Olia is certainly going to keep Colleen and I agile.
As both Colleen and I are self-employed, we are taking turns with Olia during the day. Yesterday, Renee (our 18 year old), who works at a local restaurant (or as Olia would say.. "pectopah"... Russian 101) as a waitress, invited us for lunch. The manager and his wife were very kind and made a big fuss over Olia. You could tell that she was somewhat embarassed... like a TV commercial, the wife was like a favorite aunt pinching Olia's cheek and saying "you are so adorable". But at the same time, I think Olia likes the attention. I learned she likes pasta but does not like sliced raw tomatoes... one of only a few things so far.
I'm still trying to figure out her appetite (it's always about the food). Sometimes she wants breakfast or lunch, sometimes not. When she is hungry, though, she eats heartily. She likes hamburgers (with bread on both sides... like a sandwich should have)... and mashed potatoes, a favorite of mine.
In a past visit to Ukraine, Olia told us she liked swimming. So before I left for Ukraine, I opened the pool and got it ready for the season. Yesterday after work, I asked Olia if she wanted to go swimming. She is becoming acclaimated so quickly to our body language and habits that I forgot she wouldn't know the word "swimming" and was surprised that she didn't respond. I repeated the question along with arm swimming motions. Her face lit up and she ran to her room to change into her bathing suit. I normally don't go in the pool until the end of July when the water temperature is in the 80's but I wasn't sure how well Olia could swim and also knew Olia was waiting for me to go first. So I dove in... cold, cold, cold.... but that lasted only a few moments. Olia jumped in right after ... with the same initial reaction.
It's been a long time since I've heard shrieks of glee that only little girls can produce... very heart-lightening. Colleen took pictures of us (with the camera that my thumb destroyed the display so you can't see what you're taking a picture of) but was too chicken to jump in with us... Colleen prefers 90 degrees.
Olia is trying to teach us Russian words and phrases. Renee will look up an english phase in our translation book and show Olia the Russian equivalent. Olia then voices the phrase and we try to emulate. And Olia just cracks up laughing... a common word is phonically har-roosh-ca with emphasis on the har... it means good (I think). Apparently, our Russian needs a lot of work.
Our friend Nancy stopped by last evening and brought "Twister". We all enjoyed that and it's a great aid teaching the colors and left, right, hand, and foot... not so good for older bones and muscles. Nancy also brought a card for Olia, handwritten in Russian. Nancy used an english to russian translation program available on the internet... I'll have to get the site name... there's things I would like to tell Olia as well. Olia read the card to each of us... she has such a pleasant voice.
I guess I should get back to work.
Dan
