Bad News at Christmas

[Simoni]

Here are a few pics from the frigid city of Kiev...

[Simoni]

and more...

[Simoni]

The city is filled with school children.  Marina says they are on end-of-semester trips to the capital city of Kiev.

Poor little kids! It's freezing cold!  They are bundled up, but still have red faces.

I'm reminded of school groups in the US.  Wearing shorts and t-shirts.  In May, not January.

It's a different mentality than we have in the southern USA.

I'm adjusting 

[Simoni]

Marina adds

"But they look happy.  It's like an adventure to travel somewhere when you are 10 or 12.   But most of all, it's because they are away from Mama."     LOL

[Simoni]

We are here in an internet cafe in Kiev.

And we have a word of advice for you keyboard Romeos.

Logoff and kill the browser before you leave.

This computer has some dudes email program open.

He was writing 4 girls today.  He is in love with all of them!!!

I wrote them for him.

I dropped the three best looking girls. 

Now he has only one girl left.   LOL

[catzenmouse]

No matter the advice: You Just Can't Fix Stupid 

[Simoni]

Last summer we went to a half dozen Hollywood movies in Dnepr that were dubbed in Russian.

Friday night I had a new experience.  We went to National Treasures with N Cage, in Ukrainian language!

I understood less than Russian.  But some words were similar, or the same.  But overall, since it was an action flick, I "understood" the movie.

It was a fun evening.    I was just glad to get out of the -15 C weather!  Plus, they serve beer in movies in Ukraine :-)

[Son of Clyde]

Nice pictures, Simoni.
Were you at the internet cafe near MacDonald's?
I spent a few hours there since my flat was about 1/4 of a mile away. I am terrible with street names and building names but I was around the corner from a huge white building not far from an incredibly beautiful blue church with a mural on the side.
I think the white building is "Independence Hall" or some government building. I remember there were guards stationed on the street near my flat. Many of the government offices were nearby.

[Simoni]

Thanks, SOC.  I am glad you liked the pictures of Kiev at night.  The lights and cold crisp winter air make them even more beautiful than they appear by day.

Yes, we used that internet cafe by McDonalds. They have 40 cent cofffee there; Makkin pointed that out to us.

 We are also using two more internet cafes that are near to my apartment, which is about three blocks down the opposite way from Fridays.  But Fridays, with free wifi works best, since it's nice to post from my personal computer.  The coffee is NOT 40 cents at Fridays!   ;DLOL

But the convenience makes it worth it.

[LiveFromUkraine]

The coffee is NOT 40 cents at Fridays!   ;DLOL

Sveta loves that place.  The drinks more than anything.  I know to budget at minimum 100 usd just for Fridays when we head to Kiev. 


Thomas

[Simoni]

Yes, Thomas, they do have cool drinks there.  In fact, Marina's two fancy drinks and my two beers usually cost more than the meal tab!

Their brownie desert was great, too.

But most of all, we loved the Italian restaurant next door to Fridays.  Did you guys try it? 

Merry Christmas to Sveta and you.

[Simoni]

One thing that troubles me about  Marina's condition is that she has lost all feeling in her injured thumb.  She has trouble using it, as in buttoning buttons on her shirt.

We'll have to get that checked out when she gets home to the US.

[LiveFromUkraine]

Yes, Thomas, they do have cool drinks there.  In fact, Marina's two fancy drinks and my two beers usually cost more than the meal tab!

Their brownie desert was great, too.

But most of all, we loved the Italian restaurant next door to Fridays.  Did you guys try it? 

Merry Christmas to Sveta and you.

We normally go there for the pizza.  Best I have found in Ukraine.


Merry Christmas to you two. 


Thomas

[BC]

One thing that troubles me about  Marina's condition is that she has lost all feeling in her injured thumb.  She has trouble using it, as in buttoning buttons on her shirt.

We'll have to get that checked out when she gets home to the US.

Simoni,

Just curious, is there any insurance coverage involved at all?  I probably rode 40 to 50 times in FSU mini busses that were practically shaking apart and always wondered 'what if'.

My family is pretty well covered when traveling in FSU via our automobile club and other insurance but I can imagine quite a few guys go over without even thinking about this aspect.

[Simoni]

Simoni,

Just curious, is there any insurance coverage involved at all?  I probably rode 40 to 50 times in FSU mini busses that were practically shaking apart and always wondered 'what if'.

My family is pretty well covered when traveling in FSU via our automobile club and other insurance but I can imagine quite a few guys go over without even thinking about this aspect.

