A little about Romania and the Ukraine
Trip Start
Aug 21, 2004
1
4
8
Trip End
Sep 16, 2004
Odessa,
Ukraine
Monday, September 6, 2004
(well...Romania and Ukraine, at least):
*Smiles are hard to come by...the word "NO" isn't
*Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes!
*Possibly, just possibly, there is a reason for everything...have fun trying to discover it!
*There is nothing wrong with a shot of vodka for breakfast...and...if you add in a cigarette, complete bliss!
"NO BUS, NO BOAT, NO TRAIN"--words shouted by the "lady" at the ticket counter in the train station in Tulcea, Romania.
"I DON'T KNOW"--words shared over and over by Front Desk employees, shop owners, etc.
"NO" "NO" "NO"--you would have thought I would have taken "NO" for an answer (if not after the first attempt, then surely after attempt #2 or #3)--at a bus station in Chernivsti, Ukraine (but I was certain that there indeed was a bus to Odessa...and...turns out...I was correct!)
The use of the word "NO" (or "Nyet" or "Neu" or some such Russian/Ukrainian/Romania variation) seems to the #1 favorite word here! I am not sure if people are intentionally trying to discourage me...if they truly don't know a particular answer...if they prefer not to communicate with me due to my lack of knowledge of their language...or...if NO means..."FIND ANOTHER WAY" (i.e. A BRIBE would be nice!).
In some cases...the BRIBE does seem to be very effective!
So...as for my bus travels from Chernivtsi - Odessa (a 15 hour ride from hell)...the eventual result was that I boarded a bus bound for Odessa without any proof of payment (the money paid went straight into the ticket lady's pocket--hence the big metal toothed smile on her part!).
Considering that my travel via bus included two seats shared by myself and a family of 4 (spilling onto and around me)...hmm...maybe I should have accepted the first "NO" and found a different mode of transport!
As for tomatoes...what can I say...they are EVERYWHERE! Old ladies ("Babuskas") selling them on each and every corner...out of baskets, barrells...out of the car trunks...and large trucks as well! The price? Well...let's just say...CHEAP! My first tomato-buying experience goes something like this:
Paul: Displaying a One Hryvnia Note (worth about 18 cents), Paul gestures to el-Babuska that he would like to buy Tomatoes worth that amount.
Babuska: You want how much? (In Ukrainian)
Paul: One Hryvnia, please (using non-verbal gestures)
Babuska: How much? (In Ukrainian)
Paul: One Hryvnia, please (using non-verbal gestures)
Babuska: One Hryvnia? Or One KG? (In Ukrainian)
Paul: One Hryvnia, please (using non-verbal gestures)
Babuska: (Turning to the other Babuskas nearby)..."Does this crazy guy really want to buy One Hryvnia worth of Tomatoes? Is this what he wants?" (In Ukranian)
Other Babuskas: I think it is! "Hey you--Crazy Boy--do you really want One Hryvnia worth of Tomatoes?" (In Ukranian)
Paul: Yes! One Hryvnia, please (using non-verbal gestures)
Babuska: OK. One Hryvnia it is! (and she proceeds to completely empty her entire supply of dark red Roma tomatoes...asks if it is OK for her to include the orange-colored tomatoes too...and...proceeds to give me about 3 KG (6.6 LBS) of Tomatoes!
--Paul walks away with a 2 week supply of tomatoes for 18 cents!--
As for there being a reason for everything...well...I am sure there is (but, my guess is, oftentimes the reason isn't a good one!). I try to remember that Ukraine as an independent country is quite young--before that is was a member of the Soviet Union (webs of bureaucracy still entangle life...and...restrict the speed of communication/sharing of information).
And...as for vodka...cigarettes...well...considering both are dirt cheap--no wonder they are the preferred "Breakfast of Champions" (at least for men).
Anyways...just a little intro for now!
Paul
p.s. Cigarettes are about 80 cents / pack. Vodka (depending on quality) is about $1USD - $4USD / bottle.
p.s. Paul's guess at Tourism Slogans Considered by:
Romania:
* Where you are never too young to smoke.
* This Country Brought to you by Phillip Morris.
* Come Visit--We got rid of The Gypsies!
* Our country sucks...take me to yours!
* No means maybe...maybe means "SHOW...ME...THE MONEY!
* Thieves and Prostitutes.
* Better than Ukraina.
* Romanian Girls--Get 'em while they are Hot!
* Tan Lines? What are Tan Lines?
* Thong tha thong thong thong!
Ukraine:
* Life here is difficult.
* Don't confuse the issue...TIME=TIME, MONEY=MONEY, POWER=POWER.
* Where are your gold teeth? Everybody has gold teeth!
* Yes, we are FREE now...but...where's the money?
* Why are you here?
NOTE: I am teaching 3 classes tomorrow--at schools of various levels--High School, College, and University!
