Four Year Wonders Got Married: Ochka and ML

[ML]

New Year Greetings to all !!

[ML]

We have read a lot about reforms, plans for reforms, and lack of reforms in Ukraine.
I can report on one small aspect based on personal experience.
Ochka has a female cousin, early 40s.
She had made a career in banking.  Very low pay similar to banking salaries in USA (except for commercial loan officers and investment bankers.)
She saw advertisement for Senior Analytical Statistician at a National Government Agency in Kyiv.
So she applied.  The personnel people rather dismissively treated her and told how a written exam would be required for her and for several experienced internal candidates.
Note this is a new procedure in Ukraine as typically jobs and promotions are given based on friendships, family connections, bribes, beauty (for female candidates), young age, etc.
She took the exam and scored 100% and no other candidates came close to this score.
It was not believed, so she was called in for an oral exam which she also aced.
None of this was unexpected by her and her family as she had gotten a Red Diploma at graduation from University.
She got the job (despite her age) at double her banking salary, but still not really very much money.
Anyway, one small indication of some reforms actually taking place in Ukraine.

[BillyB]

She took the exam and scored 100% and no other candidates came close to this score.
It was not believed, so she was called in for an oral exam which she also aced.

Good to hear that the oral exams employers give females today are different than those in the past.

[msmob]

THIS news (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42540819 suggests that Ukraine has a way to go ((

Ukraine murder probe over lawyer Nozdrovska's death

"Ukrainian police have opened a murder investigation after the body of a lawyer and human rights activist was found in a river in the capital Kiev.

Iryna Nozdrovska, 38, went missing on 29 December. She had worked on the case of her sister, who was killed in 2015 by a car driven by the nephew of a Kiev judge."

[ML]

THIS news (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42540819 suggests that Ukraine has a way to go ((

Ukraine murder probe over lawyer Nozdrovska's death

"Ukrainian police have opened a murder investigation after the body of a lawyer and human rights activist was found in a river in the capital Kiev.

Iryna Nozdrovska, 38, went missing on 29 December. She had worked on the case of her sister, who was killed in 2015 by a car driven by the nephew of a Kiev judge."

Yes, that event totally disgusts me.

[Boethius]

Both Ukraine and Russia are still controlled, both politically and economically, by the former Soviet nomenklatura.  These are largely sociopaths.  So, no surprises at extra judicial killings in either country, and no systemic mechanisms for punishing powerful people who abuse their positions.

[whynotme]

Both Ukraine and Russia are still controlled, both politically and economically, by the former Soviet nomenklatura.  These are largely sociopaths.  So, no surprises at extra judicial killings in either country, and no systemic mechanisms for punishing powerful people who abuse their positions.

The former Soviet nomenklatura is retired or died long ago. And only the broken record Boethius is repeating the same thing for the last 25 years. 

[Boethius]

No they're not.  Putin is part of the former nomenklatura.  So is Poroshenko.

[msmob]

Sorry, whynotme..I'm with Boethiuis on this one.. (

[whynotme]

No they're not.  Putin is part of the former nomenklatura.  So is Poroshenko.

Seems, you have your own definitions for everything  I didn't study the biography of Poroshenko, but before 1991 Putin was a modest KGB major who lived in khrushchevka. The Soviet nomenclature were Primakov, Chernomyrdin, Yeltsin ... Putin is another generation, I wouldn't attribute him to the former Soviet nomenclature so unequivocally.

[msmob]

Seems, you have your own definitions for everything  I didn't study the biography of Poroshenko, but before 1991 Putin was a modest KGB major who lived in khrushchevka. The Soviet nomenclature were Primakov, Chernomyrdin, Yeltsin ... Putin is another generation, I wouldn't attribute him to the former Soviet nomenclature so unequivocally.

I see your point, but Putin was in E.Germany and was humiliated by the fall of the Soviet Union and 'people power'

I believe he very much regrets the fall and is trying to ensure a wave of popular support against a govt cannot over power a Moscow govt. whilst doing 'OK' ( for himself) in the process.. 

If we check his publicly declared  property portfolio he suggests he isn't much better off then he was then.

[Boethius]

Nomenklatura=members of the CPSU who formed the bureaucratic and governing elite.


Putin, a Lieutenant Colonel of the KGB, was certainly part of the nomenklatura. 

[ML]

Went out for Christmas dinner yesterday.

When seated, I said to Ochka:  Merry Christmas.

It took her a few moments to remember the Orthodox Greeting, and the reply I was supposed to say.

What does this indicate ??

[msmob]

Went out for Christmas dinner yesterday.

