Looking forward to Ukrainian medicine, or lack thereof

I stopped in for a meeting with Petro today, the University's multimedia jack-of-all-trades. He works in the 'information office,' or the PR, photo, video, advertising and secretarial office all rolled into one. At Marquette, this might be an army of 50-100 people, but at UCU, there are about 15 that do it all. I have to hand it to them, they do a heckuva job.

Petro(Ukrainian for 'Peter') was admiring my D300 and we were discussing assignments when a woman ran to the door, chattered something in Ukrainian and Petro leaped over me and out the door. I waited a few minutes before Petro returned and told me a woman had fainted in the office. I offered to help and got a blank stare, as if "wait, you know what faint means?"

I remember shock treatment from Boy Scouts: elevate the legs 6-12 inches, cover them in a blanket, use a moist towel on their forehead, give them air. Her pulse was strong and so was her breathing, and she kept coming in and out of shock to sputter moans and stilted phrases of chattery Ukrainian. Now, I'm not a doctor, but having grown up with one all my life, I felt fairly confident I was treating her somewhat effectively. I wasn't so sure about my Ukrainian compatriots.

I was particularly amused/dismayed by their practice of dabbing cotton balls in alcohol and sticking them under her nose, which only served to cut the oxygen off long enough for her to jolt awake and then fall back into shock. I wouldn't let them lower her legs, but it seems like medical training is in short supply here. However, when somebody did call the University doctor, she showed up in moments and took over. 

In case of bodily harm, I'm considering reverting to my dog's method of self-medication: eating grass and clover until I purge my body via toilet. 

Nice weather, but watch out for the gas prices

Yeah, I know American gas prices seem high, but Ukrainian ones are outrageous! This sign just 10 minutes from my apartment reads roughly 6 Hriven a litre, or about $1.25. There are ~4.5 liters in a gallon, making a gallon of gas in Ukraine about $5.57! And you should see what they drive; the Wikipedia definition of 'Jalopy,' a decrepit, run down, unreliable automobile, includes a picture of a Lada, a Russian car commonly driven in Ukraine.

Beautiful day otherwise, I took a walk through the park. I teach my first class tomorrow(there was a mixup today with the classes, apparently the schedules are pretty volatile the first 2 weeks), I hope to embarrass my students by taking a picture of them at the end of class. Look forward to that post!

Lviv

Arrived safely in Lviv today at 3:30 pm. Luggage is here safe, camera equipment is safe, I'm safe. No worries! Apartment is as cozy as ever, had a delicious meal of Varenyki(pierogi) and borscht. Washed it all down with some scotch and a cigar this evening. Goodnight and God Bless! Thanks for your prayers,

Mike

Boston 2

From top: Feast of St. Anthony Parade(notice the cop putting on lipstick in the 3rd frame, priceless), Carriekins and another one of Carriekins, my favorite of her.

Boston 1

In boston with the family before my departure. From top: Dad and me smoking a cigar near the north shore, in the Boston Common, at the Market, and walking around Boston with Juliekins.

Rockets

Shooting rockets with my cousins, Eddie and Julia. There was a fire in there somewhere.

Wisconsin

Shot a wedding in Rice Lake, I unfortunately can't post any of the pics yet, I left the hard drive at home when I left for Lviv. I'll have some up when the photographer I worked for posts them. Had a great time, we went to the fair and took some pictures of shooting stars. Hope you like 'em, Sammie!