I gotta have my pops...I mean, puffs...

In Ukraine, there is a popular snack called “Fleeps.” They’re like sweet puffy cheetos (minus the cheese, plus sugar). They have a picture of a scary looking baby on the front. Jake and Taylor call them “Puffs.” They’re pretty good. And they’re freakin’ cheap, so that’s always a plus. Lori took a picture for you.



In Ukraine, there is also the tradition of having an old babushka sit in the entry way of apartment buildings. No one really knows what the babushka does, but she sits there all day in her little room and watches you go in and out. She guards the mailboxes, I think. And you have to pay here. 10 hryvna a month. That’s about 2 dollars. We don’t really know why we pay her except that she asks us to.

In Ukraine, sometimes the sweet American girls befriend the old babushka and the old babushka likes them a lot. Yay. The old babushka talks to them in some kind of village language that only slightly resembles the Russian that the sweet American girls only partially know. Thus, the response of the sweet American girls is generally, “Nu, da. Da. Uh huh. Da.” The old babushka brings strange food and gifts to the girls on occasion. Gifts such as old, dusty coats, purses, used shoes and jelly. Today that gift was a bag of Puffs.

In Ukraine, when the old babushka gives the sweet American girls a gift, they want to give her one back. So they searched their room and found some “I Am Loved” buttons. One in Russian and one in English. The girls left their apartment and went to the old babushka’s room and gave her some buttons.

In Ukraine, when girls go to visit babushkas, the babushka always wants to feed them. Even when the American girls are not hungry. So when the American girls entered the room of the babushka she started putting food in front of them like they hadn’t eaten in weeks. Eggs, watermelon, honey, bread, tomatoes, any random food they wanted. The girls had to be polite so they ate as much as they could.

In Ukraine, mommas always want to hook their boys up. Tonight the American girls met an older lady named Lida. She started talking to us about this and that. She asked me what region of Ukraine I was from. I told her I was from America. I’m still trying to figure out if that was a good idea or not… Lida started telling us about her son and two nephews that live with her. One is 22 and one is 21. Perfect ages for Lori and I…Just a second, I will go ask them to come and meet you…stay right here…I live on the 13th floor, but I will be right back…
Fortunately, Lida’s sons were not available to come and visit us. Instead of sons, Lida brought us cake instead. More food. Hooray… ;0) When in Rome...