Lord and Lady Herndon

We are here! 
Though it feels like we traveled halfway around the world, the flights were actually very reasonable, but we are also speaking from our past experiences of flying to/from Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. We had amazing friends drive us to the airport, and though we had counted 25 bags (all either part of our flight or reimbursed from the school), when we were checking in, Lufthansa only printed tickets for 24. We were confused and wondered if we had miscounted, forgotten one in a car, so maybe even misplaced one at the airport, but at that time we had to hustle to our flight so it didn’t matter too much! Thankfully, after two flights, when we landed in Kyiv, lo and behold we found all 25 bags.

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The kids were amazing. They loved everything about the airports and flights, especially the touch screens on the overnight flight. I was worried the jump from Munich to Kyiv would be harder because it was a smaller plane with less accommodations (and weird food!), but we all passed out in various awkward positions and barely woke up when the plane actually touched down. Our life mentor, Jeff Tempel, and Sarah’s immediate boss, picked us up at the airport with 3 helpful men and two big buses. (“Bus” in Ukraine really means a 15 seat van.) They drove us to our apartment and helped us lug all of the bags upstairs. We have a working elevator, we live on the eighth floor, and our apartment is H.U.G.E.

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There are so many shelves, not enough hanging racks, and strange little spaces! The kids were so excited. They ran from room to room, squealing in excitement. The girls finally landed in the “Piano Room” (I guess I’m signing them up for lessons!) and the boys claimed the larger room with the balcony and workout/drying rack.

Also, it was a matter of concern to many people where my Sewing Space would be. Several offers were made, (“You can sew on the balcony, Mommy!” or “I’ll let you sew in my room, Mommy!”) but I settled on a little corner of the master room, taking over the vanity and TV stand. 

Jeff and his wife, Shanna, and their three boys met us for dinner our first night at Puzata Hata. It is a very affordable and easy-to-order place, with lots of prepared dishes offered that we could just point at. We had been learning Ukrainian for several months at the beginning of the year, but as the packing/moving/prepping flurry kicked into high gear, that has definitely dropped off. Thankfully, though, we were able to dredge up some of our Russian and pull off a few pozhaluysta‘s and spasiba‘s. I knew we were all suffering from jet lag and every experience would be new and strange for the kids, but I was a bit frustrated by the complaints about everything tasting weird. It happened again at breakfast and lunch as well. Apparently, even the water here tastes funny. We’re working on it.

The next morning, after some unpacking and cleaning, we explored our neighborhood playground before we were supposed to meet at the school for a tour. Kyiv is one of the greenest capital cities in Europe, and I believe it. There are literally parks everywhere. They are a bit, shall we say, wild, but I think that adds to their charm. Gotta love that Soviet-era playground equipment. 

While the kids were playing, there were many local children playing around them as well, and I assured our kids that they would pick up either Russian or Ukrainian quickly enough to be able to make friends there. Several boys were spotted playing Bey Blades, so Theo and Alex were eager to connect with them.

After the extensive school tour, they bused us all to the large shopping mall to give us time to shop for apartment supplies and groceries. Epicenter was the biggest store I’ve ever seen. It had everything. They weren’t kidding when they said we might feel overwhelmed. We did get a lot of things we needed, like hangers and garbage cans, but I walked out of there without kitchen knives and a can opener, so we will be making some return visits. Our apartment did come furnished, but only with the very basics. 

After a little grocery shopping, we ate some familiar American fare, just to pacify the natives. It will not become a regular thing, I assure you.

Saturday morning, we did even more unpacking and organizing, and between realizing what we still need to be functional in this place and driving each other a little batty, we decided to explore a bit and took our first Uber to Independence Square, the site of the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution. 

The entire square is pedestrianized on the weekends, and we loved all the flowers, fountains, monuments and activity. 

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I know what you must be thinking: Surely these four Herndon kids did not smile and laugh and pose the entire afternoon, wandering around a crowded city center in the blazing sunshine, taking pictures and looking at buildings?

To which, I reply: bribery.

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The caveat: they had to order it themselves in Russian, and pay for it themselves. And they did.

The biggest cotton candy confections I have ever seen, for the whopping cost of ₴35 (which is about $1.30… and we need to start getting better at dividing by 27 so I don’t hyperventilate when I see that something costs ₴400.)

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So far, Kyiv is a very interesting city of shining, somewhat dilapidated glory, full of surprises around every corner. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds.

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