Although we are more than ready to come home and see Carter, our family, and our friends, we are trying to make the most of our stay here in the Ukraine. It has been a difficult change and it seems like we have been here forever, but we are staying positive as to why we are here and that soon this will all be worth the time spent so far away from home.
I am constatly reminded that this is not Western Europe. I always want to walk into a store and speak with someone in English. Debbie pointed out the other morning that the chances of that happening are about the same as me being able to comfortably wear my swimsuit outside tomorrow….and she wasn’t talking about in Texas. After listening to this seasoned Social Studies teacher do work and go through an exposition on Russian History, I realized that there really is no reason for most of them to learn English. In fact, she reminded me that just over 20 years ago, they were indoctrinated with the idea that Americans were not to be trusted. It now seemed obvious to me why they stare at us all the time and walk away when we speak English instead of their native language. I thought that this conversation might have been better to have had while on the plane ride over, but as always, her contempt of flying and a couple Dramamine put a stop to that. We have gotten to know a few people in the local businesses we frequent often and as it turns out, they really do not dislike us. They actually try to talk to us when they see that we are not the arrogant Americans they have had in their minds. I have learned a lot of Russian/ Ukrainian the last two weeks, and although probably comical to listen to, they know I am trying. In fact, the evolution in the last several days in Priluky has been amazing. The restaurant we eat breakfast at has a young guy that waits on us every morning. After a couple days, he memorized our order and now says it in English. At the pizza restaurant we eat at every day, the lady that waits on us actually now says “thank you” when we are leaving. When we walk in everyday, while every clientele in the establishment is staring holes into our foreheads, they just wave and say “hello”. Our taxi driver has been the best and he is constantly coming up with new words and as we go back and forth it sounds like a barrage of broken language from both sides. Somehow we all communicate and it has really changed the way I see this place and the people that live here.
The most amazing changes have been with Stasik. From the first day we stepped foot in his orphanage we have seen a dramatic transformation. Here is this kid that seemed so fragile when we first arrived and in just a week is doing all kinds of miraculous things. It seems that his GI issues are getting better and he is holding down food. His strength is increasing and he seems to be getting heavier. Maybe it is because of our presence and the pressures being placed on the orphanage workers; or maybe it is because we are already pushing him to excel. Whatever the reason is, we see changes. Over the last two days he has army crawled across the floor; whether it is to get to a toy he wants or to get to one of us, he has shown great effort and desire to get better and explore his environment. It could be the constant blowing of my whistle or maybe Debbie yelling through the megaphone to pick up the pace, but whatever it is he seems to want to impress us. Today he was able to lean on the couch and hold up his own bodyweight without help. He grabbed a drumstick and beat on a drum incessantly and looked at me several times and said “dada”. We are still working on mama, but he now has the “ma” part down. He kept his milk down again today and is drinking out of the bottle like a seasoned champ. Throughout our 2 hour visit, he just exhausts himself trying new things and getting better every time. He just picks up on things so quickly! We are very inspired and I feel like it is eventually going to be a race between him and Carter to see who figures out something new first.
Yup, every day is a better day here in Priluky and it seems everybody’s changin’!!
I am constatly reminded that this is not Western Europe. I always want to walk into a store and speak with someone in English. Debbie pointed out the other morning that the chances of that happening are about the same as me being able to comfortably wear my swimsuit outside tomorrow….and she wasn’t talking about in Texas. After listening to this seasoned Social Studies teacher do work and go through an exposition on Russian History, I realized that there really is no reason for most of them to learn English. In fact, she reminded me that just over 20 years ago, they were indoctrinated with the idea that Americans were not to be trusted. It now seemed obvious to me why they stare at us all the time and walk away when we speak English instead of their native language. I thought that this conversation might have been better to have had while on the plane ride over, but as always, her contempt of flying and a couple Dramamine put a stop to that. We have gotten to know a few people in the local businesses we frequent often and as it turns out, they really do not dislike us. They actually try to talk to us when they see that we are not the arrogant Americans they have had in their minds. I have learned a lot of Russian/ Ukrainian the last two weeks, and although probably comical to listen to, they know I am trying. In fact, the evolution in the last several days in Priluky has been amazing. The restaurant we eat breakfast at has a young guy that waits on us every morning. After a couple days, he memorized our order and now says it in English. At the pizza restaurant we eat at every day, the lady that waits on us actually now says “thank you” when we are leaving. When we walk in everyday, while every clientele in the establishment is staring holes into our foreheads, they just wave and say “hello”. Our taxi driver has been the best and he is constantly coming up with new words and as we go back and forth it sounds like a barrage of broken language from both sides. Somehow we all communicate and it has really changed the way I see this place and the people that live here.
The most amazing changes have been with Stasik. From the first day we stepped foot in his orphanage we have seen a dramatic transformation. Here is this kid that seemed so fragile when we first arrived and in just a week is doing all kinds of miraculous things. It seems that his GI issues are getting better and he is holding down food. His strength is increasing and he seems to be getting heavier. Maybe it is because of our presence and the pressures being placed on the orphanage workers; or maybe it is because we are already pushing him to excel. Whatever the reason is, we see changes. Over the last two days he has army crawled across the floor; whether it is to get to a toy he wants or to get to one of us, he has shown great effort and desire to get better and explore his environment. It could be the constant blowing of my whistle or maybe Debbie yelling through the megaphone to pick up the pace, but whatever it is he seems to want to impress us. Today he was able to lean on the couch and hold up his own bodyweight without help. He grabbed a drumstick and beat on a drum incessantly and looked at me several times and said “dada”. We are still working on mama, but he now has the “ma” part down. He kept his milk down again today and is drinking out of the bottle like a seasoned champ. Throughout our 2 hour visit, he just exhausts himself trying new things and getting better every time. He just picks up on things so quickly! We are very inspired and I feel like it is eventually going to be a race between him and Carter to see who figures out something new first.
Yup, every day is a better day here in Priluky and it seems everybody’s changin’!!
Yay! What a wonderful blessing to hear that you are both so encouraged. Stas and Carter are two very blessed little boys!
ReplyDeleteCan not wait to have that lovely in SE Texas along with the rest of the family! Keep the Faith!
ReplyDeleteGreat News Coach..... Keep The Faith....
ReplyDelete