... in response to RAGS.... I need a Ukraine fix....., posted by wsbill on Dec 18, 2001Yo Bill. Everything is very interesting right now.
V hasn't gotten up the courage to tackle these twisty mountain roads yet and she is a little intimtidated by my "big" SUV. I am going to take her to work Saturday (if I can get her up at 0300 hr 
so that she can practice driving around the compound and deserted roads. :0
I'll share her first comment after going to Walmart (the first store we went to) with the Board: "All American women so fat?". It's a good thing that I hadn't left the parking lot as I had to stop because I was laughing so hard and couldn't see through the tears.
She was pretty much in a daze that trip and just wandered around behind me in silence but a few days later we stopped at K Mart (because there were no crouds there) to pick up a few Christmas decorations. A quick trip, in and out in 10 minutes. WRONG! Two and a half hours later we emerged with a full load. The smile on her face was priceless though.
She has had a ball decorating "her" house. It is wonderful to have a family again and celebrating Christmas. I haven't felt too much like doing this since my divorce five years ago (which is good because I found out that my ex made off with all my Christmas stuff). Oh well, we've made a fresh start with our new lives.
As far as my little tom boy goes, she has been getting some much needed lessons in disapline from V. I was very worried that there would be major friction because of this but V has attacked this problem very well. I'm glad that Dasha is at the perfect age (3) to adjust to this new enviroment. Of course, everything is new and interesting but she is quickly learning that some things are not toys to be played with (in contrast to Babushka's home).
Dasha has taken to the mountains like a duck to water. If there is a rock anywhere around, she will be climbing it. She has no fear of heights that's for sure. We have to keep a close eye on her or swoosh, she's gone climbing. Of course she has cuts and bruises all over. I keep teasing V that she cannot be beating her child like that in America.
When Dasha goes to school I'm sure that we will have frequent visits from child "protective" services. Just let them try to come between V and her child! They'll be in for a severe @ss whippin'. Oh well, we'll cross that bridge went we get there.
All in all, things are great here. Kyiv is another story. V still cannot call home without Momma and Papa crying. I feel so bad about taking their girls away.
I am so glad that Rostick took me to get this Cyrillic keyboard so that V can write her friends in Russian. She has to get used to writing in Microsoft and attaching it to her new Yahoo account as she has not been very successful sending letters from here through ukr.net.
