More Adventures!

Yesterday afternoon, after bathing and eating a nice meal and buying a few snacks and water for the train (Americans drink way more water and use the toilet way more often than Ukrainians), we boarded the train.

Second class is good in terms of being neat and accessible. It was half the price of first class. However, there are 2x more people in a car, so the bathrooms are harder to use (lines are longer because they are used more), and the beds are not as soft as first class. The beds also smell worse than first class, as do the pillows. The feather pillows and wool blankets are the same for everyone, just add the sheets and a pillow case to cover them. So, perhaps we saved money but was it worth it? Having 4 in our car was nice, really nice, given we all knew each other and got along well. So, it was well worth being together and that is really what was most valuable. Karina was sad as went said goodbye to Mariupol. We tucked into our bunks at different times, and Karina and Mama stayed up the latest, sitting in the same top bunk replaying dancing videos on the iphone and remembering her friends till 10:30PM, when finally Mama went to bed. Karina turned her lights out soon after and she slept like a log. None of the adults slept. The train was too cold, because they turn the heat off in April. So, although second class has its cost-saving advantages, all in all, it was an adventure that we paid for in non-monetary ways (like loss of sleep). Adventures are good, though. They give us perspective.

We arrived in Kiev around 9AM today, and drove downtown. We had about 90 minutes of free time before going to our apt. We walked around and held hands. We learned how to communicate the need to go the the toilet and the need for a hat. Got both accomplished! Our new apt. here is nice. We are directly across the street from the big Gate built around the year 1000 (rebuilt since, but a national icon, to say the least). We took naps, ate dinner mid-afternoon, bought books in Russian (a REAL hit! Tough to carry, but wonderful activity!) - Karina picked them out. Papa was worn out from hauling them all. Then, went looking for groceries with no avail. We discussed shoes which are too big and give her blisters (the down side of having a Trooper is that you have to assume things based on observation and ask about what you think is going on, because she can endure what most can't), we discussed her books, and our thoughts and feelings (thank goodness for Google translate!). We had some deep conversations (more than pointing and naming things, but describing feelings and reasons, which opened a new relationship for us all). We gave her our coins (lose change) and she counted them. There must be 40 coins of 5 different denominations that together equal about 50 cents in US terms. But that is enough for Orbit gum, and she wants some Orbit gum, so tomorrow she can use her coins if she wants. She is thrilled! We let her explain her books to us and she loved doing that! It is a glimpse of her world. She took a rather cold shower (heat is off), is using a hair dryer and enjoying the hair dryer a lot (what a treat!), and is allowed to watch a couple of Hannah Montana episodes on the computer before bed. It is good to let her know what to expect each day, and we try our best to keep her in the loop and explain what is going on. She is laughing as she dries her hair right now - it is really fun for her.

What a good adventure today! And, we may get to come home as planned on Sunday! Everyone is working very hard for this to happen, so we hope the Embassy is on our side tomorrow when we find out more.

Papa is sick tonight, so please think about him and we hope he feels better soon - was a rough last 48 hours for him, especially. Will keep him in our thoughts for good health tomorrow.

p.s., and tweens like a book series called the Winx Club. Karina explained the characters to us in detail. It seems like a combo of Anime and Pokemon for young girls with a little bit of Harry Potter themes (good and evil merlin-types) thrown in. Here's how Karina explains the 6 characters:
блум магия драконый огонь
стелла магия солнца 
флора магия природы
муза магия музыки
текна магия техналогии
лейла магия пузыря

Bloom - magic dragon fire
Stella - magic of the sun
Flora - magic of nature
Muse - magic music
Techno - magic tehnalogii
Leila - magic bubble