The country of my childhood memories

It's not the country, but it's the spirit that I love, you know?

This is the country where I have lived for many years, where I have spent my childhood, but I still can't say that I love it fully, but then you see...it's all about the country, not about its spirit. I'm in love with the soul! In my mind Ukraine is so different from the real one.

My mind carries me away...Strong childhood memories are appearing and keeping me coming back and visiting my family, which still lives there, every year. Every time before taking the plane I feel so anxious, so happy to see my country and live through its moments once again. I'm packing my luggage, I'm buying my tickets online...Retro images of the hot summer or windy spring are pumping in my head.

I literally feel like I will get out of the airport, take a taxi and....dissolve! I will see happy faces, children licking apricot ice-cream (just like me 20 years ago), grannies selling their herring, wrapped in the newspaper, couples walking on the boulevards, hugging, eating cherries and spitting their seeds on the floor. But everytime I arrive...I see the opposite, something that doesn't match with my illusions. I end up tricking myself, playing with my mind. Ukraine of my childhood dreams no longer exists.


The way I remember, it's a country with a population of 52 million, everyone has a car, apartment or a house, children, a cat, a job, weekends. The chestnut trees are blooming with their white flowers in May and spinning your head around with all these aromas. The little red trams are happy to carry you away to the corner of your first kiss. If everything would be real, I would take one, number 18 and go...Probably, I would appear somewhere in Odessa, the city, where I grew up. It would be hot summer and the last stop would be somewhere near the beach. Then, I would get off, buy a little pack of tiny shripms, some mineral water with gas ("sharp" water, as I used to say, when I was a child) and walk around the neighbourhood, that would be exactly the same. No changes, no new buildings, everyone is young, healthy and alive.


Odessa is actually very different from all other Ukrainian cities. Even its citizens don't want to be called Ukrainians. They are Odessity and there is nothing else to add. Odessa has this spicy mix of colors, cultures, tastes and accents. Until nowadays I hear the famous Jewish melodie "Hava Nagila" and it makes me feel so nostalgic...It has nothing to do with Ukraine of course, but as I have already mentioned, Odessa always stands out, when it comes to music, people and even the language, their personal slang.


Ukraine itself breathes with its legends and tales...And every time, when I hear "Ukraine" somewhere, the first thing that comes to my mind is my grandmother. She was just perfect representation of the country. Her typical clothes, her shawl on the head with bright-red flowers...her frightening stories, that made me be covered under the blanket all nights long. Grandmothers in Ukraine are very important in their grandchildren's lives and sometimes it's just difficult to imagine all these traditional things without her in that picture.


Also, I really wanted to tell you about those fields. If you are driving your car, somewhere in the countryside of Ukraine in the mid August and all your windows are open, you would understand what I mean. You would probably drug yourself with all these flower smells and the only wish that would pass through your head will be: "I wanna drawn in this juicy grass, dive in the sunflowers, chicory, lavender, sagebrush, dandelions...! I just wanna be a part of this honey coctail of this very heart of the universe."


And that's the answer I guess, why do I always come back there, even knowing that everything is nothing else but an illusion, the product of my own imagination. It's just because this way, I can enjoy this pleasure of utopia, even if it's just for few minutes, but it feels so good, so right. I prefer lying to myself, creating a different reality. So the moment I close my eyes in the airplane, that is rushing towards my motherland, my own fairy tale starts...

                                                                                    Sunflowers by Nelson Mineiro

Just because some readers told me that I forgot....the legendary "Nu pogodi!"

Nu, Pogodi! (Russian: Ну, погоди!, Well, Just You Wait!or You Just Wait!) is a Soviet/Russian animated series produced by Soyuzmultfilm. The series was created in 1969 and became a popular cartoon of the Soviet Union.  The series follows the comical adventures of an artistic and mischievous wolf trying to catch a hare. The series has additional characters that usually either help the hare or interfere with the wolf’s plans.

Well, to be honest, my favorite cartoon of all times. How could I forget it on the list?

It doesn't give a very good example for the children though. The wolf is smoking and misbehaving with the intention to eat an innocent cute hare, who is doing some very interesting noises when actually gets caught by the "predator".

 

And it's just incredible how funny it is! Children and even parents love it and watch it with pleasure! This cartoon will never be out of date...It's just the smoking part might bother some families of course...But then, he is the wolf, that's his character. We are not looking at this world through the pink glasses, aren't we?

Enjoy it guys!! Paaaam, pam, pam, PAM!!!!!

MUST SEE Russian Soviet Cartoons

1. "BARANKIN BUD' CHELOVEKOM", Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya, 1963 (''Barankin, you gotta be a human") In this case means, gotta be more organized, more understanding, more educated, polite.

A very education-orientated cartoon for those, who are lazy and want to turn into sparrows, butterflies or ants, just to avoid the routine work. Gosh, but who knew that birds and insects MUST work in order to survive too?!

