I have run into what might be called an language blockade. It's tougher than a roadblock because everytime you think you're going in the direction that you want to be going in things completely change. For example, after being in Nikolaev for three days I have finally made it to an internet cafe. The russian/english difference is very great. There is no middle ground of understanding. I asked to go to an internet cafe today, for the third day in a row. They asked me if I would like to instead use their home connection, and I said that would be fine except that I would tie up their phone line. The mother, Galya, then retorted with, "who's going to be in New York to talk with now, anyway." There is no simple way around it. I'm not an idiot, but since I don't speak Russian my intelligence is equated to that of the cat. My host family has many bizarre traits about them, but I guess that's because I'm an americansky. Okay, so Maxim, the son, and I start to head out of the house anyway after what I thought was an agreement to use their connection, and we head to the post office to send off a letter. After that we go to an internet provider. Apparently Maxim understood my request as his house needing an entirely new provider. I have no clue where they come up with this. I feel as though I'm requesting simple things. But, it's not coming across that way.

Hopefully, tomorrow, I will go to the Jewish 'club' and begin my work with some regularity. Oh yea, after lunch, because that was proposed as a good time of the day to work. I have had a lot of time to learn how to slow down. The first week was spent on the Black Sea 'resting', and I was told when we returned we would spend a couple days for down time. They have an interesting concept of summer here. I guess it was a little odd to come this time of year.