Let’s travel to my Ukrainian home in желмасив. See the sights that have been part of my life for nearly two years.
We’ll start in the Center of Konotop near the cinema and the town’s main fountain. Neither works.
The movie theater has been closed for years. People say that DVDs did away with the need. In my opinion, it’s a pity. Teenagers still gather in front when day-light turns to twilight. They promenade in an ageless ritual of looking and being seen.
The fountain only works on special holidays and sometimes not even then. But the children love the fountain or more correctly, they love the child-high wall that encircles the fountain.
They place tiny hands on the concrete surface as if by touching they will have power. And they do. Little boys clutch toy cars and trucks as they speed around. Little girls giggle and race around too sometimes beating the boys.
They place tiny hands on the concrete surface as if by touching they will have power. And they do. Little boys clutch toy cars and trucks as they speed around. Little girls giggle and race around too sometimes beating the boys.
Occasionally, a few older children dare to mount the wall and slowly walk the concrete strip like a circus performer. So proud they become. To walk around the wall is an accomplishment for a 4 ½ year old and making it all the way is a relief for nervous parents who hover nearby.
I love this fountain without water. I will sit and watch the drama unfold for hours. Who needs TV when real Ukrainian life is right here? But today we are going to the edge of the city...to желмасив.
We’ll catch either a van or a mini-bus. Both cost 1 ½ UAH (12 cents), but vans are smaller. In a van, you have to crouch down low as you enter so as not to hit your head. Then you must navigate up two steps while trying to swing the door shut.
The steps are narrow and if you are not careful and if your feet are big, like mine, you will trap your shoe between the door and the riser of the step. Believe me, I have learned the hard way. That’s why I prefer the big yellow mini-buses.
The steps are narrow and if you are not careful and if your feet are big, like mine, you will trap your shoe between the door and the riser of the step. Believe me, I have learned the hard way. That’s why I prefer the big yellow mini-buses.
Of course we could hop on the trolley. It goes to желмасив too. Since Stalin’s time, Konotop has had a trolley or tram way system. It opened on Christmas day in 1949 and runs for about 15 miles (24 kilometers). Seniors get to ride free. You are supposed to get an official stamped card, but I never have. I guess I just look the part.
Down the main street of Konotop, we go. It is one of the main arteries that are paved. Like many towns in Ukraine, this main street is named Перспектива мира. To pronounce it, say Perspektiva Mira. Prospect Peace.
Out our left window is the park. A statue of Lenin waves in front of the City Building and a Shevchenko statue reclines while reading poetry across from the Post Office.
Benches line the walkways. A few kiddy rides are further back and mostly in disrepair. The Soviet State use to provide family fun in the park, but of course, it is no more. Private enterprise has yet to fill the gap.
Benches line the walkways. A few kiddy rides are further back and mostly in disrepair. The Soviet State use to provide family fun in the park, but of course, it is no more. Private enterprise has yet to fill the gap.
On our right is a row of магазины. To pronounce it, say Magazeneh. Stores. A few Babushkas huddle in front selling pussy willows and sunflower seeds.
Pussy willows are signs of spring and the approach of Palm Sunday. Since there are no palm trees in Ukraine
Leaves are present too, but not quite visible – a symbol of Easter joy that remains hidden, but soon will be revealed to the faithful. Everyone wants to have a bundle of pussy willows in their home at this time of year. They have a story to tell.
Leaves are present too, but not quite visible – a symbol of Easter joy that remains hidden, but soon will be revealed to the faithful. Everyone wants to have a bundle of pussy willows in their home at this time of year. They have a story to tell.
See the three guys standing on the corner. Notice that one shares a handful of sunflower seeds with the others. It’s a popular snack and maybe a national pass-time.
In a smooth motion from hand to mouth, they crack the seeds between their front teeth extracting the kernel and spitting out the husk while not missing a word of the conversation. It’s multi-snacking at its best.
We make the turn at фора (Phora). It’s one of Konotop’s supermarkets. Between the Bazaar and here, I purchase most of my food. It’s not huge like an American Shop-n-Save. It’s more like a convenience store on steroids.
