We were on our way to church in Simferopol. Vera, Alex, Malvina and I along with her two friends. It was our first attempt at going to church----which is a 2 hour bus ride away. Opposition set in right from the beginning. Vera suggested we go to the Circus after church since that would be our last chance, and the girls really wanted to see the circus. Although I wouldn't normally do that, I didn't want our Sunday to be a negative experience. Then everyone was starving at the bus station because they hadn't had time to eat breakfast. Then Malvina's Aunt called and wanted to meet her at the bus station to tell her good bye. We finally got there in time for the last 20 minutes of Sacrament meeting---and everyone looked really bored, so maybe it was a blessing we were late.
The highlight was meeting Malvina's Aunt. I had low expectations after meeting her dad--and this was his sister. She is 25, beautiful, very close to God, and doing very well in her life. I asked if I could make a video of her giving some advice to Malvina. She told her not to forget her homeland and family still there, and that she will be successful if she stays close to God through prayer. That's why she's been successful, and she believes it saved her father's life. During the very difficult period in the 1990's following the re-structuring of the economy and government, groups of bandits and mafia took control of everything. Many people were put in jails, had family members kidnapped or were killed. Bandits would come into restaurants and murder everyone there if the owner hadn't paid for protection. Her father was in a restaurant when this very thing happened, but he had gone out to his car to get something. She believes God saved his life. Meeting and talking with her was far more powerful and meaningful than anything that could have been said at church.
The Circus was about like the one in Zaporozshia, and the girls enjoyed it. We had fun walking around Simferopol and ate dinner at Celentano's before riding the bus back home. It rained for about 5 minutes---the first rain I've seen during the day. I think it rains at night, but it's usually perfect during the day.
Saturday, the girls and I made Shuba, or "Herring in a Fur Coat," at Vera's apartment. This is something my boys just love, and it's always part of the New Year's celebration here. It consists of a layer of chopped up herring on the bottom covered with onions, mayo and vinegar---then a layer of potatoes covered with hard boiled eggs, onions and mayo, then a layer of cooked carrots covered with onions and mayo, then a layer of cooked beets covered with mayo and a final coating of parsley and green onions---the fur coat. It's all patted together and formed into a dome. It was really very tasty--except for the herring. I'm not a fish lover, but Malvina is. Nevertheless, I was shocked when Malvina, in all seriousness, asked if she could eat the fish head---raw.
Here's a short movie of our Victory Day on Youtube.
First trip to McDonalds. First Big Mac.
Katia, Malvina's aunt.
Katia is her dad's sister.
Vera holding the herring she just filleted for our Shuba.
Layer of beets on the Shuba.
The onion and parsley fur coat on the finished Shuba.
Vera's cat was especially excited to try it.
Raining in Simferopol.
Malvina holding a paper doll book we found named "Malvina."
THIS is the Ukraine I wanted to see. :) So fun.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a meal. Mayo between every layer...love it! So you have to tell us - did she eat the fish head, or was she just playing with you?
ReplyDeleteNot just regular mayo either---the 67% kind. No idea what that means, but Vera said it's the best of the three grades.
DeleteMalvina wanted to eat it --SERIOUSLY, but Vera wouldn't let her. She told Malvina it might make her sick, but I think she wanted to give it to her cat.