Ukraine- Arrival to Nezhin

It was so sad to leave Tammy. The morning I was suppose to leave was a typical morning for me. The taxi didn't show, we went to the wrong train station, the next taxi got lost, we missed our train and had to rebuy tickets... Tammy swears I must be jinked as she has never missed a plane, taxi, or train and yet things like this happen to me all the time. :)

When we arrived in Kiev (where we were to meet my team) we were met by 2 older men who were like a van taxi service. Seeing these stairs loom before me, I was so glad to see such "strapping" old men. It was like a comedy act for sure, complete with a Robin Williams look alike. My humor quickly faded when they wanted $50US for a 10 minute ride to the seminary, to which they got lost multiple times! Thankfully Tammy was able to talk them down to $25US but still, Kiev is outragously priced.

Our trip into Nezhin began rather late, like 10:45 pm and still not knowing what Nezhin was, a town or village, was rather sketchy. Everything we had been told about the Ukraine so far had been completely false but Tammy had said that what had been described to me was a village so perhaps that was what Nezhin was. We all piled into 2 vans, most of us meeting for the first time, translators and team members alike.

I had to laugh at Kerry, who kept a running conversation with Vladik who spoke a little English but was obviously overwhelmed. Kerry, definately at her most defining moment having lacked 36 hrs of sleep, was hysterical as she was trying to tell him that she was probably the funniest person he would meet, except he would not know that since he couldn't understand her. To prove her point she then began a whole series of jokes beginning with "How do you get a one arm Polish man out of a tree?" Watching her attempt to act and explain that out and Vladik's polite "mm" to something obviously he wasn't understanding was quite entertaining!

Around 2am we pulled onto this rutty road. There was nothing out there except fields and trees and I thought we had finally come to the end of the world. It doesn't matter where you are, things always look bleaker at that hour. When the sun rose a mere 2 hrs later, I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were in a small town that is very similar to where my mother grew up.

The Life of a Teacher

This posting is an ode to my "hard working" wife, Sarah, who still has a week of her summer holiday left to work on her tan, meet up with friends, gym, and other similar really strenuous activities.
She sent me this picture, taken with a cellphone earlier this morning, from Biscayne Bay, where she and friend Jessica Fox are currently laying out.

Sarah love, I'm sitting in my windowless office, up to my arms in work, and I get this pic. YOU'RE cooking dinner tonight! ;-)

Ukraine- Rowing in the Ukraine

Since the day was sunny and hot, Tammy and the family decided to head to the river to go boating. What a fun day it turned into being! Moored to the dock were 3 depledated paddle boats. We decided to wait for 2 rowboats but, patience is not a virtue that seems not to be had in the Long family, so after waiting for a bit we opted for a rowboat and paddle boat.

If I thought the paddleboats were older looking, the rowboats were something from an era past. Now personally, I would prefer to row with a historic antique because you're guaranteed to have some story come from it. We decided to put two of us on the paddle boat and the rest of us, including baby Hannah!, piled into the rowboat. Vlad, in a valiant attempt to show us his manhood, rowed for us and Todd and the boys took turns at the paddle boat. Now theoretically this should have worked- if the paddles on the paddleboat were the correct length. Seeing as they were about 1-2 inches too short to turn water, no matter how hard Todd, Josiah, and Nathan peddled, the turtle on the nearby bank soon overtook them and joined us, way up the river.

We decided it would be best to tie the paddle boat to the rowboat and row that way. Hmmm, again, in theory this should have worked, should being the operative word. However, there's something about towing a 50 pound metal frame using sole arm power. Tammy and I attempted to take over rowing to help out, thinking two is better than one. The guys enjoyed the break, even if we were going in circles. We looked quite silly out there, rowing in cirlces with a paddle boat tied to us but it was great fun!

A Plane from Kiev

I'm picking Sarah up form the airport today, nearly 5 weeks after she left for Eastern-Europe.
It's a happy day for me and the sun seemed a little brighter this morning. It's been a drag without my wife the last couple of weeks and as you can imagine, I'm estatic.

Animal House at Miami Metro Zoo

Today, while discernment slowly dawned on me at the Miami Metro Zoo, insanity was tossed in my direction, fast and humorous.
I don't know why I chose today to visit the Zoo, for as wet as Miami was yesterday, so hot and humid was it today. As I trudged between cages full of heat-induced semi-comatose, exotic animals, I asked myself that often.

