April Photos

Fedya helping Tato prepare for a class.

Peteffi Park, Uzhhorod, Ukraine

Sometimes, it's just easier to put them both in the stroller...

Playing in the sandbox next to our apartment building.

Plum tree in bloom

Life in a Ukrainian Kindergarten- March 8th: Women's Day

March 8th celebration at kindergarten: International Women's Day
This is a day to honor all women and give them flowers and chocolates. It is similar to how Mother's Day is celebrated in the USA, but it celebrates all women instead of just mothers.

The girls dressed as chickens and the boys as roosters.

She wasn't feeling too good that day...

What we did in March:

1. Went to the doctor almost every week.
Here, Solomiya is waiting outside of the doctor's office. You can see that this is not her favorite place. Ukrainian kindergarten is great, but the kids share every virus and germ with each other. If a child is absent from kindergarten more than 2 days in a row, they need a note from their doctor stating that they were sick, but now are healthy and ready to go back. We had to get a lot of those notes... But, she is building up her immune system, right?
 

We saw these notes on the front door of Solomiya's class at school quite often.
"Beware
Parents
this group is in quarantine
for Scarlet Fever
from this date to this date
The Head Nurse"
The second note describes the symptoms and what to look out for.

This may also explain the lack of posts for the months of March and April.
 

Interesting Car

 GAZ Pobeda circa 1950's (Had to ask Mike- he's seen it around...)

Current Economic Situation in Ukraine

No coffee.

No flour.

No bags of sugar (just a few boxes of sugar cubes- I did buy a couple).

This guy was filling his cart with sunflower oil.

When we first moved to Ukraine three years ago, the exchange rate was 1 US Dollar (USD) = 8 Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH). It had stayed steady at that amount (give or take some cents) up until several months ago.
In October of last year, it was about 12-13 UAH to 1 USD.
November through December: 14-15 UAH to 1 USD. And it kept ever so slowly rising (along with the prices of everything).

Friday, the 6th of February 1 USD = 16 UAH

Saturday, the 7th of February 1 USD = 25.2457 UAH

In just 24 hours, the hryvnia rose by almost 10! Can you believe that!
Not only that, but check out this equation that makes no sense:

Decreasing value of the hryvnia + Increasing prices = No change in people's paycheck/pension check

So basically, the price of everything here is increasing, but people are still making the same amount of hryvnia that they did prior to the increases. I don't know how most Ukrainians will survive on this current system, especially pensioners who were struggling when the rate was 8 UAH to 1 USD!!!

Hence, the photos above: people are stocking up on basic supplies before the prices go up even more.
I went to buy some sugar yesterday and I was surprised that there was none available at the store closest to us. I thought it was strange, but sometimes it happens. Today, I casually mentioned to Mike that Silpo (name of the store) had no sugar and maybe he could check today and see if they had re-stocked the shelves. He said that he had heard there was no sugar, or flour, available in any stores because people were buying it all up before the prices rose again. He went there and sure enough, no sugar, flour or buckwheat.
I decided to go out later to another store a little further from our apartment to find some sugar (we bake a lot :) ). This is where I took these pictures. It was so strange. The store was packed with people and they were filling up their carts and baskets with as many basic items as they could. So many people were on cell phones, calling people and telling them what was, or was not available, at this store.

It reminded me of the day before a snow storm in New York- people stocking up on items because they might not be able to leave their home for a few days.

This was different though, people stocking up on items because they might not be able to afford them in a few days.

Crazy.

Spring is Coming

Have we mentioned that March 1st is also the first day of Spring here in Ukraine? We have had another mild winter on this side of the Carpathians.

It has been very interesting to keep updated with our family and friends in the Northeast through Facebook- you all have been dealing with a lot of snow! Mike got a small taste of it when he was in the US in January, but here in Uzhhorod, we only had about 3-4 different snow storms that left any kind of accumulation worthy of taking out the sled. 

In spite of this, we are definitely ready for some warmer temperatures, longer days and grass.

This week began in the 50's (F) and looks like it will stay that way all week! We took advantage of it yesterday by hanging out on the playground. It was about 55-57 degrees, even though S and F look quite bundled up in the pictures (Mike says I'm turning into a Ukrainian mama)- but I didn't want them to get cold or feel a draft. Plus, it was shady here and there.

Speaking about drafts... This guy [Andy Frecka] lives in Moscow and writes about the culture- it is SO similar to the culture here in Ukraine: http://andyfrecka.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-chilling-draft-of-russia.html

The following are select excerpts from his post pertaining to drafts:

"If you are not from Russia, you must understand, that The Chilling Draft Of Russia is not to be compared with the elementary air movement you may sometimes experience in your home.  For The Chilling Draft Of Russia is to be feared.  At all times."

"One time I was riding a train in (the) Ukraine.  It was a bazillion degrees outside and I am not joking when I say the train was crawling at a snail's pace in the hot sun, from Kharkov to Kyiv.  This produced what is known as the "greenhouse effect".  It was so hot, my kids pulled out birch branches and started beating each other on the back.  If you know what I mean. [Annie's note: This is done in the sauna.]

My eyes darted around the wagon as my head swam from the sweltering heat.  With considerable effort, I stood up and managed to pry one of the windows open a few inches.

Immediately a unanimous shout rose from around the wagon, "THE DRAFT!!!!".

Because even in (the) Ukraine, heat stroke is a walk in the park, in comparison to The Chilling Draft Of (the) Ukraine."

Went outside to play on the "playground" (it's actually an area of outdoor exercise equipment- but most of it has had crucial elements rust away...)

Owl Hat- handmade by Chrissy Solanky (she is taking orders ;) )

Fedya- feeling reflective.

Life in a Ukrainian Kindergarten- New Year's Celebration

I know this post is way over-due, but I must share it. Solomiya's class at kindergarten had a celebration/pagent for New Year's. Each child had their own special role and lines to learn. Solomiya was a snowflake and had to wear a special dress and tiara. Here- she is spinning around in her costume- hence the blurriness.

Sweetie pie. She loves the camera. Most of the time.

At school during the celebration. The kids sang, danced and recited lines. They did a great job, especially for 2 1/2 and 3 year-olds. Solomiya knew her lines perfectly thanks to Mike who worked with her several times a day leading up to the celebration. Did she recite them there? Of course not. It's okay- she's only 3 and public speaking is a scary thing for most people. Maybe next time- I hear there may be another celebration for March 8th- Women's Day!

Each child received a gift from 'Did Moroz' or Father Frost aka Santa. (It was filled with chocolates.)

Group shot.

Solomiya and her dearest friend, Anichka. Too cute.