After several days of traveling, I have arrived at my final destination! I spent most of yesterday just soaking in the jet lag, but I did manage to type up a blog post. Unfortunately that post is on my laptop which I haven't been able to charge, so this much shorter update will have to suffice.
Everything so far has been great. Max (my supervisor) picked me up from the Zaporozhye train station at 6:30 yesterday morning and dropped me off at his friend Galya's apartment. This is where I will be staying until I can get my own place. Galia was out most of the day yesterday so I was alone for the majority of the afternoon. At one point a Russian speaking man came to the door. I have no idea what he needed but he seemed to understand that I would be of no help to him when I just kept repeating "I don't speak Russian." Hopefully he will return and speak to Galya at some point... Communication was not much better when Galya got home as she also speaks no English. We tried talking for a while and eventually gave up and just laughed. She pulled out her laptop and we typed back and forth in google translator for a bit. Though we haven't had very in depth conversations, she has been very sweet to me, setting me up with a room, making me lunch, and offering me tea on several occasions. I am so happy to be in a tea loving country (Em, you would be so impressed with Galya's tea cabinet). Since then I have at least learned how to say "I don't speak Russian" in Russian. It ends up sounding something like "Ya ne gavaryu pa Rooski."
I am currently waiting for Max to pick me up and show me around the city and hopefully teach me a few more helpful Russian phrases.
I will post more when my computer is up and running! Thank you for your prayer over my travel (and those of you at FABIC, thanks for comforting my mother!)
-Steph
I shared this post with both my FB accounts! So happy to 'see' you're doing well! Love ya! Mom.
ReplyDeleteYour mom is doing fine! We thanked the Lord for your safe entry today in church, and we will continue to pray for you! Keep looking for what makes your heart sing!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great experience all ready!
ReplyDeleteYour mom is doing well. She was well enough to tease me yesterday ;) Don't worry I will keep in contact with her. I will continue to pray for you. Blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this is the same girl that worked for me ....wow...you go girl...I am so proud of you..keep writing I am enjoying reading your story..you do know I spent most of my life living in places that I couldn't speak the language and we did alot of sign language and pointing HaHa, no translators back then...Have a great time and see everything you can, Love ya, Pam
ReplyDeleteOh, how interesting and well-written! Judy
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Korea, and Happy Lunar New Year! We think you will have a great adventure in the Ukraine as long as you keep your mittens on.
Bless you in 2013!
Ivan & Carol Franck