Война

 I'm typing this blog post from my new (shared) apartment in Kiev. I've been in Kiev for almost two weeks now, since being sent here by my job while the school in Donetsk is closed. I figured I should give a small update and explain why I haven't updated this blog.

For those of you who have been living under a rock, there's a war going on in Donetsk right now. I'm sure that anyone who is reading this blog is probably well aware of this fact, as it's been all over the news, especially after the rebels shot down a commercial airplane, killing almost 300 innocent people in one fell swoop.

So, as to what I've been doing that whole time, it's been one of two things: either working, or trying not to get shot. I was in Donetsk during the whole ordeal. I watched the ouster of the previous president turn into outrage and fear, outrage and fear turn into large protests, large protests turn into overthrowing the local government. The ordinary people turned into protestors, and the protestors turned into a makeshift milita, which in turn was largely replaced by mercenaries from Russia. The city of Donetsk turned from a relatively large, beautiful, and peaceful city into one of turmoil, and then into a virtual ghost town. 

The hotel I lived next to also ltransformed during this time. It went from a brand new hotel, into a base for international monitors, to closing down, and then just before I left, into a barracks for mercenaries. It's been eerie watching how unrest and war can transform a city so quickly. Thankfully, I get to watch the rest of its transformation from a much safer distance.

So, yeah. Now I'm in Kiev, which is supposedly temporary, but with each day it seems more and more likely that I won't be able to go back to Donetsk anytime soon. I'll be waiting out the rest of the war here, hoping that it can once again transform back into a large, beautiful, and peaceful city.

For a little more detail about the last few months in Donetsk, I did a series of interviews with Engrlish Teacher X. You can read the first part here:

http://englishteacherx.blogspot.com/2014/05/anarchy-in-ukraine-interview-with.html

Memorial Day

I woke up around noon last Monday (Memorial Day for us Americans), went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and freshen up, and then got dressed. Around the time I was finishing putting on my clothes, I realized I heard the sound of a jet flying around in the sky, and then heard a dull "boom". I didn't think too much of it, until I heard another dull boom shortly afterwards. I stepped out onto the balcony and didn't see anything at first, but I noticed a crowd of people (mostly journalists and OSCE monitors) gathered in the courtyard of the hotel next to my apartment building. All of them were looking at the sky, with a few using binoculars and cameras to track the movement of the Ukrainian military jet flying above. I continued standing out on a balcony for a while, trying to figure out exactly what was going on. The only thing I was certain about was that there was some kind of fighting going on.

The sounds of war continued for about an hour or so, and I eventually learned that Pro-Russian separatists had taken control of the airport here in Donetsk, and the fighting I heard was the Ukrainian military's attempt to take back control of it.

Later that day, I went to work, feeling distracted by thoughts of what had happened. I wasn't alone in this either. All of my students were also quite distracted in class by what had happened, and I made it a point to try to play more games than usual in my classes to help lighten the mood. Once work was over, I walked home, and during the walk heard more sounds of distant gunfire and a couple of dull booms. I still didn't see the fighter that had been flying around the city all day, but I did see its vapor trail.

This happened two days ago. Yesterday, my school was closed, with it scheduled to reopen in a week. The city streets have been nearly empty, with few cars or pedestrians about. Today, I woke up to hearing a jet flying around the city again, with a few scattered sounds of gunfire, this time very close to my apartment. Thankfully, this didn't last long, but everyone here seems to be on edge, and gearing up for an imminent invasion of the city.

Attack of the Lazy

Oh dear, it looks like I've neglected my blog for even longer than before. That's ok, though, as things have been anything but boring here. My girlfriend ended up working her way into my apartment, so entertaining her has taken away most of my free time. In fact, I've actually thought about shutting down this blog, although I don't think I really want to do that. Not yet, at least.

Not too much more I want to report. However, there should be an interview of me up soon on English Teacher X's website, so you can read about the latest news with me there.

