This week we were back to work at the clinic. In addition to sorting and organizing the medications, we have also started helping counting dosages and preparing prescriptions...fun stuff! Between sorting, counting, pouring, labeling, and the like, we’ve met a few more people this week. One of them is the doctor that will start working at the clinic in May. I assume he’ll be taking Jared’s place, since he’s returning to the States pretty soon. We were also introduced to some more students from the Spanish School and joined a group for a night of dancing on Friday night. Our group consisted of 4 from Nicaragua, 1 from France, 1 from Canada, and the two of us. The eight of us piled into a taxi and went down to a place right next to the lake. Rebecca was the “belle of the ball” and “wowed” everyone with her superior Latin Dancing skills. I attempted to keep a low profile and avoid being asked... :) I was forced to dance at one point, much to my chagrin.
On Saturday morning, we went on a canopy tour on the Mombacho volano...I’m pretty sure that one’s inactive, though. This consisted of climbing ladders, swinging through trees, and a terrifying drop at the end. The road to the coffee farm where we got our gear was bumpy enough to rival some of the roads I’ve been on elsewhere, so it was no huge surprise to find that our poor truck had two flat tires when we returned. The company sent another truck, but in the meantime, our little group set forth to meet it. The walk was actually really nice and we got to see some wildlife along the way (don’t worry, folks...the monkey was waaaaayyyyy up in the tree). Our guide also stopped to show us a spectacular view of Granada, Lake Nicaragua, and its 300 some odd islands! From so far up, the islands look like one long peninsula instead of the numerous individual islands that they are.
Sunday morning we ate a big breakfast, after which Xavier and Susanna invited us to go with them to Catarina. Catarina is a town with a lovely view of the Laguna de Apoyo. We weren’t disappointed...the scenery was fantastic and the wind was incredibly refreshing. I even got a “windy picture.” Rebecca and I did a little shopping there as well. The prices were better than in Granada, and we managed to get some things we’d been looking for. The bad news...my flipflop broke. Those flipflops have tread many a path and been my friends through a great many countires. I shall miss them...a moment of silence, please.
Thank you.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Authorized Personnel
It's fun...being authorized personnel and I feel crunchy walking through doors that say it! :) We became "authorized personnel" last week, on Wednesday, after two more days of class...
On Monday morning, it was time to get back in gear. We had classes Monday and Tuesday, and Monday afternoon went to the markets in Masaya. They had good prices there, so Rebecca bought a dress and I purchased a shirt/trouser outfit. On Tuesday the rest of the class spent the day at the “Laguna de Apoyo,” which is a large crater filled with water. We opted out of that because we really wanted to take advantage of our class time. Since Tuesday was our final class period, we felt it was important to have the entire 4 hours. So we graduated, received our certificates, then did some shopping in Granada. Rebecca bought a shirt and we picked up some more sunblock and ibuprofen (both very necessary)! On our way back to the room, we bought a bag of cut mangos for 25 cents, quite a lot cheaper than the $5 I spent on a comparable bag in Hawaii.
Wednesday morning we just hung out, then participated in the afternoon activity with our class (since we hadn’t gone to the Laguna on Monday). Angelica taught us how to make churritos, and they were delicious, if I say so myself (which I do). A quick stop by the clinic to arrange our volunteer hours was the only other errand of the day.
Thursday morning at 8:00am we arrived at Clinica Alabama and became "authorized personnel." Cecilia, who is our contact there, set us to work in the pharmacy, helping to arrange, organize, and label their medications. Rebecca managed to get herself sick with a headache that afternoon, which meant lots of time over the toilet bowl. Interesting side note...when it’s really hot and muggy and someone has just thrown up in a toilet in a bathroom with no door, it’s not tremendously fun to find you are out of water and unable to flush the toilet. Ah, well, at least she made it to the toilet, right? She didn’t eat most of the day and on Friday, stayed back in the room. I worked in the pharmacy on my own, but my day was broken up a little when Cecilia insisted I go get Rebecca to see the doctor. She is so sweet. (Cecilia, not Rebecca :) ) Becca spent most of the day in the room, recovering, but was able to make it out for dinner.
Saturday was shopping day and we explored the “mercados” a little more. I also bought a shirt and we picked up more mosquito repellent...something is biting me and I want it to STOP!!! Sunday was great fun. Uncle Gerard picked us up around 12:30 and we drove out to Laguna de Apollo, where a friend of his has a house. The house is gorgeous...it’s made of stone (or is a good imitation) and has a “nook and cranny” feel to it. We met a few new people and visited with some we had met previously. Swimming in the lake and the pool was interspersed with eating, drinking, and re-visiting our ethics debate with Fruto (the man we’d met the first day on the island). All in all, a really fun and successful day, and the perfect start to a new week!
