Additional Pics from Today

Giant spoon and bowl full of dumplings...ymmmmm!

Ruslan at the White Rotunda

White Rotunda changing colors

Poltava Church at night. This picture doesn't do it justice.

Barber Shop Duet

The guys after the haircuts

Ahhhhhhhhhh.......

Does she understand what a "2" on the sides mean?

Off with those locks

Ruslan getting his hair cut

Day Seven of the waiting game. Today was an interesting day. We ventured out to the orphanage with the Evensons and Natasha. Tonya and Tamila were meeting their brother there to say their final good-byes. We were waiting in the foyer when Oleg appeared. We hosted Oleg two years ago. Man, how he had grown. He was quite tall and still very handsome. He had to be coaxed over but I insisted by motioning to him. He shook my hand and Ann gave him a hug. We asked him how he was doing and he answered "good" but there little more than that by way of conversation. There was a sadness in his eyes that both Ann and I noticed. He kept looking down. The meeting actually only lasted maybe a minute and he was gone. We were unable to get his picture, but we will visit again this weekend and will be allowed to take pictures of Ruslan's class so maybe we will get the chance to see him again.

Natasha had promised Ruslan's supervisor that she would see he got a haircut since he apparently missed the opportunity being with us so much. We headed into town and stopped for a quick bite to eat at Botanicas, a small cafe that is very nice. Natasha then took us to a very nice salon where Ruslan and I had our hair cut and shampooed! I might say, one of the best haircuts I have ever had. Ruslan went first and Ann made sure to document the event with pictures. Then it was mine turn and Ruslan made sure my haircut would be remembered as well, as he snapped several pictures. By the time we finished it was time for a little shopping and dinner. We tried to find Ruslan another shirt but were unsuccessful. We stopped back at Botanicas for dinner and then drove to a look-out point where there is a beautiful church and stunning monument that overlooked the city. The monument is called the "White Rotunda," white pillars in the form of a horseshoe for good luck. They light the monument at night and play music and the lighting changes colors. There is a saying that loosely translated means "In the house where there is harmony, peace, and quietness, people are blessed." The monument is really spectacular. It is actually not far from the orphanage. On the way back to the taxi, Natasha told us that Poltava is known for its potatoes. Apparently it is quite famous, since there is actually a dumpling monument very close to the look-out point. We couldn't resist taking a photo, how often do you get to sit by a giant spoon and a giant bowl full of dumplings? We all had a good laugh. We thought we were at Disneyland at "Honey I shrunk the kids" for a minute. We dropped off Ruslan at the orphanage and headed to the apartment. It was a fun and interesting day, one we won't soon forget.

This little piggy went to market

Laundry Day


Our Cleaning Lady

Our Favorite Pizza Place

View Towards City Center. Our apartment is to the right about two blocks

Wow, it is cold out here

Today is day six of the waiting period. Louise Evenson and Natasha left early this morning to start the final leg of their journey home with passports etc. I left at 7:00am this morning for a three mile run. It was quite cold this morning and Ann snapped a picture of me as I returned all bundled up. It was cleaning day today as well so our cleaning lady showed up around 11:00am. Ann and I left for the market to pick up a few things. It is several blocks to the market. We are about two blocks off of one of the main arteries in Poltava. We snapped a few pictures showing the main road in both directions and our favorite pizza place.

Ruslan and the Evenson's girls, Tonia and Tomila (Angelina) arrived around 4:00pm. We watched Harry Potter while Ann fixed dinner, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes with cucumbers and tomatoes. This is the first night the Evanson girls are staying with their parents. Ruslan had to ride back to the orphanage without the girls this evening. Very sad to see him go back alone.

Pizza and Patience

Louise and Ann preparing the Pizza Feast


The staple of our diet Salami and Tomato Pizza



Ruslan relaxing and watching a movie

Ann Blogging, E-mailing, and checking You-Tube

Day five of captivity, we mean the waiting period. It is Monday morning and it is NOT raining. However, everything is FROZEN. Ray and Louise ventured out this morning for several hours and we sat and talked with Natasha for a while until she left to work on ensuring that the translation of the court papers are done. We tried to fill the time with a little laundry, a little reading, and a little nap. I know, exciting!!! The kids came around 4:00. Tonia was not able to come tonight. It was strange not having her here. Another game of Yahtzee between Jeff and Ruslan, a favorite, and then Jeff and Ruslan went out to go get pizza. When all else fails for dinner, there is the pizza place around the corner. The kids returned at 7:30 as usual. It is always sad to see them go. Only five more days and then Ruslan can stay with us. Now we are having a pillow fight and telling ghost stories with the Evensons and Natasha. Okay not really, but it might make the night go faster.

