Under the Weather

1. Dasha and Ana on the "rocket"

2. Bookstore warning signs

3. Dasha in the playroom for Ana's group

4. Ana's bed.

5. View of the group's bedroom

6. Ana with her towel

7. Ana stacking the puzzle pieces

[Robin]
We both started the day off with sore throats. We may finally be succumbing to the kindergarten’s germ charms. We went to the orphanage fairly early because we had been told by the caregiver that Ana had looked out of the window for us the previous morning, and when we didn’t come, she cried (we went to the big market in the morning, foregoing the orphanage until the afternoon). Lesson learned!
When we got there today, the kids were in full force in the playground. We watched Ana and Dasha play on various equipment, particularly a climbing set that included a pole that they could slide down. Phil helped Ana navigate the steps up and the jumping onto the pole.

[Phil]
As usual, she had no fear on the jungle gym. We’re going to have to watch her like a hawk in Chapel Hill. I see many skinned knees and elbows in her future.
So after the morning session at the orphanage, we decided to go check out the movie schedule at the local theater. The only two films playing are the Bourne Ultimatum (which we’ve seen) and that Adam Sandler movie where he and his pal pretend to be gay in order to get domestic partnership benefits. It was showing at 3:30, but we really wondered whether we would have the required audience of 7 to see the movie. Even though it was an overcast, gray day, there appeared to be no one in the theater besides the employees. We left and decided that we’d come back right at 3:30 and hope for a quorum. After the theater, we went to the bookstore near the Palace of Culture. We found only a few books in English (mostly business-related or classics like Oliver Twist), but we did get two things for Ana: a puzzle that teaches you numbers and a sticker book. I also made sure to photograph the signs at the entrance that said "No entry with Beer" and "No Entry with Ice Cream". If such signs seem at all unusual to you, you have never been to Ukraine!

[Robin]
After the bookstore we went and had lunch at the Pizza place. Then we walked home to hang out in our hotel room. I had brought a book of NY crossword puzzles with me, and we handed these brain-testers back and forth for a good part of the afternoon. We also watched a reality show from Australia where they sent two groups of people to try to live like their ancestors did 200 years before. They were descendents of the Aborigines and a group of people who were descendants from places like Ireland, Britain, and Africa. I guess the idea was to see how well the two groups did at surviving. So far, you can probably guess which group is doing better—yep, the Aborigines have managed to fish and set up a comfortable camp; the other group is still busy gathering firewood and eating the supplies they brought with them.

[Phil]
We also saw yet another version of Skating with the Stars last night. I don’t know whether it was a current series or a repeat, but it was very entertaining. Probably the strangest portion of the show was when an old, gray-haired former hockey player dressed up in his uniform (minus the helmet) and did a sickly romantic routine with his scantily-clad daughter. The Ick Factor was very high.

[Robin]
It rained this afternoon, and so when we went back to the orphanage all the kids were indoors. This gave us an excellent opportunity to see where Ana sleeps and where the kids shower, etc. It is nice and neat and clean. This orphanage is really well-run. The little kid’s beds are all individual and all in the same room. The caregiver said they go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and get up at 7:15 a.m.

[Phil]
Also, all the kids have individual lockers, individual towel hooks, and their names painted across the headboards of their individual beds. Ana’s says "Nastyenka", which is an even more diminutive form of Anastasia.
Right now we’re at Restaurant Premier, sitting outside on the patio. Meanwhile, there’s a raucous wedding party going on inside. As I type this, the bride just walked out onto the patio. I thought she was going to smoke a cigarette or something, but she’s just talking to her friends. She’s sporting some major artificial bling. I wish I had the sequin contract for Ukraine (along with the brake pad contract – I would be rich!). Robin said she wants the French bakery contract, as they have nothing even remotely like that here.

[Robin]
Yes, I think I could make some mula from a culture that loves sweets but has not discovered the chocolate croissant. On another note, lots of people still smoke here, especially the young/teenagers. Every table in the restaurant is adorned with its own ashtray. Another aspect of their disdain of safety is that they drive really, really fast and no one wears seat belts. In fact, all the trips we have been on, be it in a mini-van, taxi or car, have all been sans seat belts.

[Phil]
Yes, this is a country where you just have to go with the flow. There’s no use in fighting it.