Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Our Adventurous Day

In the afternoon we walked down to TGI Fridays to meet the Doves and bring them back to our apartment. On the way, we stopped at a grocery store and bought some lunch fixings for sandwiches. Of course I picked up some ice-cream-- but after a four mile walk I was pretty sure my weight would not suffer.

We visited the whole afternoon. Their son William and Rachel picked feathers out of one of the comforters and blew them outside so that they could watch them float like in Forrest Gump. The guys watched soccer and Jenn and I talked and played Racko.

Around 6 pm we agreed to meet up with the Urbans for dinner at a Ukrainian style buffet and began our 2 mile trek.

On the way we saw this poster and thought it odd that a boy would pour his Father beer as the Mother watched. But apparently, it is wheat ale-- not beer-- but not sure what the difference is either.

We came across this poster cut-out at a bus stop and stopped to take Rachel's picture.


The walk was uneventful except for one thing.

This yashick!

Yes, we saw a baby porcupine--- correction--- baby hedgehog according to Jennifer--- In the middle of busy Kiev! Can you believe it?
Once we got to the restaurant we walked through the buffet. I put two bowls of Borscht, two meatballs in a tomato sauce, bread, coca-cola, water, and a big piece of chicken on my tray to share with John who was saving a spot for our party of nine.
Dinner was wonderful-- not so much the food, but the company. Thank you Jennifer, Zack, William, Charissa, and John for making this trip very memorable!
On the walk home we stopped at a flea market where we saw saffron for sale. A tiny little container of it was 150 grivna. Thanks but no thanks.
The guy let us sample two different kinds of candy and so in return we bought these dried kiwi.
They look like they would be a sweet delicious jewel of chewy kiwi in your mouth but instead I saved them for whoever wants to try them. I'll leave it at that.
I will also leave you with a hilarious story. I asked Caleb and Rachel to do the dishes and John got the bright idea to use the dishwasher. I warned John that we didn't have the right soap but John told Caleb to use dish soap. LOL, I begged him not to-- but he said it would be alright.
O-----kay.
Ten minutes later Rachel and Caleb said the dishwasher exploded and I chose not to look. From what I gather, the whole kitchen floor was covered in soap-- and our kitchen is huge compared to most Ukrainian kitchens.
I'm going to bite my tongue and not even tell my sweet and incredibly smart husband-- "I told you so."
Do you remember the Brady Bunch episode where Bobby adds too much soap to the washing machine? Picture that.

23 comments:

Leah Spring said...

Oh oh oh, that's not a porcupine! That's a hedgehog! (at least I'm 99% sure since I'm not there to see it for myself. LOL)

Anonymous said...

Love the pictures. Good luck tomorrow.
Eva

Debora Hoffmann said...

Yum, Puzata Hata is the best! But you have to know what you're ordering. :-) We loved eating there. And the baby hedgehog is so cute. Seems strange that we don't have them here in the States, but they're all over in Europe. How wonderful that you're able to spend time with other adopting families while you're there!

Julia said...

Sounds like you guys are having fun. Things are going great here. I love you.

~Julia~

Just Another Day In Paradise said...

Love the dishwasher story! too funny! I love that you are getting to hang out with fellow bloggy buddies! Must make it that much more fun!

Cath said...

Love all the pictures and glad to hear that you are having a great time! The hedgehog is so small its a wonder how it gets around on the busy streets. Can't wait to hear how your meeting with the kids goes!

Catherine

Annie said...

My brother did that once to our washing machine when I was a little girl - let's just say I remember it many, many years later!

Anonymous said...

Hello,Christine,
Nice to have you in Europe:) I am Sigita from Lithuania. Hmm...not to far from Ukraine, just over Belarussia. Following your blog almost two years, just first time writing to you. I am single mom of two biological and two adopted children. I love to read your blog, and waiting every day your posts. I am really happy for that two children, what God choosed for you. Have a great time in Ukraina.
P.S about the picture, were boy gives to the father some drink, for sure ther is kvas. I don't know annology in USA, just difference between kvas and beer is huge. Kvas has NO alcohol :) Just try once, my kids loves this drink too.

Mary said...