When seated, I said to Ochka:  Merry Christmas.

It took her a few moments to remember the Orthodox Greeting, and the reply I was supposed to say.

What does this indicate ??

The possible list is long and many involve alcohol

[Boethius]

It doesn't surprise me, as other than in some parts of Western Ukraine (particularly villages), religious greetings disappeared under the communists.  Religious education, in general was very lacking in the USSR.  So, it may be that Ochka did not grow up with these traditional greetings.

[LAman]

Went out for Christmas dinner yesterday.

When seated, I said to Ochka:  Merry Christmas.

It took her a few moments to remember the Orthodox Greeting, and the reply I was supposed to say.

What does this indicate ??

Hmmmm, Maybe she's not into you??))

Is this first X-mas you said Merry Christmas? This has got to 3-4th Christmas for both of you.

[Boethius]

For Ukrainians, a Christmas meal cannot be started without saying "Khristos Razhdayetsya!" (Christ is born!) to which the reply is "Slavite Yoho!" (Glory/Glorify Him!)  That is what ML is referring to.

[ML]

For Ukrainians, a Christmas meal cannot be started without saying "Khristos Razhdayetsya!" (Christ is born!) to which the reply is "Slavite Yoho!" (Glory/Glorify Him!)  That is what ML is referring to.

Yes, these were the two sayings.

And she did know these very well, as her family was practicing Christians, even as it was low key during Soviet times.

Also, she had told me these and what to say in reply every year for the 6 previous Christmases she has been here.

My point was . . . since she had a momentary lapse . . . maybe some indication of her becoming a USA person ??

Also, she is very strident that we get to sporting events in time to hear/sing our national antheum.

She has never vocalized anything about becoming a USA person, but the above gives some hints and she has said she prefers to spend time with USA persons rather than the Ukrainian group here.

[Jumper]

She's been immersed in an English speaking culture daily,for serveral years  it usntbunusual to have to occasionally search for a word in the native tongue.

Been through it myself,years asho,
and certainly my wife searches for a Russian word or two occasionally now.

I don't think it indicates becoming a *USA* person,exactly, but does indicate she spends more time with English speakers than with those speaking her native language.

[ML]

She's been immersed in an English speaking culture daily,for serveral years  it usntbunusual to have to occasionally search for a word in the native tongue.

Been through it myself,years asho,
and certainly my wife searches for a Russian word or two occasionally now.

I don't think it indicates becoming a *USA* person,exactly, but does indicate she spends more time with English speakers than with those speaking her native language.

Good points.  I thought of that myself late last night.
i.e. Speaking English so much.

I knew of young USA college man who spent time in an East German prison back in cold war period for trying to smuggle out an East German man.  Guards only spoke German, so he had to learn.

Two years or so I think.
Upon his return to USA, he had some trouble remembering English words and spoke with rather heavy German accent for several months.

[Jumper]

Everyone is different, but in my experience dealing with total immersion (No English spoken) my pea brain finally adapted to thinking in the *new* language first (not translating it in your mind first) at about 18 months, also start dreaming in the new language,which my wife has also noticed.

In our case my wife has always felt like a western person, so there is transition there as well I suppose but a less distinct line.I honestly can't  think of anything specifucally FSU cultural related in her mannerisms or thinking.

[ML]

Right now, wifey is hauling in firewood to stack in garage for our wood burning furnace.
And I am doing the laundry.
Anything wrong with this ???

Point of fact . . . she loves dealing with firewood, and especially starting the fire, feeding the stove, etc.

[Boethius]

No, nothing wrong with that.  Laundry is easier. 


I love ironing.

[BillyB]

And I am doing the laundry.
Anything wrong with this ???

I do not have confidence you can get the clothes clean enough. I washed the clothes one time and my wife complained I didn't use the right water temperature, the right detergent, the correct wash cycle and didn't get the spots out. Apparently washing clothes is a big deal and a sophisticated operation.

[ML]

I do not have confidence you can get the clothes clean enough. I washed the clothes one time and my wife complained I didn't use the right water temperature, the right detergent, the correct wash cycle and didn't get the spots out. Apparently washing clothes is a big deal and a sophisticated operation.

Use 'pre wash' for any spots and stains.
We have only one detergent to put in washing machine.

And besides that, I taught wifey how to use washing machine anyway.

Ironing is another matter.  I don't like that.

Cooking also is not my thing.  I can make a huge mess in the kitchen and then proceed to overcook or undercook, splatter oil everywhere, burn some part of my body, get my clothes covered with oil, flour and most anything else.

Eating I can do pretty well.