On Monday morning, it was time to get back in gear. We had classes Monday and Tuesday, and Monday afternoon went to the markets in Masaya. They had good prices there, so Rebecca bought a dress and I purchased a shirt/trouser outfit. On Tuesday the rest of the class spent the day at the “Laguna de Apoyo,” which is a large crater filled with water. We opted out of that because we really wanted to take advantage of our class time. Since Tuesday was our final class period, we felt it was important to have the entire 4 hours. So we graduated, received our certificates, then did some shopping in Granada. Rebecca bought a shirt and we picked up some more sunblock and ibuprofen (both very necessary)! On our way back to the room, we bought a bag of cut mangos for 25 cents, quite a lot cheaper than the $5 I spent on a comparable bag in Hawaii.
Wednesday morning we just hung out, then participated in the afternoon activity with our class (since we hadn’t gone to the Laguna on Monday). Angelica taught us how to make churritos, and they were delicious, if I say so myself (which I do). A quick stop by the clinic to arrange our volunteer hours was the only other errand of the day.
Thursday morning at 8:00am we arrived at Clinica Alabama and became "authorized personnel." Cecilia, who is our contact there, set us to work in the pharmacy, helping to arrange, organize, and label their medications. Rebecca managed to get herself sick with a headache that afternoon, which meant lots of time over the toilet bowl. Interesting side note...when it’s really hot and muggy and someone has just thrown up in a toilet in a bathroom with no door, it’s not tremendously fun to find you are out of water and unable to flush the toilet. Ah, well, at least she made it to the toilet, right? She didn’t eat most of the day and on Friday, stayed back in the room. I worked in the pharmacy on my own, but my day was broken up a little when Cecilia insisted I go get Rebecca to see the doctor. She is so sweet. (Cecilia, not Rebecca :) ) Becca spent most of the day in the room, recovering, but was able to make it out for dinner.
Saturday was shopping day and we explored the “mercados” a little more. I also bought a shirt and we picked up more mosquito repellent...something is biting me and I want it to STOP!!! Sunday was great fun. Uncle Gerard picked us up around 12:30 and we drove out to Laguna de Apollo, where a friend of his has a house. The house is gorgeous...it’s made of stone (or is a good imitation) and has a “nook and cranny” feel to it. We met a few new people and visited with some we had met previously. Swimming in the lake and the pool was interspersed with eating, drinking, and re-visiting our ethics debate with Fruto (the man we’d met the first day on the island). All in all, a really fun and successful day, and the perfect start to a new week!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Semana Santa
Well, folks...almost two weeks in Nicaragua. How are thing going? Great! Let’s begin with our exploration of the city... Well, honestly I can’t say we completely explored the city, but we did manage to wander down the main streets, grocery shopped at the supermarket, and strolled down to the beach as well. As nice as the city is during the day, a walk in the evening is very relaxing. Once the sun goes down, the temperature becomes bearable and a slight breeze makes it down right comfortable. The main street comes alive with performers and people heading out to restaurants, clubs, and bars. We were out a bit too early for the “real party,” but since I’m not big into the nightlife that was fine by me.
On Sunday we went to church with Xavier and Susanna, who we rent our apartment from. Their church is a little farther out from the center, but still only about a 15 minute walk. It was a Catholic church...not surprising as this is the major religion in Nicaragua. Once I caught on to the passage of scripture being read from, I followed the reading fairly well. I was quite proud of myself, thank you very much.
Monday began with the start of our classes! My instructor’s name is Lesbia. She’s really sweet and I love how great everyone is in helping us understand. They slow down their speech, enunciate their words, and use gestures. Just a few simple things that make a huge difference! That, and they’re very patient with us. But don’t worry, we get plenty of conversation at regular speeds at mealtimes with Xavier and Susanna. :)
The price of our classes includes activities each afternoon. Monday afternoon took us on a two-hour jaunt around Granada, learning about its history, culture, and traditions. I understood a decent amount, but don’t ask me to repeat anything. We actually “Gussed” the bell tower there. For those of you who aren’t aware, to “Gus” something is to pay lots of money to “Go UpStairs” and see a panoramic view that looks like every other panoramic view in the world. Now, to be fair, there are a few places where “Gussing” is worth it. This was actually one of them. The other people in our group were going up and it was only a dollar, so up we went. I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite so much. But Granada is different, so the panoramic view is different as well. Actually, in general I find that “Gussing” in a small town is far more interesting than in a large city. Most big cities start to look the same after awhile...a bunch of skyscrapers...blah. Anyway, we enjoyed the tour, learned a little bit about Granada, got to know the other students a bit, and took some nice photos! All in all, a successful afternoon.
