August 03, 2007

Well, that was peculiar.

Went to the grocery store yesterday evening to get some stuff for supper, and as I was going down the aisle toward the checkout, there was a young guy coming the other way, pushing a dust mop and talking on his cell phone.

As we passed, I realized he was speaking Russian.

I'm sorry, but any way you slice that, it was just really, really odd.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at August 3, 2007 07:53 AM
Comments

Are you sure he wasn't speaking Polish? Or Estonian?

Posted by: skillzy at August 3, 2007 08:14 AM

Not so peculiar to me, but I guess there's more Rooskies up here in New York than down where you are.

I was more taken aback a few years ago by the first ATM I saw that offered Russian as an option. I don't think it gave the users Rubles instead of greenbacks, but I was never curious enough to try and conduct my business in Russian.

Posted by: skinnydan at August 3, 2007 08:29 AM

Oh, no, Skillzy, it was straight-up Russian, although possibly with a Ukrainian accent. Obviously, since I've watched 24, I know all these accents.

And Skinnydan, there is actually a pretty large contingent of expat Reds in the metro area, including one lady right in my little town who teaches ballet. But it certainly is something of a oddity to be walking through the Winn-Dixie in deepest Trussville and hear the sounds of Mother Russia from the kid sweeping the floor.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 3, 2007 08:44 AM