I did see a 250 pound Galapagos tortoise mating with a smaller female. It was an eerie sight, like from a Alien-movie, and I was kinda expecting Sigourney Weaver to show up and break up the ol' guy's little party.
I also learned that flamingo's owe their beautiful pink color to the carotene found in their food. It seems that you really are what you eat!

In front of the chimpanzee's cage, an array of colorful - and mostly underdressed (yes, rumors later confirmed someone was in fact wearing a Speedo...) - zoo-goers were gathered, hoping the limp, sleeping chimps would provide some entertainment. Which of course they did not.
But those people sure did! Half-naked would be a better description, if you do not take the thirty tatoos and studs into account. Then there was the couple making out in the hippo's viewing cave, whom the bystanders were watching purely because the Cuban crocs next door were not moving at all.
I find it odd to have a Zoo in a sauna like Miami, especially for animals from arid regions. They were all passed out from the heat, lying in their waterpools, or drinking Budweiser.

Miami's sole Koala was definitely moving, trying to hide! Three moms were slapping on his cage's window for all they were worth, trying to get him to pose for pictures with six snot-nosed little brats pressing their grimy little hands on the clear glass. The same glass on which was posted a HUGE notice - "PLEASE do not knock on the glass."
Luckily for the marsupial from Down Under, their attention was drawn away by the screaming, yelling, middle-aged man racing three teenagers on their rented pedal-powered carts down the pathway towards the Asian display.
That's why I love Sundays in Miami so, for the peace and quiet.

The silver-back gorilla was grinning broadly at me as I passed his encampment on the way out...
Laughing at us.

Dragonboat Antics

Our Miami Puff Dragonboat Team had a PJ party/team building session on Saturday night, in light of the upcoming nationals.

Both pics depict us engaging in activities meant to get individuals to function as a team. I'm not going to even try and explain WHAT we're actually doing! I AM going to hold onto these pics though, in case one of my teammates one day wants to stand for office...

There's no "I" in TEAM!

(Click on the pics to view larger.)

Early Morning Guests

Daar is niks soos 'n stewige bord slappap vroeg-oggend (06:00) om jou murg in jou pype te gee nie!

Two good friends - Art and his daughter Jozanne (they were my family the first two years in Taiwan) made an early morning breakfast call en route from Miami International. Sarah's a FruitPop-eater, so it was fun to have Maltabella with someone who enjoys it!

Oz 49 - SA 0

Saturday was a decidedly sad day. I drove a near 20 miles to watch our national rugby team being obliterated by Australia. 49-0. That's nearly a cricket score.
It'll be like the Michael Jordan-Dream Team of the early nineties losing to a sport's foe like Russia - national tragedy!

Wat 'n debakel.
30-0 halftyd. Gehoop iemand gat my wakker klap en sê ek moet opstaan, die game begin. Maar ek was wakker...
Ons wat saamgekyk het, het nugter en emosieloos (wel, amper) saamgestem dat dit die swakste wedstryd was wat ons ooit gekyk het. Buiten die losskakel is dit moeilik om jou vinger te sit op presies wat SO ERG verkeerd gegaan het. Re die losskakel - oor 'n jaar van nou af gaan niemand hopelik meer onthou wie hy was nie.
Pic (left): A picture that pretty much sums up what happened on Saturday.
Pic (right): Hulle was altyd 'n kortkoppie voor en ons net 'n bier of twee te stadig.
(Pictures from Rugby365 website.)

R&R In The Keys

I spend a relaxing weekend with good friends at a borrowed beach house in Key Largo (Mile marker 100).
It's great to get away from the familiar surroundings and two days is enough to recharge the batteries sufficiently.
The house is built a block from the ocean, next to a canal, with a landing dock for the owner's yacht. We saw the most beautiful tropical sealife in this canal. Pic: Check out the lobster! (Click on the picture.)

En toe gaan bederf ek my naweek deur die rugbytoets te loop kyk!

Religious Prosecution

Two mormons came to visit me soon after I got home the other night.
I find it to be quite true that people who tries to share their religious views with you, are rarely interested in you sharing your views with them....

Far Far Away

I'm now really missing my pretty American! So I looked on Google Earth and found the little Ukrainian town of Nezhin where she is currently staying. It's two hours North-West of the capital Kiev.
I could zoom in much closer, but she likes her privacy...
This technology still amazes me.

