We were asked in our first ESL class what had been our biggest surprise concerning America. I couldn't help and had to tell about my impression when I saw how people didn't feel a necessity to lock their doors here. For my suprise, one of my classmate's husband, a native Arizonan who has lived in Midwest for a short period, told that the same thing had impressed him too and this was why he especially liked Midwest. I guess, it's not universal here either, we just live in a really good community.
A woman from India pointed out the individuality of the American society compared to Indian. India is much more family-centered - decisions are made in family, people depend on family. I think, in this regard, Estonia is somewhere between.
The wife of the Arizonan, an Ukrainian woman told how the American dispersed (scattered) settlement impressed her. In Ukraina there are either big cities or big villages, no scattered settlement. I've got the same impression of Ukraina according to my two visits there.
Showing posts with label expat life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label expat life. Show all posts
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
First Day at School
It's Priit's first day at school today. There were 4 other children in his 3-years group. As I had expected, he seemed to be the most stubborn kid there, rather doing what he wanted to do than listening to the teacher. But whenever things turned interesting in the group, he ran there too and was able to communicate in English very well. So, it's not the question of language barrier, but his personality. But it wasn't bad, actually; he had fun. At one point all the children had to tell what they liked to do and what they were good at. Most of the kids said something abstract, but Priit stated loudly and clearly -I like to play. Quite honest and really adequate. He's become really good in English. It's amazing to listen to how he chats with Peter or Grant. And he recognizes Peter and Grant as his family now - feels totally free to express hismself with them.
In the past weeks he has begun to play a lot of fantasy games too. For example cooking for us - it seems to be his favourite right now; also being a pilot and flying to somewhere, mostly to Estonia. When I ask why he wants to fly to Estonia, he says that there are lot of good toys there and also that grandmother and grandfather live there. Good enough.
We also have a big problem with buttons, there is no way, he could go by any buttons without pressing it. I'm waiting with fear when he manages to press a fire alarm button for example.
Sometimes it quite amazes me - how is my child so energetic, loud... stubborn. Peter says that nobody could say that he is not his son (yes, especially, considering loudness :)) . Fortunately, he can focuse if something interests him - like writing numbers or letters for more than half an hour, he can read 3-4 letter words in Estonian, he likes to draw. He's smart enough, but I guess that being only with adults for the last year and having these adults mostly for paying attention to him, has made him emotionally immature. He has definitely lacked communication with children. I hope the preschool will be good for him.
It's actually my first day at achool too. My first ESL class is this evening. I'm looking forward to it.
In the past weeks he has begun to play a lot of fantasy games too. For example cooking for us - it seems to be his favourite right now; also being a pilot and flying to somewhere, mostly to Estonia. When I ask why he wants to fly to Estonia, he says that there are lot of good toys there and also that grandmother and grandfather live there. Good enough.
We also have a big problem with buttons, there is no way, he could go by any buttons without pressing it. I'm waiting with fear when he manages to press a fire alarm button for example.
Sometimes it quite amazes me - how is my child so energetic, loud... stubborn. Peter says that nobody could say that he is not his son (yes, especially, considering loudness :)) . Fortunately, he can focuse if something interests him - like writing numbers or letters for more than half an hour, he can read 3-4 letter words in Estonian, he likes to draw. He's smart enough, but I guess that being only with adults for the last year and having these adults mostly for paying attention to him, has made him emotionally immature. He has definitely lacked communication with children. I hope the preschool will be good for him.
It's actually my first day at achool too. My first ESL class is this evening. I'm looking forward to it.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Trying to eat some seafood and talking about history
I was positively suprised that I actually managed to swallow a scallop yesterday. It tasted like...mmmm.... like a sea, I'd say. It tasted like sea smells. Anyway, it was ok, but it's not my favourite food. I also hoped that I'd be brave enough to taste schrimps again, but no, it didn't happen. (I looked up how is scallop in Estonian, but found that it almost doesn't have any sense because I've never heard this word in Estonian. Although we live by the sea, apparently we aren't a seafood eating nation).
