Getting Used to the Unusual

It is beginning to feel normal here; that is, normal for Ukraine! Of course it is not like Tri-Cities, it's just that we know what to expect around here. What is that you ask? Pretty much we expect all plans not to go according to plan, the funny thing is, it continues to work out and we always seem to have a good time. We learn to let all the nuances and inconveniences slide on past. For example, you scheduled a delivery with all the help you can get in English or in Russian, and of course it gets delivered in an hour instead of in 3 days like it had been planned. The bus and train rides are always an adventure, but it would feel odd now if it wasn't. The last bus trip we took was so crammed with people that they were standing in the isle the length of the bus for the hour long trip. To start this fabulous bus trip a live spider landed in front of me right on Ellie's hair (can't decide if I prefer the live or the dead bugs landing on me)! Ellie had to sit on my lap so many parts of my lower appendages were numb. Rylie was on Tony's lap and we were both shoulder to shoulder, they don't make the seats for fat Americans. Getting off the bus is never easy, it's always in a rush, and of course it's the Ukrainian way. At least the temperature was reasonable and the smaller bus on the way home from Chernigov offers the ever fabulous whole body bouncing therapy! Not only does it put you to sleep, it bounces you awake and is sure to put bruises into various muscle groups. A day in the life of.....right?!



Taking a break on our tour of Chernigov, beautiful September day!


The girls are doing great in school.  They still sing about going to school in the morning even though lining up for class is in our hallway outside of the dining room/classroom;  they are so cute.  At one point Ellie raised her hand and called me "Miss Mom".  We join other American kids and some French children for an occasional science class and P.E.  The girls are in gymnastics and piano, and Ellie is currently taking private lessons in ballet!  Last week we made Roman pillars out of cookie dough, and then we ate them, yummy.  This weekend we are going on a field trip with Ukrainian, American and Russian kids to Kiev to see some of their folk museums, a water museum and a zoo!

The girls are picking the walnuts from the tree in the front yard.  This requires tree climibing, always fun to do.  Their hands are stained a horrible brown color from removing the husk and I cannot get it to come off!  Even having them wash dishes isn't doing the trick; I could always try bleach (tee hee)!