International Woman’s Day

 

 

            This internationally celebrated holiday, or so we were told when we arrived, is very very big here in Kerch, down on the eastern tip of Crimea.  Much bigger then I was led to believe and everyone I talk to is dumbfounded when I explain that in America no one has heard of this very special day.  “But it is International”, they say and I find myself explaining once again that of all the countries I have lived in or visited not a one celebrates International Woman’s Day. 

            When we arrived in Ukraine it was March 2 and through the jetlag and the excitement of finding out which language we would be learning, I kept hearing about International Woman’s Day and how Important it was in the life of the average Ukrainian woman.  I believe I heard it spoken of at least 100 times during in-processing, how important it was, how much it meant, and what we should do on that day.  It was just a few days later that we met our new host families and still training class talked about our responsibilities for International Woman’s Day. 

            In our small training town I observed the men out buying flowers and chocolate the night before and our host father got up very early and went to the bazaar to buy fish.  He put on his suit, presented his flowers, perfume and chocolates, then made breakfast for us which consisted of the fish he had just bought.  I could see that he was finished with the holiday and he had no plans to cook later in the day so I explained that I would cook dinner.  That story, while amusing, is for another day because this story is really about this year, what I wanted you to see about our introduction to Woman’s Day was the mildness of the event which we had been lead to believe was the most important day of the Ukrainian woman’s calendar.

            This year I am in the Russian city of Kerch and I had a very big dilemma, and no male counterpart from whom to seek instruction or help.  I work in an all female library,  23 co-workers on staff plus my 5 extra students; librarians from the Children’s library just next door.  That is 28 women just at work.  I asked around for ideas on what to do and they ranged from a tea party with cake and champagne to a full blown party with food, vodka and cake plus flowers for all.  They said I was to get together with all of the men at work and let them plan it but we could go together on this party.  At that I had to look around at all the men I work with (0) and I felt very lonely so I reminded them I had no male co-workers.  Their response-“you’re in trouble”.  I then decided to ask my young, smart, single, beautiful tutor (yes she is reading this) because she has been so helpful in the past, (Oh, darn, I forgot to add her to the list, that’s 29) she told me just what the men had told me with the same response when I reminded her I was alone in this. 

            What can I do.  29 women plus a wife makes 30.  Out of that number I have a couple that require larger recognition such as my coordinator, my wife and my tutor so looking at the list I think about buying flowers.  One each for the 30 plus two extra for coordinator and tutor and four extra for wife bringing the total to 38 flowers.  At an earlier function it was explained to me that carnations were men’s flowers and should not be given to a woman although my wife likes them and would be happy to see them on the table.  Roses are preferred by Ukrainian women for this event but zinnias or tulips are quite acceptable.  I head out to the flower shop to see what I can see.  Carnations are 5, tulips are 8 roses and zinnias are 12 so I do a little math.  quickly I decided that I must be wrong with my mental calculations so I opened up my computer and started a spreadsheet complete with formulas and lists. 

 

Flower

Cost ea

Number

Hryvina

Dollars

Roses

12

39

468

92,67

Zinnias

11,5

39

448,5

88,81

Carnations

5

39

195

38,61

Tulips

8

39

312

61,78

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see from this chart flowers are a major investment.  Add the required chocolates and the suggested torte and my Peace Corps salary will be gone in a flash.  (I think that I need to explain here that International Woman’s Day falls just two short weeks after my birthday where I wined, dined and champagned 25 so money was a little tight.)  Oh woo is me, what is a poor man to do?  I had an idea, an epiphany if you will, I would make something special for them, something I could do with resources on hand and some money. 

            My co-workers were all librarians so I would create a bookmarker just for them.  My wife agreed and suggested a single long stemmed rose as appropriate with a quote or poem on the reverse so I set to work.  I photographed roses, I looked at clip art, I collected roses from all over the network and finally decided on a basic design which of course did not fit the size requirement so I opened up the graphic program I like and set to work creating the design I wanted.  17 layers later I had my rose just the way I wanted it with space to write a little on the front and a bold design that stood out in the required graytones, as I was printing this on a laser printer.  Collapse the layers and print a sample, add the words, write the poem, adjust the layout, print a sample sheet or 20 until I had the back and front just the way I wanted.

            The local paper was just not good enough so I searched the paper stores until I found a place that would sell me heavier paper in a rich crème color and I ran off the 40 bookmarks I felt I needed.  Then we sat around for an entire evening and hand colored the bookmarks.  That is 40 roses (red) 160 leaves (Green) 40 stems (Brown) and then we turned them over because I remembered that I had a design on the back between the two language versions of my prose.  That is 80 stems and 560 small leaves more.

            I gathered together the bookmarkers and while they were being laminated I went to the local candy store and got in line with the rest of the men to buy 30 pieces each of several kinds of chocolate which went into red tulle squares tied with a bow of Ivory ribbon.  The bookmarkers were done and the ladies behind the counter where kind enough not to laugh at the Russian version of my prose so I punched holes in them and added ribbon and I had my gifts.  Add a better present for the coordinator/director, a flower for the tutor and some better chocolates and tulips for my beautiful and intelligent bride and I was done. 

            When I came home from work on the 7th, I was greeted by the information that the Ukrainian book I had stopped reading when I found out I was learning Russian said that gifts were to be given at work the day before.  (I think here I said a few un-mentionable words)  Well I would just have to do it on the 8th as I had planned.

            The 8th came around and I packed up and walked to work.  There were no women on the road, none of the usual ladies I pass on my way to work, it was like a small town in America on Christmas morning.  Men with beer bottles but no women.  What is going on here?  I got to the library a little earlier then usual to find it locked up tight.  Oh well I am early I’ll just wait.  ½ hour, 1 hour, come on they’ll be here, no sign on the door saying they will be closed.  1 ½ hour and time for the children’s library to open so I checked and they were not open.  I’ll wait a little longer just in case but I will go and check my mail and come back.  11:00 rolls around and it is time to open the doors to the public, still no employees, no sign and no phone call.  I gave up and headed home and instead of doing the work I could do at home or studying  my Russian, I sit and type this up because it will not leave my mind.  Tomorrow, I will be a day late, but I will give my gifts and ask them what kind of a day they had and I will not tell them I waited for them to come to work. 

            International Women’s Day started as a way for the Russian government to honor the mothers of Russia, to tell stories of hero mothers, to inspire other women into becoming hero mothers, but like all holidays it has changed.  It is now a day to honor all women and Ukraine has taken it to heart in a big way but what I saw in my small training town near Kiev was just a small example of what today was like here in Crimea and I hope you were all better prepared for your town’s brand of celebrating then I was for mine. 

I offer a toast:

            Women, I salute you one and all, on this women’s day and every other day.  Will you forgive us men our many transgressions and continue to grace our world with your wisdom and your strength.