I haven't figured it out - my schrimp fear. About 10 years ago, I visited a Chinese restaurant and ate a lot of schrimps there. It was a buffet type of restaurant and my friend had said to me that I should try schrimps and eat them a lot. It was the first time I ever saw a schrimp and I ate them a lot. I guess they tasted ok. Later in the evening I was totally sick, sat in the toilet vomitting. Now I think it was purely overeating. A month later we visted a Japanese restaurant and there were schrimps on my plate again. The outcome was the same - I ended my day sitting in the toilet. And after this my mind associates this sick feeling with schrimps. We visited the Japanese restaurants many times after this as my friends' son loved it and I just ate rice there. I remember one time while the chef, for some reason, seemed to put extra scrimps and extra big ones on my plate - Lena telling me that I seemed to be his favourite, and I unfortunately didn't dare to try anything. It was embarrasing. In the end, he stopped even looking at me.
We watched a documentary yesterday - "America in Forties". When the story-teller announced that Nazy-Germany attacked Poland in September, 1939, I asked Peter if he knew that the Soviet Union began his attack just a bit later and actually occupied the estern part of Poland. He told that he hadn't even heard of it. I guess, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact isn't discussed much except in Eastern European countries. The Soviet Union ended up as a winner and evidently one shouldn't judge winners.
It just made me thought how subjective can our knowleadge about history be. The same way as Peter doesn't know how the Soviet Union was actually an aggressor in the beginning of the war and also about this country's genocide against its own people, I hadn't heard anything about Iwo Jima, for example. I guess, there was only a vague notion in my mind of WWII going on on the Pacific as well. For me it had been totally an European matter.
I haven't figured it out - my schrimp fear. About 10 years ago, I visited a Chinese restaurant and ate a lot of schrimps there. It was a buffet type of restaurant and my friend had said to me that I should try schrimps and eat them a lot. It was the first time I ever saw a schrimp and I ate them a lot. I guess they tasted ok. Later in the evening I was totally sick, sat in the toilet vomitting. Now I think it was purely overeating. A month later we visted a Japanese restaurant and there were schrimps on my plate again. The outcome was the same - I ended my day sitting in the toilet. And after this my mind associates this sick feeling with schrimps. We visited the Japanese restaurants many times after this as my friends' son loved it and I just ate rice there. I remember one time while the chef, for some reason, seemed to put extra scrimps and extra big ones on my plate - Lena telling me that I seemed to be his favourite, and I unfortunately didn't dare to try anything. It was embarrasing. In the end, he stopped even looking at me.
We watched a documentary yesterday - "America in Forties". When the story-teller announced that Nazy-Germany attacked Poland in September, 1939, I asked Peter if he knew that the Soviet Union began his attack just a bit later and actually occupied the estern part of Poland. He told that he hadn't even heard of it. I guess, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact isn't discussed much except in Eastern European countries. The Soviet Union ended up as a winner and evidently one shouldn't judge winners.
It just made me thought how subjective can our knowleadge about history be. The same way as Peter doesn't know how the Soviet Union was actually an aggressor in the beginning of the war and also about this country's genocide against its own people, I hadn't heard anything about Iwo Jima, for example. I guess, there was only a vague notion in my mind of WWII going on on the Pacific as well. For me it had been totally an European matter.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Rain period
I've noticed a frustrating tendency lately - Priit has begun to make a lot of mistakes while speaking Estonian. Saying "söösin" instead of "sõin", "poodis" instead of "poes", "oasid" instead of "ubasid", "loesime" instead of "lugesime" etc. All the same type of mistakes, the ones which foreign speakers tend to make. The input of Estonian language hasn't been sufficient recently, I guess. Although I talk to him almost always in Estonian, he doesn't hear it being used by lot of people. Or perhaps it's just normal for this age to make these grammatical mistakes? Anyway, I've switched back to Estonian books. On the contrary, his English improves at daily bases. He formes pretty good long sentences, even uses auxillary verbs. Tends to use "did" instead of "do" though. But it's so cool to watch how he communicates with Peter and Geeper and his friends.
