Mail 15 - June 12th
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Mail 15 - June 12th |
June 12
It is Saturday here, and quite hot. I had written a really long, newsy, interesting narrative (or so I thought) but lost it in Ukrainian cyber-space. So, you get a re-cap that is not nearly so interesting, but will at least keep you up to date on our progress. Bill and I split the internet time today, he on the Dodger's site, and I with you. He's OK with the Dodger's loss, as it was to the Red Sox, or so I gather, because sports kind of escapes me and I wasn't really listening. He said something about the Red Sox, and my dad. The kids are outside feeding the nest of kittens they found. They are really cute, scraggly little things, four tabby and one black. They are about 5 weeks old. On our walk from the internet cafe everyday the girls get to pick a treat. Sometimes it's wonderful Ukrainian "morojona" (ice cream) in great flavors - chocolate cherry with dark chocolate coating, eggnog with milk chocolate coating, lemon ice in a waffle cone with cherry bits or watermelon ice in a cookie cup. Other favorite treats are semichke - roasted sunflower seeds in a newspaper tube, or Grape Nehi in little tiny glass bottles with a straw. Sometimes we get cups of warm, wild strawberries, or fresh nectarines or "choopychoops", which are really sweet, sugar dipped lollypops. Yesterday they asked for "kit-e-kat" for a treat instead. That is a little packet of wet cat food. I thought they had lost their minds, until they pointed to the nest of hungry kittens. Of course, we bought the kit-e-kat and the choopychoops, too! Nelly is an animal lover, so will fit right in. She is very excited to have a dog of her own, as her dog died about 6 months ago. It had been Alyona's dog until she was adopted, then she gave it to Nelly. The dog's name was Gina, and she died in Nelly's bed. :-(
Nelly is a very modest girl, Poor dear - even seeing kissing on a commercial on TV embarrasses her. Our apartment is right next door to a casino with naked waitresses, which Neil finds fascinating. He keeps watching to see if naked ladies come in or out. Of course, all the women going in are dressed, at least when they go in. This confuses him terribly. He wants to know how the "naked ones get in there" and why he can't see him. Poor Nelly, she can't stand this. She covers his eyes whenever he glances the direction of the casino.
She has grown and changed so much in 3 weeks. She has gained about 8 lbs,
at least one size in clothing and has gotten a teenager's body. Three weeks
ago she was built like Bella. Now, she needs a bra and is curvy.
I can't believe how she has changed in just three weeks! She looked about
10 when we met her, now she looks her age. A year a week - hey, that's
how fast I feel I am aging! We had thought about going to the great water
park here, "The HydroZone", but I think it would be way too crowded. School
just got out for the summer and it is really hot. We may just go buy some
souvenirs instead and have a picnic in the park under some shade trees.
The kids want to go to the Potato House for dinner tonight. It is a very
fun Ukrainian chain restaurant. It has play structures and outside tables.
It serves barbecue ribs and chops, salads and baked potatoes with everything
in the world to put on them. Sour cream, caviar, leeks, bacon, cheese, grilled
veggies, sambol, poached fish, pizza sauce and cheese, peanut sauce, cold
slaw, salsa, you name it. They also serve beautiful crepes with the same
variety of toppings, and include chocolate, bananas, guava, Nutella, sugar,
jam, and of course, cherries to chose from. It is expensive by Ukrainian standards,
but not by ours. A family of 5 can eat well for about $10.,
which includes sodas and juice. Neil and Bella love it, because it
b) has potatoes.
Nelly gets overwhelmed by the menu and the crowd and has a hard time
choosing what to eat. The first time we went, she only had juice -
it was too much to handle. The second time she had Coca-Cola and salat Olivier,
and I just put other stuff on her plate and she eventually tasted it. I think she
really liked the BBQ ribs, so might actually order if we go tonight. I must go help
her with her computer practice. It is very difficult for her, and I am hoping to find
a class or a tutor when we return. It will be great if she learns how to use the
on-line translator for school.
More soon - lots of love - L