"they'll steal it if it isnt tied down"

[belarus1 0]

Just some funny observations about cultural differences between here and "the home country".

Seems that folks arent too honest back home, here are a few amusing stories I'll share with you.

Things were getting warm this spring so I broke out the garen hose and hooked it up to the spicket on the back of the house to water some plants. Its on one of those hose reel things and I just leave it out until its time to bring it in in the fall.

Later that evening before we went to bed Sveta says "we need to bring the "garden pipe" (hose) back in and I told her no we just keep it outside all summer. Oh! Someone will steal it! Nope, not here honey. Oh, in Belarus it would be gone by morning!

On a related note, I belong to the university fitness/recreation center to go swimming so once or twice a week Sveta will go with me to go swimming as well. The pool is awesome with huge glass walls and islands complete with palm trees etc...that looks out onto the sunning deck with chairs, tables, umbrellas etc... We were sitting in the jacuzzi one night when they were closing and she asked "when are they going to bring in all the furniture?" I said they just leave it out, OH! someone will steal! No honey, its ok there is a smallish decorative fence all around the deck no one will bother it. Oh! thats no fence! In Belarus all the furniture would be gone by morning! And the fence too!

Ok, one more.

I wanted Sveta to try some chocolate covered esspresso beans so we popped in to the local international food market and headed for the bulk isle. She marveled at all the stuff in the bulk isle! We were measuring out some beans and she asked how do you know how much to pay. Its marked here on the bin honey that its XX$ per pound, we just put how much we want in the bag, weigh it and mark it and pay on the way out. She said "these are so expensive, they look just like the chocolate covered raisins and they are cheaper so we should mark them as raisins". No honey, thats not honest. Oh! This would never work in Belarus she says.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Funny - but on that last one, my store owning buddy has that happen all the time to him - people take the cheapest "look alike" price for expensive things (in the bulk aisle).

[Samoray 165]

Thats Funny

[Islapaz 41]

The opposite happen to me. We went to St. Pteresburg for my fiance birthday. We where staying in a hotel one day after his birthday for 4 days. The hotel had a special rate when you were celebrating your birthday. I made the reservation and choose this rate, then forward a copy of it to my fiance. He told me "Is not honest to choose birthday rate when my birthday already pass" So we email hotel back and change the reservation for the normal rate. Extremely honest ukrainian man

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Imagine Alla's surprise when she found our house HAS NO LOCKS. I don't mean it has locks we never use...I mean it HAS NO LOCKS. At least our other place did not. The outside doors had those knobs like on a closet, just a knob latch. For one, crime is virtually non-existant and our former home was so remote that a person could hit the house with a backhoe to break in and no one would know it! I told her....if someone wants to break in, why should I pay for a broken window?

Now we actually have locks on the doors, but she still thinks it is funny we have glass in the doors. Our door, actually TWO doors in Donetsk asre like bank vault doors. But to be fair, I would do the same in a big city here.

We also went into a rural store on a Saturday afternoon and found the clerk was out for a bit and left a box of money on the counter and a note..."please make you own change"

She has said it is one of the things tops on her list for living here...clean environment, nice roads, cheap clothes and shoes, and no crime. All "big pluses" of living here.

[Tnic 5]

Imagine Alla's surprise when she found our house HAS NO LOCKS. I don't mean it has locks we never use...I mean it HAS NO LOCKS. At least our other place did not. The outside doors had those knobs like on a closet, just a knob latch. For one, crime is virtually non-existant and our former home was so remote that a person could hit the house with a backhoe to break in and no one would know it! I told her....if someone wants to break in, why should I pay for a broken window?

Now we actually have locks on the doors, but she still thinks it is funny we have glass in the doors. Our door, actually TWO doors in Donetsk asre like bank vault doors. But to be fair, I would do the same in a big city here.

We also went into a rural store on a Saturday afternoon and found the clerk was out for a bit and left a box of money on the counter and a note..."please make you own change"

She has said it is one of the things tops on her list for living here...clean environment, nice roads, cheap clothes and shoes, and no crime. All "big pluses" of living here.

Hey, I remember those "Vault" doors! I had to break the inner one open for (now ex)Mama when the old lock tumblers died. At least it was wood and the frame was wood.

I bet the look on Alla's face was priceless when she saw the money box.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hey, I remember those "Vault" doors! I had to break the inner one open for (now ex)Mama when the old lock tumblers died. At least it was wood and the frame was wood.

