MoldovAnn

I awoke to -15C (5F) Thursday morning, which turned out to be the highest temperature we’ve had since, and possibly even the highest we’ll have for the next 2 weeks. Friday it was -26C (-14F). Russian President Vladimir Putin has been known to actually change the weather to meet his desires, but it’s hard to think even he would be cruel enough to send this cold weather as part of his gas-war strategy. But it definitely came from Russia!

Fortunately, my apartment and most of Kiev is reasonably well heated. The poor people in the villages, though… God, I can’t even imagine how hard it is to keep warm there right now.

I’m sorry to have been so remiss in keeping my blog up to date lately. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a month since my last substantive post. The holidays are finally over, at least for the time being. I had a great time with all my guests and with the guests of various colleagues. I finally had both time and incentive to see many of the sights of Kiev, although I look forward to revisiting them all in warmer weather.

Mietek and I spent “Old New Year’s Eve” in Korosten with friends and colleagues. I found myself there again just a week later for a workshop organized by the Chornobyl Program and another UNDP program, Human Security for Youth. We’ll be collaborating this year on our youth center initiatives, and the workshop was the first step in defining and planning our collaboration.

There have been so many little things I’ve noticed, seen, and thought in the last few weeks that I kept meaning to post to my blog. I’m so stinking behind I don’t even know where to start! Of course, now that I sit down to finally put it all on record, I can’t remember any of what I wanted to share.

We went to the opera, La Traviata, last week. 30 hrivna – 6 bucks! You can’t beat that! In fact, the movie theater costs more than the opera, which I have to say I think isn’t such a bad idea. I was really impressed by the nearly full house on a Wednesday evening, with all ages and kinds of people.

Books I’ve read lately: Microserfs, Douglas Coupland; The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Melissa Bank; The Best American Travel Writing of 2002, Frances Mayes (editor); The Dive from Clausen’s Pier, Ann Packer; and While I Was Gone, Sue Miller. I also saw The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe again (in Russian the second time) and Memoirs of a Geisha – what a beautiful film! The scenery, the colors, the clothes, the culture – it’s all so vivid and exquisite in this film.

I hope everyone is staying warm and having a good start to the new year. I’m looking forward to it myself, and am especially looking forward to spring and summer in Kiev!