As we approach earth day, we are talking more and more about all the different parts of the earth and how we can care for it. X takes care of the earth by "mowing the yard and getting the dust out of stuff." While reviewing ocean and jungle habitats, Elise decided she would rather live in the ocean so she could swim with the mermaids. When we compared our earth with other planets, X and X were a wealth of knowledge. X told us that "astronauts bounce on other planets" and "mercury is hot!" X told us that "pluto is not a planet anymore." X used excellent manners at lunch and reminded all his friends to keep their hands in their laps until we said, "bon appetit". X got to "finally" put eyes and fins on his puffer fish and he is excited to take it home today. In centers, X figured out some tough beading patterns and taught them to X. Have a great weekend!
From my trip report in Kyiv, Ukraine:
My computer ran out of juice and I didn't have the energy to track down yet another European plug converter. I have 5 or so, but I needed one with a three prong US to a 2 prong EUR and didn't have that. ugh!
I spent the morning in meetings to understand what issues they are dealing with or where we might be able to support them and vice versa. My two colleagues were just too busy to escort me around, but that was fine. I managed. I did sit with the lead for about 15 mins to let her know how much I appreciated her time and attention to my work and that I really have enjoyed our relationship and that she was willing to host me. She flattered me with compliments on my presentation and seemed equally happy to be working together. Great news! The cabbie took me a totally different way, so I thought he might be taking me to the wrong hotel, but I used it as a sightseeing opportunity, and in the end he was avoiding traffic and got me to the right one without issue. Then I roamed around Kyiv alone. I did some shopping/bartering with street vendors (mostly of whom spoke decent English) and saw a couple of the church/cathedral/monuments. Took lots of pix.
I was met back at my hotel and took the subway (talk about Soviet...and super stinky!) to the Maidan. That place is incredible. While all the protests took place in Feb/March (started in Nov), it still has a lingering burning tire stench. There are memorials with candles and flowers where each of the 100+ people were killed. It has become a monument/memorial, and it's unclear what the country is going to with the space. TV does not do justice to how big the square actually is. And, we also went down a parallel road where more of the people were killed and saw the burned out apartment building (accidentally burned) and the soccer stadium, which has been repainted within the past few days so you can't actually see the ashes anymore). There are barricades of tires, pieces of wood, cobblestones, garbage, whatever they could find that are taller than me, and there are lots of men and women in fatigues still 'occupying' and protecting Maidan; they have battlefield canteens and tents erected where they live. Everything is peaceful and solemn. She showed me where the gov't snipers were and where the Molotov Cocktails came from. The stage where Sen. McCain (and many others) spoke is still up and and is used by passing musicians and whoever else wishes to. She also showed me a memorial and church built by volunteers to commemorate the 100th Brigade (the holy 100 who were killed). The whole place is certainly eerie and basically a living memorial. It's very powerful.
Then we went to a 'fancy' Ukrainian dinner. Same stuff we've been eating but better ambiance. We had honey wine, borsht, wild mushroom soup, "surprise" varenyky (pierogies with whatever inside they felt like giving us: some meat, some veggies, and some fruit), and what they called a pancake but was more like a crepe tied up with chicken and mushrooms inside. Pretty amazing food. When it came time to pay, I thought it was 660 hyrivnia (pronounced grivna) each, but that was the total -- it was just under $30/head. I gave her all my money (minus taxi to the airport), which was 4xx hyrivia, since it wasn't really worth converting back and it felt like the right thing to do.
I have a sinking heart about leaving Ukraine. I wonder what will happen to the young people who I met. They are all fearful and they all are anxious about any new government coming in and being as corrupt as every single administration they've ever known. So, different leader, same problems. The country has so much potential but it seems to go into the hands of a few. One of the presidential candidates has a house worth $17M, when most people cannot afford to splurge on something $100.
I noticed two things about society there too: it is an extremely homogenous people, even the tourists. There are on blacks, no Asians, and very few Middle Easterners. I even caught myself surprised to see a black man on the street on the last day of my visit because I just hadn't noticed any non-Caucasians. And, there is no panhandling or begging; there are no homeless people; no one hawking their wares aggressively or without a permit. And, there is no handicap accessibility or people. My friend said that's all a legacy of Soviet times, and all of those groups are simply not accepted as part of the Ukrainian culture.
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