Best Day!

Boy, what a difference a day makes. We had the best day we have had in a very long time. Kolya's teacher, Vera, invited us to her home to have lunch. Her daughter is Elizabeth; I think I have talked about her before. She is 16 and speaks English better than most people in the US. We arrived at the orphanage about 10:00 and Vera came and "picked us up" - when I say picked us up, I really mean she met us there. She dressed Kolya for the cold day and we were off to her house - it was the first time Kolya had shoes on (instead of slippers) since we met him. We walked through all of the apartments/flats, around a group of buildings, over a railroad track and then into their neighborhood - about a 20 minute walk. Vera, her husband and two daughters live in a small house - which is unusual for families in the Ukraine (according to Elizabeth). The bedrooms were so small that a twin size bed could not fit in it.. the bed was very small and from wall to wall. It had just enough room to have another piece of furniture (like a desk). They had a living room, kitchen and bathroom. All were additions since they moved in 10 years ago. As soon as we arrived, we removed our boots and coats. They had slippers for everyone in the house - Maury's didn't fit of course - we laughed about that. We talked for a few minutes and then went to the kitchen for dinner. The kitchen was very small and had a very small table. Around the table was very short stools. Very had wine, said it was special wine usually used for church, pickles, bread and sausage on the table. She served us beorsh (not sure how to spell that), a beet soup - it sounds gross but is really good. Then she served us, what I thought was pork, and mashed potatoes. We finished dinner with tea and chocolate. It was funny, she served Maury's soup in a huge bowl and served him on a dinner plate - everyone else was served on bread plates. Kolya was a perfect angel and ate like he hadn't seen food in a month... he is going to take after his Papa. Vera did not eat, I ask her why she wasn't eating and she said, I am not hungry.. I think she was pulling a FHB (family hold back). During dinner Vera and her husband had a million questions about the US. They wanted to know what the people were like, they wanted to know how much things cost, like electricity and gas, and several other things. I ask them what they thought people in the US were like. They said very nice and hard working. We said the same about what we thought about people in the Ukraine They said their house was very small compared to US homes. We told them that the walls of a house do not make a home... the people inside make a home therefore we are all the same!!! After a long meal and conversation, thanks to Elizabeth, I took several pictures. We looked at photos of the family and talked about life for Kolya. I ask them what they wanted for Kolya. They both said to grow up and be like Maury - learn a trade and have a happy and good life! Elizabeth explained that they lived in the "village" meaning the country before they moved to the city 10 years ago. I ask her how it was different and she said they are spoiled now.. then, it was a very simple life. So, let me tell you about their "spoiled" life. They have a home and a bathroom inside. The girls both have their own room. They have electricity and water in the house. They have a washing machine, which she informed us that they only were able to purchase less than a year ago. Vera is a teacher, Kol's teacher, and the Dad works in a factory. They make $1200 a year - total! That is what their family of four lives on.... believe or not, they are some of the richest people I know - what a wonderful loving family. After dinner, we went outside and she showed us that she grows her own potatoes and beets, which we had for dinner, she showed us that they have chicken's which produces eggs, then she took us into a little building (which I thought might be some sort of greenhouse), it turned out to be a place they raised rabbits... very cute rabbits. I said, "awwwwww, bunny rabbits..." then I realized they raised the rabbits to eat!!! So I asked Elizabeth, "do you eat these rabbits?" she said, "yes, that is what we had for lunch!" I have to say it was a first for me, but it was actually pretty good. They also had an apple tree in the backyard - which Vera insisted that we take 12 or more apples (probably all they had). Elizabeth said they have beorsh every single day and that her Mom makes the best (she didn't complain or fuss about it... she was proud that her Mom is such a good cook). She said now that they have rabbits, they also have meat a couple of times a week. WOW, what a strange and wonderful experience!!!

After our backyard walk, we had a long visit in the living room. We offered Elizabeth to come and visit in the US and stay with us. We told her we would pay for her airline ticket. Karmon and Elizabeth have been emailing so she is getting excited about it. Vera and her husband are so grateful... said it had always been a dream for their daughter. My heart wants to bring the entire family but know that it is not possible.

I want to talk more about Kolya but today was not just about Kolya - It was about family, Kolya being a part of it... I told them I really missed home and my family and this was the first day I had the "family" feeling again... it was good!!We walked back to the orphanage and played with Kolya for a while then headed back to the hotel.

Maury is sick - he has a bad cold and is in the bed. I decided to come to the town square and found a new internet cafe - should I say, the wonderful internet cafe. This place smells nice (which is a bonus right there)has a nice coffee and drink bar (like a coffee shop - Starbucks would be the closest I can think of) and is a really cool place. Where has this thing been all this time! As a matter of fact, I am enjoying a cup of latte as I type. I also walked around the square before I came in... It gets dark at 4:00 pm - so it was already good and dark. There is a church in the middle of the square and they were having Mass... They had speakers so you could hear the service all the way down the street... It as the most beautiful music/singing and service I have heard in a long time. I wanted to go in but it required a prayer cloth (or something over a woman's head) which I didn't have... so I just listened for a while.

Maury and I have really been down on Sumy and have been driving each other crazy wanting to get home or at least back to Kiev where there is some form of life. After learning more about the people and the culture here... I have to say we misjudged them (don't get me wrong - we still want to come home) but they are really nice, simple, caring people...

I will upload as many pictures as I can and try to write some more tomorrow. Just a few more days then back to the US!!!

Love,
Maury, Kim and Kolya