After a rather grueling border crossing I have landed in Krakow, Poland. My nose is constantly running thanks to allergies and with three months worth of gear to lug around I feel a bit like a snail — slowly wandering around with my home on my back leaving a trail of mucus behind me. But [...]
Archive for August, 2009
Sammy’s Choice: Auschwitz or KFC
Posted in Uncategorized on August 31, 2009 | 13 Comments »
EJECT!!!
Posted in Uncategorized on August 28, 2009 | 7 Comments »
Gah! So……….. It looks like I have to leave Ukraine tomorrow. The Ukrainian government has decided to exact a measure of revenge for the humiliating visa regime other countries have leveled on Ukrainians by restricting visitors to 90 days only — no re-entry. Shouldn’t I have looked into this? I did actually, about two days [...]
My bathtub is in the kitchen
Posted in Uncategorized on August 21, 2009 | 9 Comments »
People always laugh when they visit my place here in Lviv for the first time and see that the bathtub is in the kitchen, so I figured ya’ll might enjoy it as well. My first week here it did feel strange showering where I cook, but I’m used to it now. It actually used to [...]
Ukraine’s got talent
Posted in Uncategorized on August 17, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Really it does. If you are in the mood for something you have probably never seen before; check these videos. Kseniya Simonova the 24-year-old winner of the television program Ukraine’s Got Talent has developed a unique art form using sand and a back-lit table. The following two videos tell the story of Ukraine’s nearly unparalleled [...]
Ukraine loves Lindsay Lohan
Posted in Uncategorized on August 14, 2009 | 5 Comments »
For the next little while I won’t be posting much as my friends Peter Row and his new wife Miwa are in town, then I’ll be taking my brother on a tour of Ukraine for a couple weeks. I’ll try and post at least twice a week though. So for now I’ll leave you with [...]
The ultimate Ukrainian party trick
Posted in Uncategorized on August 14, 2009 | 2 Comments »
One of my goals while spending the summer in Ukraine was to learn some Ukrainian. I had hoped to be able to carry on a conversation with my Grandmother when I returned to Canada. I have learned some “survival Ukrainian” but sadly unless my Grandmama is now working as a cab driver or selling Camel [...]
Music to get you into Jewish heaven
Posted in Uncategorized on August 7, 2009 | 1 Comment »
I want to give a huge shout-out to a friend I met in Warsaw while I was there in April. For the purposes of anonymity I’ll just refer to him as Brandonzev. Brandonzev let me crash at his place for a week after we disclosed our mutual love of the band Rural Alberta Advantage over [...]
Putting the ‘rain’ in Ukraine
Posted in Uncategorized on August 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
An approaching thunderstorm is one of my absolute favourite things about Lviv. I’m sure there is some scientific explanation as to why this city is ambushed — almost daily — by ridiculously violent storms, but I have no idea why. All I know is that a perfectly calm sunny day here can turn dark and [...]
Canada: Good, but boring
Posted in Uncategorized on August 3, 2009 | 5 Comments »
Close to a month ago I was interviewed by a friend of mine from the local newspaper here in Lviv, Високий Замок (High Castle). I wasn’t quite sure what the journo, Ihor, was going to do with the interview, but I trusted him. Plus as a survivor of community news I was happy to help [...]
