Update: My buddy just brought another small pot of stew/soup for my dinner…
Кролик (krolik) or as we call it rabbit; My village buddy as Sveta and I call him, was making rabbit stew today. He raises rabbits for barter and eating and I happened along at the best time today. I was taking a blood pressure monitor device to him. He has problems with high blood pressure, but like most guys my age, we are stubborn. I have mine under control and if anything it is low, but his is borderline okay, pushing easily to the high side at the drop of a pin…
I worry about him, for he is the life blood of the village and I have written about how he keeps the electricity going when all else fails. He needs to take better care of himself. He, like me is stubborn. So this summer I am going to try to make him take his blood pressure everyday…
Therefore, lets get back on track, I just had a huge bowl of rabbit stew and was given the blessing of the liver. The memories stumbled back into my mind, for as I grew up, rabbit was a priority of a food source and the liver was one part that grandpa and I fought over…
That is two big portions today. Yummy…
Grandpa and I fought over all internal meats that no one else liked…
Vova as I call him was outside at his special made cooker. It is like a wood stove, but has a hole big enough for a huge pot to sit inside of it. You build a fire in it, then set the pot full of water inside of it and the top of the pot is level with the top of the stove. Then when the water boils, add your ingredients. Reminds me of doing a country boil back home in the states…
Boza has a girlfriend called Miya who is Vova’s dog. She is one huge dog and makes about three of Boza. She just loves Boza and Boza just loves her. I would be afraid for Miya to love Boza, for she might squish him like a bug. He thinks he is a big boy, but she is really a big girl and beautiful to boot. Muscles and beauty, worse combination for all guys to deal with… 🙂
Poor Vova just talks and talks and talks, he does not understand that if he talked slower, I would understand more, but then who really cares, he is my buddy and I agree with all he wants in the first place, so it all works out. He literally danced a jig when I gave him the blood pressure monitor and hugged me ten times at least. It is strange for a westerner like me in Russia, as I have talked about before, men hug each other and kiss each others cheeks all the time. I live in a society now with men unafraid of showing emotions. Such as crying, hugging, kissing cheeks and even holding the others hand as they explain things to you. Russians have a very small space that they allow when they know you and it has taken me a long time to grasp such concepts…
Well this is the second article today, I just wanted to express what happened and it is a good thing, I feel lucky that I am accepted in the village society. While not always equal in everything, at least accepted as a viable person to associate with. The equal part will come in time…
Now that is why I love Russia…
Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…