Zamboni Anyone?

Ruslan ice-skating for the first time


Sergei (center in black) ice-skating for first time

Had to add the Zamboni to prove it was in the mall!

Sergei and Ruslan resting while skating. Oh yeah, they have shopping carts at the mall as well!

Today we went to church for the second time in Poltava. It is a friendly little branch with maybe 40 people attending. Everyone stopped to say hello to us as they entered the chapel. Once again, it was the only day of the week where we were able to visit with Ruslan's brother, Sergei, as it is his only day off during the week.

We decided to meet Sergei at the mall again. He was there ahead of us this time. We ate at a nice cafeteria next to the ice rink. Ruslan and Sergei both had chicken and fried potatoes. They have a great Russian Salad here that is to die for. Ruslan gave me the thumbs up when I tried what he and Sergei were eating. The salad is a little like our potato salad but has pickles, ham, potatoes, peas, and some other ingredients, I am not sure what, mixed with a mustard & Mayo-type creamy paste. It is very good. The boys finished off their meal with a large slice of chocolate cake and a Coke, so all the basic food groups were covered. Anyway, we decided to go ice skating since neither Ruslan or Sergei had ever done that and they both wanted to try it. Both boys had a great time and actually did quite well ice skating. I am still amazed at the Zamboni in the mall thing!

The Wheels on the Bus....

Well surprise surprise. It was raining today when we got up. What a great way to start a Saturday. I decided I was still going to run so off I went sloshing along through the puddles. There were not too many people out this Saturday morning, first I suspect since it was early Saturday morning and second because it was RAINING! Anyway, all went well until I ventured to close to what looked like an old junkyard. I sensed someone was following me and turned just in time to see a large German, uh maybe Ukrainian, Shepherd closing on me bent on making my right calf his next meal. Now it is always amazing how you react to these types of situations. I could have run faster, well maybe not much faster, but still. I could have panicked, which I think I did to some degree, but I just stopped, turned, and yelled "NO, NO" but not in English, in my best Ukrainian. The dog began to bark and I began to walk away very slowly. Natasha told me I had to worry about the drivers and the drunks when I ran, I guess she forgot about the dogs.



Anyway, I have to tell the Ann-on-the-bus story. Two days ago, we were headed to the city center and the Evensons wanted to take the bus. Ann and I were game so we ventured out to the main street. As the bus approached you could see it was jammed packed with people. The bus stopped and a few people got off. We were towards the front of the line, if you could call it a line, and we were soon stepping onto the bus. There was no way all of us were going to get on the bus, that was clear. We hesitated a little and weren't sure what to do. We were on the steps and there was no room on the bus. Just then, a old lady pushed Ann right in the back and it dropped Ann to her knees. The woman was saying something, who knows what. It became quite apparent there was a bus protocol we were not aware of. The protocol demanded that you push yourself with all your might until all that wished to ride were on board. Let's just say we got to know a few Ukrainians better than we would have liked. Kris and Cort, you got your wish. We rode the bus!

Day Two of the Waiting Game

Just for Maggie, a cute street dog that followed us for a while

Ruslan trying on Ann's scarf. He looks a little like a cross between his new Grandmothers

Ruslan and Max outside the orphanage

Sight-seeing at local monument

Visit the Chocolate Factory...ymmmm!!

Well it is very wet here today and Ann and I decided to stay inside today. Natasha had to travel to her home town this morning and she left very early. She may not be back until tomorrow. The Evensons left this morning for a morning walk and returned a little while later and pretty soaked. Natasha arranged for the children to be brought to us around 3:00pm.

Ruslan had enjoyed the PSP that my mother loaned to us. Thanks Mom! He even brought a game from one of the boys at the orphanage that had been given a PSP by the Howick family. We also worked on English tonight for a while. I thought I would include a few photos that we hadn't had a chance to share. Yesterday we did do some exploring and Natasha showed us some sites. We went to a chocolate factory and a museum and a few other sites. The next eight days are going to be quite long I am afraid. We plan on seeing Sergei again sometime this weekend.