Their work ethic is interesting. Uri, the security guard that received a large Hershey chocolate bar for his early assistance, is learning to improve his limited English. He does not go to college and is about 22 years old. He has learned to smile and “loosen up” around us. He told us he works a 48 hour shift w/a one hour rest period. Uri then gets one 24-hour day off. He said he only sleeps about 5 or 6 hours and then back to another 48 hour work shift. This is Uri’s life…2 days on, 1 day off. He told us the money is “little” and not enough for college.
Victoria, our internet café friend, is a college student in her senior year. She has had the privilege of working at Water Country, USA in Williamsburg, VA, during the summer of 2007 & 2008. I told her of our connection w/Williamsburg and how we may have even seen her one of those summers. Victoria works 2 days and then off 1 day. Her work hours are from 9:00am to 11:00pm. She is sweet and bubbly. She doesn’t remind us of many of the Russians here. She has seen Los Angeles, Los Vegas, the Grand Canyan, Disney in Orlando and Niagara Falls. She also goes to college for Business Management. She is unsure of what she will do upon graduation.
Our favorite cleaning lady (OFCL), who got the iron for me the first day, is sweet. She speaks only two or three words of English. We manage to communicate. She smiles a lot! I don’t know her name…but I’ll find out. We have given her some candy and lipgloss as gifts because she is so good to us here. She really cleaned our room, even the dirt that we tracked in. She brought us new towels…unlike the other lady! OFCL has a kind heart. She told me that she works two days and then is off one day… just like Uri. OFCL is probably about late 30s in age.
The last friend that we encountered yesterday was an Egyptian medical student who worked at the restaurant. He interpreted Kenny’s beer selection. His name was “E“….something. His job at the restaurant is to load the “Turkish water pipes.” (Note, the picture on our site is ONLY posed. ) “E” described the process he uses and showed us the dried fruit that is smoked. It’s a social thing in the Middle East and has made its way to Russia. It is popular among the young people here. “E” said it has no adverse affects like cigarettes or marijuana.
As I close, Kenny watches America’s Funniest Home Videos, dubbed over in Russian. Most of the shows are American.
Ciao-
Annie