Boston = a home for aliens

I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll start from a very broad image, my biggest revelation since I moved to Boston.

God blessed me with a several amazing opportunities to travel through the US, as well as a few other countries. And everywhere I went, the question 'What is your name?' has always been followed by an 'Oh, so where are you from?' Either my strange name - Dasha - or my accent (which I do have no matter how hard I try to conceal it) give away my foreign self. But in Boston... so weird... I never know what's gonna follow the question 'What is your name?' No one seems to be surprised by my name, or accent, or appearance, or the color of my passport. They've heard names a lot harder to pronounce, and seen passports of all colors of a rainbow. The thing is - in Boston, MA everybody is from somewhere, mostly from abroad. Here I don't feel like an alien. I had this strange feeling - that I belong here - the moment we moved to the Bean town.

I remember as I first tried getting a coffee in Starbucks. I felt anxious placing my order, I repeated the phrase a few times in my head, perfecting it, making sure it was short and clear: 'A medium Latte with no sugar and a chocolate chip muffin, please'. Sounds so simple. So I thought... The guy taking my order didn't understand me. He asked me a question, that I in my turn did not understand either. It all went wrong. Apparently in Starbucks you're supposed to ask for a 'grande', instead of a 'medium'. I guess that caught him off guard. Although who doesn't understand the universal term 'medium'? Anyhow, I helplessly looked for Jamie - just what I really wanted to avoid doing on my difficult journey to independence. As he saw my eyes full of terror and confusion, he rushed to my rescue.
I got my latte after all. But my self dignity and confidence suffered badly. 'I can't speak English, Jamie! People don't understand me!' - I exclaimed in despair. 'It's not you!' - Jamie said. 'The guy can't speak English! He is Indian, his accent is much stronger than yours. I couldn't even understand him in the beginning, it took me a while to figure out what he was saying... People will be having trouble with understanding you - mostly because of their poor English. Don't judge them, they're foreigners.'

After this little incident, I'm not worried anymore about somebody not understanding me. They hear all kind of accents all the time and should be used to them by now. I'm sure mine isn't the worst they heard.

So yeah, Boston feels very natural and right. Any foreigner from anywhere in the world will feel at home here.

Operation: Reload

So... I haven't posted here since we moved to Boston, MA from Kiev, Ukraine. A LOT has happened since then. It's been more than a year after all.

Life in the US is pretty adventurous, to say the least. When we just moved here every day was a sensation for me. I wanted to capture it somehow. As an editor the first thing that came to my mind was to write an article about it. And perhaps send it to the magazine I worked for back in Ukraine. But once I started writing it I couldn't focus on just a few things. Too much. Can't fit it in one spread. Plus in order for a text to blend in with the rest of material in a certain media item it has to fit the format. And my thoughts and impressions just couldn't fit this format. Any format. So I just gave up. And kept my everyday sensations to myself.

But having been here for a year all of this information has been collecting in my brain... and I just can't contain it anymore! (Right here some of my friends and family members would say: 'I told you so. You have to write down all these things. If not for anyone specific, than for yourself.') Yeah, yeah, you were right as always. I just lacked motivation. Or time. Or had been focused on other things, like adapting to life abroad - and that's a tough cookie. I guess what I'm trying to say is I was simply being lazy.

Nevertheless today is a fresh start. And I'm seriously committed this time to make it work. This blog is going to be an insight on my life in the United States of America. The US through the eyes of a Ukrainian. I'm not making any promises to post every day, but I'm going to try make it a regular thing - share with you my daily experience.

So here goes...

Farewell, goodbye

Never thought that I'd become a journalist.

Never thought that starting in a small weekly magazine I'll end up having my own sections in a 200 page glossy magazine.

Never thought I'd be wrtiting for the most popular and successful magazine in Ukraine (it's official!!! we're #1 on the market!!!!)

Never thought I'd be interviewing celebrities and chit-chat with them while having a cup of coffee - just like that!

Never thought that my interviews would actually be in demand in other magazines, like 'Viva' for example! (it's an analogy to American 'People') - they printed my interview in their last issue and actually had an exclusive photosession of the star! (...oh so flattering)




...never thought I'd be quitting the job I love.