Independance Day!

On Tuesday, the Fourth of July - otherwise known as Independance Day - a bunch of us went to the exclusive Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables for the annual fireworks/Miami Symphony Orchestra display. We had picnic on the Biltmore golf course and enojoyed the magnificent orchestra, which later accompanied an incredible 20 minute fireworks display.

Pic: (Above) Many of the older guard came dressed for the occasion.




Friends Curtis and Robin Cooper with the growing crowds behind them on the Biltmore golf course in Coral Gables.







Our friends and neighbors James and Jessica Fox. Thanx for the pic, Jess!

The South African Invasion

I was fortunate enough to receive three old friends of mine this weekend. They all flew in from the Grand Cayman Islands and I had a grrreat time hosting them - in Afrikaans! Hope they enjoyed it.
Juan and Lundi is soon departing back to the Republic, while we're already planning a surf 'n snorkel-trip to Marius on the islands.

Pic: (L to R) Lundi and Juan Koen and Marius and me enjoying Hops's cuisine. Cutler Ridge, Miami.

World Cup Soccer Frenzy

Hosts Germany plays Argentina as soon as I get to the office this morning. Late this afternoon Brazil and France will lock horns in the other WC Quarterfinal. Big games.
Apart from the Cubans, no-one in Miami is working today!

My South-American colleagues are fierce when it comes to their soccer. I'm just loving this soccer-enduced exciting buzz around the office.

Suid-Afrikaanse Watergat Effe Afgewater

Die afgelope Sondag ruk ek toe soos 'n losklong op na Fort Lauderdale om Suid-Afrikaanse geselskap te probeer opsoek - met dat my Amerikaner in die Ukraine is.
Kalaharibar in Fort Lauderdale vertoon altemit 'n heruitsending van die naweek se geploeter op Nuweland. Vyftig myl en 'n oulike klein tropiese storm later vind ek my toe in die mekka van die Afrikanerdom in Florida.

Die rugby was swak, die klandisie net effe, maar my teleustelling is grootliks gedemp deur my eerste Castle in jare!
Kort na halftyd het ek myself toe gewend na 'n gesellige Ierse "poeb" in die omgewing en 'n aanskoulike Holland/Portugal Wêreldbekerwedstryd gekyk.

(NS: Hierdie omgewing in Fort Lauderdale is langs die kus, en is saam met Key West die kern van die multi-miljard Dollar seiljag-gemeenskap in Amerika. Duisende SA'ers wat op seiljagte werk, het hierdie dorp as hul basis.)

Ukraine- Arrival

I didn't know what to expect really when I first contemplated the idea of going to the Ukraine. Not really having any connection with it, the most I knew was that it was next to Russia, a former communist state, and the only images I had of the country were those from the recent films I had seen showing at the Sundance Festival. Needless to say, I have been pleasantly surprised.

Upon arrival, I was greated with only one of the two bags that I had brought with me. So began my understanding of time here. For close to 2 hours I waited in a line to fill out an endless supply of form papers, only to be told I could be waiting up to 4-6 days for my luggage to be located. 4 days might not seem long, but in perspective, a person is officially missing after 24 hours, 36 hours of sleep deprivation and the mind shuts down, 72 hours missing you're chalked up as missing for good... in the light of this I was a bit skeptical as I walked out of the airport lugging a 70lb bag of peanut butter and children's shoes hoping that something in my team bag would fit me.

My cousin Tammy was kind enough to greet me at the airport. It's been close to 13 years since I've seen her but I couldn't mistake her firey red hair when I stepped out of the terminal. Accomanying her was little Hannah, who's 9 mnths, and she is a gem! Such a happy baby who loves to smile and coo at everyone she meets. It was so fun riding home just chatting and catching up. Seeing as Tammy is 9 yrs older and lived in a different part of the US, we have never really spent much time together. However, the Long trait is in both of us and we talked most of the 4 hr bus ride home. I have enjoyed staying with her and her family (all of whom I've met for the first time!)

South Africa vs France

France 36
South Africa 26

Die verskil tussen flair en domkrag...

Ukraine- My flight

Sporadic comes to mind when I think about posting while I'm away. Pics will have to wait until I return but for now, I thought I'd drop a note about whatever suits my fancy.

