Merry Christmas!
So, Russian and Ukrainian are different languages to most people. Most people who know a little Russian and a little Ukrainian would have enough sense and presence of mind to remember to use Russian with Russians and Ukrainian with Ukrainians, especially if they had lived in the former USSR. Am I sensical or 'together' enough to remember that? No, конечно нет. I said "Christ is born" to my sister's old violin teacher at the Christmas Eve service at the International Evangelical Church and of course got a confused look and a "With the Nativity" (basically 'Happy Christmas') back in response.
My luggage is still not here, which is driving me nuts. I really want to give my parents their gifts on their Christmas, but it won't happen. At the very least I want my own clothes here before we leave for New Year's in Debre Zeyt at Babogaiya :-/, but I doubt that'll happen either since we leave tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. I didn't realise not having my luggage would bother me so much, even if I do need to ditch some of it here before I leave.
Regardless, it's good being with my Товарищ Отец [Comrade Father] and Товарищ Мать [Comrade Mother] (my new forms of address for them - drives them a little nuts methinks, which is of course the goal in any child's life and relationship with his or her parents :-) ), and wearing some of my dad's clothes isn't so bad. (I'm actually coveting one of his dress shirts right now, but (A) that's a sin and (B) I have enough clothes waiting for me in Michigan and don't need any more.)
We had Christmas lunch with the Blacks and Churchs, which was lovely. I wasn't really awake for most of it (I didn't have any time change from Moscow to Addis, but I think I'm still recovering from the trip here and probably the semester generally), but it was good to talk a bit with the Blacks and to spend some more time with the Churchs.
I am tired. I should've planned on staying here in Addis till I had to leave for the States, but c'est la vie. Greece will be an adventure, but hopefully I'll go into it more logistically prepared than I was for Cairo (I still can't believe I didn't look anything up - sites, taxi costs, anything - before leaving Moscow).
Hope you're all well and having a wonderful Christmas!
My luggage is still not here, which is driving me nuts. I really want to give my parents their gifts on their Christmas, but it won't happen. At the very least I want my own clothes here before we leave for New Year's in Debre Zeyt at Babogaiya :-/, but I doubt that'll happen either since we leave tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. I didn't realise not having my luggage would bother me so much, even if I do need to ditch some of it here before I leave.
Regardless, it's good being with my Товарищ Отец [Comrade Father] and Товарищ Мать [Comrade Mother] (my new forms of address for them - drives them a little nuts methinks, which is of course the goal in any child's life and relationship with his or her parents :-) ), and wearing some of my dad's clothes isn't so bad. (I'm actually coveting one of his dress shirts right now, but (A) that's a sin and (B) I have enough clothes waiting for me in Michigan and don't need any more.)
We had Christmas lunch with the Blacks and Churchs, which was lovely. I wasn't really awake for most of it (I didn't have any time change from Moscow to Addis, but I think I'm still recovering from the trip here and probably the semester generally), but it was good to talk a bit with the Blacks and to spend some more time with the Churchs.
I am tired. I should've planned on staying here in Addis till I had to leave for the States, but c'est la vie. Greece will be an adventure, but hopefully I'll go into it more logistically prepared than I was for Cairo (I still can't believe I didn't look anything up - sites, taxi costs, anything - before leaving Moscow).
Hope you're all well and having a wonderful Christmas!