Ukrainian Man, Woman Tie Themselves Together to Get Closer

A Ukrainian couple who grew tired of arguing are trying to repair their relationship by tying their hands together for three months. The two plan to document their experiences on social media¹.

Thirty-three-year-old Alexandr Kudlay and 28-year-old Viktoria Pustovitova began what they call their "experiment" on Valentine's Day in February. Since that time they have gained thousands of followers² on Instagram. They tied themselves together with handcuffs - a set of two metal rings that are joined together and locked around their wrists⁴.

Kudlay recently told Reuters reporters, "In terms of physical comfort, with every day passing, we are getting used to it more and more. It gets easier."

He came up with the idea after Pustovitova said she wanted to break up with him.

"We used to break up once or twice a week. When during another fight Vika once again said that we had to break up, I replied: ‘Then I will attach⁵ you to myself.'"

Pustovitova refused his idea at first. She hung up the telephone on him the first time he suggested it. But, after a while, she changed her mind. For nearly a month, neither of them has had any personal space. They do everything together, from food shopping to taking a break to smoke.

Pustovitova said, "I decided⁶ it will be an interesting experience for me, that it will bring into my life new bright emotions" which I had not experienced⁷ before.

"I love him, so I came to a decision to do it."

Now they put pictures of themselves on Instagram showing a happy existence. They have also appeared on talk shows on Ukrainian television.

As for their relationship, "some tension⁸ has come up", but the couple say they have found new ways of dealing⁹ with disagreements¹⁰.

"Fights between us did not disappear, we still fight," Kudlay said. "But when we approach a dead end and there is no understanding between us, we simply stop talking instead of packing up our things and walking away."

Pack up means¹¹ to gather things together so that you can take them with you.

Public opinion about their decision has been a mix of praise, doubt, and curiosity¹².

Among the most important questions is how the couple goes to the toilet. The answer: The other has to wait outside with a hand remaining inside the bathroom. They take turns showering.

Words in This Story

couple – n. two people who are married or who have a romantic¹³ relationship

wrist³ – n. the part of your body where your hand joins your arm

comfort –n. a state in which you do not have bad feelings, pain or extreme¹⁴ conditions

reply – v. to say, write, or do something as an answer or response

tension – n. a state in which people, groups, countries, etc., disagree with and feel anger toward¹⁵ each other

curiosity – n. a desire to learn or know more about something or someone

toilet – n. a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of bodily waste and then flushed with water

1 media   

n.(medium的复数)媒体，新闻媒介，传播媒介

参考例句：

• The local media reported rioting across the country.当地媒体报道了全国范围的骚乱。
• His latest movie is being hyped up by the media.他新近的电影正被媒体大肆炒作。

2 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

3 wrist   

n.手腕，腕关节

参考例句：

• They took her by the wrist.他们握住她的手腕。
• He received a bullet in the wrist.他手腕上中了一弹。

4 wrists   

n.腕，腕关节( wrist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her wrists chafed where the rope had been. 她的手腕上绳子勒过的地方都磨红了。
• Paul was put into the cell,his wrists were finally freed from handcuffs. 保罗被关进单人牢房后，终于把手铐从他手腕上取了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 attach   

v.附上，使依恋，爱慕

参考例句：

• I do not attach much weight to the theory.我不十分重视这学说。
• I advise you not to attach yourself to the party.我劝你不要参加这个党。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

8 tension   

n.(紧张)状态；拉(绷)紧；张力，拉力

参考例句：

• I could feel the tension in the room. 我可以感觉到房间里的紧张气氛。
• Relaxaion is better than tension. 缓和比紧张好。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 disagreements   

n.分歧，意见不合( disagreement的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Despite our disagreements, we have been able to find some common ground. 尽管我们存在分歧，但仍能找到一些共同点。
• These disagreements are symptomatic of the tensions within the party. 出现意见分歧表明该党内部的关系紧张。

11 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

12 curiosity   

n.好奇心，新奇的事物，珍品

参考例句：

• He gave in to curiosity and opened my letter.他抑制不住好奇心，拆开了我的信。
• The children are dying of curiosity to see what's in the parcel.孩子们出于好奇，迫不及待地想看看包裹中是什么东西。

13 romantic   

adj.浪漫的，风流的，传奇性的，夸大的，想象的，浪漫派的

参考例句：

• She thinks it will be romantic to be an actress.她认为当个女演员会很浪漫。
• Her husband is very romantic.她丈夫非常浪漫。

14 extreme   

adj.末端的，尽头的；极度的，极端的；n.极度，最大程度

参考例句：

• She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.她住在森林的最边缘。
• His views are rather extreme.他的见解相当偏激。

15 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。