Hail, from across the waters

[pecunium]

I am in Ukraine.

I am tired. Some 30 hours of travel will do that to one. Ate dinner. Was amused. I think I have the weakest Russian of the three speakers in the group. The waitress dealt with me, almost exclusively. Perhaps this was because of my dashing good looks. More likely it was that I was forward enough to speak to her, and order for others.

Prices are decent, weather is fine, hotel is adequate.

More detailed reporting will have to wait until I am more awake.

GEN Bell is a smart man, and COL Johnson didn't have to sell him on the plan to let us drink (on the theory we are adults, and using the Cultural Justificaion Waiver General Order No. 1 has built into it. This was despite a drinking incident in a recent excercise with the Russians leading to someone getting stabbed in the buttocks.

So we have a policy of not on duty, not in uniform, travel in not less than pairs, and be back by midnight.

Life could be a lot worse.

Comments

[ad-kay.livejournal.com]

This was despite a drinking incident in a recent excercise with the Russians leading to someone getting stabbed in the buttocks.

How wrong is it that this sentence made me snicker uncontrollably?

Stay safe! Hoping that you will post about your trip upon your return.

[kateyule.livejournal.com]

Their Russian may be strong in theory, but yours was stronger in practice.

Good for you Terry

[killslowly.livejournal.com]

Hey, Kateyule is 100% Correct. When I went to Hokkaido, I thought it would have been a waste of time. But after getting very intoxicated with sake (half a liter will do thank you), I was speaking Japanese I did not even knew I knew. Boose is an awesome social lubricant, and it is an excellent language skills enhancer. Have fun in the Ukraine and bring me photos (wink wink).

Re: Good for you Terry

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

Must try vodka to see if it stimulates my Russian Languace Centers (perhaps holding as many as ten words). But, yup, sake certainly still brings out the Japanese, though it's been 40+ years since I spoke nihongo reasonably-fluently. As Terry realizes, however, communication in a language less-than-perfectly-known can be marvelous if only you _use_ what you have.