If you are anywhere near a toaster or bounce sheets please go and give them a big hug for us! We miss ours a great deal! Other than that...things are going okay. I'm starting to get a little tired from being away from home for so long....its been quite some time since I've slept in a familiar bed..but I'm surviving. The summer has been full of many wonderful experiances but being away from home for so long becomes a little tiring....please pray that I can last only one more week and then it's vacation time!!

Today was a good day, hot again as usual. We started out bright and early at the shelter. Everytime we arrive at the shelter gates the children all come running - they are so excited to see us and they have gotten to know us even though we only go there once a week. They are learning our names and trying hard to communicate in English with us. Today one little girl, she is 6 years old, sat with Peter and taught him the names of colors in Russia and he taught her the colors in English. It was interesting to watch the two of them communicate with each other without an interpreter around. Her eyes would light up everytime Peter would remember a color that she taught him.

This afternoon we went for our first car ride in the city. We had to hold on for dear life because although there were seat belts there were no place to fasten them. I was sitting snuggly in the middle of the back seat so I had no worries - I wasn't going anywhere! Before the car ride, the lady who drives the car said to Peter 'your too big for our car!'. We knew at that point that we were in for a treat!!

Well....Peter has created another list for us to remember our time here....let me share it with you....

1. In the case of nasal congestion the proper procedure is to blow the contents of your nasal passages into the nearest public hedge thus having to use your hanky for any final touch ups.
2. When someone asks you, "Gas or no gas" know that they are referring to bottled water and not to last nights dinner results!
3. When grocery shopping if you are in need of a shopping cart you must put your elbows up, take your position and race the other customers to the end of the checkout lines where people are coming out of the store. The rules are unclear but I believe if you touch the cart or make eye contact with the previous owner you must go back to the start.
4. Perogies, although they do not go by the same name here, have a tendency to have cherries instead of potatoe, bacon, etc inside of them. They are then drizzled with some form of liquid sugar and are served cold. Yum yum!
5. While picture are not permitted inside of the Russian Orthodox church it appears the people who tend to the cleaning inside the church are they same people who run the carnival rides on the weekends.
6. After climbing in and out of a Ukrainian sized vehicle a few times I believe that Amanda and I are now prepared to take our husband and wife contortionist act on the road!
7. Amanda has learned that if you are friendly enough to some people they will be happy to give you many many kisses as they say goodbye.
8. The average apartment size here in Denprepotrovsk is 300 sq feet but we had lunch today with people who live in a house that is approx. 100 sq feet (7.5m x 4m, 3 rooms)
9. Our apartment, as you will see from photos is not so bad but is a far cry from luxury and rents for $550 cdn/month (remember average salary is $250 cdn/month)
10. Borsht is a Ukrainian favourite (one girl said and I quote, "I eat Borsht in the morning, Borsht at lunch and Borsht in the evening.") consists of cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, beets, some other white chunky stuff, and other what we will call "Ukrainian ingredients". It is offered in red or green and compared to Kwas is a delicacy.