Episode 8: Grandma Sonia

‎TRANSCRIPT

Saturday, ‎June ‎20, ‎2020
Montreal, Canada 📞 Sofia, Bulgaria

Notes: In this conversation I speak Bulgarian, while Grandma speaks Russian. Although she is Bulgarian, she religiously speaks Russian to the grandkids due to lifelong regrets about not teaching it to her own kids.

SONYA (Bulgarian):
How are you?

GRANDMA SONIA (Russian):
Just as I am, Sonichka, all kinds of health problems, all that stuff. Now we have the lockdown. I haven’t left the house since October 10, I haven’t left the house. I’m watching TV, reading. Slowly, gently, and I’m fighting with my pains.
That’s it! I’m listening to you now. How are things going for you? Tell me as much as you can. 2 words, 3 or 5…

SONYA:
In 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2 words…

GRANDMA SONIA:
A little louder please.

SONYA:
Can you not hear me now?

GRANDMA SONIA:
Now is good.

SONYA:
Everything is OK. Vitalyi is in Toronto, he got together with his 4 sisters for his mom’s birthday, so I’m alone at home until tomorrow night. On Monday, we start training week at work for the new summer staff, which means that I have to work on the weekend. I have a lot of stuff to prep.
Otherwise, it’s super hot, thirty something degrees, with humidity it’s about 38 Celsius.

GRANDMA SONIA:
That’s where you’re at?? +38!!!

SONYA:
Not exactly, it’s 33, but the humidity makes it feel like 38. It’s super hot here!

GRANDMA SONIA:
Horrible! Here we have 23-24.

SONYA:
From what I heard, I even hear it’s cold over there.

GRANDMA SONIA:
Yes, yes. I had no idea that [in Montreal] you can have such heat. Well, I know it’s possible, I’m watching the TV and I see that all over the Soviet Union, they’re showing cities like Yakutsk, they hit 28 several days in a row. In a word, it’s a big mess with the weather these days. Ok… how are things going for you?

SONYA:
Everything is on point. Just lots of work. That’s how it is in general.

GRANDMA SONIA:
What’s the perspective, Sonichka, will you be coming home?

SONYA:
No, I won’t be able to come right now.

GRANDMA SONIA:
Not for the summer, eh?

SONYA:
I don’t see how it can happen with corona.

GRANDMA SONIA:
I’m just asking, I didn’t know anything. I’m not trying to convince you, I don’t have the right and I don’t know, I’m just asking.

SONYA:
I won’t be coming. If you think about it, just a week ago it was not even allowed.

GRANDMA SONIA:
Yes, I understand well all this thing with the virus. All clear. I just wanted to look at you. Oh well…

SONYA:
Hey, what’s the name of the women who comes to your house again?

GRANDMA SONIA:
Lyudmila.

SONYA:
Ok, so Vicky told me that you guys managed to establish video connection. How does it work?

GRANDMA SONIA:
Yes, yes, with Victoria.

SONYA:
How does it work? Tell me what time does she come to you? Is it convenient to call her phone?

GRANDMA SONIA:
She comes to me from 4 to 7 pm. At 4 pm, she should arrive, but she comes a half hour later, she goes to the store, etc., and then comes here. So the best moment to call is 5 pm.

SONYA:
So this is convenient?

GRANDMA SONIA:
Yes, absolutely. And how do we get in touch with you? We just call your number?

SONYA:
I think she has WhatsApp… this is an application. If you send me her number…

GRANDMA SONIA:
Well she understands, if she can call Victoria. I will give her your number.

SONYA:
Ok, just keep in mind that I work at that time. My workday starts at 5 pm your time, I’m definitely working till 7 pm. Is this only during the week?

GRANDMA SONIA:
Every day.

SONYA:
Saturday and Sunday too?

GRANDMA SONIA:
No, Monday to Friday.

SONYA:
Ok then, better you give me her number. And if I have time at some point, I’ll her number.

GRANDMA SONIA:
Ok, let me just go get it now, I need to get up cause I don’t remember it by heart.

SONYA:
Hold on, instead of getting up and going left and right, do you want me to get her number from my dad?

GRANDMA SONIA:
No, don’t bother him, I will give it to her.

SONYA:
Ok, just don’t be in a rush.

GRANDMA SONIA:
Are you here?

SONYA:
Yes.

GRANDMA SONIA:
Just a second. So… 0896-xyz-xyz. She has another one, but I didn’t write it down.

SONYA:
I guess this is probably the good one. It looks like it’s her cell.

GRANDMA SONIA:
She tells me – let’s call your granddaughters, everything is free on my plan. Why is it free? I don’t understand, but we call Victoria often. Vicky sends her photos and videos. Then, we send her some photos too, all the plants, this was the exchange. And then I also saw Vicky and Maia live, it’s very nice to look at them, so in other words, there was connectivity.