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Our very exciting morning: Solomiya and I took a short walk to the bakery and small store next to our apartment building. It was a short walk because it is FREEZING today. I needed to stop at the ATM to get some cash for my Russian lesson later today, we needed to buy fresh bread and Solomiya and I decided it was a good day to buy some булочки. It directly translate as "buns", but is not quite like what you would think a bun is. There is a picture below: this is how they look at this particular bakery, but they come in all different shapes, sizes and fillings. They are oval-shaped breads with various fillings: potatoes, mushrooms or cabbage. And, they are super tasty! They cost 2,50r each, which is about 35 cents. Not a bad price. Solomiya wanted a slice of pizza (pictured below: yes, that is corn on top- which is usual for Ukraine). The pizza was 6r, about 75 cents.
We also went next door to a small store that has fresh bread delivered everyday. The bread here is AMAZING! In the US, we rarely ate bread, here- we eat it almost every day. This loaf cost 4,50r, about 60 cents.
When we got back inside our apartment building, we found that the elevator was not working. It's not really a big deal because we only live on the 4th floor. Actually, we technically live on the 3rd floor, but the 1st floor in the building has no apartments so it is not labeled as the 1st floor. The 2nd floor is labeled as the 1st floor. Hope that wasn't too confusing.
Solomiya did great and walked up every flight. She did have to take a few breaks and enjoyed posing as I took some photos of her.
I also included a picture of our elevator (can you tell what is written on the door?) and Solomiya opening our front door.

Mike is having a much more exciting morning. He drove the leaders of the local Jewish ministry to Mukachavo (about 45 mins away) to deliver supplies to some Jewish elders.

Later today, I have my 2nd Russian lesson. I have to leave about 45 mins early for it because I have to wait for the right bus, ride the bus into the center of town and then walk to my teacher's house. I had a great 1st lesson last week and I really like my new teacher! It feels good to be studying again.
After my lesson, I need to walk back to the center of town to a particular pharmacy and see if they were able to find/order a transfer tub bench for one of my ladies. Then, I need to walk to a medical clinic and clear up some information I could not understand on the phone. Communicating and understanding in Russian is difficult enough for me in person, but on the phone- it's almost impossible. Can you believe I did not understand what day of the week they were talking about???- that's like supposed to be the easiest part to understand. So, I'm going to go back in person and figure things out.

The sun is shining today, and even though it's super cold, it will be a great day for walking around Uzhhorod to get some things crossed off my list.

Follow-Up on 'Language Study'

In early October, I shared a sappy post about our current state in language learning. It ended with lamentations about not having enough time in our schedules to fit language study in. Since then, we have made some serious schedule changes in order to get back to where we need to be.
Mike started studying Ukrainian again in August- 4-5 days a week. When the English school began having classes again with the new school year, Mike cut down his Ukrainian lessons to 2 nights a week. He teaches 1 English class in the evening and 2 in the mornings during the week- this schedule has helped him have time for Ukrainian lessons and separate study/homework time during weekday evenings. He has a great teacher to work with and I have noticed a big improvement in his understanding and ability to speak Ukrainian (granted he did very well prior to this new teacher, but now he is even better!). I frequently use him as my translator ;)
After I saw Mike's improvement, I decided that I NEEDED to make a change- "being too busy" was no longer a valid excuse. It was a difficult decision, but I decided to cut some things out of my schedule for the next several months so I could focus on my Russian lessons. So, I have decided to stop going to the Children's Hospital in Uzhhorod- this leaves me with 2 days a week free (when Mike can hang out with Solomiya) for language study. There is a great team of people committed to going to the hospital every day of the week, so it was easier for me to decide to cut this out of my schedule. I will still join the team on the weekly visits to the Children's Hospital in Chop and I currently have 2 OT patients that I will continue to see.
I feel so strongly that my language ability is directly related to my success at making an impact on people's lives here- both through therapy and relationships. I do have a very dear friend here who has been traveling with me to see my patients and translate- but I know that if I spoke better, it would open up many new opportunities for me.
On Monday, I met with a new Russian teacher, Alyona! Another of my very dear friends here recommended this teacher and set up the meeting. I am looking forward to beginning at the end of this week and making some changes in my life!

In other news, we are heading to Hungary next week to track down a transfer tub bench and score some inexpensive meds for one of my ladies. And, I heard a rumor that there is a McDonald's in the city we are headed to. I really hope it's true... Granted, I love cooking and eating all of this natural, organic food that is high in vitamins- but sometimes you just need a Big Mac.

SRH

We have had some requests for new pictures of Solomiya (from her fan club).

The following include:
- riding her motorcycle
- modeling her sunglasses and pigtails
- driving us around town
- wearing my apron
- talking with her friend Anichka

What's really cool, is that since she turned 2, she has been speaking and using words that we understand a lot more: both in English and Ukrainian.
We also see that she understands very well when she is spoken to in Ukrainian. Every time she spends time with people who are only speaking in Ukrainian, she will begin to add a new word to her vocabulary. Lately, she has begun saying 'doll' in Ukrainian- with much better pronounciation than me! 'Ляльки'
It is pretty amazing that she has learned Ukrainian so easily. She will probably also learn some other languages while we live here- everyday we hear English, Ukrainian, Transcarpathian, Russian, Hungarian- and sometimes Slovakian and Polish.

Next spring, we will begin sending her to 'kindergarten'. Kindergarten, or Children's Garden (direct translation) is for children starting at age 2 and going through 6 or 7 years old. It is similar to pre-school in the US. Children learn how to behave in a classroom setting, interact and play with other children and learn basic skills that will prepare them for 1st Form in regular school.
Last year, we registered her at 3 different kindergartens: our friends recommended this so that we could spend time figuring out which one we liked best. Apparently, it is very common for parents to register their children when they are like 2-6 months old- or even before they are born! So we were a little late...
Two of the kindergartens are within a 5 minute walk from our apartment, which is nice. When we registered Solomiya last year, our friend went with me to translate. At the first school, the director was very haughty-taughty, explaining that I should have registered S earlier, that they had no room and clearly looking me up and down- amazed that I thought they would even consider taking her (found out later that this particular kindergarten was a bit more prestigious and had an unofficial relationship with a popular private school across the street). So- my friend was translating all of this to me- speaking English obviously- and the director rather quickly changed her mind. "Oh! You are Americans?! We would love to register your daughter here. Let's do it right now!".
This was a big turn-off for me.
At the second school, the director was very kind and helpful before she found out we were Americans- I'm kinda leaning towards this school...
So, next Spring we will begin a new adventure: Дитячий садок.