Last Full Day in Chernivtsi

Today I slept until about 10, because I stayed up past 3. My sleeping is all out of whack. Having to get up early for conference stuff is going to hurt. Why fix it though, bc it is about to change again?


I packed some, and then it started pouring rain. I had to put away my bear. You can see that I have enjoyed it.

I called Anna to see when she would like to come over to pick up some magazines, etc. I waited until the rain subsided a bit to go to Ace. I had a thorough workout at Ace, just in case I am not able to get there tomorrow. 4 miles in 32:30. I am hoping to go tomorrow but we’ll have to see.

I talked a bit after my workout with my friend Tetiana, the tennis instructor. I finally found out the guy’s name in the gym. It is Sasha.

Afterwards, even though it was raining, I decided to walk around town to see some things one last time and to find some beetroot salad. The first stolovy didn’t have it. I went to Kolas. They didn’t have it, but the lady motioned for me to go across the street. Finally, I found it. I had some beetroot sald and some holubsee. The holubsee wasn’t great. I also picked up some fried green tomato looking things and a cheese blyny/pancake. Living in a country in which one barely speaks the language develops flexibility; I rarely feel like I really have a grasp on situations here, and eating out or going to the market is always a gamble.

I walked home on Vul Ruska and just enjoyed walking around, even though I was getting soaking wet from the rain.

Beetroot salad and holubsee:

I will miss this place. It is a great little city with a fascinating history, and has been a very liveable place as well. And while I established some very good (and healthy) routines here, I will miss the feeling of adventure associated with always seeing something new, and not quite knowing exactly what is going on, what I am doing, what I am eating, and where I am going half the time. You learn to surrender any expectations about control when you travel in a country in which you don’t read the alphabet, much less speak the language. People keep asking me when I will come back, and many just assume I am going home for the summer and then returning in the fall. Everyone seems surprised when I tell them I don’t have any of these answers. It is somewhat sad. 

This afternoon I did some blogging and more packing. As I look at my computer clock, I realize that 24 hours from now, we will be packing the car to go to the train station and leave Chernivtsi.

Tonight, I went to Pizza Park with Andriy and Veronica. It was so good to spend time with them. Their dissertation topics are really interesting (Andriy with political ethics, Veronica with international election overseeing). They do some much for their community, and I enjoyed hearing about Andriy's plans to run for city council in the fall. He is really passionate about political reform and improving life in Ukraine. I like people who are go-getters, and these two definitely are.

Afterwards Andriy suggested we walk to this place about half an hour away. We ended up walking to an overlook near the swamp with a view of Chernivtsi. It was pretty, but dark and muddy and thus we didn’t get to see the view from atop the cliff bc it was really too slippery and dark to get up there.

They came back to the flat and helped translate some things. Evidently my yogurt is cottage cheese (they weren't sure) and muesli, and Mishka Pompushki sings a song about a bear coming to dinner. At first Veronica confused the pronunciation and told me the song is about beer and dinner, mishka meaning beer. So, beer, beer, beer is how the song starts. Then Andriy said, “Not beer, bear!” We had a good laugh about that one and Veronica was, as always, a good sport. So my bear sings about coming to dinner. Nice.

Now I am packing some more. I will be glad when this process is complete!

My last full day here was a good one. I was happy to spend it with some good friends.