Yesterday was my last day at work. Lots of warm wishes, hugs and kisses, sweet goodbyes, presents and flowers... I got all of my stuff, dusted my desk, gave the room a last look and turned the lights off (I ended up being the last one to leave). So... it feels good and rather unusual to be finally free. But also feels a little empty.

It's good to know that God has a plan.

I've been tagged

Funny... I've been tagged by my blog friend Mrs. T :)) Now I have to post a random picture... sort of.

The instructions for this tag are...

1. To pick the 4th picture folder on my computer;
2. Choose and post the 4th picture;
3. Explain the picture;
4. And tag 4 other people to participate.

I was crossing my fingers not to find some stupid or embarassing picture (for some reason we keep those!) Well, I was happy to find not too embarassing, but... well, blurry :))

Jamie took it during our autumn walk in the forest. This year I realised it wasn't spring anymore that was my favorite season. This year it was definitely autumn!!! I love the smell, the warmth, the colors... I absolutely fell in love with fall. It's funny how little things like this change as YOU change and mature.

So, Mrs. T, does this count? ;)

Now, it's your turn to share your photo album with me! I tag Faith, Linnea, Jeanne and Cara Denney (if she'll ever know I tagged her!) I'll be looking out for your blogs!

Looks like we're going to Boston...

Happy birthday, Edipresse!

This is a curious way my company - Edipresse - celebrated its 8th birthday.

Can you find me?

:)

Russia vs. Georgia

More horrifying photos from the battle field. I cannot believe my eyes.

On website www.russia-vs-georgia.com people from all over the world vote for one of the countries - the one they believe is right in this conflict. I voted for Georgia although I believe there is no right in this situation. Everybody is wrong and everybody breaks God's Law by killing other human beings.
Lord, have mercy on us.

An allien in the world of glam

Last night I was invited to attend '1+1' new season presentation. Since '1+1' is the most popular and successful TV channel in Ukraine, everything was done with great taste. Of course their budget allowed the channel to organize a pretty awesome party after the official part of the evening. The event took place in a beautiful resort 'Kozatskyi Stan' (in the picture above) located in the very heart of pinewood not far from where we live.
I went with my friend Alina and we had SO much fun. Lots of delicious food - grilled pork, beef, salmon and shrimp, all kinds of vegetables, juicy watermelons and melons, expensive wines... Later in the evening there were fireworks and lots of toasts.
It was really amazing to be among all of these faces that you normally see on TV. It feels like you've known them for ages. You give them a warm smile of a friend, they answer with a smile of courtesy - they have no idea who you are. But who cares.
On events like this one, where the only people you see are either celebrities or media workers, people don't take pictures with their favorite actors or TV hosts. I never tried it, but if I did... I'm pretty sure it would be quite rude... and a little inappropriate. So I didn't take any pictures, didn't even have a camera (and that's a good thing, otherwise I'd be tempted to take it out!) But when I saw my favorite TV host and showman Yuriy Gorbunov, I just couldn't pass by. He is really charming, really talented, he was also the MC last night. Anyhow, I came up to him, introduced myself, gave him greetings from my collegue he is aquainted with, told him how much I admire his work and got a treat - a sincere smile, not an empty and meaningless one :) He was thankful for all of my kind words. Aaaaanyhow, I met Yuriy Gorbunov. I am quite honored.

That's him.

And I also thought I should meet the Queen of Glamour - Katya Osadchaya :) She used to be a model, then she became a reporter and created her own show. She goes to all of the glam&gloss events (both Ukraine and the rest of the world) and then presents her report on what, when, how, who etc. She wears extraordinary outfits and exclusive hats every time. Yesterday she wore silk dress pants suit and a cute little hat. I'm sure soon there will be pictures of her on the web. But not yet. So here are a few from other events.

After we spoke for a couple of minutes she reached to shake my hand and tell me how pleased she was to meet me. Well, what can I say... It's mutual!

Lord, be with us

I cried when I saw these pictures . It could be Ukraine. These could be my friends and relatives.

Please keep praying for Georgia and South Osetia.