Tuesday morning was only a two-hour class. Then we headed out of the city for a little cooking lesson. Yes, you heard (or read) me right...a cooking lesson. Well, sort of. So we walked down the streets of Granada, heading a little out of town, crossing a river, and winding around to a little house where an elderly woman makes tortillas for a living. The dough was already made, but we each shaped, cooked, and ate a tortilla. Believe it or not, mine came out really well and I got a round of applause (of course, Lesbia coached me a little, but I did the work)!!! That afternoon we piled in the back of a truck, drove to the lake, hopped on a boat, and made our way around the many islands, enjoying the view. Arriving at one of them, we sat back and enjoyed a leisurely conversation with our instructors and fellow students. I had mango juice...yummy!!!
Wednesday morning, we took a little field trip to the mercados (markets). Tight, narrow aisles separate stands where people sell various items, ranging from fruit and fish to clothes and shoes...not unlike markets I've seen in other countries. We purchased 12 mangos for about 85 cents. Yay...we got mangos for dessert that night...mmmmmmmm! Wednesday afternoon was a dancing lesson taught by two of our instructors...Angelica and Josue. We learned and danced a little Merengue, Salsa, and Baracha. We learned another dance as well, but I can’t remember the name of it. All I know is that it consisted of a lot of shimmying and shaking. I just don’t do the Latin dancing justice. Angelica and Josue sure looked great, though!!!
So that brings us to Thursday...we woke up at 7:15, headed down for breakfast, and ate speedily after a call from Uncle Gerard with a minor change of plans. Apparently we had to be to our destination 45 minutes earlier than we had expected. So we rushed upstairs, grabbed our overnight bags, and walked briskly to the house of a lady named Irene, who was taking a small group out on the lake. Every year around Easter, they have a tradition here where they do the Stations of the Cross at the various islands of Lake Nicaragua. The islands chosen set out crosses and altars, and a procession of boats makes their way around, commemorating one of the stations at each island. Once in the boat, we hurried to join this small procession and visited two islands. Then we proceeded to wind our way around the many islands. Most of the islands are privately owned and some of the houses are spectacular. We finally arrived at Uncle Gerard’s island, where we were ushered up to the deck and offered drinks. The afternoon was spent chatting, relaxing in the jacuzzi, and eating and drinking. We zipped off in the boats a bit later to watch the sunset, then only 6 of us went back to the island for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed an ethics debate over our meal that evening and went to bed full and happy.
Friday started off with rolling out of bed at 8:30, taking a long shower, eating breakfast, and enjoying a quiet morning on the island. Birds chirping and a slight breeze rustling the trees were about the only noises as I laid back in the hammock and did absolutely nothing. The “absolutely nothing” was broken up by rowing around the island once. Then after Rebecca headed back, I opted to take the boat out by myself to nearby “Monkey Island.” This island is home to a couple of monkeys who make it their business to amuse passers-by. I was warned not to get too close as they have been known to invite themselves onboard. Having a history with these creatures, I took the advice to heart and did my best to keep a safe distance.
My first attempt at rowing the boat was a failure, but after some advice I tried again and succeeded. I felt pretty accomplished rowing out there by myself. Making my way back to Uncle Gerard’s island, I passed by a tourist boat and was rather surprised to notice cameras pointing in my direction. I’d like to think I looked so amazingly competent they just had to snap a photo, but I’m a little afraid that the shockingly white girl attempting to row a boat by herself just looked completely ridiculous. I mean, it can’t be good when tourists are snapping photos of you instead of the cute little monkeys, can it?
About two-ish, the Spanish ambassador, his wife, two daughters, and son showed up. Uncle Gerard’s nephew was entertaining some friends on his family’s side of the island, so us “youngsters” went over there for a bit. I socialized for a little while, but soon found myself back on our side for a delicious lunch...fish soup. Afterwards, we headed to the island of one of Uncle Gerard’s friends where we swam in their pool, enjoyed another unique view, and played with an adorable chihuahua. Back home again, we had sausages, chicken, and fish for dinner, followed by the most scrumptious tres leche cake. The windy island at night is just as unique and spectacular as the quiet island of the morning, and I enjoyed a bit of alone time before heading to bed!!!