I bet the look on Alla's face was priceless when she saw the money box.

Actually, that was a few months after being her and it was kind of a shrug and "meh...its Vermont" moment. Her biggest shock was when we walked downtown just two days after she arrived. In front of the historical museum was a table with some brochures and a black plastic "kettle", like one of those Halloween "witches kettles" She looked inside and said "What is it?" That's the donation pot, sweetheart. "Voooooooooooooowhat!!!??" Inside was some money, not a lot, but maybe $15-20. She just stared and looked around to see if anyone else saw what she was seeing. Money left outside! On the sidewalk! People walking by! Are they crazy here??????

She also was a bit un-nerved by our method of paying bills. I still write checks and I would do the bills with her and then put them in the mailbox out front and put the flag up. "what is it?" This tells the mailman we have mail to go out so he will be sure to take it. "When will he come?" Tomorrow, usually around 12 noon. "VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOwhat?" That is MONEY we are putting in there!" No, it is checks to the electric company and cell phone company, no one will bother it. Crazy Americans! Then our new checks with her name came...in the mailbox! new debit cards...in the mailbox! NO WAY! "This would get stolen in Ukraine, no question, absolutely!" She is right, the mail is horrible in Ukraine and anything that even looks of value will be stolen and the mailman collects 7 UAH "bribes" from the "pensioners" on his route. They gladly pay it because he brings the checks to the door. If they ever start "direct deposit" in Ukraine, the mailmen will revolt and burn down the country!

[Tnic 5]

Actually, that was a few months after being her and it was kind of a shrug and "meh...its Vermont" moment. Her biggest shock was when we walked downtown just two days after she arrived. In front of the historical museum was a table with some brochures and a black plastic "kettle", like one of those Halloween "witches kettles" She looked inside and said "What is it?" That's the donation pot, sweetheart. "Voooooooooooooowhat!!!??" Inside was some money, not a lot, but maybe $15-20. She just stared and looked around to see if anyone else saw what she was seeing. Money left outside! On the sidewalk! People walking by! Are they crazy here??????

She also was a bit un-nerved by our method of paying bills. I still write checks and I would do the bills with her and then put them in the mailbox out front and put the flag up. "what is it?" This tells the mailman we have mail to go out so he will be sure to take it. "When will he come?" Tomorrow, usually around 12 noon. "VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOwhat?" That is MONEY we are putting in there!" No, it is checks to the electric company and cell phone company, no one will bother it. Crazy Americans! Then our new checks with her name came...in the mailbox! new debit cards...in the mailbox! NO WAY! "This would get stolen in Ukraine, no question, absolutely!" She is right, the mail is horrible in Ukraine and anything that even looks of value will be stolen and the mailman collects 7 UAH "bribes" from the "pensioners" on his route. They gladly pay it because he brings the checks to the door. If they ever start "direct deposit" in Ukraine, the mailmen will revolt and burn down the country!

I actually sent a debit card with some other stuff to a lady in Ukraine once. It actually arrived untouched. And THAT reminds me that I need to open a new account and bring the card with me.

[easyukraine 1]

I actually sent a debit card with some other stuff to a lady in Ukraine once. It actually arrived untouched. And THAT reminds me that I need to open a new account and bring the card with me.

Thanks for the laughs. As a mailman here in the U S I notice these things. unfortunately more people are paying online and reading magazines online.

[amberdima 6]

Imagine Alla's surprise when she found our house HAS NO LOCKS. I don't mean it has locks we never use...I mean it HAS NO LOCKS. At least our other place did not. The outside doors had those knobs like on a closet, just a knob latch. For one, crime is virtually non-existant and our former home was so remote that a person could hit the house with a backhoe to break in and no one would know it! I told her....if someone wants to break in, why should I pay for a broken window?

Now we actually have locks on the doors, but she still thinks it is funny we have glass in the doors. Our door, actually TWO doors in Donetsk asre like bank vault doors. But to be fair, I would do the same in a big city here.

We also went into a rural store on a Saturday afternoon and found the clerk was out for a bit and left a box of money on the counter and a note..."please make you own change"

She has said it is one of the things tops on her list for living here...clean environment, nice roads, cheap clothes and shoes, and no crime. All "big pluses" of living here.

i want to move to vermont!

