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Jaws shut and hanging on...
Jul. 16th, 2006 10:15 amThe situation yesterday changed more often than costumes on an actor playing three parts in a stage play, and underscored something the Devil was made to say in Bulgakov's Master and Margarita, on the folly of thinking we control our destinies when we can't even control what will happen to us this evening.
It is said that a mark of true professionals is their ability, to borrow the words of a movie character played by Clint Eastwood, to "improvise, adapt, and overcome." And if there's one thing this campaign does not lack, it's such true professionals. As a result, today is not an off day for everyone here, but there is a bus going into town at noon for those not directly involved in operations, and I am the interpreter designated to be on board (I really do need footwear!).
In previous campaigns, for no apparent reason, my boss here, Sergei Z. and I never really had - or took - an opportunity to converse at length. I am happy that we have connected over the past few days, for Sergei is a genuinely interesting fellow. I ran into him again last night after doing two circuits of our "perimeter" on one of the Schwinn "ICBM" bikes (a total distance of 4 km, at best guess), as he was enjoying a cigar at the table just outside the entrance to the Fili.
We were joined by the German members of the prop team, on whom I have practiced my broken German in the course of the past few days, and they invited Sergei and me to share a small glass of an Italian herbal liqueur whose name escapes me at the moment (I think the name starts with "A" and ends in "zzi," which probably isn't very helpful, but it's what I remember). In any event, we were soon joined by a representative from the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA), which oversees any technical discussions that go one here, in conformance with US export control laws, and much good conversation ensued. (Of a nontechnical nature, to be sure.)
Eventually, only Sergei and I remained at the table, the objects of interest of a multitude of mosquitoes, originating from Ghu-knows-where.
I biked another two circuits this morning, and noticed that there are dogs around here that evince aggressive tendencies (I'd say chasing a guy on a bike for the better part of 300 meters while barking and growling was aggressive, nie?), but only when you are moving away from them. There was no attempt to confront me as I approached, which I found to be curious.
More later, maybe. I think I'll go wander in the hotel's garden.
Cheers...
It is said that a mark of true professionals is their ability, to borrow the words of a movie character played by Clint Eastwood, to "improvise, adapt, and overcome." And if there's one thing this campaign does not lack, it's such true professionals. As a result, today is not an off day for everyone here, but there is a bus going into town at noon for those not directly involved in operations, and I am the interpreter designated to be on board (I really do need footwear!).
In previous campaigns, for no apparent reason, my boss here, Sergei Z. and I never really had - or took - an opportunity to converse at length. I am happy that we have connected over the past few days, for Sergei is a genuinely interesting fellow. I ran into him again last night after doing two circuits of our "perimeter" on one of the Schwinn "ICBM" bikes (a total distance of 4 km, at best guess), as he was enjoying a cigar at the table just outside the entrance to the Fili.
We were joined by the German members of the prop team, on whom I have practiced my broken German in the course of the past few days, and they invited Sergei and me to share a small glass of an Italian herbal liqueur whose name escapes me at the moment (I think the name starts with "A" and ends in "zzi," which probably isn't very helpful, but it's what I remember). In any event, we were soon joined by a representative from the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA), which oversees any technical discussions that go one here, in conformance with US export control laws, and much good conversation ensued. (Of a nontechnical nature, to be sure.)
Eventually, only Sergei and I remained at the table, the objects of interest of a multitude of mosquitoes, originating from Ghu-knows-where.
I biked another two circuits this morning, and noticed that there are dogs around here that evince aggressive tendencies (I'd say chasing a guy on a bike for the better part of 300 meters while barking and growling was aggressive, nie?), but only when you are moving away from them. There was no attempt to confront me as I approached, which I found to be curious.
More later, maybe. I think I'll go wander in the hotel's garden.
Cheers...
