So, my Ukrainian Visa is about to expire and I have to leave Ukraine for about two weeks to renew it. Unfortunately, we're not going anywhere exciting like Budapest, or Bilibino, or a random little town right on the Polish boarder... Instead, we're going to Italy. Just Rome and Florence and Cinque Terre (but mostly Rome because that is where the Ukrainian Consulate is located.)
Now, half of us AIMers started this trip three days early so that we could catch the Harding Choir in Donetsk Ukraine. Wednesday night* we went to the train station to board a night train to Donetsk. Now even that is a story on it's own, but I'll cover it in it's own prequel post or something.
We arrived Wednesday morning about 8 o'clock and stopped by UBI to drop off our bags in the rooms we are staying in and change into clean clothes. Afterwards, I hung out around the school with the students and translator Masha. Caleb and EJ, who joined me on this portion of the trip went to breakfast at McDonald's. There they ran across some Harding students and formed a group to explore the city for the morning. Since all the students were in class, I joined met them at a large Orthodox church and joined them. We were going to go in and see the church, but they didn't have spare head coverings for us to use, so only the boys could enter.
From there we walked to the Sports Stadium the students took lots of photos. We played with the giant marble soccer ball that sits on a pedestal with water flowing under it so that it turns. That was pretty cool. We then walked over to the park adjoining the stadium where there is a large World War II memorial. After that we walked back to the hotel where the choir members are staying. One the way, everyone wanted icecream or a drink so we found some stands and I helped translate and handle money. We only stayed there for a short time because they had a rehearsal. EJ and I walked back to the school to rest a little. Caleb walked back to the stadium to check on times and prices for a soccer game that the students wanted to go to.
While at the school, Jay Don came in from the hospital where he had been treated for an infection in his leg. It was good to see him in good health after hearing he had been ill. He invited me out to lunch with one of the ladies who helps him take care of the school.
After lunch, it was time to get ready for the concert. It was a really great concert. They preformed several selections from composers in this region of the world as well as several American pieces. I believe that it was well liked by all who attended. Afterwards I walked back through the city with Erin and Zachary, who both know my brother through their club. We ended up having tea with some Ukrainians that are part of a collective singing group at their University and one of the UBI students Miraslav. We sang a little and and had tea and cookies. Afterwards, we walked back to the Hotel to make sure the students got in safely and then walked back to the school, which was fortunately very close to the hotel.
*It was really 2 am Thursday Morning, but who really calls that Wednesday??
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