It seems that we've entered into the rain period now. It has been raining for 2-5 inches every day and there has been heavy thunderstorms. It's quite amazing that there hasn't been any problems with the electricity. It's really good that all the electricity pipes are under the ground in this town.
It's still very hot, in mid 90s of F and humid. Feels like a tropical climate, at least how I imagine a tropical climate. It's good that I have this subject, weather, to discuss with my father now. He has always been so keen about weather changes and the certain question which he asks every time we talk to is: What's the weather like?
Our garden looks like a jungle - all the plants are tall, with deep green leaves, weeds have taken power. We started our fight with them yesterday with Priit. He is a really big helper. He likes to do "real work" - wash dishes, wipe the floors, help me with laundry.... a big boy he is already.
It seems that we've entered into the rain period now. It has been raining for 2-5 inches every day and there has been heavy thunderstorms. It's quite amazing that there hasn't been any problems with the electricity. It's really good that all the electricity pipes are under the ground in this town.
It's still very hot, in mid 90s of F and humid. Feels like a tropical climate, at least how I imagine a tropical climate. It's good that I have this subject, weather, to discuss with my father now. He has always been so keen about weather changes and the certain question which he asks every time we talk to is: What's the weather like?
Our garden looks like a jungle - all the plants are tall, with deep green leaves, weeds have taken power. We started our fight with them yesterday with Priit. He is a really big helper. He likes to do "real work" - wash dishes, wipe the floors, help me with laundry.... a big boy he is already.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Things, I miss
As a child, we lived in a place which was surrounded by a bog from two sides and by the fileds from the other sides. There wasn't any real forests near to wander in. But the last 5 years which I spent in South Estonia made me quite a nature child. Now I need to walk in the woods.
We spend quite a lot of time here in the nature too, but still I felt that there was something missing, that it wasn't this... it wasn't the same.... Finally I understood that the thing I was longing was a smell - smell of pine woods. The smell of needles, smell of moss and sand. There isn't evergreen woods here, the main tree in the woods seem to be oaks. But not the strong big oaks like in Estonia but thinner ones. Of course, it's prairie here.
And then I thought what might be the other things which I miss here (I'm not talking about people nor communication here, only things). The other thing which all the Estonians, living in the foreign countries, seem to miss is the Estonian rye bread. Like at most of the world, people prefer wheat bread here. Although we've found two kinds of rye bread too from the grocery store, it doesn't taste like an Estonian one, the flour is too refined. I understand now my family friend from Sweden who had lived in Sweden for more than 50 years still always took many loaves of Estonian bread with him when going back to Sweden. By the way, Pete is now into rye bread too. I consider this along with the fact that he eats breakfast now (porridge!) a good Estonian (and mine) influence.
The other thing which I really miss at this time of year, is cold water from the well. I've been lucky, I've always lived in the areas with good water. It's not the way at every place in Estonia either. Although the wather in our town isn't too bad, you can still taste the chloride.
And of course there are moments when I would like to take some beautifully written Estonian book from the shelves. Good enough, there are two good libraries in the town, one of them is collage library where one can found lot of good nonfiction books.
And the final thing, I'd like to take my laundry out to dry. There is nothing better than freshly smelling linen. But on the other hand it would mean that I should begin to iron them too and it would take away my free time which I can use for example... for blogging (hmmm.... perhaps I should start to iron my linen though...?)
I guess that lot of Estonia also miss sauna, but it's not an issue for me. I'm very pleased with the American comforts regarding plumbing. Perhaps it's related to the years when the only good washing place really was sauna besides a big bowl at the corner of the kitchen.
Yes, still one more thing - natural lakes to swim in. But to be honest, there is a very good pool and water-park in our small town here. It's superb. But sometimes I do miss these little lakes of Estonia - private and clean.
Of course there are things which I would miss while back in Estonia. For example:
We spend quite a lot of time here in the nature too, but still I felt that there was something missing, that it wasn't this... it wasn't the same.... Finally I understood that the thing I was longing was a smell - smell of pine woods. The smell of needles, smell of moss and sand. There isn't evergreen woods here, the main tree in the woods seem to be oaks. But not the strong big oaks like in Estonia but thinner ones. Of course, it's prairie here.
