The News...

Nothing earth shattering to report, but for all of you who are wondering what I am up to, here are a few happenings...not exciting, but, happening just the same.

I think I mentioned more than once that Novomoskovsk is quite the party town. They love fireworks and celebrations so much that I can hardly keep track of what the hubbub is all about. Last Monday morning at about 10am there was a marching (military?) band out in front of the Cultural Center. They were quite good, so when I got to my apartment I went to enjoy them from my balcony. Don't ask me what it's all about...I have no clue. Perhaps it is a young man returning home from military serivce? The Ukrainian armed forces are part of NATO and I wonder if this is the connection? The band played about 4 songs then packed up and left. Curious.

In Other News:

Last Sunday I went to get a hair cut...a trim, actually. I found a nice salon with a good hairdresser, and this was my second visit. However...I don't think I will go back, even though she does a good job and she is very nice to me. All of you who know me, understand that my hair is very short. Why do you supppose it takes 90 minutes to trim my hair?  I can't understand this. I can't sit still for 10 minutes, let alone 90. At the end, I took her scissors and hid them in my lap. She just laughed and pointed at a zippered case, which I imagined harbored many more pairs.

Man-bags. Good Idea or Not?

Most folks here in Novomskovsk walk or ride the bus. There are very few folks here who can afford a car so naturally one must carry all ones belongings for the day. There are not enough pockets in a man's trousers to carry what needs to be carried in our 21st century.  If you are a man, think where you would put your cell phone, your keys, your iPod, your sunglasses and regular glasses (if you wear them) and your wallet? Here in Ukraine the answer is...man-bags. Small stylish leather purses that most men carry around with them. Now, in the USA, such things are more than likely frowned upon.  Seeing a man walk down the street with a purse usually only means one thing...he is carrying it for his wife or girlfriend.

Now, I need to make a point here. Most men that I have I known in my life would rather die than be seen carrying a purse of any kind.  It would be "un-manly", "gay" or just downright "For Wussies" only. (I'm sorry to my gay friends, whom I love very much! This is NOT my opinion) Ukrainian/Slavic men are among the most masculine I have even seen. Real "He-Men" so to speak. SO, if these strong masculine testosterone-laden beings can carry a "purse", why can't men the world over, do so as well? So...Next!

Shopping.

I got myself a really nice pair of shoes to wear for work today. The ones I brought with me are more for the cooler months and it's still faily warm here so I thought I would treat myself (thanks for the bithday present Mom!). There are more shoe stores here that you can ever imagine. I went to the city's center to shop, which is to say, it's no bigger than a small neighborhood block. I must have gone into 15 shoe stores! It's every women's fantasy. Every 20 steps I took, I landed in a shoe store. I never went further than this, but I know for a fact, that there are just as many shoe stores, if not more, going down Sovietskya Street, and even more in the bazaar district! Shoe heaven! Seriously! I actually discovered a few mini-malls or indoor bazaars in my travels. Innocuous buildings with hidden passages and stairways that hide a vast array of stores full of clothing and goods I never imagined existed in my little city! Who knew? It was quite an adventure. I have included a photo of the latest in Ukrainian womens fashions below.

First Bell.

Todays was the first day of school. As in all Ukrainian cities and towns, the first of September is "First Bell". In the lower grades, the children dress up in their finest attire and they all sport large poofy things on their heads...some kind of mesh pompom...that is often bigger than the childs head. After many speeches from the Powers That Be, all the children ring their bells to signify the start of school. But I digress...

At the Lyceum where I teach there are only upper classmen (grades 8-11). The Lyceum is small, and we have perhaps 160 students. All the students, staff and faculty met in the courtyard at 9 am to hear our very lovely, esteemed director Ludmilla give a welcoming speech to all. They played the Ukrainian National Anthem (which I love) and some students sang a song as well. They gave out awards to last years top students, and then the students all rushed forward to give their favorite teachers flowers. (I was wonderng why everyone was carrying flowers!) I received gifts of flowers from 2 of my students. I was very surprised and really happy to be a part of this.  At the end, the two top students took a big bell and started to ring it while walking around the courtyard, which signaled the start of a new semester. Nice. I wish I could have taken some pictures, but I was behind the podium with the other faculty and didn't have a good angle for picture taking.
SO, that's my life in a nutshell here. Until next time...