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.