Saturday was a fairly relaxing day, filled with doing almost nothing, but reading and napping in the hammock. Saturday evening, however, we went into Granada for the Resurrection Mass. It was really nice...they began the service by going outside where a small fire was burning. I say small, but the sparks were flying everywhere and people were scrambling to get out of the line of fire! :) A large candle was lit, from which many other small candles were lit, representing the light Jesus brought to the world. Back inside, we listened to a reading from Genesis with background noises illustrating the creation of the world. Then there was a short re-enactment of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac...good thing God stops him in the story...good thing for the kid playing Isaac anyway... I understood only segments of the remainder of the service, but that was ok. Following the mass, we were joined by Maria Celia’s daughter and her friend, and headed back to the island.
Sunday was another laid back day, although a few people did stop by later on in the day. I got in the water for a little bit, but opted out of the skiing and banana boat fun later on. We headed back to Granada around 5:00 that evening. Arriving back at our little apartment and seeing Xavier and Susanna again felt like coming home.
On Sunday we went to church with Xavier and Susanna, who we rent our apartment from. Their church is a little farther out from the center, but still only about a 15 minute walk. It was a Catholic church...not surprising as this is the major religion in Nicaragua. Once I caught on to the passage of scripture being read from, I followed the reading fairly well. I was quite proud of myself, thank you very much.
Monday began with the start of our classes! My instructor’s name is Lesbia. She’s really sweet and I love how great everyone is in helping us understand. They slow down their speech, enunciate their words, and use gestures. Just a few simple things that make a huge difference! That, and they’re very patient with us. But don’t worry, we get plenty of conversation at regular speeds at mealtimes with Xavier and Susanna. :)
The price of our classes includes activities each afternoon. Monday afternoon took us on a two-hour jaunt around Granada, learning about its history, culture, and traditions. I understood a decent amount, but don’t ask me to repeat anything. We actually “Gussed” the bell tower there. For those of you who aren’t aware, to “Gus” something is to pay lots of money to “Go UpStairs” and see a panoramic view that looks like every other panoramic view in the world. Now, to be fair, there are a few places where “Gussing” is worth it. This was actually one of them. The other people in our group were going up and it was only a dollar, so up we went. I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite so much. But Granada is different, so the panoramic view is different as well. Actually, in general I find that “Gussing” in a small town is far more interesting than in a large city. Most big cities start to look the same after awhile...a bunch of skyscrapers...blah. Anyway, we enjoyed the tour, learned a little bit about Granada, got to know the other students a bit, and took some nice photos! All in all, a successful afternoon.
Tuesday morning was only a two-hour class. Then we headed out of the city for a little cooking lesson. Yes, you heard (or read) me right...a cooking lesson. Well, sort of. So we walked down the streets of Granada, heading a little out of town, crossing a river, and winding around to a little house where an elderly woman makes tortillas for a living. The dough was already made, but we each shaped, cooked, and ate a tortilla. Believe it or not, mine came out really well and I got a round of applause (of course, Lesbia coached me a little, but I did the work)!!! That afternoon we piled in the back of a truck, drove to the lake, hopped on a boat, and made our way around the many islands, enjoying the view. Arriving at one of them, we sat back and enjoyed a leisurely conversation with our instructors and fellow students. I had mango juice...yummy!!!
Wednesday morning, we took a little field trip to the mercados (markets). Tight, narrow aisles separate stands where people sell various items, ranging from fruit and fish to clothes and shoes...not unlike markets I've seen in other countries. We purchased 12 mangos for about 85 cents. Yay...we got mangos for dessert that night...mmmmmmmm! Wednesday afternoon was a dancing lesson taught by two of our instructors...Angelica and Josue. We learned and danced a little Merengue, Salsa, and Baracha. We learned another dance as well, but I can’t remember the name of it. All I know is that it consisted of a lot of shimmying and shaking. I just don’t do the Latin dancing justice. Angelica and Josue sure looked great, though!!!
So that brings us to Thursday...we woke up at 7:15, headed down for breakfast, and ate speedily after a call from Uncle Gerard with a minor change of plans. Apparently we had to be to our destination 45 minutes earlier than we had expected. So we rushed upstairs, grabbed our overnight bags, and walked briskly to the house of a lady named Irene, who was taking a small group out on the lake. Every year around Easter, they have a tradition here where they do the Stations of the Cross at the various islands of Lake Nicaragua. The islands chosen set out crosses and altars, and a procession of boats makes their way around, commemorating one of the stations at each island. Once in the boat, we hurried to join this small procession and visited two islands. Then we proceeded to wind our way around the many islands. Most of the islands are privately owned and some of the houses are spectacular. We finally arrived at Uncle Gerard’s island, where we were ushered up to the deck and offered drinks. The afternoon was spent chatting, relaxing in the jacuzzi, and eating and drinking. We zipped off in the boats a bit later to watch the sunset, then only 6 of us went back to the island for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed an ethics debate over our meal that evening and went to bed full and happy.