My flight over was uneventful. There was a charming old British woman sitting next to me on the flight. She was like a relic from the Victorian Era, smartly dressed, with a slight handicap as she had packed her glasses into her suitcase rendering her blind. Thus, I became the seeing eyes for the unseen. I seemed to have done a good job until the very end when she insisted that she could see a beach as we were flying over Heathrow. How she could see this, I don't know as we were located in the middle of the plane. I just murmered, mmm, and when my young eyes could not confirm, she called for the stewardess. "Where are we? What beach are we at?" she asked. The stewardess, without missing a beat, replied, "Where are we? I don't know, somewhere on earth I suppose," and then walked off.

Well, that got the missus riled to say the least and then I began to hear, in her very clipped accent, about what "cheek" young people have today. "Exactly where is the beach you see?" I asked, hoping to get her mind off the steward. She pointed and exclaimed, "Over there! You see, there's the sand, and the water, and it looks like the tide is coming in." Realization dawned on me and I had to stiffle a laugh. The "sand" was really the plane's wings with sunlight reflecting off it, the "water" was the early morning sky, and the "tide" was the clouds drift that covered the wing. "And what a lovely beach it is!" I exclaimed. "Yes, that's what I thought. That stewardess is a bit cheeky I think. I suppose she's just tired as it's been a long flight," sighed my seat companion as she settled back in for the landing. I couldn't help but smile and think, what will I be like when I'm her age?

Go The Heats!

The Miami Heat basketbal team won the coveted national title Tuesday night after narrowingly defeating the Maverick's 95-92 in a thriller of a sixth game in Dallas.

Driving home from friends was an experience! Hundreds, no thousands, of screaming, clapping, chanting, singing, flag-waving, celebrating, delirious Heat fans congegrated in the main roads, hugging and waving.
The last 7 miles home took me nearly an hour. Go Heat!

Pic: Two household names in Miami - Dwayne Wade (left) and Shaquile O'Neill.

Leaving On A Jetplane

I dropped Sarah off at the Miami International Airport. She's on her way to the Ukraine to teach there with our church team. The first week she'll be visiting her cousin Tammy and her family outside of Kiev.
She'll fly back towards the end of July, after a probable quick stop in London.
God speed.

NY - Chinatown

Both Sarah and I refused to act like tourists on our last full day in New York and it turned out to be a great decision. Chinatown first and second on our itinerary.

Oh my shattered nerves! There I were, standing in the hub of Chinatown and it actually looked, felt and smelled just like Taichung, Taiwan - which was still home less than a year ago. Complete with the Taiwanese flag. The open fishmarkets, the old lady crouching outside her store, the crammed, jampacked stores, tofu smells, the neon signs hanging from every available nook and cranny on the dirty brick walls. We didn't want to leave.

We sat in a park later, drinking Jin djou nai tsa (pearl milk tea - the real McCoy!), watching teenagers play handball. They all speak American, but even the dress code are the same as my students back in Taichung.
It was like being in the Twilight Zone!

Pic (left): Some nice, fat bullfrogs for the pan. Three for $5.

NY- Empire State

Woe to those who do not heed the past. If we thought the wait for Lady Liberty was long, the torment of the Empire State was like descending into one of Dante's infernos of hell. For days we had been saying we'll to go to the top and it became a ritual - put it on the 'sights to see today' list and each day continously move it to the next. In my mind I could hear the murmur of our friends and collegues, "What?! You were in NYC and didn't go to the Empire State?!? how could you!" So, with a mournful glance around, I nodded my head to the various other less than eager participants- the German family, Lousianna family, and Texan family I recognized from our ferry trip to Ellis Island- and shuffled into line.

Around 10:00pm we finally made it to the elevator and as we stepped in I sighed in relief. As the doors shut, I leaned against Marco wondering exactly how many skyline photos we really needed for this to be such a quest. I mean after all, we had shots from the plane, from the ferry, from the car, from the bridge... As the steel, gray doors siliently slid open, I let out an ominous gasp. There before my eyes was yet another line!

By 10:45pm we had finally made it to the top. Ironically, after 5 skyline pics Marco's camera battery died. Was it worth it? Well, at least I can hold my head high and say yes, I've been to the top of the Empire State Building!

