder than Oregon.  The weather… overcast, feels like Oregon… maybe a little flatter though.  I walked on a frozen river yesterday!  Never done that before.  Well, now that I woke up and emptied my mind in the early morning, I’m starting to feel that maybe I do have a bit more sleep in me.  Just gotta keep the clock changing.

Funny how some days one feels the creative spark, and some days not. Quote from the Indian to Dustin Hoffman in “Little Big Man” after the Indian comes back down the mountain, “Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn’t.”

The night sky hasn’t been affording me much to see as of late. Oregon winter = cloudy nights with light rain. First good night in the near future I am still very much anticipating viewing Saturn. Its getting about the right time of year, and i suppose as soon as this next full moon passes and a clear night comes, there will be a prime viewing opportunity. Also, i received a birthday present a little early, seeing as my birthday is Saturday, a set of binoculars. Something i asked for, something that is easy to take with me for viewing the night sky. If and whenever i ever get around to the backpack hiking, they would be something that i would love to have with me as well. I wasn’t very specific when i was asking, other than they be 50 mm objective lenses, a good medium size. And of course i got a great pair of 20 zoom binoculars, but it is an interesting thing what is best for viewing the night sky. Turns out that there is a relationship between the objective lens and zoom power that affects the size of the image presented to your eye. A 20×50 (20 zoom and 50mm main lens) presents roughly a 50/20 = 2.5mm image to the eye. In bright light conditions the pupil constricts to roughly this size, making a 20×50 appropriate for daylight use. However, at night, the pupils can dilate up to as much as 7mm to absorb more light, and when the image is only 2.5mm, much of the pupil’s light absorbing ability is wasted. For night use, with the same size pair of binoculars, it is better to have a lower power set, and as such i swiftly returned my pair for a 10×50 pair. I dislike returning gifts, bu i really like the 10×50’s. I must also say, 20 zoom was really too much for hand held use. They had to be held very very steady to see what you are looking at, and the 10 zoom are much easier to use quickly. Now just for the clouds to pass… or maybe a really interesting looking bird to come by…

I was reading an article on msn the other day about 2008 being the gayest year yet in Hollywood. First off, I must mention that i do not harbor any resentment to the gay community, I guess honestly i don’t harbor much of any strong feeling for the community. However as i was reading the article, I noticed a profound change in my perspective of gays. I can vaguely remember being a high school student, and my perspectives at the time. I would say at that earlier time that the idea of a gay man bothered me. The act, the idea of a man with another man, well, just didn’t fit. I’m straight, go figure. However, at that time in my life, i would be lying if i said the idea of lesbians did not capture my attention (just a little bit, i swear). So, as a very young man, gay men bad, gay women hot. Now I’m reading this article, and i realized a funny thing was happening. Every time I read about a new gay guy that came out in Hollywood, I really wasn’t bothered in the least. However, every time I read about a lesbian in Hollywood, well… my thoughts were, “gosh darn it, she’s gay now!? she’s hot, that sucks.” And damn Ellen marrying this young hot chick, she’s like a sugar daddy? I dunno, I wouldn’t say that lesbians frustrate me, but… you know, the fewer lesbians, the more women on the market, and the more gays, the fewer men to compete with! lol, anyway, seriously not trying to make a political statement, I personally am fine with the idea of gay marriage and rights and whatnot, but its a funny thing how perspective changes.

Well, once this blog is posted i think I’m gonna go make a white wings.

Oh yeah, and I’m leaving the country in two weeks.