Friday started off with rolling out of bed at 8:30, taking a long shower, eating breakfast, and enjoying a quiet morning on the island. Birds chirping and a slight breeze rustling the trees were about the only noises as I laid back in the hammock and did absolutely nothing. The “absolutely nothing” was broken up by rowing around the island once. Then after Rebecca headed back, I opted to take the boat out by myself to nearby “Monkey Island.” This island is home to a couple of monkeys who make it their business to amuse passers-by. I was warned not to get too close as they have been known to invite themselves onboard. Having a history with these creatures, I took the advice to heart and did my best to keep a safe distance.
My first attempt at rowing the boat was a failure, but after some advice I tried again and succeeded. I felt pretty accomplished rowing out there by myself. Making my way back to Uncle Gerard’s island, I passed by a tourist boat and was rather surprised to notice cameras pointing in my direction. I’d like to think I looked so amazingly competent they just had to snap a photo, but I’m a little afraid that the shockingly white girl attempting to row a boat by herself just looked completely ridiculous. I mean, it can’t be good when tourists are snapping photos of you instead of the cute little monkeys, can it?
About two-ish, the Spanish ambassador, his wife, two daughters, and son showed up. Uncle Gerard’s nephew was entertaining some friends on his family’s side of the island, so us “youngsters” went over there for a bit. I socialized for a little while, but soon found myself back on our side for a delicious lunch...fish soup. Afterwards, we headed to the island of one of Uncle Gerard’s friends where we swam in their pool, enjoyed another unique view, and played with an adorable chihuahua. Back home again, we had sausages, chicken, and fish for dinner, followed by the most scrumptious tres leche cake. The windy island at night is just as unique and spectacular as the quiet island of the morning, and I enjoyed a bit of alone time before heading to bed!!!
Saturday was a fairly relaxing day, filled with doing almost nothing, but reading and napping in the hammock. Saturday evening, however, we went into Granada for the Resurrection Mass. It was really nice...they began the service by going outside where a small fire was burning. I say small, but the sparks were flying everywhere and people were scrambling to get out of the line of fire! :) A large candle was lit, from which many other small candles were lit, representing the light Jesus brought to the world. Back inside, we listened to a reading from Genesis with background noises illustrating the creation of the world. Then there was a short re-enactment of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac...good thing God stops him in the story...good thing for the kid playing Isaac anyway... I understood only segments of the remainder of the service, but that was ok. Following the mass, we were joined by Maria Celia’s daughter and her friend, and headed back to the island.
Sunday was another laid back day, although a few people did stop by later on in the day. I got in the water for a little bit, but opted out of the skiing and banana boat fun later on. We headed back to Granada around 5:00 that evening. Arriving back at our little apartment and seeing Xavier and Susanna again felt like coming home.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Fin de Semana
Well, it's Saturday, which means more venders, more crowds, more hassle. Umm, I prefer shopping during the week all things considered. We're pretty much hanging out today...no big plans other than exploring a bit more of the city. Everyone here is gearing up for Easter Sunday. A couple of times each day a group comes by carrying a "float" of sorts with Jesus carrying the cross, and another of Mary. Yesterday, a group of private school students followed, singing and praying. They stop at various houses and everyone on the street comes to their doorways and watches. It's quite the event here!!! Last night, there was a band preceding the float of Jesus and they stopped at our place (well, next door where the people we're renting from live- Xavier and Susanna). We're enjoying the relaxing pace so far, although I'm sure things will get busier once we start our classes next week.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Nicaragua
Ok, now for the current news! I'm in Nicaragua! It's been wonderful. We spent the first night with my cousins' dad in Managua. The next day, Uncle Gerard arranged for us to drive south to the city of Granada. We have a small apartment here, which is great. We frequently lose our water and the hot temperature is stifling, but it's wonderful! The lady we rent from is very nice and provides us with three meals a day. The food is great...lots of rice and beans! The town is small enough to walk everywhere. We went to the supermarket yesterday, which ended up taking only about 15 minutes each way. There is even a language school next door to us. The cost is very reasonable and includes one-on-one lessons as well as afternoon activities. The week after next, we'll begin volunteering at a local medical clinic. So, all in all, we've settled into life here quite well and are looking forward to the various opportunities that are opening up!!!
Hi Again!!!