And then I thought what might be the other things which I miss here (I'm not talking about people nor communication here, only things). The other thing which all the Estonians, living in the foreign countries, seem to miss is the Estonian rye bread. Like at most of the world, people prefer wheat bread here. Although we've found two kinds of rye bread too from the grocery store, it doesn't taste like an Estonian one, the flour is too refined. I understand now my family friend from Sweden who had lived in Sweden for more than 50 years still always took many loaves of Estonian bread with him when going back to Sweden. By the way, Pete is now into rye bread too. I consider this along with the fact that he eats breakfast now (porridge!) a good Estonian (and mine) influence.
The other thing which I really miss at this time of year, is cold water from the well. I've been lucky, I've always lived in the areas with good water. It's not the way at every place in Estonia either. Although the wather in our town isn't too bad, you can still taste the chloride.
And of course there are moments when I would like to take some beautifully written Estonian book from the shelves. Good enough, there are two good libraries in the town, one of them is collage library where one can found lot of good nonfiction books.
And the final thing, I'd like to take my laundry out to dry. There is nothing better than freshly smelling linen. But on the other hand it would mean that I should begin to iron them too and it would take away my free time which I can use for example... for blogging (hmmm.... perhaps I should start to iron my linen though...?)
I guess that lot of Estonia also miss sauna, but it's not an issue for me. I'm very pleased with the American comforts regarding plumbing. Perhaps it's related to the years when the only good washing place really was sauna besides a big bowl at the corner of the kitchen.
Yes, still one more thing - natural lakes to swim in. But to be honest, there is a very good pool and water-park in our small town here. It's superb. But sometimes I do miss these little lakes of Estonia - private and clean.
Of course there are things which I would miss while back in Estonia. For example:
- children playgrounds (there are lot of of them here)
- the possibility of not owning an ironing machine
- two-line good roads
Monday, July 30, 2007
Nice weekend again
The last days we've been busy with watching films and spending time outside. On Saturday we went to pick blackberries from the countryside. Most of the berries weren't ripe yet but we still managed to make two jars of jam. Actually, Pete made of course. In the evening we had a nice fishing tour again, didn't caught nothing but it was really enjoyable though. Priit has a lot to do by the river and as Pete enjoys fishing hugely, I'm for it every time too.
Yesterday we went by the Skunk river and triving back headed to small gravel roads. It was like driving in Southern Estonia - little farm houses, dusty trees and perceivably fresh air. I like this countryside. There are hills like in Haanja, only the perspective is much broader. And there doesn't seem to be natural small lakes in the area. I also miss pine trees, the smell of evergreen trees, my walkes in Rõuge woods. Here there are lot of oaks, but as they grow in the woods, they are much smaller that Estonian oaks which grow in the fields. It is prairie here, of course.
We watched two good movies this weekend too: "Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind" with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslate and "Spanglish". Both were categorized as comedies, but the former was far from being it. It was rather psychodelic, delusional, also warning - don't mess with memory. I guess, at some point we would like to erase some memories, some embarrasing, painful or just annoying ones... but would we be ourselves after that? The latter film was very nice comedy, soulful with pretty people. I had also taken "American Beauty" from the library but Pete didn't feel like watching it again, saying that it's too sad.
Yesterday we went by the Skunk river and triving back headed to small gravel roads. It was like driving in Southern Estonia - little farm houses, dusty trees and perceivably fresh air. I like this countryside. There are hills like in Haanja, only the perspective is much broader. And there doesn't seem to be natural small lakes in the area. I also miss pine trees, the smell of evergreen trees, my walkes in Rõuge woods. Here there are lot of oaks, but as they grow in the woods, they are much smaller that Estonian oaks which grow in the fields. It is prairie here, of course.
