Nineteen hours in planes & a ten hour time change

Yup, that means we are all here.  Exhausted and tired, but thrilled to have internet wi-fi and spending a few free minutes updating the blog.  The past twenty-four hours have been filled with sightseeing and spending quality time on planes.

       

                          Lincoln Memorial                                         Anne &I representing

     

Vietnam Memorial 

The Vietnam Memorial was amazing.  I so miss all my Docents at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum that I felt as though I was honoring all of them. 

    

Loading at the hotel in DC, taking the bus to the airport, and finally reloading in Kyiv after clearing customs for our two day welcome retreat.  We made it!  Many of us still look at each other with profound shock that we are finally here.  All the hurdles and hoops were definitely worth it.

  

Here are a couple of random shots from our bus ride through Ukraine.  Really beautiful countryside.  It is still winter/spring ish.  It was 50 degrees, partly cloudy and a bit windy when we arrived in Kyiv today.  The trees are amazing.  There are copious amounts of Pine, Oak and Aspen trees lining all the roads and fields.  The falls around here must be amazing.  There is almost no show on the ground, but the rivers and lakes are lined or covered with a layer of ice.

       

Two Ukrainians welcomed us to Ukraine and dinner tonight with bread and salt, a Ukrainian tradition.  Pretty cool and very artistic!

As you see, everyone is fabulous.  Tired, but thrilled to be assigned the Russian language and for the opportunity to serve with such wonderful people!