Well, hello there. Yes, I'm still here and no, I still haven't finished Europe. I am currently in Nicaragua, in the lovely city of Granada. However, although I have internet access, I am unfortunately unable to post pictures on my site. Therefore, you will have to use your imagination for how my European Adventure ended. Suffice it to say, we made it home in two pieces (Rebecca was one piece and I was the other). We are no longer "us." After leaving Ukraine, we spent time in Eastern Europe, exploring large cities such as Bucharest, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna, as well as the smaller town of Sighisoara. Sighisoara was the home town of the man who inspired the Dracula legend...pleasant guy! We also spent a little time in Poland...went to see Auschwitz as well as the cities of Krakow, Warsaw, and Lodz. Christmas with my parents was fantastic. We spent the time in Bavaria, taking in Munich, Salzburg, and various other small towns in the area. The Christmas Markets were a definite favorite! After Bavaria, we took a plane to England where we rented a car for a week and a half. We had the opportunity to visit a couple of friends we had made in Switzerland at L'Abri. Matthew lives in Newcastle and Margo in the Lake District. Continuing South, we eventually made our way to London where we turned in our car and spent the final few days there.
Phew...how's that for a whirlwind tour of our final month? Sorry for the lack of details...when I'm able to post pictures, I'll try to fill in the blanks. For now, this wraps things up.
Phew...how's that for a whirlwind tour of our final month? Sorry for the lack of details...when I'm able to post pictures, I'll try to fill in the blanks. For now, this wraps things up.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Ukraine
Okay, I know this is late, but I have to post about it...
Our train ride from Istanbul to Bucharest was supposed to be 19 hours long, but that turned into about 22 hours after delays at the borders...immigration always causes delays, but no one seems to have decided to account for those delays in the arrival times. Anyway, upon arrival in Bucharest, we booked our train out for early the following morning and walked to our hostel. By the time we got to sleep that night we had only a few hours before we had to get up again and head out. The lady at reception was really nice and got breakfast ready for us early! Our train ride to Kiev (capital of Ukraine) was supposed to be 27 hours, and guess what? It was 27 hours!!! They left on time and arrived on time, accounting for the time at the border. The border took about 2 hours because (and we didn’t find this out until later) the rails are different in Ukraine than in the rest of Europe. So, they have to change the trains over.
We arrived in Kiev at about 9:15 in the morning and proceeded to take care of three errands...1) We needed to get money out of an ATM, 2) We needed to buy our tickets to Kharkov and make reservations for our train back to Bucharest, and 3) We needed to get a phone card and call John Lynch to let him know what time we would be arriving in Kharkov. We began with #2. I attempted to ask at the information counter, but unfortunately was unable to get any help. Almost no one speaks English there and the lady refused to even point to where I could buy a ticket (I showed her our passes and the name of the city we needed to get to). Joannie later said that I was just lucky she didn’t scowl at me. After standing in one line, I got a lady to write down the number of the ticket window I needed to go to. When we found that window, there was a woman buying a ticket there who spoke English and she was kind enough to help us communicate!!! Rebecca hurried to withdraw money as they don’t really accept credit cards. Once the tickets were purchased, we had one more hurdle. I asked about a phone card at a magazine stand and they directed me to the post office where it was easily purchased and I called John with our arrival details. –sigh of relief-
In Kharkov, we didn’t see John right away and eventually started wandering around the outside of the station before Joannie came up and asked if we were Elizabeth and Rebecca. Apparently, Tanya (John’s wife) had gone into labor earlier in the evening and things were a bit crazy. Yay, us...we just have the best timing! At the house, Joannie showed us our room, which was the attic. We climbed the stairs to the second floor, then ascended the ladder, and lifted the hatch. It was great! We didn’t get to sleep until late that first night so we slept in a bit the next morning. The kids were wonderful. Ariel is John and Tanya’s first...she’s 4, soon to be 5 in January. Arlen just turned 3 a few days before we arrived, and no one knew what the third was going to be except for John and Tanya, who had chosen to keep the gender of their new baby a secret until his/her birth. When John arrived home that morning we found out that Tanya had given birth to another son...Aaron.
We headed out into town with Joannie that day to buy a turkey at the open market. I don’t think I can really describe it, but that was an interesting experience! We were fortunate to be able to spend Thanksgiving with the Lynch’s. I didn’t think I would care much if I missed Thanksgiving, but I must admit, it was really nice to celebrate it.
There’s so much I could say about Ukraine, and I could probably go on and on with a detailed description of each day, but I think I’ll just share some of the things we saw and did, and the amazing people we met! John arranged for a girl from the church to help us navigate the city. Her name was Olya and she just couldn’t have been more wonderful! She was very friendly and talkative and we really enjoyed hanging out with her.