We watched two good movies this weekend too: "Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind" with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslate and "Spanglish". Both were categorized as comedies, but the former was far from being it. It was rather psychodelic, delusional, also warning - don't mess with memory. I guess, at some point we would like to erase some memories, some embarrasing, painful or just annoying ones... but would we be ourselves after that? The latter film was very nice comedy, soulful with pretty people. I had also taken "American Beauty" from the library but Pete didn't feel like watching it again, saying that it's too sad.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Great weekend
We had a great weekend. On Saturday Pete worked half day, but after he came home we went fishing by a small bond in the countryside. I even caught 2 fish, both so tiny that we let them back in the water. Priit chased the Canada geese and I was quite afraid. I thought that it's good for Priit to really have a father in his life, because his mother would restrist him too many things just because of her own fear.
On Sunday we helped in the church to look after children in the Waumba Land. I worked out well. Andy and her husband were there too. And after the church we bought some tacos from Taco John's and headed by the river. It was my idea to go to the river, I had quite missed the stream of water. In the beginning the smell was quite noticeable - dead fish, I guess, but later we didn't notice iy at all. Pete found some hooks and line and had almost cought a fish, but he didn't notice when the stone where the line was tired began to move and so it was gone suddenly. Anyway, we enjoyed it a lot.
Priit's foot - the joint is fine, but now when the necrotic skin fell off, he has an ulcer 2,5 x 0,5/1 cm. He is quite stoic himself. I think his young and healthy body should manage it well and that it would heal soon.
Cindra W called me today. She is an ESL teacher here. I arranged a meeting on the 26th to find out what option I have to study English.
Ah, it's 6:08, Pete's home soon.... we'll have a pizza today. I've been so out of ideas considering food lately.
Yes, and I told Pete that I'd like to buy some medical books, bargain books instead of buying new clothes which he had an intention. They can wait. So I'm back on the track of thinking about FP training again.
On Sunday we helped in the church to look after children in the Waumba Land. I worked out well. Andy and her husband were there too. And after the church we bought some tacos from Taco John's and headed by the river. It was my idea to go to the river, I had quite missed the stream of water. In the beginning the smell was quite noticeable - dead fish, I guess, but later we didn't notice iy at all. Pete found some hooks and line and had almost cought a fish, but he didn't notice when the stone where the line was tired began to move and so it was gone suddenly. Anyway, we enjoyed it a lot.
Priit's foot - the joint is fine, but now when the necrotic skin fell off, he has an ulcer 2,5 x 0,5/1 cm. He is quite stoic himself. I think his young and healthy body should manage it well and that it would heal soon.
Cindra W called me today. She is an ESL teacher here. I arranged a meeting on the 26th to find out what option I have to study English.
Ah, it's 6:08, Pete's home soon.... we'll have a pizza today. I've been so out of ideas considering food lately.
Yes, and I told Pete that I'd like to buy some medical books, bargain books instead of buying new clothes which he had an intention. They can wait. So I'm back on the track of thinking about FP training again.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
A Hot Saturday Musings
It's very hot, about 95 degrees F. The summer really is different here, longer and warmer.
Hurray - Priit finally stepped on his foot yesterday! And although he walks on his toes, it's seems to be a good sign.
We met with B and Zanna and their kids yesterday at park. She is a very nice person, came here from Turkmenistan 9 years ago. She is a physician also, working as a sonographist right now. We seem to be quite in the same situation and both a bit mixed up, don't know which way to turn. Anyway, it was good to talk to someone in the same situation, to tell my mind about these issues.
Pete went to Des Moines to sell hot-dogs in a baseball game. Yeah! The fathers of PA-s football team do ity to rais money for their team. Priit is asleep and I finished my 3rd French track.
Hurray - Priit finally stepped on his foot yesterday! And although he walks on his toes, it's seems to be a good sign.
We met with B and Zanna and their kids yesterday at park. She is a very nice person, came here from Turkmenistan 9 years ago. She is a physician also, working as a sonographist right now. We seem to be quite in the same situation and both a bit mixed up, don't know which way to turn. Anyway, it was good to talk to someone in the same situation, to tell my mind about these issues.
