The Theatre and a Bike

Last week was extremely busy for Jason. He taught four classes, attended two meetings (one online and one at the local art and design school), gave an interview for the Law Institute's student tv channel, and graded a bucket full of exams (perhaps the most tedious of the aforementioned). He got a rather nice "gift" from the art school- this picture of one of the cathedrals downtown; it was done by a second year student. If only we could find more of his work!

Our week was capped off by a trip to the theatre with his colleague Igor and some of his friends. We went to see the play "Love- Italian Style". Apparently, some of the actors have been on tv and in movies, although we both felt the actors were using the kind of grand, stylized gestures not seen by American eyes since the Stanislavsky method hit New York at the turn of the twentieth century. It was pretty easy to understand- perhaps because it had been translated from Italian. Granted, that may have also been the reason for the gestures- a Ukrainian interpretation of Italian flamboyance.

We've been up to our eyeballs in work outs, too, trying to get our bodies ready for our two cycling trips. On a lark, I tried googling bike rentals in Kharkov- and found one! So, I now have a rather cumbersome Jamis to ride around town (although, Jason, thankfully, hauls it up to our fourth floor walk-up, while I manhandle the Brompton up the stairs). We rode around on Sunday and are looking forward to going out on all of the upcoming holidays- May 1 (Mayday! Mayday! Sam's birthday is a national holiday in Ukraine... work with me here, people!), May 5 (Orthodox Easter), May 8&9 (Victory in the Great Patriotic War, or WWII to you and me). On top of those days, May 19 is the Ukrainian National Day of the Bicycle. We're not entirely sure what it will involve, but the poster we saw on the Metro said to gather in Freedom Square (under the watchful eye of Lenin) at 10am. We'll let you know what happens. Jason says, depending, he may add it to his Fulbright report.

I would say the bike is taking over our landing, but it was pretty full to begin with... it is locked up tight to the rickety wooden railing. 

Today is a rest day, though, so we are gleefully wallowing. And I made brownies (still part of our embassy stash). So, we are wallowing, double-fisted with brownies.

Wage "helps" with the brownies