By On-Demand Bus through Ukraine

The on-demand bus 🚌 is right on time and not crowded. I'm actually the only passenger and immediately strike up a conversation with the driver. One must know what to expect.😜

He speaks hardly any German, comes from Ukraine, speaks good English, and won’t charge me for the ride. This is a good start, I think. 😁

He came to Germany in 2020 and now lives in Legebruch. What a small world. His wife left him, (I don’t want to hear about that) and he was the director of a large bus company in Odessa.

We chat about everything and anything. “The Germans always say, if you live in Germany, you have to learn German.” “I don’t have to,” he says, “because I want to go back to Ukraine.”

Yes, we Germans are champions at handing out stereotypes.

So, we continue in English and communicate well enough.

He has a devastating opinion about President Zelensky.

“Corrupt Republican.”🐘

He drops me off at the Gransee train station as I will continue on with another on-demand bus.

I now wait for half an hour in 26 degrees and in full sun, just to board the same on-demand bus with the same driver again.😅

This is how one takes an extra break, or is this how things work in Odessa?🤔

Either way, Gennadi's disarming smile makes it all forgivable.

Another passenger boards. Peter and his alcohol breath 🇩🇪.

We introduce ourselves and immediately shift to the informal “Du.”

Just enough to say… a lively life.

When getting off in Gutengermsdorf, I wish Peter all the best.🍀👍🏼