[Tnic 5]

Actually, that was a few months after being her and it was kind of a shrug and "meh...its Vermont" moment. Her biggest shock was when we walked downtown just two days after she arrived. In front of the historical museum was a table with some brochures and a black plastic "kettle", like one of those Halloween "witches kettles" She looked inside and said "What is it?" That's the donation pot, sweetheart. "Voooooooooooooowhat!!!??" Inside was some money, not a lot, but maybe $15-20. She just stared and looked around to see if anyone else saw what she was seeing. Money left outside! On the sidewalk! People walking by! Are they crazy here??????

She also was a bit un-nerved by our method of paying bills. I still write checks and I would do the bills with her and then put them in the mailbox out front and put the flag up. "what is it?" This tells the mailman we have mail to go out so he will be sure to take it. "When will he come?" Tomorrow, usually around 12 noon. "VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOwhat?" That is MONEY we are putting in there!" No, it is checks to the electric company and cell phone company, no one will bother it. Crazy Americans! Then our new checks with her name came...in the mailbox! new debit cards...in the mailbox! NO WAY! "This would get stolen in Ukraine, no question, absolutely!" She is right, the mail is horrible in Ukraine and anything that even looks of value will be stolen and the mailman collects 7 UAH "bribes" from the "pensioners" on his route. They gladly pay it because he brings the checks to the door. If they ever start "direct deposit" in Ukraine, the mailmen will revolt and burn down the country!

This a delayed post, but thanks Gary for the sound effects from Alla. Every time I read VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWHAT? I can almost hear it and I get a chuckle out of it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This a delayed post, but thanks Gary for the sound effects from Alla. Every time I read VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWHAT? I can almost hear it and I get a chuckle out of it.

She even has me saying it that way now! We still call a "pound" a "lub" just for fun. Within the first few days we were grocery shopping and she was trying SO hard at that point to speak good English. So she, very seriously, brought me some items and said "These are 69 cents per lub, that's a pretty good price" Lub? Yes... 69 cents per LB...lub.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This a delayed post, but thanks Gary for the sound effects from Alla. Every time I read VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWHAT? I can almost hear it and I get a chuckle out of it.

You should have heard the sound affects when she moved some things stacked near the trash cans at our old house and found a smallish raccoon in there...something like EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The raccon was seen running the other way saying EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

One time she told me to stop when crossing one of the bridges in the islands and told me there was "someone's dog" swimming in the lake, we have to "help the dog!" (help the dog swim?) So we walked back to the bridge and looked over the side. Hmmmm. Strange dog. Kind of a big dog. She is cocking her head looking at this "dog". Ummmm. sweetheart....too late...

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a bear.

She asked once "what is wrong with this place, there is animals everywhere, can't they keep them in the fence?"

[Brad and Vika 129]

She asked once "what is wrong with this place, there is animals everywhere, can't they keep them in the fence?"

I got the same sort of comments about critters like ducks at first. Vika would say things like "why are there so many ducks in this park? Don't the homeless people eat them?". The east end of the city has no homeless population at all. Her reasoning that the wild duck supply should draw the homeless here still makes me laugh.

Edited August 29, 2010 by Brad and Vika

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I got the same sort of comments about critters like ducks at first. Vika would say things like "why are there so many ducks in this park? Don't the homeless people eat them?". The east end of the city has no homeless population at all. Her reasoning that the wild duck supply should draw the homeless here still makes me laugh.

Drop her off over at a park way over on the west end. Ask her to give you a report on ducks.

Alla was, and is, pleased with the squirrels and birds (including pidgeons that walk along with you downtown) but she was dismayed at the squirrels running across the street in front of her car. I am guessing that squirrels in Ukraine also run across the street but since she never drove she wasn't paying attention. It was the larger animals that scared her, plus just the abundance of "stupid animals" in the road.

When Sergey was learning to drive, just a couple weeks ago, a deer ran across in front of him and he didn't react at all. I said "I am glad you did not swerve off the road for the deer, but you CAN try to stop" He said "No, I heard you can EAT them if you kill them. Is it true? I was hoping we would get some deer meat!" I told it him it was not a good way to get deer meat and he said "Why? Does it break the car?"

I need to get him one of those "Road Kill Cafe" T-shirts. Hmmm...wonder what Alla's reaction to a dead deer we hit with the car would be? It could be that ear piercing scream or it could just be "ah yes, fresh meat, that is the best kind, no hormones or antibiotics"