NY- Wall Street

Sunday afternoon found us in a Pentacostal church that my friend Julia and her fiancee Bob attend. It was truly an experience and after 3 hrs with no end in sight, we decided to quietly slip out and head to the city's financial headquarters.

Bob was a great tour guide! Not only had he worked in that area for a number of years, but he knew all kinds of little side streets and small sights that we would have never discovered had we been on our own. On the way we stopped by George Washington's church where I actually saw a priest rap and hip-hop! It was quite a show and the church was packed to say the least.

Marco was thrilled to not only see the NY Stock Exchange, but also to actually see The Bull. Made of brass, what it lacked in luster in the front, shone like a beacon from behind. From watching various other tourists, the back end of him was more picture worthy!

The infamous court house from Law and Order. (Right, bottom)

New York- Lady Liberty and Ellis Island

Monday morning we decided that we should at least check out Lady Liberty, since after all we were in NYC. Not noticing the fine print warning to arrive early in our tour book, we arrived at Battery Park around noon. "Oh look!" I squealed, "there must be something exciting going on," as I montioned to the hundreds of people lined up. It slowly dawned on me, to my utter dismay, that the "excitement" was the line for the ferry and to my horror it sank in that if I was to see her, I too would have to stand among the thousands waiting. 4hrs, 2 hot dogs, 8 rounds of the theme song from Gilligan's Island, and 1EMT call later... we finally were able to board.

As we jetted across the open sea, for the "eternal" 10 minute ride to the Statue, I noticed there was a haze of reds, blues, yellows, and browns at her base. Now although I know NY is a seasonal state, there was no way that there were that many trees with changing leaves. Nope, thousands more were waiting for my much sought after seat... one that I valiantly pressed on for. There was no way that I was about to give that up, so we waved good-bye to her as we continued on to Ellis Island.

By the time we arrived to Ellis Island, Marco was feeling seasick and tired of all the crowds and people. His couraged waned when he the saw the numbers pressing toward us, elbowing and pushing for just one small, hard, blue chair to rest their weary, touristy bottoms on. With much coaxing and the promise of a beer, he agreed to get off the ferry and view yet another museum.

I won't go into detail about the island, you can read about it in Island of Hope by Martin Sandler. However, it was pretty amazing to actually walk the halls and see the remmants of the past left behind.

Side photo: Currencies to be exchanged for US dollars upon arrival.

New York - Art

On Saturday Julia took us to the American Museum Of Natural History.







Across from Central Park, on the East side, we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Quite special to sit in front of artwork I have only read about.

New York - Midtown

Today - Friday - our first full day in the city. A gazillion things we wanna see and only 5 days left.
It's true that New York was built (and made) by the immigrants that entered this country, but a few individuals provided the $$$. One such fellow was Mr. Rockefeller and we did an interesting tour of the Midtown district, with over 12 of these skyscrapers having been owned and build by this philantropist. Back in 1930 he had a budget of $160 million to build the Rockefeller Centre.
There is a richness in art, symbolism and family history here. When the Stock Market crashed in '33, Rockefeller Jr. bought an oilfield in Texas (tax purposes) and promised his 8000 employees that they'll keep their jobs. They did and he paid them.


We also visited the NBC Studios, where David Letterman, Conan O'Brian and the national news studios are situated. Big letdown - tourist trap and we would have spent our time better sitting in a cwoffee(New Yorkian) shop with a bagel people watching.

The afternoon took us to the East side and the United Nations HQ. Garments and robes and languages from all over the globe was apparent - Sarah was in seventh heaven.
Did a very interesting tour.
Each of the 190-something member countries pay monthly membership fees according to their gross national income. This is bad news for America, the richest country in the world. Basically this means they carry the 150+ poor member countries. Very generally speaking, that is. I thus understand the vibes of irritation and frustration in Washington towards this less then efficient global organisation. As a permanent member, the US's plans and policies are more often than not veto'd by either China or Russia - despite the country's huge fiscal contribution.

New York, New York! (Day 1)

We finally arrived in the Big Apple late Thursday afternoon. Excitement and anticipation gripped both Sarah and I and we decided not to let time slip, but to get our first glimpse of the city before nightfall.

Dropped our luggage off at our good friends Bob and Julia (Pic below) in Long Island and after a 40 minute train ride we emerged from the New York subway into a new world in Times Square. (Pic 1) Total sensory overload after quiet Suburbia!