Pete went to Des Moines to sell hot-dogs in a baseball game. Yeah! The fathers of PA-s football team do ity to rais money for their team. Priit is asleep and I finished my 3rd French track.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
The 4th of July
We had a nice Indipendance Day. In the afternoon Pete's friends came over and we grilled stake. And at night we went to watch a fireworks at another's friends house. It was quite a firework, really. The night before we watched a "private" fireworks at the third friends house. Asd it was quite near to us, Priit was scared. He sat most of the time at my arms, his head on my lap.
Priit hurt his left foot badly on Saturday. He sat at the back of Peter's bicycle and his foot got between the weel. It seemed quite horrible in the beginning. Fortunately, it's improving right now. The doctor said that nothing was broken. Although I'm not sure that anybody could tell it just looking at the foot for a minute without even touching it. Or it's just a question of experience which I lack.... Well, I hope that all will be all right.
Priit hurt his left foot badly on Saturday. He sat at the back of Peter's bicycle and his foot got between the weel. It seemed quite horrible in the beginning. Fortunately, it's improving right now. The doctor said that nothing was broken. Although I'm not sure that anybody could tell it just looking at the foot for a minute without even touching it. Or it's just a question of experience which I lack.... Well, I hope that all will be all right.
Friday, June 22, 2007
On edge
I think that the 3 month went pretty well. But the last few weeks I've been somehow anxious. I guess that the main reason is uncertainy of my future visions. And this makes me wander around the house, not doing anything reasonable. Whether to try to continue my medical career here or focus on something else, it's a queastion which I'm not able to answer. Thinking about trying to get into residency - it really must be a crazy thought. Didn't I feel relieved after finishing my practice back home! What am I thinking right now, then?!
I think, it's actually the first time, I feel really homesick. I miss the communication, I miss the places, I miss the people... I miss being someone. Perhaps it's partly because Pete has working for 10-hours schedule for quite a while now and also worked the last weekends on his own projects. The money problem, a "present" from my past - a constant source of unconscious anxiety.
Well, after all, I'm not depressed. I have my loved ones - my son and he's doing well (with all his tantrums, which are not too bad considering all), it's been amazing to see how he has become bilingual with such a short time; my husband with whom I match really well (I think I didn't even believe anymore that it could be possible to feel myself so well with someone, did I?) and I have my home, a house which suits so well for us, a nice backyard with all the flowers, raspberries and strawberries.... mmmmm.....
It's time to organize myself better.
My Learning English
I think, it's actually the first time, I feel really homesick. I miss the communication, I miss the places, I miss the people... I miss being someone. Perhaps it's partly because Pete has working for 10-hours schedule for quite a while now and also worked the last weekends on his own projects. The money problem, a "present" from my past - a constant source of unconscious anxiety.
Well, after all, I'm not depressed. I have my loved ones - my son and he's doing well (with all his tantrums, which are not too bad considering all), it's been amazing to see how he has become bilingual with such a short time; my husband with whom I match really well (I think I didn't even believe anymore that it could be possible to feel myself so well with someone, did I?) and I have my home, a house which suits so well for us, a nice backyard with all the flowers, raspberries and strawberries.... mmmmm.....
It's time to organize myself better.
My Learning English
- (to be) cutting edge -to be involved in most recent developments, eesrinnas
- slacker - luuser
- a fish out of water - nagu kala kuival
Monday, April 09, 2007
Adjusting
We've been here for more than a month by now. And I have to admit that we've adjusted quite well to my mind. Still some adjustment is going on, is a permanent process.
I heard Priit saying yesterday in a very good Englsih: Come on, Gray Cat! It was nice.
My Learning English
Here are some words I learnt from a book which I read to Priit - "Pie Rats Ahoy".
I heard Priit saying yesterday in a very good Englsih: Come on, Gray Cat! It was nice.
My Learning English
Here are some words I learnt from a book which I read to Priit - "Pie Rats Ahoy".
- on the prowl
saagijahil
There were pirates on the prowl.
- point
neem
He sailed around the point.
- doom
hukk, saatus
"Prepare to meet your doom" said the pirates.
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