JonathanCampion's Guestbook

Hi Jon! I stumbled across your page through some friends and absolutely love it! I've been reading it quietly for a while, but this post and the comments moved me to speak up. I think your presentation of Ukraine, though personal and emotional, is also quite accurate and fair to our country. As many Ukrainians, I suddenly get very patriotic when I hear foreigners speak low of Ukraine. But what offends me is that often their comments are very superficial; something rubs them the wrong way, and they can't see anything past it. Your writing is not superficial at all, and you notice all the right problems. And it's much easier for me to agree with you about the negatives when I see how you sincerely try to love our country (and sometimes succeed!) I really appreciate that (not to mention the great writing.)

One last thing
Sorry to keep writing comments. I thought "just a reader" was joking. Seriously. I don't think you should pay any attention to him. We all know that his statement is outrageously wrong. Enough said...

Good Russian!
Wow, I am impressed with your Russian, Jon! Molodets! I can tell that you are tired. It just seemed to me as if the energy was missing from your last blog. Almost like you had to write it, because you hadn't written in a while and many fans were waiting impatiently for a new blog. I completely agree with you, that a good writer tells both the good and the bad. There is good and bad everywhere you go. Unfortunalely there is a lot of "bad" in Eastern Europe. But there is joy to be found all around. You've been pretty good at finding it before. I hope you find it again! Udacha!

You're such a talentless tasteless son of the b...... !

Hey!
Hey Jon, you write beautifully, keep your spirits up and live those moments to the fullest.

You know... the way you write about it the majority of the time, I bet most of your readers wonder why you would ever want to leave there. Hope everything is going well at the moment for you. Take care. xx

There's nothing like the country to get you in a better frame of mind is there. It makes a huge difference to get away from all the noise and pressure. Maybe you could go for longer next time though, make a little holiday out of it. Hope all is ok with you. Try not to be stressed. xx

You sound much happier now! I'm so glad. Spring really does make a difference for everyone hm? xx

Hey Jon, It was good to relive my visit in your blog. But what a horrendous photo of me! Though there is a striking resemblance between myself and Bulgakov (esp. nose and chin), maybe we're related! I hope you fill up your Gloria jeans reward card soon! Stay happy and enjoy the Spring. Helen xxx

Hey, of course sadness, those people have much much more experience than people from western europe, more challenges more hardships. they are culmination of drama, they are essence of our land. they are to be treadured and remembered, they are not to live a happy life among them.

Well stated my friend... life in the winter in Kiev. Quite tiresome...some would even say sickening. I'll definitely point my friends to your blog. You are spot on. So...a sauna in Finland sounds nice right about now :-)

yelena
A fascinating blog, upon which I stumbled quite by accident. Your descriptions of Ukrainian life are so vivid and bring back many memories. Udachi :)