Moving On Up!

Sing it with me everyone, you know, the song from "The Jeffersons" (or does that show how old I am?),

"Moving on Up"
"To the top. To an apartment in the sky"

Yesterday, I moved from my fairly expensive apartment the size of a shoebox, to my friends, Jon and Jenny's apartment, which is the size of three shoeboxes. They are letting me stay here while they are on a trip. Since Travis took the suitcase, I had to pack my stuff in about a million small grocery bags. Luckily, my friend, Anya and she sweet brother, Igor, helped me. We took cab, which cost 20 rph (which is griv-na). Luckily, that is only about $2.00. Jon and Jenny live on the sixth floor, about 100 steps. Great exercise! Yep, I am trying to stay positive.
View from the window. This store is called the "Am-store". The "C" is an "S" and the "P" is a "R". Confused yet?

I also have a new roommate. He is really quiet and very easy to get along with. His name is Oliver.

Here is a mural that Igor, who is an artist, painted.

Another exciting thing happened today as well. They turned off the hot water for the entire city for a month. Well, I don't really need hot water anyway since it is 90 degrees here!


I am kind of a minor celebrity here. Anya keeps introducing me to her friends who are learning English. My job is to get them to ask me questions in English. I have been teaching them important words like "mullet", the fancy hair style which lots of boys wear here. Also, "loafers" and Anya's favorite "paraphernalia". In return, they get to repeat simple words in Russian to me over and over again, so that I can mispronounce them. I still can't say "hello" in Russian. Sad.
Don't you love his t-shirt!

We are standing in the "Nee-pra" River.

We went to the open market today and I found a special outfit for the girls to wear on the day they leave the orphanage. Nastya's outfit is the one with a bunny on it and Moira's is the dress. They wear the little overalls with feet at the orphanage.

I also got myself a t-shirt with lots of sparkles, so I look more like I am from "this country". Do you think I fit in more now? Nope, my shorts are still too long.

Nastya was sick with a fever again! I have been very worried about this, but then I observed that all the children have their temperature taken several times a day. Since it is 97,000 degrees in the orphanage, it makes sense she might have a temperature.
Very hot babies!

I think Moira is really making progress. She noticed our reflection in the mirror today. I waved my arms and she waved her arms too. I was thrilled! I know this seems like a small thing, but to see her initiate something was really exciting. Also, she has loved my sunglasses from the very beginning, but mostly she would just turn them over and over in her hand. Today, she was trying to peer through them!

Travis made it home safely, but our van battery died in my mom's driveway. Never a dull moment. I am really hoping someone will make me some brownies (which they don't have here!) and some tacos when I get home! Also, maybe some waffles and french toast.

I love the juices here. They have blueberry, mango, banana, pomegranate and many more. Very delicious! After going to five stores, I managed to find a stroller that wasn't too expensive. Who thought that would be so hard to find!

This is "Chill-an-tanos". A very popular restaurant named after the actor in the middle.