LOL I totally did the exact same thing to the dishwasher in our French apartment just last month. Soapy explosion of epic proportions....and not only did it take forever to clean up BUT the soap stuck around in the dishwasher so it kept exploding with soap for the next 5 dishwasher cycles. That was a long, long night...

Mmmm...I bet the ice cream was delicious and the 4 mile walk totally justifies it! I never seem to gain weight on vacations because I do so much more walking there than at home. Plus, vacations are special and you should be able to eat what you want!*

*At least, that is what I tell myself to justify all the butter and chocolate that I ate in France :-P

Annie said...

Kvas can be alcoholic or not, something like apple cider. My boys absolutely love it. It is probably a learned taste.

I am dying to know how Rachel is feeling about being in Ukraine.

"Are These Kids All Yours?" said...

I remember that episode- he he he he
Love keeping up with you....sooo excited for you all :)

The McEacherns said...

I love the pics of all of you out walking. Are you and Jenn both shorties like me? Kinda looks like it! See, I'd fit right in with you two!

Kelly said...

I have been reading and keeping up all along but I still can't believe you are already there. You really are proficient in this foreign adoption process. So excited for you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Annie, kvas can never be alcoholic, otherwise it is not kvas but something different. - Valeintina

Kevin and Pam said...

I would have loved to have friends with me when we were in Ukraine. Well I guess I got to bring my blogging friends. You guys look like you are having a blast! I am so excited to see the kids and how God works. :)

Tina in CT said...

Hedgehogs are a big thing in Russia too and there are hedgehogs painted on the lacquer boxes, stacking dolls, etc. I came across a Quick Kutz diecut last week and bought it for my Russian scrapbook pages.

The little hedgehog you saw is so cute. I hope he is safe and no one hurts him (or a stray dog or car).

How nice that you have the other couples/familes to spend time with.

The restaurant looked good and too bad the food wasn't as good.

So the kids are 7 and 9 - they'll fit right in with the other kids at home.

I bet it was hard not to say, "I told you so." You're better than I would have been.

I bet you are dying for the time to come when you meet A & P.

Martha said...

I think about the Brady Bunch episode every so often, like when I'm not sure how much or what kind of soap to use. This will be an experience remembered for years to come. You will never have to say "I told you so," your kids will do it for you.

Wendy said...

I am just impressed you have a dishwasher! I never saw one my whole time in Ukraine!
I hope you meet up with my friend Christy-(Hinkson's Family Circle.) I'm not sure I've ever commented before but you are an inspiration!
Wendy

Unknown said...

I saw the same ad on the the Urban's blog! Kvas is lovely while beer is yucky! And not only because the fact that kvas has no alcohol. It's fermented from brown bread, and the browner the better!

I've never had chewy dried kiwi. Dried kiwi is hard. Unless candied, in which case it's diabetes inducingly sweet. :)

LOL about the dishwasher... the dishsoap takes a good 2 or 3 cycles at least to completely disappear... Can you tell that each of my boys tried that?

And finally, SÜN! (porcupine!)

Charissa said...

Christine, it was so nice to meet you in real life, and share our joys and pains of special needs adoption. You gave some great advice! I'm stealing photos from your blog, since I didn't have my camera. Hope you don't mind. And yes I do remember that episode. I have thought occasionally about using dish soap when I have run out of Cascade occasionally, but have always been afraid to see what would *really* happen.

Goodness and Mercy Mom said...

Christine, thanks for the updates along the way. I'm glad your travels have been safe and you are able to laugh at your "Brady Bunch Goes to the Ukraine" moments along the way.

I can't wait to see the pics of you finally meeting A and P. May God continue to bless this journey to bring two more treasures home.

Much Love,
Kathie

Jeff and Sheila said...

I have enjoyed reading your blog. I am trying to soak up as much information as possible, because it looks like my hubby and I will be over there in August or September. Thank you for sharing your adventure!
Sheila

Akvile said...

Helo!
I just like Sigita happen to be from Lithuania, too.:) Wanted to explain about kvas but there is no need in that, I can see.:D
I'm also keen to know about how Rachel feels to be back.
Good luck!