Olya is a member of a Jewish dance team, so the evening we first met her, she picked us up at the house and took us to watch their practice. About a week later we also had the opportunity to watch the drama team practice (Faceless People). They have some incredible choreography as well incorporated into their dramas. John took us with him to the youth group he leads and we enjoyed meeting the other youth leaders and some of the kids. They had a lot of questions about us so we chatted for awhile, with John interpreting. One night we went to an orphanage where a couple of ladies go every week and teach various grades. The week we went the topic was on love. These were 7th grade, 9th grade, and 10th grade students. We were unable to participate in a lot of the activities we attended for obvious reasons, but it was really interesting to see what was going on and talk with the leaders of these groups to hear about what God is doing.
One of the ministries that impacted me (and that we were able to participate in) was a hospital ministry. When expecting mothers go to the hospital to give birth, sometimes they choose not to keep their babies. There is a process that includes signing papers giving the child up for adoption. The problem is, sometimes these women (or girls) just leave without signing the necessary papers. The baby is then left in the hospital with no home to go to, but also unable to be adopted (and therefore cannot be taken to an orphanage). If the women disappear and the lawyer is not able to find them, these babies can end up stuck in the hospital for up to a year, and sometimes longer. In these situations, the babies are rarely held, spoken to, or played with. The nurses feed them, but it’s a hospital with sick patients. It isn’t set up as a nursery. So these babies are confined to a crib for most of the day. A group of ladies from the church (6) go to four of these hospitals on a regular basis to hold and talk to the babies. In summer, they can sometimes take the babies outside as well. There are probably nineteen hospitals like this, but they are only able to go to four of them. The woman we spoke to would like someday to have a home where these babies can go until they can be put up for adoption. I’m not certain what she needs in order for that to happen, but it’s definitely a huge need!
In addition to the ministries we participated in, we also did some walking around the city and shopping while we were in Kharkov (including some trousers for Rebecca from the second hand store- all of her other trousers are falling to pieces). In between the activities going on during the week we tried to be as much help at the house as we could...from cleaning and doing dishes to playing with the kids or picking up something from the store.
We really enjoyed our time in Kharkov with the Lynch’s and were sad to leave. After leaving Ukraine we had only 5 ½ weeks left of the trip. I can’t believe it’s December!
Pics...
1. Thanksgiving with the Lynch's (from far left and going clockwise)...John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joannie, Ariel
2. This is a picture of the university square in Kharkov. It is supposedly the largest or second largest square in Europe...we got different stories.
3. This is a picture of me and Olya, who helped us navigate the city. On this day, Rebecca stayed back so it was just the two of us.
4. This is me with Dima, who is one of the abandoned babies I held.
5. Elizabeth, Soombir (spelling?), and Ariel
6. Elizabeth, Soombir, and Arlen
7. Group shot of all of us...John, Tanya, Ariel, Elizabeth, Igor, Arlen, Rebecca, and Soombir
8. On the train from Kiev to Bucharest, we met a couple of girls (who shared our compartment). They were on their way to Bulgaria for a boxing competition!!! Rebecca, Elizabeth, Svetlana, and Julia
Our train ride from Istanbul to Bucharest was supposed to be 19 hours long, but that turned into about 22 hours after delays at the borders...immigration always causes delays, but no one seems to have decided to account for those delays in the arrival times. Anyway, upon arrival in Bucharest, we booked our train out for early the following morning and walked to our hostel. By the time we got to sleep that night we had only a few hours before we had to get up again and head out. The lady at reception was really nice and got breakfast ready for us early! Our train ride to Kiev (capital of Ukraine) was supposed to be 27 hours, and guess what? It was 27 hours!!! They left on time and arrived on time, accounting for the time at the border. The border took about 2 hours because (and we didn’t find this out until later) the rails are different in Ukraine than in the rest of Europe. So, they have to change the trains over.
We arrived in Kiev at about 9:15 in the morning and proceeded to take care of three errands...1) We needed to get money out of an ATM, 2) We needed to buy our tickets to Kharkov and make reservations for our train back to Bucharest, and 3) We needed to get a phone card and call John Lynch to let him know what time we would be arriving in Kharkov. We began with #2. I attempted to ask at the information counter, but unfortunately was unable to get any help. Almost no one speaks English there and the lady refused to even point to where I could buy a ticket (I showed her our passes and the name of the city we needed to get to). Joannie later said that I was just lucky she didn’t scowl at me. After standing in one line, I got a lady to write down the number of the ticket window I needed to go to. When we found that window, there was a woman buying a ticket there who spoke English and she was kind enough to help us communicate!!! Rebecca hurried to withdraw money as they don’t really accept credit cards. Once the tickets were purchased, we had one more hurdle. I asked about a phone card at a magazine stand and they directed me to the post office where it was easily purchased and I called John with our arrival details. –sigh of relief-
In Kharkov, we didn’t see John right away and eventually started wandering around the outside of the station before Joannie came up and asked if we were Elizabeth and Rebecca. Apparently, Tanya (John’s wife) had gone into labor earlier in the evening and things were a bit crazy. Yay, us...we just have the best timing! At the house, Joannie showed us our room, which was the attic. We climbed the stairs to the second floor, then ascended the ladder, and lifted the hatch. It was great! We didn’t get to sleep until late that first night so we slept in a bit the next morning. The kids were wonderful. Ariel is John and Tanya’s first...she’s 4, soon to be 5 in January. Arlen just turned 3 a few days before we arrived, and no one knew what the third was going to be except for John and Tanya, who had chosen to keep the gender of their new baby a secret until his/her birth. When John arrived home that morning we found out that Tanya had given birth to another son...Aaron.
