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Deckard's trip report - POST #8

Life in Simferopol * August - October, 2001

I noticed, that when buying something in a crowded store, it is very common for browsers to interrupt the cashier while the cashier is busy servicing buyers and other browsers. Here in America, usually people wait there turn, not just to buy, but even to ask questions. Over there, I commonly observed potential buyers interrupting the cashier, even while the cashier was busy counting up money for a customer! And to my surprise, no one got upset, not the cashier, and not the other people standing in line, if they were delayed by others in this manner.

And catching a busy, ho boy!! In the first few weeks, if it was up to me to catch a bus, I might never catch one, unless it was empty! Everyone would push and shove to get into a bus, and the most aggressive people would get on the bus. It took me a little while to overcome my "politeness" to let everyone else get in front of me, and also my aversion to such close proximity to other people. Luda did jokingly tell me that she was "proud" of me after I finally got the hang of it. There was no animosity or violence among those pushing and shoving people, it was only recognized by all, that some would not get on the bus successfully, and some would not, and no hard feelings :). These were just some of the new experiences that I went through.

From the very beginning of my arrival, I tried to keep a very low profile. I knew the economic situation in Ukraine was not good, and in fact, worsening. I did not want to draw unwanted attention to myself, nor Luda and her family. I had heard stories of Americans sometimes getting visited by members of the mafia, but also I did not want Luda's friends to be asking her family for money (just because I'm American). I did not want any chance of Luda getting mugged after I had returned to the States, and I felt she would be safer if no one knew I was American. Since I was staying there for so long, this was somewhat of a challenge at times, and sometimes couldn't be avoided.

As such when Luda and I went out in public we kept our voices down when we felt people could overhear us. If people were nearby, I would normally speak into her ear quietly, and vice versa. It became almost a natural habit. However, sometimes I felt that people might have heard a word that they may not recognize as Russian. In that event I sometimes just spontaneously and loudly said "Da!", "Nyet!", "Potom", or "Etag", etc, until the person was out of hearing range, much to the amusement and slight embarrassment of Luda.

Whenever we shopped or bought something, Luda would do the talking, such as ordering food in cafes or buying anything in general.

After September 11th, we were even more cautious, and I was very wary of being followed or stared at.

More about Luda and I in the next post.

---- To be continued in POST #9 ----

... in response to Deckard's trip report - POST #8, posted by Deckard on Jan 23, 2002

Marina and I left for Ukraine Monday the 17th, following the terrorist bombings.  It was almost surreal to be watching the star studded Sept 11th charity broadcast on TV, while in Ukraine.  I think it came on over there a few days after they put it on in the US.  Somehow it reinforced to me that I just couldn't escape it, despite going overseas.  It was kind of depressing.

As far as it impacting my stay in Ukraine otherwise, it really didn't mean much.  Life went on and we simply did what we had planned to do anyway.  The only headaches we had was simply the plane travel over and back, but it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience over previous flights we had taken.

... in response to Going after Sept 11th., posted by John K on Jan 23, 2002


Yeah, life carried on as normal in Simferopol, but I the exchange rates went down a slight bit. I think there was a lot of talk though about the attacks. I know the Ukraine government started some anti terrorist training after the attacks too.

I heard they returned to normal sometime after I came back though.