As Time Passes

Oh dear, it looks like I've been neglecting my blog again. I just haven't had much time or inclination for updates, as things have been relatively boring. For the most part.

On the political front, things had been heating up here in my city, with daily demonstrations, most of which were pro-Russian, and even including a few spots of violence, which I thankfully missed. The demonstrations seem to have died down the last few days, although a large one briefly passed by my work on the way to storm a government building close by. I haven't checked the news, but I imagine that they didn't get too far, as the building has been constantly guarded by several large trucks blocking the entrance, and a solid line of police in riot gear covering the doors, only breaking apart to let authorized people in and out of the building.

On the personal front, I went back to my original city a couple of weeks ago to spend the week with my girlfriend and her mother, and then came back to my current city with the girlfriend in tow. She's currently staying with family here, and if this week is any indication, will probably spend the weekends with me. As I'm currently sharing an apartment with a roommate, this will save me from a full-time-girlfriend living situation for the time being. Who knows how long this arrangement will, last, though, as I do have plans to get my own apartment.

You Say You Want a Revolution?

Unless you've been living under a rock, or just never check up on the latest world news, you're probably aware that Ukraine has been experiencing a revolution of sorts here the last few months. I imagine the few of you who read this blog are well aware of this fact, so I'm sure I don't need to rehash the events for you.

However, one thing I'd like to mention is something that's rarely mentioned in any news items. Despite what CNN or most other Western news outlets would have you believe, not everyone here in Ukraine agrees with the throngs of protestors who have started a civil war in Kiev. I live in the eastern part of Ukraine, and most people here are firmly against the protestors. Pro-government rallies have been frequent, and there's been absolutely no sympathy or desire for change in the government.

Having said that, should this revolution cause a drastic change in the government, an already fragmented nation is going to fragment even more. Crimea is only part of Ukraine as an autonomous republic, and has already threatened to secede from the country should the political situation not resolve itself. Most of Eastern and Southern Ukraine also has much closer ties to Russia, and has little desire to join the EU. Most residents speak Russian on the street, even through the official language of the country is Ukrainian, and many feel that the language and cutlture is being forced on them by the people in the west.

In other words...don't expect this country to stabilize anytime soon. Which is a shame, really, as this is a wonderful country with wonderful people. They deserve better than this.

An Interesting Conversation

I recently started talking to a Ukrainian girl who is from my previous city, but now lives in the US. She's provided some interesting insights on the view of America from an immigrant's viewpoint, but one part of our conversation helped to confirm what most men who come here say.

Me: i have another question for you...what do you think of american women?

Her: mmm   
honest?

Me: yes, of course   

Her: a lot of them overweight or healthy to much, too independent and not caring like our girls, and i don't like outfits here, look like second hand   
they are try to be like a men
wich i hate about all situation

Me: yes, i agree with you 100%   
so you think it's no surprise that american men would look for a wife in Ukraine, yes?

Her: and i dont see make up often   
yes
i think it is logical then
and men here good looking

So, there you have it. Even Ukrainian women agree that they're far superior to their American counterparts.

Slippery Slope

So, I suppose I just experienced my first "real" winter here in Ukraine. Shortly after arriving in my new city, the weather took a turn for the colder...much, much colder. Temperatures were around -20C for most of that time, up until a week ago. Every flat surface was covered in at least a centimeter of ice. The snow that eventually came helped to maintain some traction, but every day, my walk to work was a struggle just to stay on my feet. Thankfully, I only fell once, a few days ago just after walking out the door of my apartment building. I landed flat on my ass, so nothing beyond my ego was hurt.

Work has been proceeding nicely. Unfortunately, my social life hasn't been as smooth. Not that it's been rough, it's just been extremely uneventful. I've only met up with a few people here, although one of those was just this last weekend, with the promise of more. I should be able to find a date for Valentine's Day, just in case I decide I need one. I still haven't made up my mind on that yet. Anyways, that's all for now. At least until things become a little less boring.