Inside you can find most of what you need. It helps to be able to read Russian, but then sometimes it gets confusing. Well, a lot of the time, it gets confusing especially when the labels switch to Ukrainian.
I guess that’s why it’s a relief to come down the vodka, cognac, beer aisle. Everything is color coded - white for vodka, brown for cognac, and skinny neck bottles for beer.
I guess that’s why it’s a relief to come down the vodka, cognac, beer aisle. Everything is color coded - white for vodka, brown for cognac, and skinny neck bottles for beer.
On our mini-bus, we pass by “Little Palestine.” During our last walk, Gregory pointed it out to me. “It’s where Konotop’s Jewish families lived before famine, wars and Nazis.”
He showed me his boyhood home which is now an office. He lived in a room about 12 x 15 with no kitchen or bath. Both were down the hallway and shared with other families. This was known as family dormitory living. I do not recommend it. I almost never pass by without saying a blessing for Gregory. If it matters in heaven, Gregory is remembered.
He showed me his boyhood home which is now an office. He lived in a room about 12 x 15 with no kitchen or bath. Both were down the hallway and shared with other families. This was known as family dormitory living. I do not recommend it. I almost never pass by without saying a blessing for Gregory. If it matters in heaven, Gregory is remembered.
Our 15 minute ride is not so far by American standards. I know people in Boston who commute more than an hour. But still I am on the edge of city development. It’s the end of the line for the mini-bus, van and trolley. All three will turn-a-round here.
We get off and see an open field across the way. The soil is dark black and is said to be among the most fertile in the world. Individual plots have been laid out. In a few weeks, families will be out there turning the good earth by hand and planting food for the next year.
It’s a necessity. I have learned that Ukraine’s minimum monthly pension is 596 UAH ($73) and its average is no more than about 1,060 UAH ($130). It’s a pittance for a life time of work, but even at these levels, officials say the entire pension system is in dire crisis.
I’ve seen the alternative. An elderly woman scavengers through the trash containers not far from my home. She searches for any item that can be sold. And as difficult as it is to realize, she will also grab anything that can be eaten.
Stray dogs stand patiently in the shadows of the dumpsters, like sentinels, watching for any scrap that may be tossed their way. Other people scurry here and there and seem not to notice much. Очень жаль. To pronounce, say ochen zhal It’s a pity.
We walk another 15 minutes to my home. We pass a gaggle of Soviet apartments. They are five stories high and either of concrete or brick construction. To be higher would have required elevators according to Soviet code.
Balconies protrude in vertical rows. Each hangs in various states of repair. The overall appearance is disjointed and drab. In Soviet times, these buildings served a utilitarian purpose – to get families out of dormitories and into a home of their own. That part worked.
We notice in the distance some new construction. Locals call it “poor street” with obvious sarcasm and maybe some envy. Apparently free enterprise has given some people more – a lot more. And they have constructed their own castles on the edge of желмасив, on the edge of town.
My place is modest – ever so modest. I have one main room that’s about 12 x 10 feet. Here is where I sleep and read and write this blog. My desk occupies one corner and my armoire sits in the other. A fold-down futon takes up most of the other space.
A short hallway connects this room with my bathroom. Last September, I got hot water. I’m in favor of hot water. But even when I was without it for 15 months, I adapted and I think most people would.
Next to my bathroom is a kitchen. I have about a foot of counter space. Whenever I am with other volunteers, I always make a complaint. With tongue- in-cheek, I gleefully rant on. It’s become my signature joke – a gourmet cook with so many ideas and so little space. Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle…
And whenever I’m invited to another volunteer’s apartment, I stand and envy their two feet of counter space. It’s all in fun because I know many Ukrainians prepare elaborate meals for people they love with no more than I have. They prove that you can do a lot more with less.
I’m thinking people adapt. We adapt to more maybe too easily and we adapt to less maybe without realizing it. We may not like it. We can complain. We can have fear or envy. But in the end we adapt and it’s a good thing.
So Welcome, my friend. I live on the edge of town in желмасив. Even though it is not a "poor street," I like it. It's become my living place.
So Welcome, my friend. I live on the edge of town in желмасив. Even though it is not a "poor street," I like it. It's become my living place.
