Z and I are leaving Kiev this morning. He picked the spot for our vacation. I could get used to waking up to this view. Our suite looks out over the Dnieper River (sp?). I think I know why Z's boss likes him so much. You can throw that man down anywhere on the planet and he can both talk to and charm anyone. I'm struggling to pick up a second language, and I've heard him speak six, SO FAR!
Our host has been great. During one of the early meetings I took off my jacket. When he saw the EpiPen on my belt he became immediately concerned with what I was allergic to. He was happy that it was not a food allergy.
Apparently, Z introduced me to the team as his "Assistant, tech guy, and math boy." It's nice he thinks I add value to the team. It was uncomfortable being the youngest guy in the room. More so when no-one, and I mean no-one, believes I am eighteen. I can see the looks people give me. I can imagine what they think I am. Z tells me my degree path is a young person's field.
Yesterday morning we woke to breakfast before our last day of meetings. (Finished a day and a half early, yay!) Apparently the hotel forgot Z was Muslim. Don't get me wrong I love bacon. I miss bacon. I occasionally have almost erotic fantasies about bacon (and REAL pepperoni). That being said, looking at the salo, call me a coward, I was not tempted to try it. It's kind of like bacon without meat. It's just pork fat that's been pickled.
I settled on an egg dish in some kind of bun, and potato syrniki (sp?). Although I'm not a huge fan of cottage cheese, I do like it in this potato dish. The people here are really great. Kiev has a weird kind of energy, I like it. I also like their smoking laws, they are tough, although apparently a lot of people ignore them!
When the last meeting wrapped, Z told our host how much I liked jets. The next thing I know he, his wife, and son are taking Z and I to the Antonov State Aviation Museum. It was so awesome seeing so many jets that I'd only seen on Wings of the Red Star. Yes, I like the Discovery Channel. Z got me all of the Wings series DVDs.
Apparently my energy level went through the roof when we actually got to go on board a couple of the exhibits. Our host remarked, "If I had known that I would get this kind of reaction, I would have scheduled the conference meetings here." I felt like such a stupid little kid, in my defense, it was cool!
I did impressed our host and his wife last night at dinner when I ordered the vinegret. It's beets, cooked beans, carrots and I think celery. It was really good, kind of disgusting to look at, but wicked good. Z gave me a little of his steak too. He was not happy when I accepted the host's offer of a honey vodka. I only had the one and it was very tasty.
Z has been so sweet. Super clingy, apparently he remembered my nightmare about Kiev and has stayed within an arm's reach of me the whole time. Thankfully the suite had a big shower and tub.
Must dash.
Chase.
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