I had decided to join Peace Corps almost two years ago and was sent to Ukraine to teach English at a pedagogical school(a teacher-training school) in a town called Pryluky. Before moving to Pryluky (last January), I spent three months in a town ten minutes outside the capital learning the language and getting familiar with the school system here in Ukraine.
At A Glance Author hallmark (erika) Contact hallmark (erika)@bme.anon IAM hallmark When It just happened Artist Yurah Studio Krazy Art Tattoo Location Kiev, Ukraine I have always been heavily into tattoos and piercings and leaving my boys at the shop in Boise (Go Black Cat) was almost as difficult as leaving my family. They will always be family as well. (I miss you, Sean, Justin, Champ and Rock!).
One night, I happened to be in a bar in Kiev with my Ukrainian friend, and I saw this tattooed couple sitting at the bar. He handed me a business card and we sat down together. My Ukrainian friend was able to translate. Dima (Dimitry) was so amazed that he had met an American with tattoos. He started to show me his work and I asked him if he wanted to see mine. He said "sure" and we stepped to the back of the bar. I showed him my back piece and he about fell over. He said it was the coolest thing he has seen in a long time. We spent the night speaking and the rest is history. Dima, Dasha and I will always be close. As it turned out, he was a tattoo artist with a local shop. I escape to Kiev about every other weekend and hang out with Dima, Jenya and Yurah at the shop. It is my downtime away from school and work and it also helps me with my Russian. I love hanging out with them, even though I do not understand everything and we play a lot of pass the dictionary. They have also been a good connection because I get asked daily where I get my work done and I send them to Dima's shop now.
I had been in Kiev playing for the last five days and finally, it was time to go home, but yesterday, before I left, I wanted to get my nipple re-pierced. So, I went to the shop yesterday (August 25)to see Dima and get the nipple re-pierced by his counterpart, Yurah. The nipple is another story, though. So we pierced the nipple and added a second nostril and I thought I was out of there. I sat around talking to Dima, Yurah and Jenya (another tattoo artist) for a while.
As we spoke, I took out the bag of jewelry that I had (my spare parts, which had been a gift from my piercer in Boise). As I was pulling out rings and trying to put everything together, Yurah pipes up and says, "scho dalsha?", which translates to "what next?" I was floored. My nipple still throbbed (it was pierced with an eight gauge). I thought a minute and said, okay...labial piercings...inner labial piercings. I had always wanted them, but had never gotten around to getting them done. I had a vertical hood, a horizontal hood and a fourchette before today and I loved every one of them. I was also a little gun shy about taking off my pants in front of him because he is really good eye candy. I thought about it and as I was, he grabbed my matching rings and went off to sterilize them. I, on the other hand, went for a walk up the street contemplating my decision and letting the nipple calm down. I came back and sat outside the door for a bit and then about thirty minutes after that, I decided to proceed forward. I went inside and he saw me and said, "ready?" I said "ok, let's do this."
I walked in the room with total confidence until he said "okay, take them off." Oh yeah, I guess that I needed to do that too, right? I sat there for a minute and he asked me if I was scared and I said, a little. He told me about stretching his nostril tunnels the morning before and that he was the same way. I said...okay, now! and pulled of my pants. I leaped up on the table and he started to clean and mark the area. We were speaking and I was bracing myself and all of a sudden, I felt a sharp little stick. It was really fast and he said "fso" which means all. I did not even have time to scream or yell or anything. I talked to him for a minute and then another quick, little stick and it was over. I had two, beautiful labial piercings. I looked at them and got cleaned up and then put my clothes back on. I hung out for a while to make sure I would be okay. During this time, I got to see Valera get his tongue split, which is also another story.
I gave the boys hugs and said I would see them again in two weeks and slowly walked home. It is now the morning after and I am ok. I even survived the two hour ride home on a bus. I love my new piercings and am all ready brainstorming on what to do next. I also love my boys at Krazy Art Tattoo in Kiev, Ukraine.