After a very long flight and very little sleep we arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon! The flights were good, just long! We have been here for two full days - just enough time for our bodies to adjust to the time change and to the climate. The weather is very very hot! Today it was 38 degrees - too hot for me!! We were out in it a lot yesterday and experienced a bit of heat exhaustion. We learned that we have to drink a lot of water!! The place where we are staying is pretty nice.....we have a gas stove and a pull out couch to sleep on....and most importantly - we have a fan!!
Here is a list of ten things that we have learned since being here.....enjoy!!! I will keep you updated as much as I can.....
1. Lane markings on the road are merely suggestions the general rule is if your car fits you can drive there.
2. Sidewalks are used for walking, parking your car, and as an overflow lane if the previously suggested lanes are full.
3. To catch a bus you stand anywhere on the street and flap your arms as though you are trying to fly.
4. To get off the bus you simply yell something in Russian (eg, kai, sporubl, etc.) and the bus stops at that exact spot. Not necessarily on the side lane.
5. The buses are Sprinters (my favourite) and you open up the front passenger door and hope that both feet are in before it starts to drive.
6. Milk here is "long lasting" and is on the shelf not the cooler or fridge and smells and tastes like what you might imagine the inside of an udder to smell and taste like.
7. As a result of #6 we "enjoyed" our first and last bowl of cold cereal today!
8. At the grocery store there is a plastic ledge at every cashier. This is where you put your money. If you try to hand it to the cashier (who sits in a swivel chair) she looks at you like you just stepped in from Pluto.
9. A cool day here is around 30 degrees and yet we seem to be the only people wearing shorts. As we are also wearing runners we have been forced to explain why we are wearing socks.
10. Light switches are not where you would expect them to be. For example if you do not wish to use the toilet in the dark you must walk 5 or 6 steps down the hallway and look at Peter's eye level to find the switch for the bathroom. It is right next to the light switch for the laundry room. Of course! Where else would it be?

One more thing....someone thought that I looked Jewish!?! AND they are wondering why us Canadians wear socks?!!
Miss you all!