document.write("<script language=\"javascript1.2\" type=\"text/javascript\">function emo_pop() {window.open('http://www.haloscan.com/commenthelp.php','Help','width=200,height=360,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes');}</script><table width=\"97%\" align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" border=\"0\" class=\"MainTable\">  <tr>    <td>    <div align=\"center\">    </div>    </td>  </tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"435889\"></a>        <p>On a metro (or: subway?) train in Kyiv:<br><br>Me > I wonder if the next carriage is less crowded?<br><br>Karilynn > You Brits call it a <i>carriage</i>? <img src=\"http://www.haloscan.com/images/smileys/content.gif\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" width=\"15\" height=\"15\" /><br><br>lol.<br><br>Happy New Year, Tom and Nic... also, many greetings from Sasha & Zora (+ baby Sasha, born 1 year + 1 day after Reuben) and from Sergey & Sveta.  Just back from a New Year visit to Balta orphanage, Odessa and Kyiv.  Tonight I might finish writing your Christmas card .... <img src=\"http://www.haloscan.com/images/smileys/clin_oeil.gif\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" width=\"15\" height=\"15\" /> or one day soon, might even sign in to Skype!<br /><span class=\"byline\">           mirku | 13.01.09 - 5:35 pm | <a href=\"#435889\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"435145\"></a>        <p>Not sure Rachel, educated though she is, has been taught about being politically correct in 4th grade yet.<br><br>The thing about the 'little things' is that they are a constant reminder of my situation as a legal alien.  I speak a different language.  I easily forget, because American English is so similar to British English.  <br><br>I don't think they get me down - I was delighted to laugh at myself in the above story - but even if you don't take them seriously, they are still real, and point to a real situation.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           pellucid | <a href=\"http://pellucid_2.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://pellucid_2.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 23.12.08 - 12:28 am | <a href=\"#435145\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"435066\"></a>        <p>hey, isn't this more about being politically correct? I never realised that you were so gender-insensitive, tom!!!<br>(j/k - i know what you mean about the little things, but i'm afraid i find it very hard to take them seriously. is this bad of me?)<br /><span class=\"byline\">           katie | 19.12.08 - 7:35 pm | <a href=\"#435066\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"435044\"></a>        <p>that last comment was me btw!<br /><span class=\"byline\">           ange | 18.12.08 - 10:48 pm | <a href=\"#435044\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"435043\"></a>        <p>glad you're son is correcting you on the local lingo - sounds like someone needs to?!! eh? just kidding, those little things must be hard, and i am proud of you for facing them! enjoy christmas in the USA - how did those mince pies go down? ooh and the crackers - i hear they are new over there too!<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Anonymous | 18.12.08 - 10:47 pm | <a href=\"#435043\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr>    <td class=\"InputCell\">                  <div id=\"newcomment\"></div><form method=\"post\" name=\"addComment\" action=\"http://www.haloscan.com/comments/pellucid2/7993836141738510482/\" target=\"_self\">        <p>    Name: <br />          <input name=\"name\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          Email:<br />          <input name=\"email\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          URL: <br />          <input name=\"url\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          Comment:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"javascript:emo_pop()\" title=\"Smiley and tag help\" target=\"_self\">?</a>&nbsp;<br />          <textarea name=\"addMessage\" rows=\"12\" cols=\"38\"></textarea><br /><input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"subscribe\" value=\"1\" /><label for=\"subscribe\">Notify me of followup comments via email</label>        </p>        <p class=\"PSubmit\"><input name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Publish\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"SubmitButton\" />&nbsp;<input name=\"previewMessage\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Preview\" class=\"SubmitButton\" />        </p>      <input type='hidden' name='user' value='pellucid2' /><input type='hidden' name='comment' value='7993836141738510482' /></form>    </td></tr>  <tr>    <td><p align=\"center\">        Commenting by <a href=\"http://www.haloscan.com/\" target=\"_blank\">HaloScan</a></p>      </td>  </tr></table><img src=\"http://c5.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=561713&amp;java=0&amp;security=01eeff58\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" /></body>");