Diddles in Ukraine :: Sept 29th

[] Diddles in Ukraine Saturday | September 30, 2006 Sept 29th Sept 29 th , 2006 – Friday A week ago today, we landed in Ukraine. This has been a very busy and fast moving week. We have seen so much and yet understand so little of the people and the culture here. The people seldom smile here. Someone told us today, that a teacher, went to America for 3 weeks. She was so excited about the cheerfulness and uplifting feeling in America, it was very difficult for her to return to her depressed city and country here. The people are trying, but they seem to “exist” and just going through motions. I hope we can help these two boys enjoy life. We can not give them a silver spoon, but we can hopefully give them the opportunity to enjoy life and smile. Vladimir left the apartment at 7:30 this morning to get the Mayor’s signature. The mayor gets to work at 0745. He was able to get the signature and he returned to Kiev. He then placed the information to the SDA in the mail. The post office, with some encouragement was able to deliver the information today to SDA. Looks like we might have made the 5 day deadline after all. I was up at 0800 this morning. Nadine was able to sleep in a little. The skies this morning are overcast. It had rained through the night. We left the apartment after 1100L. Our first stop was the bank. We entered the bank, and the guard directed us to an exchange booth. We handed the teller 3 one hundred dollar bills. She looked at the money very carefully and ran it through two separate machines. After her inspection, she gave us the grinvya at a rate of 1 US Dollar to 5.02 Grinvya (Ukrainian dollar) We then exited the bank, and went to the right, passing through the open market. Beyond the pavement was an internet cafй. This is the one that is close to the MacBeth’s apartment. Nadine and I spent 30 minutes on the internet checking the email and posting to the www.ukrainiediddle.blog.com . In Sumy, I must give the system administrator the USB flash drive. In Kiev, I was able to add it directly. The cost all together was 4 grivnya (Ukrainian dollar). We caught a taxi at the market for 15 grivnya to take us to the boarding school. We arrived there just after 1230L. Nataly went to the director and received permission to take the two boys out for lunch and shopping. We offered the boys to go to any restaurant they desired. Sadly, they choose McDonald’s and had chicken nuggets. They were excited about the happy meals, one had a car and the other was a squirt gun. They also enjoyed playing on the McDonald’s slide. We departed McDonald’s (The only one in Sumy) for the open air market. You can find almost anything you really need in the market. We were in search of shoes for the boys. The current shoes they were wearing will be left at the boarding school (Zhenya’s shoes had holes all along the side of the length of his feet. Yes feet has grown, and the shoes did not contain them anymore. We found Zhenya a pair of shoes for 65 Grivnya (about $13.00) He was so excited to have a new pair of shoes. He had a grin from side to side that would not stop! Amazing how something so simple can bring such happiness. We need to go back to the simple things of life. We found Ruslan a pair of shoes as well. His cost 55.00 Grivnya (11.00) He did express happiness as well. In the market, we passed several toy shops. Ruslan wanted and received a plastic army truck. Zhenya quietly asked if we could purchase him a soccer ball. The answer was yes! He also was looking at a watch, but when given the choice, he still wanted the soccer ball. We then left the market and caught a taxi back to the apartment for 15 Grivnya. (3 Dollars). Once in the apartment, the boys thought they had gone to heaven. They said it was a very nice apartments. Our apartment is on the 7 th floor. Once inside the apartment, we reviewed the DVD that Nick provided for the fundraiser. Then we reviewed the photos that have been taken thus far on the trip. I shared the M&M’s that my unit commander from the unit purchased for the trip. The candy was devoured. I brought out bananas with the same result. It was good to have the boys in our apartment. Ruslan appears in stature and activities to be two years behind Zhenya. Zhenya has been in the boarding school environment since he was 3. Ruslan has only been here 1.5 years. He is well mannered and tempered. He has not had an opportunity to grow. With proper nourishment and education, he will be fine. I observed today that Ruslan was trying to get us to pay attention to him. When Zhenya would do something, he too, tried to do the activity to get our attention. We will have a handful for a while. I am so blessed to have 4 wonderful daughters. I am glad they each are a part of the family. Sadly at 1700L, we got into a taxi and returned to the boarding school. As we dropped the boys off, it started to rain. I hearts were crying internally as well. I look forward to spending more time at home with my daughters when I return. They are very precious to me, I just need to show it to them more. It is hard for me, since I locked my emotions away when I was young. On the return trip, we provided Mr. Sergio, the teacher to Alex, a ride to his destination. He is a very good teacher because of the love and concern and interest he showed in the children. The cost of the round trip taxi was only 37.00 grivnya. We had left over stew and pork chops for dinner tonight. Also mashed up 4 additional potatoes. We also finished off the garlic bread. After supper, we walked to the market in the rain to purchase some fruit, water and orange juice. There is a gentle rain falling on this farming community tonight. The earth here is good. I have washed a lot of black soil from the carrots and potatoes! We added two new photos to SUMY, UKRAINE Posted by at 18:58 in | Link | Comments (1) Comments 1 - Dan and Nadine, I have just read most of your blog and I am sooooooo excited for your family!!! I am sorry about Dmitri, but happy that you found Ruslan. Thanks for sharing your blog with me and I will continue to check when I get time. We are having so much fun here in Crimea with our children except for the fact that we Sergey has the measels and we have to visit him there. Have fun with your boys :) The Nolte's ( Comment this ) Written by: julie at 2006/09/30 - 21:30:20 Write a comment Name: Email: Url: Comment: Remember info? Search My Advertisement Categories Archives October - 2006 September - 2006 Syndication RSS Atom Albums Kiev Sumy Ukraine Part 2 Sumy, Ukraine Random Blog