No insurance there that I know of, BC.  When she gets back to the states our insurance here will kick in for the plastic surgery and nerve damage to her thumb.  I think your idea of trip insurance is a good one.

I told her she should sue the bus company, but she would have to be there for the case, which she does not want to do.

The wreck, which was serious, was invisible.  No news reports or anything.

[Simoni]

Medical treatment, IHHO, is decades behind in Ukraine.  I've been in their hospitals, and they are horrible.

Doctors receive much less training than in the west, and practice in horrible conditions and have hardly any technology to support their work.

Marina told me something that shocked me when I got there.

They actually sent her to a DENTIST to have her stitches out!  They said dentist were better at such things!

[timothe]

Last summer we went to a half dozen Hollywood movies in Dnepr that were dubbed in Russian.

Friday night I had a new experience.  We went to National Treasures with N Cage, in Ukrainian language!

I understood less than Russian.  But some words were similar, or the same.  But overall, since it was an action flick, I "understood" the movie.

It was a fun evening.    I was just glad to get out of the -15 C weather!  Plus, they serve beer in movies in Ukraine :-)

I remember watching "Finding Nemo" on VCR in badly dubbed Russian language a few years ago.  The movie was fine until someone stood up in the middle of it and blocked our view!

I hadn't commented on this thread but I want to say to you, Simoni, that you were very heroic by getting on the plane to see your Marina!!  It is obvious that you love her very much and equally obvious that she loves you back in the same way.  All in all, the two of you are a great story and an inspiration to myself and others!!

Take care,

Tim

[Simoni]

Tim,

Thanks so much for your kind words and good wishes.  We appreciate them greatly.

We are a very lucky couple.

~Si

[Makkin]

Hi,

  Hope everything gets better for Marina as she is one wonderful woman. Your a fantastically lucky man to have her by your side Simoni and she is equally lucky.

  I think it's a good idea to get the insurance for the trips as it's only small and covers 500,000 dollars in airlift insurance usually as well as other medical expenses. I won't leave home without AIG travel guard..lol

Makkin

[Simoni]

You are right, Makkin.  Insurance is a good idea when traveling to the FSU.

We have all seen close calls here. 

Now both Bruce and I have been personally touched with what can go wrong here. 

And when it does, they simply don't have the medical support needed or that we are used to in the west.

[Simoni]

I'm getting a little behind in postings here, so I'll do several and catch up.

Marina has been quite disappointed in the workouts in the USA compared to the workouts (Step Aerobics) she had in Ukraine.

So she was quiet amused to see this sign near our flat....

We may not have American workouts in America, but we dang sure do in Ukraine.  Guess she will have to go to Kiev to get the best of American workouts  LOL

[Simoni]

One of the good things about returning to Ukraine is getting to see old friends and acquaintances.  This trip was no exception, now that Marina is on her feet and mobile again.

Sunday afternoon Pavel, a friend to both Marina and I, came by for a visit.  He had graciously helped Marina out by storing one of her 50 pound bags at his house.  He returned it Sunday; I plan on taking it back to the states on my ticket, allowing Marina to carry two more bags.  Pavel is doing well.  We saw Kiev with music as he took us for a spin in his car, with his MP3 player plugged into the car stereo.  Later, we shared a nice meal and Marina showed Pavel pictures of our new place in Florida.  Last year she had shared pics of New York.

Pavel was also a big help to Marina in directing her to solutions to getting her Ukrainian passport renewed.  She followed through today with a contact he provided, and the good news is that she will have her passport extended 10 years. It will take only a 7 business day period.   She wants and needs to keep both passports, with the Ukraine one staying in her maiden name, since she owns property in Ukraine.  That is one thing we don't have to worry about for 10 years.

[Simoni]

Marina and I are overwhelmed by all the good will that is flowing to us from the RWD community.   Readers see the kind words posted here.  But many more have come via PM, with all kinds of private offers of assistance.

RWD truly is a supportive and giving community.   It's our wingman when hard times come in the FSU. For that, we are all truly thankful.

[Simoni]

Marina is home now in the US, and she is doing fine.  In fact, she is now in the kitchen cooking home-made pizza (her mother's recipe) for a Super Bowl party we are hosting tonight.

She'll see the plastic surgeon  Gator recommend Tuesday, and soon this trip home for Christmas will all be but a bad memory.

But every cloud does indeed have a silver lining....we are closer than ever and we are thankful every day for another day to live.

Thanks again to all who prayed for her or wished her well.

This story has a happy ending.

~Si

[BillyB]

Sounds good! I'm sure you two have grown closer. Send Marina our best wishes!