2. "VAREZHKA", Roman Katchanov 1967 ("The mitten")

The little girl really wanted to have a dog, but the parents were against all kind of pets. So she imagined that her dog was her re mitten, that she was playing with, even giving a milk in the little plate. The parents got shocked and guilty after seing this. Eventually, they bought a dog for their daughter. Everyone was happy in the end.

3. "V SINEM MORE V BELOJ PENE..."Robert Saakyants, 1984 ("In the blue sea, in the white foam")

The story tells us, that nothing is stable...everything comes and goes in this world. And you gotta be conscious, there are so many temptations around, don't let them invade your mind! Famous for the frase: "Ostavajsya mal'chik s nami, budesh' nashim korolem!" ("Stay with us boy and u'll be our king!")

Soviet past is still present (Ukraine, Russia) 2010

 

The workforce, everyone was equal men & women

Lenin forever, but who would cut the grass? This would NEVER happen during Soviet times. Lenin was an example for Russian people, someone that should be treated with a great respect.

 The image of Lenin was everywhere. It was something holy.

some of the very peculiar Russian posters...

Smoke cigarettes!

Russian vintage poster, smoking propaganda. 

If your children are smoking, you cannot make them stop, but you can make them smoke cigarettes "Katyka" (name of the brand). They are the most hygienical!! Russian vintage poster.

 

"Stop! It's your last warning!" - says the poster. Apparently, smoking cigarettes was healthier than drinking. Drinking was strictly prohibited during 1917-1919 and also slightly restricted during the late 80's.

                                                             AlcOhol.

The best pacifiers ever! Ready to suck all life long! They're sold everywhere.

Chatterbox is a godsend for the enemy!

 
To rattle away is helping the enemy!

 

Russian vintage poster. (1917) People were more open-minded, but then Revolution changed everything and we became a humble Soviet nation without any access to the foreign culture.

Faberge eggs

Faberge Eggs have been designed for more than 120 years by special techniques of a famous artist and imperial jeweler Carl Faberge. Their designs were inspired by historical art works that Faberge imitated or copied from his travels or from the Hermitage. The tradition of Faberge Eggs to commorate the tradition of Easter, which is continuing even today is a age old tradition which started with the Russian Tsar, during the festive season of Russian Orthodox Church. There was a surprise inside each egg and he was commissioned with making an Easter egg every year.


source: www.zimbio.com

So, when I was walking around Moscow this summer I decided to buy some cheap versions of these eggs (eggs-pendants) as souvenirs for the relatives. I couldn't easily find them, but when I finally ended up in Staryj (Old, in Russian) Arbat street, which is famous for its crafts and tourists' little things. Then, I finally found them in all the souvenir's shops. But, I warn you! They can be more expensive at one places and cheaper at another and the difference in price is noticeable! I almost bought one pendant for 1.000 Rubles (aprox. 32$US) and I found exactly the same one in another shop on the same street for 550 Rubles (aprox. 17$US). So...Don't rush :) Look with patience and you will find your precious piece. 


I wouldn't advise you to buy Matryoshkas (the traditional Russian dolls) on Staryj Arbat, well....only if you are looking for the variety...But, cheaper Matryoshkas (and they are quite nice and traditional too) are definitely sold in the famous Red Square. There you can also find flasks, lighters, mugs and other useful stuff with the traditional Soviet and typical Russian emblems for good prices. 
I saw the traditional toy - Cheburashka there too. It's something between a bear and a monkey, but until nowadays no one figured out the type of the animal the toy represents and something more interesting its sex. Anyway, it will represent the Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014 and it's cuteeeee! :) So if you want something to cheer you up - buy Cheburashka!! He will keep your mood up!

Ukraine’s opposition should therefore set five tasks for itself over the next six months:

1. Take a crash course to learn English.
2. Sign up to study political science or economics at Kyiv Mohyla Academy.
3. Visit Georgia and get to know how and why their reforms and campaign against corruption have been successful.
4. Draw on their new experiences and language skills to prepare draft programs outlining their alternative visions for Ukraine. These could be subject to discussion in the media, academic establishments and in focus groups.
5. Hire political consultants, lobbyists and public relations experts in Washington, DC and Brussels. Currently the only Ukrainian political force using US consultants is, ironically, President Yanukovych and the Party of Regions that he led until April. Ask these consultants to prepare at least one opinion editorial for a Western newspaper each month that would be signed by opposition leaders. 

By Taras Kuzio

Source: http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19390&Itemid=67

I loved this article and want to say a BIG thankyou to Vitaly Sych, the chief editor of Korrespondent, the leading Ukrainian weekly news magazine

http://www.kyivpost.com/news/opinion/op_ed/detail/70933/ Ukraine should follow in Georgia’s footsteps