We headed out into town with Joannie that day to buy a turkey at the open market. I don’t think I can really describe it, but that was an interesting experience! We were fortunate to be able to spend Thanksgiving with the Lynch’s. I didn’t think I would care much if I missed Thanksgiving, but I must admit, it was really nice to celebrate it.
There’s so much I could say about Ukraine, and I could probably go on and on with a detailed description of each day, but I think I’ll just share some of the things we saw and did, and the amazing people we met! John arranged for a girl from the church to help us navigate the city. Her name was Olya and she just couldn’t have been more wonderful! She was very friendly and talkative and we really enjoyed hanging out with her.
Olya is a member of a Jewish dance team, so the evening we first met her, she picked us up at the house and took us to watch their practice. About a week later we also had the opportunity to watch the drama team practice (Faceless People). They have some incredible choreography as well incorporated into their dramas. John took us with him to the youth group he leads and we enjoyed meeting the other youth leaders and some of the kids. They had a lot of questions about us so we chatted for awhile, with John interpreting. One night we went to an orphanage where a couple of ladies go every week and teach various grades. The week we went the topic was on love. These were 7th grade, 9th grade, and 10th grade students. We were unable to participate in a lot of the activities we attended for obvious reasons, but it was really interesting to see what was going on and talk with the leaders of these groups to hear about what God is doing.
One of the ministries that impacted me (and that we were able to participate in) was a hospital ministry. When expecting mothers go to the hospital to give birth, sometimes they choose not to keep their babies. There is a process that includes signing papers giving the child up for adoption. The problem is, sometimes these women (or girls) just leave without signing the necessary papers. The baby is then left in the hospital with no home to go to, but also unable to be adopted (and therefore cannot be taken to an orphanage). If the women disappear and the lawyer is not able to find them, these babies can end up stuck in the hospital for up to a year, and sometimes longer. In these situations, the babies are rarely held, spoken to, or played with. The nurses feed them, but it’s a hospital with sick patients. It isn’t set up as a nursery. So these babies are confined to a crib for most of the day. A group of ladies from the church (6) go to four of these hospitals on a regular basis to hold and talk to the babies. In summer, they can sometimes take the babies outside as well. There are probably nineteen hospitals like this, but they are only able to go to four of them. The woman we spoke to would like someday to have a home where these babies can go until they can be put up for adoption. I’m not certain what she needs in order for that to happen, but it’s definitely a huge need!
In addition to the ministries we participated in, we also did some walking around the city and shopping while we were in Kharkov (including some trousers for Rebecca from the second hand store- all of her other trousers are falling to pieces). In between the activities going on during the week we tried to be as much help at the house as we could...from cleaning and doing dishes to playing with the kids or picking up something from the store.
We really enjoyed our time in Kharkov with the Lynch’s and were sad to leave. After leaving Ukraine we had only 5 ½ weeks left of the trip. I can’t believe it’s December!
Pics...
1. Thanksgiving with the Lynch's (from far left and going clockwise)...John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joannie, Ariel
2. This is a picture of the university square in Kharkov. It is supposedly the largest or second largest square in Europe...we got different stories.
3. This is a picture of me and Olya, who helped us navigate the city. On this day, Rebecca stayed back so it was just the two of us.
4. This is me with Dima, who is one of the abandoned babies I held.
5. Elizabeth, Soombir (spelling?), and Ariel
6. Elizabeth, Soombir, and Arlen
7. Group shot of all of us...John, Tanya, Ariel, Elizabeth, Igor, Arlen, Rebecca, and Soombir
8. On the train from Kiev to Bucharest, we met a couple of girls (who shared our compartment). They were on their way to Bulgaria for a boxing competition!!! Rebecca, Elizabeth, Svetlana, and Julia
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