unexpected pleasure

It started out a relatively uneventful day.  I rose at 5am  and spent the morning reading.  Shortly after noon, my friend, Anna, called to say she had given my name to two young people from Dnipropetrovsk who are part of an organization called "Chrome" - хром.  They are in Kiev for a few days audio-taping interviews on a variety of LGBT issues and wanted to interview someone about LGBT and Religion.  So, I met Katya and Stanislav at 8pm to share a meal (at Glossary, of course).  What wonderfully delightful young people.  We had a great time with the recorder in the middle of the table while we asked and answered questions and generally just talked together for almost two hours.  I walked (downhill) with them to the Metro station at Khreshchatek St.  They were laughing that I know Kiev better than they do.  After I left them, I walked home.  It was pretty far but it was a beautiful evening and I don't know how many more of them we'll have. They invited me to visit their city next year.  It is about 5 hours by express train from Kiev.

I also had a conversation this afternoon with a friend in Donetsk.  Because the leader of the LGBT Christian group there is seeking asylum in Holland, the group fell apart.  My friend is considering reconvening the group.  If he does, I will try to visit Donetsk towards the end of October.  My friend called me a bit later to say there are two women who want to marry there if I come.

As an aside:  I think I've mentioned that my apartment is on the 9th floor.  How the heck to mosquitoes get to the 9th floor? 

Jenia was not at Glossary, of course, since his wedding is tomorrow.   Vitaly was working in his place.  He was very attentive and took good care of me even if it wasn't the level of service Jenia spoiled me into getting used to.  I sms'd Jenia to tell him that Vitaly did a good job.